His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who

called us by His own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3

• 1st Chapter: Holiness• 2nd Chapter: Heresy• 3rd Chapter: Hope

Outline of 2nd Peter

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when

we were with Him on the sacred mountain.

2 Peter 1:16-18

And we have the words of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the

morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had

its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:19-21

How do you know you can trust the Bible?

1. Scripture is not just cleverly-invented stories (v.16)

Peter’s Claims

“We did not follow cleverly invented stories...”

2 Peter 1:16

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1. Scripture is not just cleverly-invented stories (v.16)

2. Scripture is not just somebody’s interpretation of what they think God said (v.20)

Peter’s Claims

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own

interpretation.

2 Peter 1:20

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1. Scripture is not just cleverly-invented stories (v.16)

2. Scripture is not just somebody’s interpretation of what they think God said (v.20)

3. Scripture is God’s word, unchanged, speaking directly to people through people (v.21)

Peter’s Claims

Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried

along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21

“God said…”

• Quiet whispers• Music• Words and actions of others• Audible voice• Scripture

How God Speaks

• Kings• Peasants• Philosophers• Fishermen• Poets• Statesmen• A doctor• Scholars

Who Wrote the Bible?

We believe the Bible was written by people who were providentially prepared by God, motivated and superintended by the Holy Spirit, who spoke

and wrote according to their own personalities and circumstances in such a way that their words are

the very Word of God.

No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God

as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:20-21

Verbal plenary inspiration

No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God

as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:20-21

• It would be widely distributed so man could attain it easily• It would be preserved through time without corruption• It would be completely accurate historically• It would not be prone to scientific error or false beliefs held

by the people of that time• It would present true, unified answers to the difficult

questions of life.

If God created man with a desire to know Him, we would expect His message to have some unique properties:

Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict

The Bible stands alone as the only religious text that can claim it meets all the criteria.

Josh McDowellEvidence that Demands a Verdict

1. Widely Distributed so Man Could Obtain it Easily

Bible has sold morethan 7.6 billion copies >

The beauty of the Gospelis the message, not the medium.

1. Widely Distributed so Man Could Obtain it Easily

2. Preserved Through Time Without Corruption

2. Preserved Through Time Without Corruption

• Most of Shakespeare’s plays, written only 400 years ago, are in much worse shape than the copies of the Old Testament that are over 1500 years old

• We have over 14,000 copies of the New Testament, some of which were written no later than 100 years after the original books and letters.

…but how accurate?

1. Spiritual2. Physical

Spiritually Accurate?

The truthfulness of the Bible is inextricably tied to the character of God Himself.

Physically Accurate?

• Oldest copy of the Old Testament is 1500 years old

Physically Accurate?After Moses finished writing in a book the words of

this law from beginning to end, he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of

the Lord: “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord, your God.

There it will remain.”

Deuteronomy 31:24-26

How the Bible was Copied• The copyist had to sit in full Jewish dress and wash his

whole body• The length of each column couldn’t be less than 48 or

more than 80 lines, 30 letters across• Between every consonant the space of a hair or thread

must intervene, between every book, three lines• The number of words on a page could not be changed

(if original had 288, page being copied had to have same)

How the Bible was Copied• Each line on a new page had to be the exact same as

the line on the old page (if line on old had 9 words, so must new)• After a page was copied, the number of letters on that

page was counted and compared with the original• After a page was copied, someone would check to see

what the middle letter was on the copy and the original• No word or letter could be written from memory

How the Bible was Copied• Scribes were not allowed to copy sentence for sentence

or even word for word – must be letter for letter• After a page was copied and double-checked, a third

person would check to see what the middle word was on the page• Finally, when the whole book was finished, another

person would count the phrases• Any errors at all, the manuscript would be destroyed

and scribes would start all over

10 > Plato, Sophocles,Homer, Caesar Augustus(made 1,000+ years after

original)

Physically Accurate?

1947Physically Accurate?

Dead Sea Scrolls

Physically Accurate?• Only variations were in spelling (like “honor” =

“honour”) or stylistic changes, like adding a conjunction• 14,000 copies of New Testament• Some written no later than 100 years after original• Comparing ancient copies of Scripture, less than 1% of

variations have anything to do with a passage teaching doctrine, no doctrine is affected by any of the variations• No other antique document even begins to approach

such numbers

Heaven and earth will pass away,but My words will by no means pass away.

Matthew 24:35

Three Questions

1. Do I treat Scripture as if it really is the Word of God?

2. Am I allowing God ample opportunity to speak to me?

3. Am I allowing Scripture to be a light to my dark path?