different attitudes about reliability totally unreliable partially reliable completely reliable

Different attitudes about reliabilityTotally unreliablePartially reliableCompletely reliable

Various views of inspirationMechanicalNoematicalUniversalNaturalDegreesVerbal, Plenary, Isa. 51:15, 16; Jer. 1:9

Inspiration or non-inspiration?If not, another human documentIf not, a fraudIf not, no revelation from GodIf not, no understanding of salvationIf so, believe & obey, 2 Thes. 1:7-10

Biographical test“Examination of textual transmission”

Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Vol. 1


Author When Written

Earliest Copy

Time Span

No. of Copies

Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 10Plato 427-347 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,200 7Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 1,000 20Pliny 61-113 A.D. 850 A.D. 750 7Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 8


Author When Written

Earliest Copy

Time Span

No. of Copies

Herodotus 480-425 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 8Sophocles 496-406 B.C. 1000 A.D. 1,400 193Aristotle 384-322 B.C. 1100 A.D. 1,400 49Homer 900 B.C. 400 A.D. 500 643NT 40-100 A.D. 125 A.D. 25 24,000+

Biographical testOver 24,000 ancient MSS (copies)∙Over 5,300 Greek∙Over 10,000 Latin∙Over 4,000 Slavic


Biographical testTroubled text∙Iliad: 15,600 lines – 764 in question∙NT: 20,000 lines – 40 in question


Biographical testVariations∙Hort: 1/8th in dispute∙Geisler & Nix: variations mostly minor∙Geisler & Nix: 98.33% pure


Biographical testIsaiah 53∙166 words – 17 letters in question∙10 letters are spelling differences∙4 letters are stylistic differences∙Other 3, one word added in verse 11 found in LXX


Internal test“contradictions or known factual” errors?Eyewitness accountsLk. 1:1-3; 2 Pt. 1:16; 1 Jn. 1:3; Acts 2:32How could it be made up?Variations lend credibility


External testOther historic documents confirm?Josephus discussed John the Baptist∙By name∙Arrest, imprisonment, execution∙Influence in preaching


External testArcheological evidence∙Jericho’s walls fell outward, Josh. 6:20∙Erastus pavement stone, Rom. 16:23∙Synagogue of Hebrews, Acts 18:4-7∙Census, Lk. 2:1-3


External testArcheological evidence∙Luke mentioned

-32 countries-54 cities-9 Mediterranean islands-95 people

A Study Course In Christian Evidences

External testArcheological evidence∙Sir William Ramsay – skeptic, 1800s

-“Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.”


Five fundamentals of scienceTimeForceActionSpaceMatter


BeginningGodCreatedHeavensEarth

Ocean’s currentsMatthew Fontaine Maury 1806-1873Psalm 8:8 – “Paths of the seas”Discovered circulation currents


Ocean’s valleysJob 38:16Men thought ocean bottom was flatValley found in 1870s – 5 ½ miles deepPhilippine valley – 7 miles deep


Other factsLife in the blood, Lev. 17:11-14Female with seed, Gen. 3:15Law of Entropy, Heb. 1:11Spherical earth, Isa. 40:22


Old Testament, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21Claims∙Moses, “The LORD said” 45 times∙David, 2 Sam. 23:1, 2∙Prophets, Isa. 1:18; Hos. 1:1

Old Testament, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21Proofs∙Prophecy, Dan. 2:44; Isa. 53:7-12∙Christ, Lk. 24:44; Mt. 22:43; Jn. 10:35

New TestamentClaims∙Jesus, Jn. 16:13∙Luke, Acts 2:4∙Philip, Acts 8:14∙Paul, 1 Cor. 11:23; 14:37; Gal. 1:12∙Peter, 2 Pt. 3:15, 16

New TestamentProofs∙Textual Evidence∙Miracles, Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3, 4

New TestamentProofs∙Jesus Christ

-Lived, died, resurrected-Matthew, Mark, Luke, John-Peter-Jude-James-Paul

Translation does not destroy inspirationOT Greek: Septuagint (LXX)Quoted by Jesus & others∙Mt. 22:31, 32; Ex. 3:6∙Gal. 3:17; Ex. 12:40∙Heb. 1:5; Psa. 2:7∙Acts 28:26, 27; Isa. 6:9, 10

Inspiration or non-inspiration?If not, another human documentIf not, a fraudIf not, no revelation from GodIf not, no understanding of salvationIf so, believe & obey, 2 Thes. 1:7-10

different attitudes about reliability totally unreliable partially reliable completely reliable

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