How reliable is the New Testament?

Part 2October 19, 2014

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Last week-review

• There are an abundance of Greek New Testament manuscripts that have been discovered. Many more than any other work of antiquity.

• Couple that with around 20,000 more manuscripts from other languages

• Also the time gap between the original writings of the New Testament and the earliest manuscripts is much shorter than other works. This short time span leaves little room for myth or legend to creep into the documents.

• This provides strong evidence that the New Testament is historically reliable.

• What other evidence is there?

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Internal Evidence

• Internal evidence for the New Testament is evidence found within the pages of the Bible, not from external sources.

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Bible contradictions

• The Bible is constantly under attack for containing errors and being contradictory to itself.

• How does it stand up under this type of scrutiny?

• “There is a good and sufficient answer in Scripture itself to refute every charge that has ever been leveled against it.” Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, 12

• “The allegations of error in the Bible are usually based on a failure to recognize basic principles of interpreting ancient literature.” Josh McDowell, New Evidence that Demands a Verdict, 46

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Authors of the New TestamentAuthor Book(s)Matthew MatthewMark MarkLuke Luke, ActsJohn John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, RevelationPaul Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians,

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, (Hebrews?)

James JamesPeter 1 Peter, 2 PeterJude Jude

(Eyewitnesses to Jesus in red)

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Acts--A.D. 621 Timothy--A.D. 62-64Titus--A.D. 62-641 Peter--A.D. 64-652 Timothy--A.D. 66-672 Peter--A.D. 67-68Hebrews--A.D. 67-69Jude--A.D. 68-70John--A.D. 80-901 John--A.D. 90-952 John--A.D. 90-953 John--A.D. 90-95Revelation--A.D. 94-96

James--A.D. 44-49Galatians--A.D. 49-50Matthew--A.D. 50-60Mark--A.D. 50-601 Thessalonians--A.D. 512 Thessalonians--A.D. 51-521 Corinthians--A.D. 552 Corinthians--A.D. 55-56Romans-- A.D. 56Luke--A.D. 60-61Ephesians--A.D. 60-62Philippians--A.D. 60-62Philemon--A.D. 60-62Colossians--A.D. 60-62

When was the New Testament composed?

http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA176/when-were-the-bible-books-written

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What is an Apostle?

• There are two kinds of apostles in the New Testament• The first kind is the office of apostle.

• Apostles were firsthand eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus, chosen by the Holy Spirit, and were able to perform signs and wonders

• There is no office of apostle today

• The second kind is a more general type of apostle. This would be similar to a missionary who goes out to preach the gospel.

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Eyewitness testimony

• The power of eyewitness testimony cannot be understated.

• If the New Testament writers were recording errors or false stories of Jesus, they would have been corrected immediately.

• There was a strong sense of accountability when it came to Jewish written traditions

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2 Peter 1:16

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

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1 John 1:3

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

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Acts 2:22

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

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Acts 10:39-41

39 And we are witnesses of all that he (Jesus) did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

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1 Corinthians 15:3-8

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

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1 Timothy 2:7

7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

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Seige of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Mark 13:1-2

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Seige of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

• The Siege of Jerusalem (70 A.D.) is a historical fact, fulfilling Jesus’ words!

• This took place around 40 years after Jesus was crucified.

• No book of the New Testament refers to this event as having taken place yet. This points to the early writing of the New Testament.

• The early writing of the New Testament is important because it places the writing of the books close to when the events happened. If centuries would have passed, then no eyewitnesses would be alive to recount the events.

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Luke’s Gospel

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1-4

Luke’s Gospel and Acts contain accurate names and locations of the 1st century. His writings provide us with reliable information regarding the account of Jesus and the early church.

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Oral Tradition

• As opposed to our culture, the ancient Jewish culture relied heavily on memorization and oral tradition for their teachings

• This tradition would have kept the events fresh in the minds of the eyewitnesses until they could be compiled into the narratives we have available to us today