Lesson 7:Lesson 7:The ReliabilityThe Reliabilityof the N.T.—of the N.T.—

Bibliographical Bibliographical TestTest

Objection 1:Objection 1:““The N.T. was written 100–200 The N.T. was written 100–200 years after the life of Christ. How years after the life of Christ. How do we know we don’t have a do we know we don’t have a distorted picture of his life due to distorted picture of his life due to this gap?”this gap?”

The N.T. was written within The N.T. was written within 6060 (most books within 30) years (most books within 30) years of the death of Christ (AD 30).of the death of Christ (AD 30).

EvidenceEvidence1.1. ManuscriptsManuscripts have been found that have been found that

date within or close to the first date within or close to the first century:century:

One Example: JOHN RYLANDS One Example: JOHN RYLANDS PAPYRUS (dated AD 125; PAPYRUS (dated AD 125; fragment of John found in Egypt). fragment of John found in Egypt). The original manuscript must have The original manuscript must have been written earlier.been written earlier.

EvidenceEvidence2.2. Early church fathers (Clement, Early church fathers (Clement,

Ignatius) were Ignatius) were quotingquoting many of the many of the N.T. books by around AD 100. The N.T. books by around AD 100. The books that were quoted had to be in books that were quoted had to be in circulation at that time.circulation at that time.

EvidenceEvidence2.2. Early church fathers (Clement, Early church fathers (Clement,

Ignatius) were Ignatius) were quotingquoting many of the many of the N.T. books by around AD 100. The N.T. books by around AD 100. The books that were quoted had to be in books that were quoted had to be in circulation at that time.circulation at that time.

3.3. There is no hint that the N.T. writers There is no hint that the N.T. writers knew of the DESTRUCTION OF knew of the DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEMJERUSALEM (AD 70) as a fact that had (AD 70) as a fact that had already happened.already happened.

Model of Herodian JerusalemModel of Herodian Jerusalem

EvidenceEvidence4.4. According to history, Paul died in the According to history, Paul died in the

AD mid-AD mid-60s60s. At the end of Acts he is . At the end of Acts he is still alive. Therefore, Acts and the still alive. Therefore, Acts and the books Paul wrote most likely were books Paul wrote most likely were written by the mid-60s. Luke wrote the written by the mid-60s. Luke wrote the book of Luke before he wrote the book of Luke before he wrote the sequel, Acts. So the book of Luke is sequel, Acts. So the book of Luke is even earlier.even earlier.

Conclusion:Conclusion:There was not time for There was not time for mythmyth to to grow up around the life of Christ.grow up around the life of Christ.

I. The I. The Bibliographical TestBibliographical Test

The BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TEST evaluates The BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TEST evaluates the reliability of manuscripts, looking at the reliability of manuscripts, looking at the the TIMESPANTIMESPAN between original and between original and existing manuscripts, existing manuscripts, NUMBERNUMBER of of manuscripts, and manuscripts, and QUALITYQUALITY (how much (how much variation between the readings of the variation between the readings of the existing manuscripts). This test existing manuscripts). This test determines how well a document has determines how well a document has been preserved since it was written. This been preserved since it was written. This test will determine whether or not we test will determine whether or not we have what was originally written.have what was originally written.

Objection 2:Objection 2:““We do not have what was originally We do not have what was originally written because there is too much written because there is too much time between the original time between the original manuscripts and the earliest manuscripts and the earliest surviving copies. More time=more surviving copies. More time=more copying=more mistakes, and we copying=more mistakes, and we don’t even know what mistakes don’t even know what mistakes were made!”were made!”

A. TimespanA. TimespanThe timespan (between the originals The timespan (between the originals and the earliest existing copies) for and the earliest existing copies) for most classical Greek works is about most classical Greek works is about 1,000 years; the time span for most 1,000 years; the time span for most books of the N.T. is around books of the N.T. is around 9090 years. years.

Author/WorkAuthor/WorkAristotleAristotle

TacitusTacitus

CaesarCaesar

OdysseyOdyssey

New TestamentNew Testament

TimespanTimespan1,400 years1,400 years

1,0001,000 years years

950 years950 years

500 years500 years

9090 years years

We don’t think the classical We don’t think the classical literature was significantly literature was significantly corrupted; why should we think corrupted; why should we think that the N.T. was corrupted that the N.T. was corrupted during the 90-year span?during the 90-year span?

Objection 3:Objection 3:““Even if there is a short time between the Even if there is a short time between the originals and the first copies, there are originals and the first copies, there are still too many differences among the still too many differences among the surviving N.T. manuscripts for us to surviving N.T. manuscripts for us to know what was in the original. All the know what was in the original. All the copying over the years resulted in a huge copying over the years resulted in a huge number of conflicting manuscripts!”number of conflicting manuscripts!”

B. NumberB. NumberThe more manuscripts we have The more manuscripts we have for comparison, the closer we for comparison, the closer we can get to the original can get to the original manuscript reading.manuscript reading.

5,700—Greek5,700—Greek

10,000—Latin10,000—Latin

9,300—other versions9,300—other versions

25,00025,000—total manuscripts, —total manuscripts, fragmentsfragments

Plus tens of thousands of quotations Plus tens of thousands of quotations from the N.T. by the early church from the N.T. by the early church fathers.fathers.

The quantity of manuscripts of classical The quantity of manuscripts of classical Greek and Roman literature is very small. Greek and Roman literature is very small. The piece of ancient literature (besides The piece of ancient literature (besides the Bible) with the greatest quantity of the Bible) with the greatest quantity of existing manuscripts is Homer’s existing manuscripts is Homer’s IliadIliad (643 copies). The manuscript evidence (643 copies). The manuscript evidence for the N.T. is far superior to the for the N.T. is far superior to the manuscript evidence of classical manuscript evidence of classical Greek and Roman literature!Greek and Roman literature!

Author/WorkAuthor/WorkPlatoPlato

CaesarCaesar

TacitusTacitus

HomerHomer

New TestamentNew Testament

# of Copies# of Copies77

1010

2020

643643

5,700 (Greek)5,700 (Greek)

““The number of The number of manuscriptsmanuscripts of the N.T., of the N.T., of early of early translationstranslations from it, and of from it, and of quotationsquotations from it in the oldest writers of from it in the oldest writers of the church, is so large that it is the church, is so large that it is practically certain that the true reading of practically certain that the true reading of every doubtful passage is preserved in every doubtful passage is preserved in some or other of these ancient some or other of these ancient authorities. This can be said of no other authorities. This can be said of no other ancient book in ancient book in the world.”the world.”Frederick Kenyon, renowned paleographer and Frederick Kenyon, renowned paleographer and textual critic.textual critic.

C. QualityC. Quality

C. QualityC. QualityAbout About 400400 differences are differences are significant to the meaning of the significant to the meaning of the N.T. This is less than one per N.T. This is less than one per page in an English translation.page in an English translation.

The N.T. is at least The N.T. is at least 98%98% pure. pure.

In spite of errors in the copying, no In spite of errors in the copying, no variant reading harms any variant reading harms any doctrinedoctrine of the N.T. Though a disputed of the N.T. Though a disputed passage may touch on doctrine, passage may touch on doctrine, every doctrine of the N.T. is taught in every doctrine of the N.T. is taught in its indisputable parts.its indisputable parts.

““The Christian can take the whole The Christian can take the whole Bible in his hand and say without Bible in his hand and say without fear or hesitation that he holds in fear or hesitation that he holds in it the true Word of God, handed it the true Word of God, handed down without essential down without essential lossloss from from generation to generation throughout generation to generation throughout the centuries.”the centuries.”Frederick KenyonFrederick Kenyon

II. Application of LessonII. Application of Lesson

Talk to an unbeliever about the Talk to an unbeliever about the reliability of the N.T. Show him that reliability of the N.T. Show him that Christians have what was originally Christians have what was originally written and that the N.T. was written written and that the N.T. was written within a generation of the events. within a generation of the events. Use the timeline and the pie chart. Use the timeline and the pie chart. Report on your conversation next Report on your conversation next week in class.week in class.