HOW DO WE KNOW WE CAN TRUST WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS?

 

“People naturally have questions. They always have and always will. One of the key functions of apologetics, then, is to respond to questions and clear away objections people have that hinder their trust in Christ.” Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict

 

The word apologetics does not mean to say you’re sorry or apologize. It refers to the defense of what you believe to be true. 

 

SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE 

• No other literary document has been scrutinized or challenged more than the Bible, yet it is the most validated and accurate ancient literary work in the world.

 

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE

• Ancient manuscripts and archeological digs have stacked up in favor of biblical reliability. The New Testament has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient work. 

 

“I take the view that Luke’s history is unsurpassed in regard to its trustworthiness. You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian’s and they will stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment.” Sir William Ramsey professor of humanities at Aberdeen University in Scotland. 

 

MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE

• Today we have only 49 copies of Aristotle’s writings.

• Homer’s “The Iliad does a little better, with 643 copies in existence.

• The New Testament wins by a landslide, with almost 5700 Greek copies and over 19,000 copies in other languages.

 

HOW DO WE KNOW THOSE MANUSCRIPTS ARE FAITHFUL TO THE ORIGINAL? 

• The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran in 1947.

• The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves near Qumran, on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, containing texts from the Hebrew Bible, Jewish religious writings, and more. 

• The Bible contains 66 books written by 40 authors over the course of 1500 years, and yet it tells one unified story.

 

THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD.

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  2 Timothy 3:14-16 NLT

• Means that the Scripture is given by God’s breath. 

 

THE BIBLE ITSELF IS A MIRACLE.

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it… 

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:1-5,10-14 NLT

• Jesus fulfilled 54 Biblical prophecies from the Old Testament.

• The Christian faith is rooted not in fable but in fact.

 

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 NLT

 

Next steps for me today…

• To trust God’s Word completely.