M Y T H:M Y T H:The Bible The Bible

Is Not AccurateIs Not AccurateUniversity Church of ChristUniversity Church of Christ

How Important How Important Is Biblical Accuracy?Is Biblical Accuracy?

Does it matter?Does it matter? Can’t we accept the Bible as myth Can’t we accept the Bible as myth

containing useful moral principles?containing useful moral principles? Bible presents itself as having Bible presents itself as having

to do with what is to do with what is truetrue Makes explicit claims of historicityMakes explicit claims of historicity Not undateable pastNot undateable past No “once upon a time”No “once upon a time”

Luke 3:1-2Luke 3:1-2

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

2 Peter 1:16-182 Peter 1:16-18

For For we did not follow cleverly devised mythswe did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were we were eyewitnesses of his majestyeyewitnesses of his majesty..  For when he For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard we ourselves heard this very voicethis very voice borne from heaven, for borne from heaven, for we we were with himwere with him on the holy mountain. on the holy mountain.

Attacks On ScriptureAttacks On Scripture

Attacks on Christianity and the Bible are as old Attacks on Christianity and the Bible are as old as Scriptureas Scripture

Modern attempts to undermine come from Modern attempts to undermine come from different directionsdifferent directions

““Their multiple authors — none Their multiple authors — none of whom published anything until of whom published anything until many years after the Crucifixion — many years after the Crucifixion — cannot agree on anything of cannot agree on anything of importance. Matthew and Luke importance. Matthew and Luke cannot concur on the Virgin Birth cannot concur on the Virgin Birth or the genealogy of Jesus.” or the genealogy of Jesus.”

New Atheists

““The Bible did not arrive by fax The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven…The Bible is the from heaven…The Bible is the product of man, my dear. Not of product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless evolved through countless translations, additions, and translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.”a definitive version of the book.”

The DaVinci EffectThe DaVinci Effect

To say that the Gospel of Judas reveals anything factual about Judas, Dr. [Ben] Witherington said, “is like saying a document written 150 years after George Washington died tells us the inside truth about George Washington.”

New York TimesApril 7, 2006

‘Scholars on all sides agree that the text was probably produced by a scribe in a Gnostic community of Cainites — early Christians who regarded the traditional villains of the Bible, including Cain and Judas, as heroes.’

“Document Is Genuine,

but Is Its Story True?” April 7, 2006

‘As the findings have trickled down to churches and universities, they have produced a new generation of Christians who now regard the Bible not as the literal word of God, but as a product of historical and political forces that determined which texts should be included in the canon, and which edited out.’

“‘Gospel of Judas’ Surfaces

After 1,700 Years” April 6, 2006

The DaVinci EffectThe DaVinci Effect

The Bible manuscripts are unreliableThe Bible manuscripts are unreliable– Conspiracies of changed manuscriptsConspiracies of changed manuscripts

Yet Gnostic Gospels become, well, gospelYet Gnostic Gospels become, well, gospel Pseudepigrapha seen as completely reliablePseudepigrapha seen as completely reliable Jesus is not God, but Mary Magdalene Jesus is not God, but Mary Magdalene

becomes a goddessbecomes a goddess

Bible Written Late?Bible Written Late?

1919thth Century charges against Bible Century charges against Bible Written very late (2Written very late (2ndnd-3-3rdrd Century) Century) Not written by apostles or eye-witnessesNot written by apostles or eye-witnesses Truth: Biblical documentary evidence far Truth: Biblical documentary evidence far

stronger than any other ancient documentstronger than any other ancient document

John Rylands FragmentJohn Rylands Fragment

John Rylands FragmentJohn Rylands Fragment

Text: John 18:31-33/ John 18:37-38Text: John 18:31-33/ John 18:37-38 Found in EgyptFound in Egypt– ~1920~1920

Dated to AD 120-130Dated to AD 120-130– Some date it even earlierSome date it even earlier

Liberal scholars once argued that John was Liberal scholars once argued that John was written in the late second century written in the late second century – ~AD 175 or later~AD 175 or later

Rylands fragment supports a late first Rylands fragment supports a late first century datecentury date

New Testament New Testament ManuscriptsManuscripts

No ‘autographs’, or the actual original written No ‘autographs’, or the actual original written by the authorby the author– Does not exist for Does not exist for anyany ancient manuscript ancient manuscript

Nearly entire NT exists in manuscripts from Nearly entire NT exists in manuscripts from before AD 300before AD 300

Codex VaticanusCodex Vaticanus: the earliest of the great : the earliest of the great parchment manuscripts at about AD 300parchment manuscripts at about AD 300

Codex SinaiticusCodex Sinaiticus: dates to about 350 AD: dates to about 350 AD

Number of NT ManuscriptsNumber of NT Manuscripts

5,300 Greek MSS 10,000 Latin Vulgates 9,300 Others Total: 24,000 copies Total MSS compiled prior to 600 AD = 230

AuthorAuthor Date WrittenDate Written Earliest CopyEarliest Copy Time SpanTime Span Copies (extent)Copies (extent)

Secular Manuscripts:Secular Manuscripts:

Herodotus (History)Herodotus (History) 480 - 425 BC480 - 425 BC 900 AD900 AD 1,300 years1,300 years 88

Thucydides (History)Thucydides (History) 460 - 400 BC460 - 400 BC 900 AD900 AD 1,300 years1,300 years ??

Aristotle (Philosopher)Aristotle (Philosopher) 384 - 322 BC384 - 322 BC 1,100 AD1,100 AD 1,400 years1,400 years 55

Caesar (History)Caesar (History) 100 - 44 BC100 - 44 BC 900 AD900 AD 1,000 years1,000 years 1010

Pliny (History)Pliny (History) 61 - 113 AD61 - 113 AD 850 AD850 AD 750 years750 years 77

Suetonius (Roman History)Suetonius (Roman History) 70 - 140 AD70 - 140 AD 950 AD950 AD 800 years800 years ??

Tacitus (Greek History)Tacitus (Greek History) 100 AD100 AD 1,100 AD1,100 AD 1,000 years1,000 years 2020

Biblical Manuscripts:Biblical Manuscripts: (note: these are individual manuscripts) (note: these are individual manuscripts)

Magdalene Ms (Matthew 26)Magdalene Ms (Matthew 26) 1st century1st century 50-60 AD50-60 AD co-existant (?)co-existant (?)

John Rylands (John)John Rylands (John) 90 AD90 AD 130 AD130 AD 40 years40 years

Bodmer Papyrus II (John)Bodmer Papyrus II (John) 90 AD90 AD 150-200 AD150-200 AD 60-110 years60-110 years

Chester Beatty Papyri (N.T.)Chester Beatty Papyri (N.T.) 1st century1st century 200 AD200 AD 150 years150 years

Diatessaron by Tatian (Gospels)Diatessaron by Tatian (Gospels) 1st century1st century 200 AD200 AD 150 years150 years

Codex Vaticanus (Bible)Codex Vaticanus (Bible) 1st century1st century 325-350 AD325-350 AD 275-300 years275-300 years

Codex Sinaiticus (Bible)Codex Sinaiticus (Bible) 1st century1st century 350 AD350 AD 300 years300 years

Codex Alexandrinus (Bible)Codex Alexandrinus (Bible) 1st century1st century 400 AD400 AD 350 years350 years

““... to be skeptical of the resultant ... to be skeptical of the resultant text of the New Testament text of the New Testament books is to allow all of classical books is to allow all of classical antiquity to slip into obscurity, antiquity to slip into obscurity, for no documents of the for no documents of the ancient period are as well ancient period are as well attested bibliographically as the attested bibliographically as the New Testament.”New Testament.”——John Warwick MontgomeryJohn Warwick Montgomery

History & ChristianityHistory & Christianity

Biblical MinimalismBiblical Minimalism Scholars and Scholars and

archaeologists who deny archaeologists who deny the Biblical record of Israel the Biblical record of Israel and the United Kingdomand the United Kingdom

Dispute the Exodus, the Dispute the Exodus, the Conquest and the idea of a Conquest and the idea of a powerful Israel under powerful Israel under David and SolomonDavid and Solomon

Tel Dan InscriptionTel Dan Inscription

Discovered 1993Discovered 1993 Dates to 9Dates to 9thth Century BC Century BC Victory stele of king of Victory stele of king of

DamascusDamascus– AramaeanAramaean

Mentions “Israel” and Mentions “Israel” and “House of David”“House of David”

Solomon’s City WallSolomon’s City Wall

Discovered 2010 by Discovered 2010 by Dr. Eilat MazarDr. Eilat Mazar

Dates to 10Dates to 10thth Century BC Century BC Likely built by SolomonLikely built by Solomon Show’s organizational Show’s organizational

strength of United Monarchystrength of United MonarchyDr. Eilat MazarDr. Eilat Mazar

Solomon’s City WallSolomon’s City Wall

““The city wall that has been The city wall that has been uncovered testifies to a uncovered testifies to a ruling presence. Its ruling presence. Its strength and form of strength and form of construction indicate a construction indicate a high level of engineering.”high level of engineering.” Dr. Eilat MazarDr. Eilat Mazar

Solomon’s City WallSolomon’s City Wall

““A comparison of this latest A comparison of this latest finding with city walls and finding with city walls and gates from the period of gates from the period of the First Temple, as well as the First Temple, as well as pottery found at the site, pottery found at the site, enable us to postulate with enable us to postulate with a great degree of assurance a great degree of assurance that the wall that has been that the wall that has been revealed is that which was revealed is that which was built by King Solomon in built by King Solomon in Jerusalem in the latter part Jerusalem in the latter part of the tenth century B.C.E..”of the tenth century B.C.E..”

Dr. Eilat MazarDr. Eilat Mazar

Biblical MinimalismBiblical Minimalism

““It’s bad for business to find things from It’s bad for business to find things from the Bible these days. It makes us look like the Bible these days. It makes us look like unsophisticated messianic fanatics”unsophisticated messianic fanatics”—“—“Reclaiming Biblical Jerusalem,” Reclaiming Biblical Jerusalem,”

aish.comaish.com

The Biblical HittitesThe Biblical Hittites

Mentioned more than 50 times in ScriptureMentioned more than 50 times in Scripture Abraham purchased Sarah’s grave from Abraham purchased Sarah’s grave from

Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23)Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23) Bible ridiculed—Hittites only a mythBible ridiculed—Hittites only a myth Until 1903 when Hittite capital Hattusha was Until 1903 when Hittite capital Hattusha was

excavated in Turkeyexcavated in Turkey Now no one questions the HittitesNow no one questions the Hittites

HattushaHattusha

The Biblical HittitesThe Biblical Hittites

Egyptian treaty with Egyptian treaty with Hittites later discoveredHittites later discovered– Ramesses II & Hatusilis IIIRamesses II & Hatusilis III

Oldest treaty ever foundOldest treaty ever found– ca. 1274 BCca. 1274 BC

Lack of external evidence Lack of external evidence does not disprove Biblical does not disprove Biblical accountsaccounts

Biblical WitnessBiblical Witness

God does not ask for unreasonable faithGod does not ask for unreasonable faith We have supporting evidence of archaeology We have supporting evidence of archaeology

and extra-Biblical writingsand extra-Biblical writings Biblical witness progressively proven true on Biblical witness progressively proven true on

random, unpredictable factsrandom, unpredictable facts The more a witness is verified the more likely The more a witness is verified the more likely

we can rely upon it for unverifiable we can rely upon it for unverifiable informationinformation

New Testament & New Testament & ResurrectionResurrection

Ultimately, the reliability—and relevance—of Ultimately, the reliability—and relevance—of Scripture depends solely on one eventScripture depends solely on one event

If the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not If the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not historically true nothing else mattershistorically true nothing else matters

If Jesus did raise, the rest is confirmedIf Jesus did raise, the rest is confirmed

1 Corinthians 15:14-191 Corinthians 15:14-19

And if Christ has not been raised, then our And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  We We are even found to be misrepresenting God, are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.of all people most to be pitied.

The Testimony The Testimony of Their Livesof Their Lives

The testimony of the apostles in the lives is The testimony of the apostles in the lives is the greatest witness of allthe greatest witness of all

Before and after crucifixion: frightened menBefore and after crucifixion: frightened men

Matthew 26:56bMatthew 26:56b

Then all the disciples left him and fled. Then all the disciples left him and fled.

John 20:19-20John 20:19-20

On the evening of that day, the first day of the On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”“Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Lord.

Acts 4:1-13Acts 4:1-13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. had been with Jesus.

Faithful Unto DeathFaithful Unto Death

History records that these once fearful men History records that these once fearful men were willing to give their liveswere willing to give their lives

Peter—who denied—crucified upside downPeter—who denied—crucified upside down Paul—who persecuted—proclaims and dies Paul—who persecuted—proclaims and dies

for Christfor Christ No one gained anything but persecutionNo one gained anything but persecution Yet no one deniedYet no one denied These witnesses but their lives where These witnesses but their lives where

there mouth wasthere mouth was What event could cause this?What event could cause this?

1 John 1:1-31 John 1:1-3

That which was from the beginning, which we have That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to uswas with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we —that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.