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Why I Believe in the Bible…
By: Alfred Toole, Jr.
Why I Believe in the Bible
• The Everyday Truths found in the Bible
Proverbs 2.1-6
• 1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
2 Timothy 3.16
• All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Hebrews 4.12
• For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Psalm 119.102-105
• 102 I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
• 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
• 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
• 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
2 Thessalonians 2.9-11
• 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
False Beliefs Once in the WorldFacts Biblical Cite Misconception
Blood is essential to life.
Lev. 17:11-14
Disease and spirits reside in blood. To cure disease, bleed patient.
Both male and female possess "seed of life“
Gen3:15; 22:18
Male has baby in him. Woman = incubator
Earth is round, day and night occur at the same time.
Isa. 40:22 Prov. 8:27 Luke 17:34
Earth is flat.
Quarantine of certain diseases
Lev. 13-15 No isolation of diseased.
False Beliefs Once in the WorldFacts Cite MisconceptionBury human waste products.
Deut. 23:12-14
Human waste left on ground.
The water cycle. Eccl. 1:7 Job. 36:27, 28
Gods pour new water on land continuously.
Seaworthy ratio for ship construction 30 - 5 -3.
Gen. 6:15 Ships ratio not considered; only the beauty.
Space and stars are too large to be measured or counted.
Gen. 15:5 Stopped numbering the astronomical bodies in1932.
Earth is not physically supported.
Job 26:7 Earth held up by four elephants or Atlas (a man), etc.
Why I Believe in the Bible
• The Everyday Truths found in the Bible
• The Geological Evidence supporting the Bible
John 5.31-40• 31"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32There
is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid.
• 33"You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
• 36"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
Deuteronomy 19.15
• One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Confirmation of Biblical Events:• Campaign into Israel by Pharaoh Shishak (1 Kings
14:25-26), recorded on the walls of the Temple of Amun in Thebes, Egypt.
• Revolt of Moab against Israel (2 Kings 1:1; 3:4-27), recorded on the Mesha Inscription.
• Fall of Samaria (2 Kings 17:3-6, 24; 18:9-11) to Sargon II, king of Assyria, as recorded on his palace walls.
• Campaign of the Assyrian king Sennacherib against Judah (2 Kings 18:13-16), as recorded on the Taylor Prism.
• Siege of Lachish by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:14, 17), as recorded on the Lachish reliefs.
• Fall of Nineveh as predicted by the prophets Nahum and Zephaniah (2:13-15), recorded on the Tablet of Nabopolasar.
Confirmation of Biblical Events:• Fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon
(2 Kings 24:10-14), as recorded in the Babylonian Chronicles
• Captivity of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in Babylon (2 Kings 24:15-16), as recorded on the Babylonian Ration Records.
• Fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:30-31), as recorded on the Cyrus Cylinder.
• Freeing of captives in Babylon by Cyrus the Great (Ezra 1:1-4; 6:3-4), as recorded on the Cyrus Cylinder.
• The existence of Jesus Christ as recorded by Josephus, Suetonius, Thallus, Pliny the Younger, the Talmud, and Lucian.
• Forcing Jews to leave Rome during the reign of Claudius (A.D. 41-54) (Acts 18:2), as recorded by Suetonius.
OT Geological Evidence…Facts Cite Once doubtedIn 1905, Hugo Winckler discovered a royal archive with 10, 000 tablets at Bogazkoy, Turkey.
Exodus 23.28
Hittites once believed to be a biblical legend
Sargon's palace was discovered in Khorsabad, Iraq. The very event mentioned in Isaiah 20, his capture of Ashdod, was recorded on the palace walls. What is more, fragments of a stela memorializing the victory were found at Ashdod itself.
Isaiah 20.1 It was once claimed there was no Assyrian king named Sargon.
Tablets were found showing that Belshazzar was Nabonidus' son who served as coregent in Babylon.
Daniel 5 Many doubted that Belshazzar served as king of Babylon
NT Geological Evidence…Facts Cite Once doubtedStarting with Augustus Caesar, Romans held census every 14 years. An inscription found in Antioch tells of Quirinius being governor of Syria around 7 B.C.
Luke 2.1-3 The census occurred
Quirinius served as governor
An inscription found near Damascus speaks of "Freedman of Lysanias the tetrarch“ and is dated between 14 and 29 A.D.
Luke 3.1 Only 1 Lysanias known to historians, killed around 36 B.C.
In 1910, Sir William Ramsay found a monument which showed that Iconium was indeed a Phrygian city. Later discoveries continued to confirm this!
Acts 14.6 1st believed that Lystra and Derbe were in Lycaonia and Iconium was not.
Why I Believe in the Bible
• The Everyday Truths found in the Bible
• The Geological Evidence supporting the Bible
• The Prophecies found in the Bible
1 Thessalonians 5.20
• 20do not treat prophecies with contempt.
Revelations 1.3
• Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
John 14.29
• 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
Romans 15.4
• 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Luke 24.25
• He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
John 12.37-41• 37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous
signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
• 39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40"He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them." 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.
The ruins of Israel would be rebuilt
• Bible passage: Amos 9:11, 13Written: about 750 BCFulfilled: late 1900s – During the past two centuries, however, many
Jews have returned from exile and have rebuilt and reconditioned much of the land of Israel. The soil is again productive, producing food exports for many countries. And the nation is again sovereign and united.
Trees would flourish again in a desolate Israel
• Bible passage: Isaiah 41:18-20Written: perhaps between 701-681 BCFulfilled: late 1900s– In Isaiah 41:18-20, the prophet's talk of a future
restoration of Israel coincides with an occurrence in modern Israel - the construction of a vast irrigation system to improve farming. The lack of available water, including rain, is one reason why Israel had been a desolate, unproductive land during much of the past 2000 years. But, during the 1900s, when many Jews returned to their ancient homeland, they built a network of irrigation systems. And during the past century, more than 200 million trees have been planted in Israel
Jerusalem would become the world's most important religious site
• Bible passage: Micah 4:1Written: sometime between 750-686 BCFulfilled: Partially in modern times– In Micah 4:1, the prophet said that the Temple mount
in Jerusalem would become the focal point of the world. Various Christian scholars regard this as a prophecy that is to be fulfilled in the future. But it is interesting to note that Jerusalem is, and has been for centuries, the world's most important religious site. Christians and Jews have always regarded the city as important. Followers of Islam later adopted Jerusalem as an important city in their beliefs. No other city in the world is a religious focal point to as many people.
Egypt would never again rule over nations
• Bible passage: Ezekiel 29:15Written: between 593-571 BCFulfilled: 1967, etc.– In Ezekiel 29:15, the prophet says that Egypt would recover from
a desolation (perhaps Babylon's attack about 2600 years ago), but that it would never again rule over other nations. Up until the time of Ezekiel, Egypt had been a world power for centuries, dominating many nations, including Israel. But for most of the past 2500 years, Egypt has been controlled by foreign powers, including the Romans, Ottomans and Europeans. Today, Egypt is an independent nation again. In 1948, 1967 and 1973, Egypt tried to dominate Israel but was unsuccessful each time, despite the fact that Egypt is 10 times larger than Israel. Egypt today, in many respects, is an impressive nation. But since the time of Ezekiel, it no longer rules over other nations.
Isaiah foretold of the worldwide return of Jews to Israel
• Bible passage: Isaiah 43:5-6Written: perhaps between 701-681 BCFulfilled: late 1900s
– In Isaiah 43:5-6, the prophet said that the people of Israel would return to their homeland from the east, the west, the north and the south. Isaiah lived 2700 years ago. Beginning at that time, a succession of empires conquered the land of Israel and forced many into exile. This led to a worldwide scattering of Jews. But, during the past century, millions have returned to Israel.
From the east: Many Jews living in Middle East countries moved to Israel during the 1900s.
From the west: During the mid-1900s, hundreds of thousands of Jews living in the West (Europe and the United States) began moving to Israel to escape various persecutions, most notably, the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.
From the north: Hundreds of thousands of Jews living in the former Soviet Union have moved to Israel since the 1980s.
From the south: During the 1980s and 1990s, Israel struck a deal with Ethiopia's communist government to allow Jews of Ethiopia to move to Israel. On the weekend of May 25, 1991, for example, 14,500 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel.
Isaiah's prophecy was also correct in saying that the north (Russia) and the south (Ethiopia) would have to be persuaded to allow their Jews to move to Israel. Many countries pressured Russia for years before it began to allow its Jews to leave. And Ethiopia had to be paid a ransom to allow its Jews to leave.
Babylon would rule Judah for 70 years
• Bible passage: Jeremiah 25:11-12Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BCFulfilled: about 609 BC to 539 BC– Babylon captured the last Assyrian king and took over
the holdings of the Assyrian empire, to which the land of Israel previously had been subjugated. Babylon later asserted its domination by taking many Jews as captives to Babylon, and by destroying Jerusalem and the Temple. The domination ended in 539 BC, when Cyrus, a leader of Persians and Medes, conquered Babylon and brought an end to its empire.
Babylon's gates would open for Cyrus
• Bible passage: Isaiah 45:1Written: perhaps between 701-681 BCFulfilled: 539 BC – Despite Babylon's remarkable defenses, which
included moats, and walls that were more than 70-feet thick and 300-feet high, and 250 watchtowers, Cyrus was able to enter the city and conquer it. Cyrus and his troops diverted the flow of the Euphrates River into a large lake basin. Cyrus then was able to march his army across the riverbed and into the city.
Babylon would be reduced to swampland
• Bible passage: Isaiah 14:23Written: perhaps between 701-681 BCFulfilled: 539 BC– After Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, the
kingdom never again rose to power. The buildings of Babylon fell into a gradual state of ruin during the next several centuries. Archaeologists excavated Babylon during the 1800s. Some parts of the city could not be dug up because they were under a water table that had risen over the years.
Nineveh would be destroyed, permanently
• Bible passage: Nahum 3:19Written: perhaps 614 BCFulfilled: 612 BC– In Nahum 3:19 (and 1:9), the prophet said that Nineveh, which was
the Assyrian Empire's capital and perhaps the most powerful city of the ancient world, would suffer a wound that would never heal. In 612 BC (about 2600 years ago), a coalition of Babylonians, Scythians and Medes conquered the heavily fortified city. According to the Bible, Nineveh was to be punished for the empire's inhumane treatment of Israel. It is unknown as to when Nahum delivered this prophecy - some scholars speculate that it was delivered a few years before the conquest. But, it is known that Nahum was correct - Nineveh and the Assyrian empire never did recover from their defeat. (Incidentally, the Assyrian empire had conquered Babylon many years beforehand, but Babylon was able to recover from that defeat).
Ninevites would be drunk in their final hours
• Bible passage: Nahum 1:10Written: perhaps 614 BCFulfilled: 612 BC– In Nahum 1:10 and 3:11, the prophet said that during
the final hours of the attack on Nineveh, the Ninevites would be drunk. There is evidence that this prophecy was fulfilled. According to the ancient historian Diodorus Siculus: "The Assyrian king gave much wine to his soldiers. Deserters told this to the enemy, who attacked that night." Siculus compiled his historical works about 600 years after the fall of Nineveh.
Ninevites would be wiped out
• Bible passage: Nahum 1:14Written: perhaps 614 BCFulfilled: 612 BC– In Nahum 1:14, the prophet said Nineveh
would have no descendants to carry on the prestige of Nineveh. Nineveh's destruction in 612 BC marked a permanent end to the Assyrian Empire. The city itself never again rose to any significant importance. Today, Nineveh is an archaeological site in Iraq.
Why I Believe in the Bible
• The Everyday Truths found in the Bible
• The Geological Evidence supporting the Bible
• The Prophecies found in the Bible
• The Bibliographical Test of the Bible
Bibliographical Test
• How many copies are available?
• Where were these copies found?
• What is the length of time that passed between the original and the earliest copies?
• What variances exists between copies?
How many copies are available?
• 1. Over 4,000 Greek manuscripts; 13,000 copies of portions of the New Testament in Greek!
• 2. Compare this with other ancient historical writings: – a. Caesar's "Gallic Wars" - only 10 Greek
manuscripts– b. "Annals" of Tacitus - 2 – c. Livy – 20– d. Plato – 7– e. Sophocles - 100
WHERE WERE THESE COPIES FOUND?
• 1. Different places:– Egypt– Palestine– Syria– Turkey– Greece– Italy
• 2. Such varied locations would make COLLUSION (secret cooperation for deceitful purposes) very difficult.
What is the length of time that passed between the original and
the earliest copies?
• Several PAPYRI FRAGMENTS have been dated to within 50-100 years
• Several nearly complete New Testament GREEK MANUSCRIPTS which were copied within 300-400 years, for example: – Codex Sinaiticus, found near Mt. Sinai – Codex Alexandrinus, found near Alexandria in Egypt
– Codex Vaticanus, located at the Vatican in Rome
Compared with manuscripts of various classical histories:
• "Histories of Thucydides" – – earliest copy is 1300 years removed from the original
• "Histories of Herodotus" – – earliest copy is 1350 years removed from the original
• Caesar's "Gallic War" – – 950 years
• Roman History of Livy – – 350 years (and the earliest copy is only a fragment)
• "Histories" of Tacitus – – 750 years
• "Annals" of Tacitus – – 950 years (and there are only two manuscripts)
WHAT VARIANCES EXIST BETWEEN THE COPIES OF THE
NEW TESTAMENT?
• There are SOME VARIATIONS between the many thousands of manuscripts available– spelling, – differences in phraseology,
• Only 1/2 of one percent is in question (compared to 5 percent for the Illiad)
The New Testament Canon
• 1. Antiquity – – Apostolic in Time - The book under consideration had
to have been in existence from the first decades of Christianity.
• 2. Apostolicity – – Apostolic in Authorship - All or nearly all of our New
Testament books were written by apostles or by people closely connected to the apostles.
• Orthodoxy of Doctrine – – Apostolic in Content – Consistent with other New
Testament Scriptures
F.F. Bruce on the Bible…
• "The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be as beyond all doubt."
Why I Believe in the Bible
• The Everyday Truths found in the Bible
• The Geological Evidence supporting the Bible
• The Prophecies found in the Bible
• The Bibliographical Test of the Bible
• The Credibility of the New Testament authors
Other Questions to consider:• Why would New Testament authors suffer extreme
hardship for a lie?• Why would New Testament authors include
embarrassing or problematic elements?• Why would some authors die as martyrs for a known
lie?• How would we respond to a too consistent gospel,
where the New Testament authors say the same thing word for word?
• Why would the New Testament authors lie so close to the place and times of the events?
• Would liars and frauds create such a book with such high standards?
Why I Believe in the Bible
• The Everyday Truths found in the Bible• The Geological Evidence supporting the
Bible• The Prophecies found in the Bible• The Bibliographical Test of the Bible• The Credibility of the New Testament
authors• The Savior and Teachings found in the
Bible
John 8.42-47• 42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you
would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Works Cited• Constantinou, Eugenia. “Canon of Scripture: Introduction
Who Wrote the Bible?” 2005. Greek Orthodox Diocese of America. 09 July, 2006. from<http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article9549.asp>.
• Copeland, Mark. A. “Christian Apologetics” Archaeological Support for the New Testament 2001. 09, July 2006. from <http://www.churchesofchrist.net/authors/Mark_A_Copeland/ca/ca_05.htm>.
• Copeland, Mark. A. “Christian Apologetics” Manuscript Attestation for the New Testament 2001. 09, July 2006. from <http://www.churchesofchrist.net/authors/Mark_A_Copeland/ca/ca_06.htm>.
• Copeland, Mark. A. “Christian Apologetics” The New Testament: Truth or Lie? 2001. 09, July 2006. from <http://www.churchesofchrist.net/authors/Mark_A_Copeland/ca/ca_07.htm>.
Works Cited• "Hittites." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 8 Jul
2006, 10:50 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 9 Jul 2006 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hittite s&oldid=62707602>.
• Konig, George. “100 Bible prophecies explained:10 fulfilled in 1948” 2006. 100prophecies.org.
09 July, 2006 from <http://www.100prophecies.org/page2.htm>.
• Konig, George. “100 Bible prophecies explained:10 fulfilled: 10 fulfilled long ago” 2006.
100prophecies.org. 09 July, 2006 from <http://www.100prophecies.org/page2.htm>.
• Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ. Grand Rapids Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.
Works Cited• Wood, Bryant. Christians Answers Network.
1995. Associates for Biblical Research. 09 July, 2006. from
<http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a008.html>.
• Wood, Bryant. Christians Answers Network. 2001. Associates for Biblical Research. 09, July, 2006 from
<http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a009.html>.
