Post on 11-Nov-2014
description
Question Time
1
?Should we be personally convinced of the validity of an apologetic argument to use it with someone?
?Is it worth specialising in a particular worldview – researching it thoroughly to develop good apologetics?
Principles of apologetics
Truth
1
correspond to reality
coherent
relevant
biblical
Grace
2
gentleness
respect
openness
Witness
3
move towards Christ
live and speak with integrity
leave people wanting more
make use of others
keep learning
trust the Holy Spirit to work
pray!
?Has Christianity taken a number of its core beliefs from first-century mithraism?
Who is Mithras?
Mithra = Persian god
Mithras = Roman god
heroic slayer of a sacred bull
‘born of a virgin’
born from a rock
born on 25 December
Jesus wasn’t born on 25 December
Mithraic festivals in summer
Messianic figure
no evidence
twelve disciples
two companions
offered eternal life
only one reference
‘. . . and us, too, you saved by spilling the eternal blood . . .’
200 AD
miracles
which ones?
bread & wine sacrament
bread & wine were staples
who’s copying?
earliest evidence of Mithraism in ~AD 80
?What about the Bible?
Gospels – internal evidence
historical accuracy
unexpected details
honesty of the authors
issues raised
Gospels – external evidence
Jesus
Died AD 30; 9 authors—most writing independently; Gospels written before AD 70
Emperor Tiberius
Died AD 371 author: Tacitus wrote around AD 110
Alexander the Great
Died 323 BC1 author: Arrian wrote around AD 130
Gospels – external evidence
Early Christian writers quoted from the Gospels
• Clement (AD 96) refers to Matthew, Mark & Luke
• Ignatius (AD 108) refers to all four gospels
• Polycarp (AD 110) refers to all four gospels
• Josephus (AD 90)
• Pliny (AD 98-117)
• Tacitus (AD 110)
• Suetonius (AD 120)
Evidence for the whole Bible
Jesus’s view of the Old Testament
The Bible’s claims for itself
Fulfilled prophecies
The Bible’s unity
Changed lives
www.tonywatkins.org
twitter.com/tonywatkins_
facebook.com/tonywatkinspage