Is the Bible Reliable?

JOHN DARMS NOVEMBER 2017

Introductionu Does the Bible inform us about the way the world really is?u In other words, does the Bible correspond to reality (verisimilitude)?u The historical details regarding Jesus have been reliably provided by

the New Testament documents.u Can the survival and growth of Christianity be explained any other

way?u The Gospels are the result of reliable eyewitnesses testimony.u Although the original manuscripts of the New Testament aren’t

available the original can be reconstructed to a high precision.

Bart EhrmanWhat do you suppose happened to the stories [about Jesus] over the years, as they were told and retold, not as disinterested news stories reported by eyewitnesses, but as propaganda meant to convert people to faith, told by people who had themselves heard them fifth- or sixth- or nineteenth-hand? Did you or your kids ever play the telephone game at a birthday party?(Bart Ehrman, Jesus Interrupted, pages 146-147)

Rules for the telephone gameu You must whisperu Can only say it onceu Only one source of informationu The biggest laugh results when you distort the message

What Else does Bart Ehrman Say?“Where, then, did these anonymous Greek-speaking authors living probably outside of Palestine some thirty-five to sixty-five years after the events that they narrate get their information?”(Bart Ehrman, Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium, page 46)

Qualifications for Reliable Witnessu Were the witnesses present?u Multiple witnesses?u Do the details from witnesses match too well?u What corroboration is there for the witnesses?u Are the witnesses consistent and accurate?u Do the witnesses have bias? Money?, Lust? Protect loved one?

Power/Fame?u Embarrassing details?u Are the witnesses self-serving?

Were Jesus & the Disciples Literate?u Jews had high regard for education; especially concerning their scriptureu Jesus was a rabbi who instructed disciplesu Disciples were required to learn and be able to teach others what they had

learned from their rabbi.u Matthew, tax collectoru Luke, physicianu John Mark, family well off (Acts 12:12 ff, Herod Agrippa, James (Zebedee))u John, fishermanu Jesus engaged in theological/scripture debate with religious authoritiesu Jesus appeared to be familiar with Jewish scriptureu Jesus founded movement which produced large body of writings

Were 1st Century Gentiles Literate?u Greek and Aramaic was common in Galileeu Thousands of public inscriptions foundu Graffiti was common throughout the Roman empireu Ostraca was common (Post It note of Roman Empire)u Examples of writing found from slaves, low ranking soldiers, working

class, etc.u City dump of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt had papyri dating from 300 BC to

500 ADu Evidence of Baker and his wife that were literate buried by Mt Vesuvius

What is the Bible?

uWritten over period of 1400 years (1400 BC to 90 AD)uWritten from Italy to Mesopotamiau Genre: history, law, poetry, parable, biography, letters, prophecy,

apocalypticu Diverse authors: fisherman, kings, soldiers, etc.u Writes of virtues, vices, and failings of heroes and peoples

Bible Explains Realityu Why is there something rather than nothing?u Why is there a universe?u Why is there life?u Why are humans great?u Why are humans bad?u What is the purpose of human life?u What is the basis for objective morality?u Should we be moral?u What is the solution for the human problem?u What is the ultimate destiny for humans?

Unique Influence of the Bibleu Raised status of women and childrenu Laid groundwork for democratic forms of governmentu Human freedomu End of slaveryu Scienceu Art, Literature, Music, Architectureu Universitiesu Orphanagesu Hospitalsu Literacy

Matthew Parris Timesonline - 1…And he notes the major worldview differences between Christianity and African tribal beliefs: “Anxiety – fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature and the wild, of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things – strikes deep into the whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place and, call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual spirit, stunting curiosity. People won’t take the initiative, won’t take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.… Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.Matthew Parris from Timesonline December 2008

Matthew Parris - 2…Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God, unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework I’ve just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious to cast off a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it liberates.Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.And I’m afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and the machete.Matthew Parris from Timesonline December 2008

Bible Written and Preserved During Persecution

u Christians accused of cannibalism and incest.u Refused to worship Roman gods.u Secrecy of rituals aroused suspicion.u Sporadic and local persecution before 250 AD.u 250 AD start of empire-wide persecution.

Jesus Crucified

Stephen Stoned

Trajan

Nero

Tiberias

Caligula

Claudius

HerodThe tetrarch

(Antipas)

Herod Agrippa

Herod Agrippa II

Pilate

Marcellus, Marullus

Fadus, Tiberius Alexander, Cumanus

FelixFestusAlbinus,

Florus,Julianus

Death of James (brother of Jesus)

30

40

50

70

60

80

100

90

110

20

Death of James son of Zebedee

Death of PaulDeath of Peter

Pliny the Younger

DomitianChristian & Jewish Persecution

120

130

150

140

160

180

170

190

200

210

220

Marcus AureliusPersecution in Lyon

Death of PolycarpIn Smyrna

Death of Justin Martyr in Rome

Scillitan Martyrs

230

240

250

270

260

280

300

290

310

320

330

ConstantineThe Great

Diocletian

Decius

Valerian

Gallienus

Imperial Edicts

Edict of Milan

Christianity favored religion

Galerius

The New Testament Manuscripts Are An Embarrassment Of Riches

u Stack of manuscripts for average classical writer 4 feet high.u Stack of New Testament manuscripts 1 mile high.

New Testament ManuscriptsLanguage Earliest Manuscripts

Greek 130 AD 5,800

Armenian 862 AD 2,000

Coptic Late 200’s AD 975

Gothic 400 - 600 AD 6

Ethiopian 500’s AD 600

Latin 300’s AD 10,000

Syriac Early 400’s AD 350

Georgian 400’s AD 89

Slavic 900’s AD 4,000

EarlyChurchFather

LivedNew

TestamentCitations

Justin Martyr 100 – 165 AD 300

Irenaeus 130 – 202 AD 1,800

Clement of Alexandria 150 – 215 AD 2,500

Origen 185 – 254 AD 18,000

Tertullian 160 – 220 AD 7,200

Hippolytus 170 – 235 AD 1,300

Eusebius 263 – 339 AD 5,200

Cyprian 200 – 258 AD 1,000

Dan Wallace

What can we conclude from this evidence? New Testament specialist Daniel Wallace notes that although there are about 300,000 individual variations of the text of the New Testament, this number is very misleading. Most of the differences are completely inconsequential--spelling errors, inverted phrases and the like. A side by side comparison between the two main text families (the Majority Text and the modern critical text) shows agreement a full 98% of the time.

Wallace, Daniel, "The Majority Text and the Original Text: Are They Identical?," Bibliotheca Sacra, April-June, 1991, 157-8.

Geisler & Nix

Of the remaining differences, virtually all yield to vigorous textual criticism. This means that our New Testament is 99.5% textually pure. In the entire text of 20,000 lines, only 40 lines are in doubt (about 400 words), and none affects any significant doctrine.

Geisler, Norman L., Nix, William E., A General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 405

John Rylands MS 130 AD

u Fragment from Gospel of John

u Found in Egyptu Traditional location of

original writing Asia Minor

By Papyrologist Bernard Grenfell (1920), as preserved at the John Rylands Library. Photo: courtesy of JRUL. - Papyrus: preserved at the John Rylands Library. Photo: courtesy of JRUL., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2955648

Bodmer Papyrus II 150-200 ADu Most of Gospel of Johnu Purchased from dealer in Egypt 1950’s

and 1960’s

P. Bodmer II, Papyrus 66 (Gregory-Aland), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13296576

Chester Beatty Papyri200 ADu Collection includes 3 papyrus codices

with major portions of NT

u Purchased from dealer in Egypt 1930’s

Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland[1] [2], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2155880

Codex VaticanusAD 325 - 350u Located in Vatican Libraryu Contains almost entire

Bibleu Considered one of the

most trustworthy manuscripts

Codex Vaticanus, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5603242

Codex SinaiticusAD 350

u Obtained from Mt Sinai Monastery by Von Tischendorf

u Contains almost all NT and half the OT

Public Domain

Caiaphas Ossuary• In 1990, Caiaphas name found

(dated A.D. 10-36).• Ossuary – bone box• Jewish High Priest who organized the

plot to have Jesus killed.• Information for Caiaphas life from

New Testament and Josephus

By deror_avi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22215161

Pontius Pilate Inscription

• In 1961, Pilate inscription found (dated A.D. 26-37).

• prefect of the Roman province of Judaea

• Found at Caesarea Maritima, administrative capital of the province

By BRBurton - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22817908

Yehohanan Crucifixion

• By Rubén Betanzo S. -Hombre_de_"Giv'at_ha-Mivtar".jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10053493

• In 1968, building contractors uncovered Jewish tomb with ossuary.

• Yehohanan, a victim of crucifixion discovered.

• Dated between 7 – 70 AD• Spike driven through the bone of the

heel.

Sir William RamsayLuke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy…this author should be placed along with the very greatest historians.- William M. Ramsay, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament, 1915, pg 222

I began with a mind unfavorable to it…but more recently I found myself brought into contact with the Book of Acts as an authority for the topography, antiquities, and society of Asia Minor. It was gradually borne upon me that in various details the narrative showed marvelous truth.- William M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 1897

Archeology I• Papyrus found in Egypt confirms it was common practice for

Rome to have people return to their ancestral homes for a census.

• Luke uses the Greek name strategoi (chief magistrates ) for the rulers of Philippi in Acts 16. Experts said he should have used the term: “duumuir”. Archeology proved Luke right and the experts wrong.

• Acts 14:6: Luke correct in description of Lystra and Derbe.

Archeology II• Acts 17:6: civil magistrates of Thessalonica called politarchs.

Word “politarch” not found elsewhere in classical literature. Inscription eventually found in Thessalonic with “politarch”.

• In Acts 18:4-7 synagogue mentioned in Corinth which has been found.

• In Acts 18:12 critics called Luke wrong in naming Gallio proconsul. Delphic inscription date AD 52 showed Luke to be correct: “Lucius Junius Gallio, my friend, and the proconsul of Achaia”.

Archeology III• Acts 19 Luke describes a riot in Ephesus which ended up in a

theater (verses 29-31). The theater has been uncovered and has room for 25,000 people. Also inscription mentioning silver statues of Artemis (Diana).

• Acts 21:28 Inscription in Jerusalem temple in Greek and Latin forbidding foreigners in the temple.

• Most of the ancient cities mentioned in Acts have been identified via archaeology.

Archeology IV• In Luke 3:1, Luke is correct in mentioning Lysanias, the Tetrarch

of Abilene.• In 1929, Erastus (Romans 16:23), curator of public buildings,

name found in Corinth.• In 1888, Pool of Bethesda discovered• Court where Jesus tried by Pilate discovered recently.

Archeology V• Sceptics once thought that the Gospels must be wrong about

synagogues existing in Judea and Galilee. It was thought, that since the temple still existed, synagogues wouldn’t be necessary.

• Quite a number of synagogues have been excavated (half in the last 25 years)• Capernaum, Gamala, The Herodium, Jericho, Magdala,

Masada, Modein, Qiryat Sefer, Shuafat, Jerusalem• Coins

Non-Christian Witnesses I• Tacitus (b 56 AD) – Roman Senator, historian “Nero substituted as culprits and punished with

the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men loathed for their vices whom the crowd styled Christians. Christus, from whom they got their name, had been executed by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate when Tiberius was emperor.” – Annals, Book 15.

• Josephus (b 37 AD) – Jewish historian “At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good and was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” – Antiquities 18.3.3

Non-Christian Witnesses II• Lucian (b 125) – Greek critic “The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day – the

distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites and was crucified on that account… these misguided creatures … deny the gods of Greece and worship the crucified sage and live after his laws” – The Works of Lucian of Samosata.

• Celsus (2nd century) Greek writer - “Now if the Christians worshipped only one God they might have reason on their side … But as a matter of fact they worship a man who appeared only recently. And their worship of this Jesus is the more outrageous because they refuse to listen to any talk about God, the father of all, unless it includes some reference to Jesus… .And when they call him Son of God, they are not really paying homage to God, rather, they are attempting to exalt Jesus to the heights.” – Contra Celsum.

Non-Christian Witnesses III• Jewish Talmud - “On the eve of Passover Yeshua was hanged … since nothing was brought

forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!” – Sanhedrin 43a.• Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, etc

Names in 1st Century PalestineuName database from NT, Ossuaries, DSS, Josephus.uMatthew 10:2-4 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The

first, Simon (1), who is called Peter, and Andrew(?) his brother; and James(11) the son of Zebedee, and John(5) his brother; Philip(61) and Bartholomew(50); Thomas(?) and Matthew(9) the tax collector; James(11) the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus(39); Simon(1) the Zealot, and Judas(4) Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

uTotally different popularity of names in 1st century Egyptian Jewish culture.

uCompare to non-Canonical Gospels: Thomas, Mary and Judas.Youtube: Dr Peter Williams - New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness AccountsTal Ilan, Lexicon of Jewish Names in Late Antiquity, Part 1 (Mohr Siebeck, 2002)Richard Bauckman, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Eerdmans, 2006)

Did Paul Make Up The Story Of Jesus To Appeal To Gentiles?u How would Gentiles view the founder of a new religion who was

crucified?u Crucifixion totally degraded the sufferer.u 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a

stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

Did Paul Make Up The Story Of Jesus To Appeal To Jews?u How would Jews view the story of a crucified messiah?u Jews expect victorious ruler who would regain Jewish

independence and glory.u Jews expected their messiah to be God’s special emissary.u 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a

stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

Conclusionu Bible alone got it right that the universe has a beginning.u Bible accurately describes human psychology.u The disciples were seriously flawed. (Who’s to be the greatest.

Didn’t understand Jesus teaching.)u The founder was crucified.u The disciples ran away at the crucifixion.u The disciples and early Christians were willing to suffer.u Enemies changed their minds: Paul, James (Jesus brother).u There are multiple witnesses that agree on the important details.

Conclusion IIu The disciples weren’t motivated by money, lust, protection of loved

ones, fame or power.u Women were 1st at the tomb. Compare to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8u Archeology, name studies, non-Christian writings indicate the New

Testament was written by 1st century Palestinian Jews that were eyewitnesses to the events that they write about. Luke, Paul and Mark obtained their information indirectly, but have proven reliable.

u The massive quantity and quality of manuscripts assures us that our New Testament is extremely reliable.

u The survival and growth of Christianity and the church only make sense if the New Testament is true.

u The resurrection is at the heart of this story. Stay tuned.

Death of James son of Zebedee

u In AD 41 Herod Agrippa consolidated poweru He wanted to endear himself to Jewsu He had James put to death by the swordu When he saw that pleased the Jews, he imprisoned

Peter.u Acts 12 (At end of chapter Herod is eaten by worms)u Return to timeline 1st century.

Death of James (brother of Jesus)u According to Josephus

uWhen Festus died (66 AD), there was temporary power vacuum.

uAnnas II, the High Priest, attacked the Jerusalem church.

uHe had James the brother of Jesus and head of the Jerusalem church.

uReturn to timeline 1st century.

Death of Paulu Conversion around 34 AD.u Beginning of 1st missionary journey 47 AD.u Goes to Jerusalem council with Barnabas 49 AD.u 2nd missionary journey 49-50 AD.u Galatians written ~49 – 51 AD.u 1 Thessalonians 51 AD & 2 Thessalonians 52 AD.u 3rd missionary journey 53 AD.u 1 Corinthians 54 AD, 2 Corinthians & Romans 56 AD.u Remaining epistles 60 – 64 AD.u Return to timeline 1st century.

Claudius

u Expels Jews from Rome 49 AD.u Acts 18:2 Aquila (native of Pontus) & Priscilla u Return to timeline 1st century.

Nerou Emperor from 64 – 68 AD.u Suetonius reported Nero caused large fire in Rome.u Tacitus says Nero blamed and tortured Christians for the fire.u Paul beheaded in Romeu Peter crucified in Romeu Return to timeline 1st century.

Pliny the Youngeru Roman governor of Bithynia et Pontusu “they meet on a certain day before light where they gather and

sing hymns to Christ as to a god…they pledge not to commit any crimes such as fraud, theft, or adultery, and subsequently share a meal of ordinary and innocent food“

u Tortured and killed Christians unwilling to renounce Christ.u Return to timeline to 1st century.

Persecution in Lyon & Vienneu Local persecution.u Being Christian considered subversive.u Christian forbidden to appear in public

uAllowed to be mocked, beaten and robbed.u Accused of cannibalism and incest.u Christians tortured.u 48 Christians killed.u Return to timeline 2nd century.

Imperial Edictsu Emperor Decius required all sacrifice for emperor/gods

(AD 250).u Some Christians died rather than sacrifice.u Riots, persecution, massacres against Christians in

Carthage and Alexandria.u Edict rescinded after a year; return to tolerance.u Emperor Valerian renewed edict in 253 AD.u Emperor Gallenius repealed edict in 260-261 AD.u Return to timeline 3rd century.

Diocletian Persecutionu Purged army of Christians starting in 284 AD.u 303 AD start of general persecution of Christians.u Return to timeline 3rd century.