Is the Bible Trustworthy?

Sermon Outline Bible Facts Accuracy Lost in Translations? Preservation of the Text Evidence of the Bible’s Truthfulness from:

Science Archeology/History Prophecy

Summary

Bible Facts

66 books written by 40 authors over 1,600 years Remarkable consistency in themes and doctrine Inspired: “All Scripture is breathed out by God

and is profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction, an for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Most popular book ever written with annual sales estimated at 100,000,000

Important book in understanding the world

Bible Facts

Foundation for Christianity Describes God, His purpose and eternal timeline, His

creation, and His relationships to creation Defines wrong and consequences; right and blessings The story of Christ and the eternal salvation He

provides Autographs have been lost Hand copied until 1454 when the printing press

was discovered Translated into many languages. Many

translations in some languages So, is the Bible as it presently exists trustworthy?

Accuracy Lost In Translations?

Have we lost the original text been lost in the string of many translations each based on the last translation?

Results of the telephone game Fact: All credible translations are based

on translations of the original languages. Key; use the most reliable manuscripts

possible

Old Testament Preservation

The Talmudim A.D. 100-500 The Massorettes A.D. 500-900 Prior to 1947, the oldest existing

manuscript was from the 9th century Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls dated

around 100 B.C. allowed us to check accuracy Result : 95% identical, with only minor

variations

Old Testament Preservation

The Talmudim A.D. 100-500 The Massorettes A.D. 500-900 Prior to 1947, the oldest existing

manuscript was from the 9th century Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls dated

around 100 B.C. allowed us to check accuracy Result : 95% identical, with only minor

variations

Textual Criticism

Three reliability criteria Number of manuscripts available Time interval between date of autograph and

copy Quality of the manuscript

Comparing Manuscripts of Key Literary Works

AuthorBook

When Written

Earliest Copy

Time Span # of copies

CaesarGallic Wars

100-44 BC AD 900 1,000 years 10

PlatoTetralogies

427-347 BC

AD 900 1,200 years 7

TacitusAnnal/Histories

AD 100 AD 1100 1,000 years 20

Thucydides Peloponnesian

460-400 BC

AD 900 1,300 years 8

Aristotle De Anima, etc.

384-322 BC

AD 900 1,400 years 49

Homer The Iliad

900 BC 400 BC 500 years 643

Nine Authors New Testament

AD 40-100 AD 125 25 years 24,000

Summary: Quality of Manuscripts and Today’s Resulting Bible

Scholarly accuracy and reliability of the Bible is far superior to all other historical literature

“The last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed.” Sir Frederick Kenyon, former Director of the British Museum

Summary: Quality of Manuscriptsand Today’s Resulting Bible

Only 400 words (0.5%) in the New Testament are in question. Variants for these words are slight. No doctrine is affected by the differences

“The purity of the text is of such a substantial nature that nothing we believe to be true, and nothing we are commanded to do, is in any way jeopardized by any variants.” D. A. Carson, New Testament Greek scholar

Jesus Thoughts of the Quality of the Old Testament

“ For truly I say unto you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota , not an dot , will pass from the Law until it is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18

Evidence the Bible is True:From Science

What the Bible says:

What people thought:

What we now know:

Earth is a sphere Earth is a flat disc Earth is a sphere

Millions of stars 1,100 stars Millions of stars

Every star is different All stars are the same Every star is different

Light is in motion Light is fixed in place Light is in motion

Air has weight Air is weightless Air has weight

Winds blow in cyclones

Winds blow straight Winds blow in cyclones

Blood is the source of life and is healing

Sick people must be bled

Blood is the source of life and is healing

Evidence the Bible is True:From Science

Science now thinks the earth’s origin happened suddenly…The Big Bang; and development of life happened about in the order seen in Genesis

Bible describes: Conservation of mass and energy Water cycle of evaporation, condensation and

precipitation Gravity Effect of emotions on physical health Spread of contagious disease by close contact Importance of sanitation to health

Evidence the Bible Is True:From Archeology/History

25,000 archeological excavations support the trustworthiness of the Bible by collaborating Biblical accounts

Mari, Nuzi and Alalakh Hazor, Gezer, Megiddo and Jerusalem Jericho Pool of Bethesda Luke’s account of rulers, officials and

events

Evidence the Bible Is True:From Archeology/History

25,000 archeological excavations support the trustworthiness of the Bible by collaborating Biblical accounts

Mari, Nuzi and Alalakh Hazor, Gezer, Megiddo and Jerusalem Jericho Pool of Bethesda Luke’s account of rulers, officials and

events

Evidence the Bible is True:Prophecy

Fulfilled prophecy makes the Bible totally unique

Fulfilled prophecy helps to prove the Godly origin and truthfulness of the Bible

1,239 prophecies in the OT and 578 in the NT

Biblical standard for a prophet; 100% accuracy

When prophets spoke the people acknowledged that God was speaking to them

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy of Christ

His conception Isaiah 7:14 (735 B.C.) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

His birth Micah 5:2 (750-735 B.C.) “But you, O Bethlehem …, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you will come forth for me one who is to be a ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, form the ancient of days.”

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy of Christ

His betrayal Zechariah 11:12-13 ( 530 B.C) “I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.”

His death Psalm 22:12-18 ( King David 1000 B.C.) “Many bulls encompass me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones and they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy of Christ

His betrayal Zechariah 11:12-13 ( 530 B.C) “I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.”

His death Psalm 22:12-18 ( King David 1000 B.C.) “Many bulls encompass me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones and they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy on Tyre

Who will conquer Tyre? Other nations will take part in the

conquest Tyre will be flat like the top of a rock Tyre will become a place to spread nets Tyre’s stones and timber will be laid in the

sea Other cities would fear because of Tyre’s

destruction Tyre will not be rebuilt

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy on Tyre

Ezekiel 26:3-5,7,12,14,16 (590 B.C.) 3-5. “therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers, and I will scrap her soil from her and make her a bare rock. She shall be in the midst of the sea a place for the spreading of nets, for I have spoken, declares the Lord God, And she shall become plunder for the nations. 7. For thus says the Lord God; “Behold, I will bring against Tyre, from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a host of many soldiers. 12. They will plunder your riches

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy on Tyre

Ezekiel 26:3-5,7,12,14,16 (590 B.C.) and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. Your stones and timber and soil they will cast into the midst of the waters. 14. I will make you a bare rock. You shall be a place for the spreading of nets. You shall never be rebuilt for I am the Lord; I have spoken, declares the Lord God. 16. Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and strip off the embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment and be appalled at you.

Evidence the Bible is True:From Prophecy on Tyre

Who will conquer Tyre Other nations will take part in the

conquest Tyre will be flat like the top of a rock Tyre will become a place to spread nets Tyre’s stones and timber will be laid in the

sea Other cities would fear because of Tyre’s

destruction Tyre will not be rebuilt

Summary The number of translations does not impact

accuracy The Bible has been very carefully preserved

and is the benchmark for accuracy and reliability

The truthfulness of the Bible is supported by Science Archeology Prophecy

Amazing trustworthy book What will you do with the truth of Scripture?

Summary The number of translations does not impact

accuracy The Bible has been very carefully preserved

and is the benchmark for accuracy and reliability

The truthfulness of the Bible is supported by Science Archeology Prophecy

Amazing trustworthy book What will you do with the truth of Scripture?