Reasons (Part 2) Is the Bible Authentic and Accurate?

The Bible is one of the most revered and yet the most hated book ever written.

"For eighteen centuries every engine of destruction that human science, philosophy,

wit, reasoning or brutality could bring to bear against a book has been brought to bear against

that book to stamp it out of the world, but it has a mightier hold on the world today than

ever before. If that were man's book it would have been annihilated and forgotten hundreds

of years ago..."(R.A. Torrey, 1856-1928)

What The Bible Claims For Itself

2 Timothy 3:16,1716 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What The Bible Claims For Itself

2 Peter 1:20,2120 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

When was the Bible written and in what languages?

The Old Testament books were written in the Hebrew and Aramaic languages between about

1400 BC and 400 BC, a period of 1000 years!


All the New Testament books were written in Greek between about 50 A.D. and 95 A.D., a

period of only 45 years.


The Bible consists of a total of 66 books- 39 OT books, 27 NT books, with about 40 different authors, many of whom who never met each

other.

How has the Bible been transmitted down to us over thousands of years?

papyrus or leather scroll

Codex : book made of sheets of papyrus or vellum (animal skin)

How has the Bible been transmitted down to us over thousands of years?

The text of particular books were copied for hundreds of years

Ancient Manuscript CredentialsRecord Number of Manuscripts Time Gap

Plato (424 BC - 347 BC) 250 manuscripts known to exist

1,300 to 1,600 years (medieval manuscripts mainly from 9th-13th

century AD)

The History of Thucydides (460-400 B.C.) (Greek historian)

8 manuscripts known to exist

1,300 years

Herodotus (Greek historian) 8 manuscripts known to exist

1,300 years

Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC) Greek philosopher

1450 years

The Bible : Number of Manuscripts & Time Gap

Malachi, last book of OT completed400 BC

Entire OT translated from Hebrew to Greek200 BC

Oldest known copies of the OT in Hebrew (initially) Massoretic Text (Jewish Scribes Massoretes)

900 AD

1,300 year time gap


The Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

1947



caves in the cliffs above Wadi Qumran, near the Dead Sea



leather scrolls wrapped in linen cloth in clay jars



The Dead Sea Scrolls included scrolls of every book of the Old Testament except Esther, all copied prior to

the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.,



leather scroll of the complete book of Isaiah dated 100 to 200 B.C.

It had rested in the cave undisturbed for more than 2000 years.



This copy of the book of Isaiah varied from the earlier text of Isaiah only insignificantly.

In other words, the book of Isaiah remains essentially unchanged after more than 2000 years!!


Malachi, last book of OT completed400 BC

Oldest known copies of the OT in Hebrew (initially) Massoretic Text900 AD

Dead Sea Scrolls (found in 1947), written by the Essenes Jews

150 BCto 70 AD

Isaiah, written750 BC

250 year time gap


Record Number of Manuscripts

Time Gap

Old Testament Over 10,000 150 years

New Testament Over 24,000 50 years


Works by Plato and Aristotle- very few copies exist at all, and those were written 1,200 to 1,400 years after the autographs. If these ancient works are considered

"unquestionably authentic“, how much more the Bible!

The Bible : Copyist Errors?

Eminent Greek scholar F. J. A. Hort wrote, "Apart from insignificant variations of grammar or spelling, not more than one thousandth part

of the whole New Testament is affected by differences of reading."

Jesus on the Authority of the Old Testament

Jesus affirmed the truthfulness of our Old Testament text that we have today.

Accuracy (Inerrancy) of the Bible

First, The law of non-contradiction in logical thinking, states that a thing cannot be both A

and Non-A at the same time.

A difference is not a contradiction unless it satisfies this law.

Accuracy (Inerrancy) of the Bible

Secondly, sufficient background information and research helps clear up difficult passages.

The Bible - Not Just Another Book

the Bible is consistent and coherent.It amazing unity points to one Source - God as

its author!

#1, Its Unity


Archeologist Dr. Nelson Glueck : "No archeological discovery has ever

controverted a biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which

confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible".

#2, Its Historical and Archeological Accuracy


48 major Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah

The chance that any man might have lived and fulfilled all 8 prophecies is 1 in 10^17; yet the

chance that any one man fulfilled all 48 prophecies is an astounding 1 in 10^157.

#3, Its fulfilled Prophecy


#4, Its Indestructibility


#5, Its Christ-centeredness

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.


#6, Its Teachings

2 Timothy 3:16,1716 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.


#7, Its Life Transforming Power

The Bible - is God's voice to us

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners,

and the happiness of believers.


Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are

immutable.


Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.


It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the

Christian’s charter.

Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed.


Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and

prayerfully.


It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.


It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who

trifle with its sacred contents.

The Bible is God's voice to us!

What will you do with the Word of God, the Bible?

Reasons (Part 2) Is the Bible Authentic and Accurate?

Spiritual

Transcript of Reasons (Part 2) Is the Bible Authentic and Accurate?