Transcript Say What?” Series: Can We Trust the Bible?

“Say What?” Series:
Can We Trust the Bible?
Trent Gerig
Bradley University Class of 2000
What is the Bible?
 Written over the course of 1600 years
 Forty different authors
 Three different languages
 Three different continents
Literary Styles
 Law
 Poetry
 History
 Genealogy
 Letters
 Prophesy
The Old Testament
Words were written from right to left
No vowels were used
No spaces or punctuation
Written in Hebrew and Aramaic
NTHBGNNNGGDCRTDTHHVNSNDTHRTH
New Testament
No spaces or punctuation
Written in all capital letters
Greek Language
INTHEBEGINNINGWASTHEWORDANDT
HEWORDWASWITHGODANDTHEWORD
WASGOD
How can we trust the Bible?
 Manuscripts
 Archeology
 Prophesy
Old Testament Manuscripts
 Earliest complete Hebrew Bible dates at
1000 A.D.
 Texts were copied by the Massoretes
 Copying was very detailed
 The copy was considered as good as the
original
Dead Sea Scrolls
 Discovered in 1947 by a shepherd boy near
Jericho
 Contain parts of every book except Ester
 Dated to about 100 B.C.
 The book of Isaiah is 95% agreeable to texts
1100 years older
 The other 5% is spelling mistakes and
grammar
New Testament Manuscripts
About 5500 Greek texts in existence
Fragments are dated to within 50 years
Complete books to within 100 years
Significance: Biblical passages, especially
the Gospels, were written when
eyewitnesses were available to refute them
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories
when we told you about the power and
coming our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were
eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16
Conservative Original Dates
 Paul's letters: A.D. 50-66
 Matthew: A.D. 70-80
 Mark: A.D. 50-60
 Luke: early 60's
 John: A.D. 80-100
New Testament Manuscripts
The entire NT could be reproduced by
quotes of the early church fathers
36, 289 total quotes before 325 A.D.
The church canon was well accepted far
before the Council of Nicea.
Archeology
 “No archaeological discovery has ever
controverted a Biblical reference” Nelson
Gluek, Jewish Archeologist
 The book of Acts has been proven to be
historically accurate in regards to locations
and names
Old Testament Archeology
 Elba tablets were discovered from 1900 B.C.
 Confirm the accuracy of kingdoms written
about by Moses in Genesis 14
 The walls of Jericho were discovered to have
fallen outward, possibly due to an earthquake
 This corresponds with Joshua 6 that describes
the conquering of the city
Prophesy
 There are over 300 prophesies of Jesus in
the Old Testament
 The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm that these
were written prior to Christ's birth
 The book of Isaiah contains 30 specific
prophesies and this book is completely
preserved prior to Christ
Sanctify them by the truth; your word
is truth. John 17:17
The words of the Lord are flawless.
Psalms 12:6
All scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in
righteousness. 2 Tim 3:16
What is so important?
 The Bible continues to be proven correct in
light of recent discoveries
 If Bible is correct on these small, seemingly
insignificant points, what about the major
points?
 Shouldn’t we try to read and understand it?
If you already believe
 READ IT!!
 Study it
 Memorize it
 Understand it
 Belong to a church that makes you open it
What does the Bible say to us?
 Man was created by God
So God created man in His own image,
In the image of God He created him;
Male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27
What does the Bible say about
sin?
 Sin came into this world through Adam and
Eve
 We all share in this sin and continue to be
sinful
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God. Romans 3:23
 Because of sin, we will experience a physical
death and a spiritual death
For the wages of sin is death,
Romans 6:23
How can we avoid the spiritual
death?
But the gift of God is eternal life.
Romans 6:23
He (the Philippian jailer) then brought them out
and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and
you will be saved – you and your household.”
Acts 16:30-31
Grow in the Grace of God
 Begin to walk in God’s Word and grow
deeper in knowledge and relationship with
Him
Your Word is a lamp to my feet And a light for
my path. Psalms 119:105