The Credibility of the Bible

The Facts: A book is credible if it is truthful on the subject it describes.

If the current book differs from the original, it is said to be corrupted.

Therefore, in order for a book to be credible it has to be truthful on what it presents and the text must be unchanged.

1. The Credibility of the Books of the O.T.

1. 1. The proof from Christ’s acceptance of the O.T

a. Jesus quoted and endorsed many teachings of the O.T.

1) the creation of the universe by God (Mark 13:19)

2) the direct creation of man (Matt 9:4)

3) the person of Satan and his promotion of evil

4) the destruction of the world by a flood in the days of Noah

5) the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

6) the rescue of Lot

7) the burning bush

that Moses was the author of the first 5 books (Pentateuch)

9) manna in the wilderness

10) the existence of the tabernacle

11) Jonah and the big fish

12) the unity of Isaiah

b. If Jesus was God in flesh – he would speak the truth of past events

1) His testimony must be accepted as true or He must be rejected as a religious teacher

1. 1. The proof from history and archaeology

a. The O.T. accounts of life in Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, etc corresponds to history

b. It mentions rulers and is accurate on their names, positions and the matches them correctly to the nation they ruled

c. Archaeology gives us many confirmations of the Biblical accounts:

1) Babylonian “Epic of Creation”

2) Babylonian legends of ‘the fall’

3) Tablet in Babylon containing account of a worldwide flood

4) Battle of the kings (Gen 14) confirmed

5) Hieroglyphics confirm writing before Abraham

6) Archaeology confirms Jews in Egypt

7) The Hittites (Asia Minor and Palestine)

Tel el-Amarna (Judges)

9) Archaeology is continuing…

1. The Credibility of the Books of the N.T.

1. 1. The writers of the N.T. were capable

a. qualified to testify

1) Matthew, Peter, John – eyewitnesses

2) Mark, interpreter of Peter

3) Luke, companion of Paul

4) James and Jude were brothers of Christ

b. wrote through empowerment of the Holy Spirit, not just from memory

1. 1. The writers of the N.T. were honest

a. Moral tone, regard for truth, circumstances of their accounts: prove integrity

b. What was their motive? Endangered social standing, prosperity, and lives

1. 1. The writings harmonize (to be compatible or in correspondence)

a. The Gospels complement one another

1) GoJ can be fitted with 1^st three Gospels

2) Acts sets the backdrop for 10 of Paul’s epistles

3) Hebrews, the epistles, and Revelation fit in the 1^st century

b. Doctrines of the N.T. harmonize

1) Christ is called deity throughout

2) Paul and James do not contradict (emphasis)

3) Unfolding of doctrine NOT contradiction

4) 27 books of N.T. present harmonious picture of Jesus

1. 1. Their accounts agree with history and experience

a. Many references to contemporary history in the N.T.

1) census when Quirinius was governor (Lk 2:2)

2) The acts of the Herod’s

b. Experience

1) If you grant the experience of a personal, loving, omnipotent, loving God, miracles are not only possible but probable

2) Miracles further confirm God’s revelation