The Bible: A Road Map for Life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Transcription

1 The Bible: A Road Map for Life 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

3 M.A.P.S. Manuscripts How good are the modern copies we have?

4 Other Works of Ancient Literature Ten or more Homer (643) 2nd most copied Tacitus (20) Greatest of all Roman historians Caesar (10) Less than 10 Plato Pliny (the Younger) Herodotus Sophocles Demosthenes Aristotle Thucydides Total = Less than 700

5 Biblical Evidence Ancient Greek manuscripts 5,686 Ancient Latin manuscripts 10,000 Coptic, Ethiopic, Syriac 9,000 Total = 24,686 And growing!

6

7 Variations Various manuscripts are 99.5% identical. The majority of variations include spelling, punctuation, and division of text. No major doctrinal issue can be brought into question.

8 Codex Sinaiticus One of the earliest complete manuscripts of the whole Bible which dates to the early 4 th century (A.D )

9 The Reliability of Scripture Manuscript evidence Eyewitness accounts Luke: I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning. (Lk 1:3) Peter: We did not follow cleverly devised myths but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. (2 Pet 1:16)

10 The Reliability of Scripture Manuscript evidence Eyewitness accounts Early Church leaders Irenaeus, Tertullian, Polycarp, Julius Africanus, Origen, Clement of Rome

11 The Reliability of Scripture Manuscript evidence Eyewitness accounts Early Church leaders Secular historians Josephus (A.D. 100), Suetonius (A.D. 110), Pliny the Younger (A.D. 110), Tacitus (A.D. 120)

12 M.A.P.S. Archaeology Is there real evidence that uncovers the validity of the Bible?

13 Examples Abraham & David, City Gates at Dan

14 Examples Luke/Acts The inscription of Pontius Pilate at the theater in Caesarea

15 Examples The Resurrection of Jesus Christ The empty tomb at Gordon s Calvary

16 The Resurrection It is the most well-attested fact of ancient history. Dr. Simon Greenleaf

17 The Accuracy of the Bible With the Bible you have impeccable history, which has been proven right in hundreds of details and never proven wrong, and it is written within one generation while eye-witnesses were still alive and could have disputed it if it were exaggerated or false. Colin J. Hemer

18 The Accuracy of the Bible The confirmation of its history [the Bible] is overwhelming, and any attempt to reject its basic historicity must now appear absurd. A.N. Sherwin-White

19 The Accuracy of the Bible Critics of the New Testament are prearchaeological and their views are quite antiquated. William F. Albright

20 M.A.P.S. Prophecy How should we understand the predictive nature of the Bible?

21 Qumran & The Dead Sea Scrolls The Isaiah Scroll

22 Septuagint (LXX)

23 Bible Prophecy about Jesus Genesis a descendant of Abraham, born of a virgin Micah born in Bethlehem Isaiah crucified between criminals, buried with the rich Psalms hands and feet would be pierced, soldiers would gamble for clothes Zechariah bones would not be broken

24 Bible Prophecy Predictive prophecy is a principle of Bible reliability and is so convincing that it is capable of reaching and convincing even the hard-boiled skeptic, if they will only do the research and the investigation.

25 M.A.P.S. Statistics Is it statistically possible to explain this by human effort?

26 The Writing of the Bible Written over a span of 1,600 years, by some forty authors, most who had never met, using three languages, on separate continents, covering hundreds of subjects and yet there is one consistent, non-contradictory theme.

27 The Death of the Disciples All of the disciples (with the exception of John) died as martyrs for their faith each having the opportunity to deny their faith.

28 M.A.P.S. Manuscripts, archaeology, prophecy and statistics not only chart a secure course through the turnpikes of skepticism, but demonstrate that the Bible is divine in origin.

29 1 Peter 3:15 In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (ESV)

30 The Bible: A Road Map for Life Will you let it determine the course of your life?

31 Next Steps: