Questions about the Bible

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1 Questions about the Bible ich Knopp, Ph.D. Prof. of Philosophy & hristian pologetics Director, WorldViewyes incoln hristian University aturday, June 8, 13

2 ntroduction. iracles & Jesus (last session) Biblical claims Purpose of miracles ypes of miracles - reation - ustenance - oincidence - Predictive - uspension aturday, June 8, 13

3 ntroduction B. he resurrection of Jesus ttested facts to explain - rucifixion - Disciples fear & subsequent boldness - Burial in a new and named tomb yewitness accounts esurrection appearances - ver 40 days on at least 10 different occasions. aturday, June 8, 13

4 Post-esurrection appearances ary & ary agdalene Peter leopas and friend postles without homas postles with homas t the ake of iberias (ea of Galilee) o 500 James he eleven apostles in Galilee aul aturday, June 8, 13

5 he esurrection of Jesus Jesus disciples did expect is resurrection. Jewish beliefs: resurrection at the D of the world. G resurrection, not an DVDU resurrection (see Jn 11:24). mplausible alternative explanations: ot really dead Wrong tomb Wish-fulfillment hallucinations arly church fabricated it Jesus resurrection mimicked the mystery religions aturday, June 8, 13

6 aturday, June 8, 13 Why hould rust t?

7 . keptic laims. Bible purely human B. Pentateuch: uch later than oses. o predictive prophecies D. Gospels Unreliable Jesus, a legend Jesus & hristianity constructed from ystery eligions aturday, June 8, 13

8 Problems with inks to ystery eligions hronological problems onceptual problems e.g. siris aturday, June 8, 13

9 . keptic laims. ancient Gospels e.g. Gospel of homas; Gospel of Peter; Gospel of ary F. opies of original writings are unreliable. aturday, June 8, 13

10 . Bible s haracter & laims. God s revelation: any different ways (eb 1:1) B. God s revelation: ncarnate in hrist. - Jn 1:1,14 n the beginning was the Word... - ol 1:15... the image [icon] of the invisible God... - eb 1:1-3 he on is the exact representation [charakter] of his nature. aturday, June 8, 13

11 . Bible s haracter & laims. cripture - oses wrote (x 17:14; 24:3-4; Deut 31:24-26). - eferences to scripture or it is written (att 4). - 2 Pet 3: our beloved Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you... some things are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the criptures... aturday, June 8, 13

12 . Bible s haracter & laims. cripture - yewitness testimony and inspiration Jn 20: these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the hrist, the on of God... 1 Jn 1:3 What we have seen and heard we proclaim... hese things we write... aturday, June 8, 13

13 . Bible s haracter & laims. cripture - yewitness testimony and inspiration 2 Pet 1: 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our ord Jesus hrist, but we were eyewitnesses of is majesty. 17 For when e received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to im by the ajestic Glory, his is y beloved on with whom am well-pleased 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with im on the holy mountain. 19 o we have the prophetic word made more sure, But know this first of all, that no prophecy of cripture is a matter of one s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the oly pirit spoke from God. aturday, June 8, 13

14 . Bible s haracter & laims. cripture - yewitness testimony and inspiration 2 im 3: You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in hrist Jesus. 16 ll cripture is inspired [theopneustos] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. [theo = God pneustos = breathed] aturday, June 8, 13

15 . Bible s istorical Framework aturday, June 8, 13

16 D PD - W PD G Y P B c B c. 600 Y G Y P B D G 1450 B or 1250 B c. 450 Y ( 13:19-21) anaan onquest JUDG U (JUDG 2:16) aul (40) Y [1065 B..] c. 120 Y David (. 8:5ff) (40) (40) he Bible s istorical Framework by Dr. ich Knopp olomon P J KGD B Divided Kingdom 931 B J Defeated by ssyria 722 B U KGD JUD?945?/ B Z K eturn to Jerusalem 538 B emple ebuilt 516 B aptivity by Babylonia 586 B 400 B B 167 B F D V [ B ome of Jerusalem exiled 605 B (e.g. Daniel) Z P B F [4 B..] 63 B D14 Jesus U G U U 30 P (cts 2) G 1 Destruction of Jerusalem D70 K U K W D J V aturday, June 8, 13

17 D PD - W PD G Y P B c B c. 600 Y G Y P B D G 1450 B or 1250 B c. 450 Y ( 13:19-21) anaan onquest JUDG U (JUDG 2:16) aul (40) Y [1065 B..] c. 120 Y (. 8:5ff) (40) (40) he Bible s istorical Framework by Dr. ich Knopp David olomon P J KGD B Divided Kingdom 931 B U KGD JUD?945?/ B J Defeated by ssyria 722 B Z K eturn to Jerusalem 538 B emple ebuilt 516 B aptivity by Babylonia 586 B 400 B B 167 B F D V [ B ome of Jerusalem exiled 605 B (e.g. Daniel) Z P B F [4 B..] 63 B D14 Jesus U G U U 30 P (cts 2) G 1 Destruction of Jerusalem D70 K U K W D J V aturday, June 8, 13

18 D PD - W PD G Y P B c B c. 600 Y G Y P B D G 1450 B or 1250 B c. 450 Y ( 13:19-21) anaan onquest JUDG U (JUDG 2:16) (40) Y [1065 B..] c. 120 Y (. 8:5ff) (40) (40) J PU 1600 years - 66 books - c. 40 writers - 3 languages - various literary styles verall oherence and Unity of God s essage aul he Bible s istorical Framework by Dr. ich Knopp David olomon KGD B in your seed... (Gen 22:18; Gal 3:16) U KGD JUD?945?/ B J Defeated by ssyria 722 B Z K eturn to Jerusalem 538 B emple ebuilt 516 B aptivity by Babylonia 586 B 400 B V B [ B ome of Jerusalem exiled 605 B (e.g. Daniel) throne forever (2 am 7:16) Divided Kingdom 931 B blood of the covenant (x 24; t 26:28) P Z 167 B F D P B F [4 B..] 63 B D14 Jesus U G U U 30 P (cts 2) G 1 Destruction of Jerusalem D70 K U K W D J V aturday, June 8, 13

19 V. Dates of arliest ew estament Writings. Paul s essage B. Gospel accounts - ark - uke - atthew - John aturday, June 8, 13

20 { { { Y W Jesus crucified and raised. Jesus appearances & ascension Pentecost preaching (cts 2) aul s conversion (c. 34) Paul s 1st mission trip Gallio nscription (cts 18:12-17) ouncil at Jerusalem Paul arrested in Jerusalem Paul s 2nd mission trip Paul s 3rd mission trip Paul executed in ome Paul s 1st visit to Jerusalem (37-40) 1 hess. Galatians 2 hess. 2 or. ark uke cts 1 or. atthew omans aturday, June 8, 13

21 V. Dates of arliest ew estament Writings Gospels of ark & uke ot apostles but close associates of Peter and Paul. postle John > Polycarp > renaeus ( ) - renaeus: ark a disciple and interpreter of Peter and uke the attendant of Paul Papias (c ) - Papias: ark had become the interpreter of Peter - usebius ( ): ark was a follower of Peter and ark s Gospel obtained the sanction of his [Peter s] authority (cclesiastical istory, Book 2, ch. 15). aturday, June 8, 13

22 V. omparative vidence of ncient Document opies. omparisons of ancient texts and their earliest copies aturday, June 8, 13

23 UP P ther Docs omplete.. ost of Fragments ,200 1, ,300 Years from the riginal Writings to the arliest opies # of opies 0 omer Plato ristotle aesarhucydides > 5,600 aturday, June 8, 13

24 V. omparative vidence of ncient Document opies B. ignificant early biblical papyri and manuscripts aturday, June 8, 13

25 V. omparative vidence of ncient Document opies ylands Papyrus : P52 D Jn 18:31-33 and Jn 19:37-38 (back) aturday, June 8, 13

26 V. omparative vidence of ncient Document opies hester Beatty Papyrus (P46) D150 2 or 11:33-12:9 aturday, June 8, 13

27 Bodmer Papyri (discovered 1952 in gypt) Bodmer Papyri odex ost of Gospel of John Bodmer P D e.g. John 1:1-6:11 etc. aturday, June 8, 13

28 V. ome.. onnections with ther ncient Writers on-hristian Witnesses Josephus (37-100), Jewish historian acitus (55-117), oman historian eutonius (69-122), oman historian and mperor adrian s court official Josephus, ntiquities of the Jews aturday, June 8, 13

29 iterary ntersections Date vent ew estament on-biblical D6-7 evolt of Judas cts 5:37 Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census a Galilean Judas incited his countrymen to revolt (Josephus, Jewish War 2:118). xecution of John the Baptist k 6:14-29; att 14:1-12 erod had John arrested had John beheaded... ow, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of erod s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; for erod slew him (Josephus, Jewish ntiquities 18:116). aturday, June 8, 13

30 iterary ntersections Date vent ew estament on-biblical D30 Jesus crucifixion f. k 15:15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed im over to be crucified. t this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus... Pilate condemned him... to the cross (Josephus, Jewish ntiquities, 18:3). D44 Death of grippa f. cts 12: n an appointed day erod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat he people kept crying out, he voice of a god and not of a man! 23 nd immediately an angel of the ord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. lad in a garment woven completely of silver he entered the theatre at daybreak. is flatterers addressed him as a god the king did not rebuke him felt a stab of pain in his heart after five days... he departed this life (Jewish ntiquities 19: ). aturday, June 8, 13

31 iterary ntersections Date vent ew estament on-biblical D49 xpulsion of Jews from ome f. cts 18:2 nd he [Paul] found a Jew named quila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from taly with his wife Priscilla, because laudius had commanded all the Jews to leave ome. "ince the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of hrestus, he expelled them from ome (eutonius, he ife of laudius 25, 4) aturday, June 8, 13 James, brother of Jesus, killed arly leader of Jerusalem church (cts 15:13-29; Gal 2:9-10) and the ord s brother (k 6:3; Gal 1:19). [nanus] assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called hrist, whose name was James, and delivered them to be stoned; (Josephus, Jewish ntiquities, 20, ch. 9:200)

32 V. ome.. onnections with ther ncient Writers arly itations & eferences lement, bishop of ome (92-101): ites from atthew, John, & 1 orinthians. gnatius (c. 110): eferred to X of Paul s epistles. Polycarp (69-155): Disciple of apostle John. Quotes from FU Gospels, cts, and various epistles of Paul. ote able of other hurch Fathers (handout) aturday, June 8, 13

33 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ld estament Black belisk of halmaneser (cf. 2 Kings 9-10) Discovered 1846 in alah (Gen 10:11-12) halmaneser, ssyrian king ( B), receives tribute from Jehu, son of mri and King of srael (841 B). he tribute of Jehu, son of mri: received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears. aturday, June 8, 13

34 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts Jehu bowing before halmaneser aturday, June 8, 13

35 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ld estament he oabite tone (c. 850 B; cf. 2 Kings 3:4-5) Discovered 1868; 4x2 feet. esha king of oab who rebelled against king of srael entions name of Yahweh and possibly the house of David. aturday, June 8, 13

V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ld estament ennacherib s Prism (cf. 2 Kings 18-19; 2 hron 32; sa 36-37) ssyrian king (705-681 B) iege of Jerusalem entions ezekiah, king of Judah, like a caged bird.

36 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ld estament ennacherib s Prism (cf. 2 Kings 18-19; 2 hron 32; sa 36-37) ssyrian king ( B) iege of Jerusalem entions ezekiah, king of Judah, like a caged bird... 2 Kings 18:9 ow in the fourth year of King ezekiah, which was the seventh year of oshea son of lah king of srael, halmaneser king of ssyria came up against amaria and besieged it. aturday, June 8, 13

37 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ld estament yrus ylinder (cf. zra 1:1-3; 6:3; 2 hron 3:23; sa 44:28) Discovered 1879 in Babylon ruins yrus, Persian King (539- ) llowed subjected peoples to return home. >>> eturn to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the temple. aturday, June 8, 13

Discovered 1961 o the Divine ugusti [this] iberieum.

38 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ew estament he Pilate tone (cf. k 3:1) Pilate (ruled Judaea 26-36) 2x3 limestone inscription Discovered 1961 o the Divine ugusti [this] iberieum... Pontius Pilate... prefect of Judea... had dedicated... aturday, June 8, 13

39 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ew estament Pool of Bethesda (cf. John 5:1-5) Jn 5:2 ow there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in ebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes Discovered feet underground 5 Porticoes aturday, June 8, 13

40 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ew estament Pool of Bethesda (cf. John 5:1-5) Jn 5:2 ow there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in ebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes Discovered feet underground 5 Porticoes aturday, June 8, 13

V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ew estament aiaphas ssuary Discovered 1990.

41 V. ome rchaeological rtifacts ew estament aiaphas ssuary Discovered ertified as genuine in 2011 (srael xploration Journal, vol. 61). iriam daughter of Yeshua son of aiaphus, priest of aaziah from Beth mri. aturday, June 8, 13

42 Questions about the Bible. keptic laims. Bible s haracter & laims. Bible s istorical Framework V. Dates of arliest ew estament Books V. omparative vidence of ncient Document opies V. ew estament onnections to other ncient Writings V. rchaeological onnections aturday, June 8, 13

43 Questions about the Bible ich Knopp, Ph.D. Prof. of Philosophy & hristian pologetics Director, WorldViewyes incoln hristian University aturday, June 8, 13

Session 4: Questions about the Bible

Session 4: Questions about the Bible Richard A. Knopp, Ph.D. Email: rknopp@lincolnchristian.edu Prof. of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics Lincoln Christian University Director, WorldViewEyes Class webpage: