Is Scripture Trustworthy? Understanding How We Got Our Bible

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Betty Fowler
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1 Is Scripture Trustworthy? Understanding How We Got Our Bible Pastor Cary Schmidt Wednesday Growth Group April 23, PeteR 1:19 2:2 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. introduction

2 1. is it ReallY Just a MatteR of? Post-Modern Thought Language only has meaning determined by the listener and context. There is no absolute standard for meaning of words; we just impose meaning on words. Relativism leads to linguistic relativism. This means we can discount Scripture as completely subjective. [W]e shall not get rid of God until we get rid of grammar. Friedrich Nietzsche, 19th century philosopher, Twilight of the Idols (To reverse it grammar validates God!) To try to assert meaning using words is to try to take power over someone else s life. Michel Foucault, 20th century French philosopher (In other words, using words is evil manipulation over others.) This argument is logically incoherent. The Gospel Writers Intentions: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of

3 God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:30 31) Ask Questions: Inductive Questions Does it make sense to the real world? Or does it circumvent reality that you must disconnect from your reality? Does the historical and archeological data fit with what we know to be true of this time period? Does the text accurately diagnose the human condition? Does the text have the ring of truth? Does it address reality as we experience it? Deductive Questions Is it internally coherent does it contradict itself? Does it make sense as a whole? 2. how was the canon? Canon (measuring rod) The church didn t choose the canon.

4 On the day called Sunday there is a gathering together to one place of all those who live in cities or in the country and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. Justin Martyr, one of the first Christian apologists; was born a pagan and studied philosophy prior to his conversion to Christianity. He lived from A.D. Gnosticism: A heresy prominent during the time of the early church (and enjoying a resurgence in the 21st century) that sought salvation through obtaining hidden knowledge and mystical experiences rather than through the revealed Word of God. For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:13) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1 2) (See also Jude.)

5 3. are the ManuscRiPts? Has the Bible been changed? Didn t different people cross out and insert their own message into the text? Are today s documents reliable? [t]o be skeptical of the resultant text of the new testament books is to allow all of classical antiquity to slip into obscurity, for no documents of the ancient period are as well attested bibliographically as the new testament. John warwick Montgomery there is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the new testament. F.F. Bruce 4. is the content of the BiBle to a skeptic? How can we define the Bible as truthful? 1. Questions of the possibility of the supernatural (miracles).

6 2. Questions of intentional deception. if anything is clear from the Gospels and the acts it is that the apostles were sincere. they may have been deceived, if you like, but they were not deceivers. hypocrites and martyrs are not made of the same stuff. John stott 3. Questions of internal coherence and contradiction. 4. Question of historical and archeological corroboration. Jewish writer, Josephus (Roman/Jewish historian, AD) Greek writer, Thallus (Greek historian writing within 20 years of crucifixion) Roman writers: Tacitus (Roman Senator and writer, AD) Suetonius (Roman historian, AD) Pliny Secundus (Roman author, AD)

7 Conclusion

newington 296 New Britain Ave, Newington, CT 06111

8 newington 296 New Britain Ave, Newington, CT ebcnewington.com Cary Schmidt, Pastor

#28 The Leaven Of False Doctrine

#28 The Leaven Of False Doctrine During the Passover Feast the Israelites were to eat no leavened bread or to even have any leaven in their homes. The punishment of neglecting this command was to be cut