Say What Series: Can We Trust the Bible

1
Say What? Series Can We Trust the Bible?

• Trent Gerig
• Bradley University Class of 2000

2
What is the Bible?

• Written over the course of 1600 years
• Forty different authors
• Three different languages
• Three different continents

3
Literary Styles

• Law
• Poetry
• History
• Genealogy
• Letters
• Prophesy

4
The Old Testament

• Words were written from right to left
• No vowels were used
• No spaces or punctuation
• Written in Hebrew and Aramaic
• NTHBGNNNGGDCRTDTHHVNSNDTHRTH

5
New Testament

• No spaces or punctuation
• Written in all capital letters
• Greek Language
• INTHEBEGINNINGWASTHEWORDANDTHEWORDWASWITHGODANDTHE
  WORDWASGOD

6
How can we trust the Bible?

• Manuscripts
• Archeology
• Prophesy

7
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

8
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

9
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 116

10
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

11
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.

12
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

13
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

14
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

15
Sanctify them by the truth your word is truth.
John 1717 The words of the Lord are flawless.
Psalms 126 All scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness. 2 Tim 316
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?
• Shouldnt we try to read and understand it?

17
If you already believe

• READ IT!!
• Study it
• Memorize it
• Understand it
• Belong to a church that makes you open it

18
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 127

19
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 323

20

• Because of sin, we will experience a physical
  death and a spiritual death
• For the wages of sin is death,
• Romans 623

21
How can we avoid the spiritual death?

• But the gift of God is eternal life.
• Romans 623
• 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 1630-31

22
Grow in the Grace of God

• Begin to walk in Gods 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 119105

23
(No Transcript)