2 Peter 1:19–21 And we have the
prophetic word more fully confirmed, to
which you will do well to pay attention
as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first
of all, that no prophecy of Scripture
comes from someone’s own
interpretation……
21 For
no prophecy was ever produced by
the will of man, but men spoke from
God as they were carried along by the
Holy Spirit.
1. What do we mean when we say the
“Bible”?
Revelation is a theater term from Latin:
revēlātiō - to draw back the curtain
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, 17 that the
man of God may be complete, equipped
for every good work.
Jeremiah 1:9–10 Then the LORD put out
his hand and touched my mouth. And
the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put
my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have
set you this day over nations and over
kingdoms, to pluck up and to break
down, to destroy and to overthrow, to
build and to plant.”
Matthew 5:18 For truly, I say to you,
until heaven and earth pass away, not an
iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law
until all is accomplished.
Luke 16:16 “The Law and the Prophets
were until John; since then the good
news of the kingdom of God is preached,
and everyone forces his way into it.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, he will teach you all things and
bring to your remembrance all that I
have said to you.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth
comes, he will guide you into all the
truth, for he will not speak on his own
authority, but whatever he hears he will
speak, and he will declare to you the
things that are to come.
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and
the prayers.
1 Timothy 5:18 For the Scripture says,
“You shall not muzzle an ox when it
treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer
deserves his wages.” quotes
(Deuteronomy 25:4 & Luke 10:7)
2 Peter 3:15–16 And count the patience of
our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved
brother Paul also wrote to you according
to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in
all his letters when he speaks in them of
these matters. There are some things in
them that are hard to understand, which
the ignorant and unstable twist to their
own destruction, as they do the
other Scriptures.
They knew that Peter and John and
James and Paul were not ordinary men,
or foolish and fallible first century
Christians whose teaching was nothing
but their own opinion which could be set
aside if one did not happen to like it.
– John Stott
Christians do not believe the Bible is
something they chose, but rather, it is
something they received.
2. Is the Bible reliable?
The integrity of ANY ancient writing is
determined by the number of
documented manuscripts or fragments
of manuscripts we have to examine.
10 good manuscripts of Caesar’s Gallic
Wars
10 good manuscripts of Caesar’s Gallic
Wars.
The oldest is dated 900 years AFTER
Caesar’s time.
10 good manuscripts of Caesar’s Gallic
Wars.
The oldest is dated 900 years AFTER
Caesar’s time.
No historian has serious doubts about
Caesar or the integrity of the text.
Less than 10 manuscripts of Plato’s
writings.
Less than 10 manuscripts of Plato’s
writings.
Oldest is dated 1400 years AFTER Plato’s
time.
Less than 10 manuscripts of Plato’s
writings.
Oldest is dated 1400 years AFTER Plato’s
time.
No historian has questions Plato’s
writing’s or attributing the words to him.
OVER 5000 hand written manuscripts in
Greek alone supporting the New
Testament.
OVER 5000 hand written manuscripts in
Greek alone supporting the New
Testament.
The oldest is date less than 100 years
AFTER the original writing.
OVER 5000 hand written manuscripts in
Greek alone supporting the New
Testament.
The oldest is date less than 100 years
AFTER the original writing.
Single most well documented ancient
text there is!
Born of a women (Genesis 3:15)
Born of the line of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)
Born through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
Born as a son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
Born in the City of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
Born of a Virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:13)
Silent when accused (Isaiah 53)
Would suffer and die for our sins (Isaiah 53)
Would be crucified (Psalm 22:16)
Would be killed around 33AD (Daniel 9:24-26)
Rise from the dead (Psalm 16:11; Psalm 2:7-8)
3. But the real question is this: Did the
events Bible says happened, really
happen?
Even to this day, the most recent of
archeological discoveries continue to
produce material that does nothing but
confirm scripture at point after point.
- Joseph Free
The Bible is written is various literary
forms: narrative, poetry, parables,
allegory, symbolism, metaphors and
similes, satire, and hyperbole.
The Bible is written is various literary
forms: narrative, poetry, parables,
allegory, symbolism, metaphors and
similes, satire, and hyperbole.
Therefore, a correct understanding is
more critical than a literal
understanding.
Revelation 1:13–16 And in the midst of
the lampstands one like a son of man,
clothed with a long robe and with a
golden sash around his chest. 14 The
hairs of his head were white, like white
wool, like snow. His eyes were like a
flame of fire, 15 his feet were like
burnished bronze, refined in a furnace,
and his voice was like the roar of many
waters……
16 In
his right hand he held seven stars,
from his mouth came a sharp two-edged
sword, and his face was like the sun
shining in full strength.
The Bible is a book of revelation, not a
text book or scientific journal.
The Bible is a book of revelation, not a
text book or scientific journal.
It reveals first and foremost God’s love
for us and His plan for redeeming lost
humanity.
On matters of Faith & Spiritual truth
the Bible is authoritative.
On matters of Faith & Spiritual truth
the Bible is authoritative.
On matters of historical events the Bible
is factual.
On matters of Faith & Spiritual truth
the Bible is authoritative.
On matters of historical events the Bible
is factual.
On matters of science the Bible is
accurate.
Can you trust the Bible?
Yes, it is not intellectually tenuous to
trust the Bible. It’s what you do with it
that matters.