The Case for the Bible:
Scriptural Inspiration
Presented by Kedron Jones
Apologetics Research Society
www.evidenceforchristianity.org
“But in your heart revere Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But
do this with gentleness and respect.” –
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Facts of the Bible
“The Bible is a book that
has been read more and
examined less than any
book that ever existed.” -Thomas Paine
Facts of the Bible
• The Bible is a collection of 66 books (39 OT & 27 NT).
• Written over a period of 1600 years by over 40
different authors.
• Written on three different continents, in three
different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).
What Inspiration is & is Not
1. The Bible is not inspired in the same sense that an
artist might be inspired.
• We use the word inspiration based on 2 Timothy
3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness.”
• Inspiration is the means by which the writers
accurately wrote what God wanted written.
What Inspiration is & is Not
2. Inspiration is not total dictation.
• The personalities and styles of the Apostles are seen
in their writings.
• Example: The Greek in the book of Hebrews is
written more elaborate than that of Revelation.
Serious Consequences for NonInspiration
"This question of inspiration is no light
one. It involves tremendously grave
consequences. If the Bible is not the
Word of God and inspired, the whole
of Christendom for 1800 years has
been under an immense delusion; half
the human race has been cheated and
deceived, and churches are
monuments of folly. If the Bible is the
Word of God and inspired, all who
refuse to believe it are in fearful
danger; they are living on the brink of
eternal misery. No man, in his sober
senses, can fail to see that the whole
subject demands most serious
attention.” Old Paths (1878), Bishop
J.C. Ryle.
The Claim for Inspiration?
• Many defenders of various religious faiths do not realize
that many of their “holy” texts do not themselves claim
to be the inspired word of God.
1. The Bhagavad-Gita
2. The Book of Mormon
3. The Qur’an
4. The Bible
Criteria for Inspiration
• Does the text make the claim for inspiration?
• Does the text have external evidences to substantiate
the claim for inspiration?
• Does the text have internal evidences to substantiate
the claim for inspiration?
Is The Bhagavad-Gita Inspired?
• The belief that everything is maya, illusionary, denies
real evil exist.
• If everything is an illusion then the Bhagavad-Gita is
an illusion. If it is an illusion then how do we gain any
truth from it?
Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?
“I told the brethren that the Book of
Mormon was the most correct of any
book on earth and the keystone of our
religion, and a man would get nearer
to God by abiding by its precepts, than
any other book.” History of the church
of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints,
Joseph Smith
Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?
“Anyone who will place in parallel
columns the teachings of these two
great books on such subjects as the
atonement, plan of salvation, gathering
of Israel, baptism…will find conclusive
proof of the superiority of Book of
Mormon teachings.” Mormon Doctrine,
Bruce R. McConkie
Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?
“Anyone who will place in parallel
columns the teachings of these two
great books on such subjects as the
atonement, plan of salvation, gathering
of Israel, baptism…will find conclusive
proof of the superiority of Book of
Mormon teachings.” Mormon Doctrine,
Bruce R. McConkie
Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?
• The Book of Mormon endorses large scale wars (see Mormon
6:9-15) near Hill Cumorah in present day New York, however
there is no archaeological evidence to support their claim.
• Alma 7:10 "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem,
which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin...“
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem. Second, in none of
the Bible's predictions is a name given, why then is Mary's name
given in the Book of Mormon? Maybe it's because Joseph Smith
knew that Mary would be the mother of Jesus.
• II Nephi 5:16 "And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct
it after the manner of the temple of Solomon...“ Pyramids and
temples were not built in America until after 300 A.D. The
Mormons claim that Nephi lived in 600 B.C., 900 years earlier.
Is The Qur’an Inspired?
• Muhammad’s words were written down hundreds of years after
his death.
• (Internal contradiction):According to Sura 21:76, Noah and his
family were saved from the flood, but in Sura 11:42-43 his son
drowns.
• External contradiction): In Sura 27:18-19 Soloman overhears a
“conversation of ants.”
Is The Bible Inspired?
• The Bible makes the claim for inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17 & 2
Peter 1:20-21).
• Just because it makes the claim for inspiration does not mean it is
inspired.
External Evidence for Inspiration
• The Hittites were once thought to be a biblical legend, until their
capital and records were discovered in Turkey.
• The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered
southeast of the Dead Sea.
• Many examples of silver shrines to Artemis were found (Acts
19:28).
Internal Evidence for Inspiration
• Most critics of the Bible have not read, nor taken the time to
understand the background of the Bible.
Apparent Contradictions:
• Mark 15:25 & John 19:14
• The Jews and the Romans used different standards for reckoning
the hours of the day, although both systems split the day into two
periods of 12 hours. A new day for the Romans began at midnight
(as it does for us today), whereas a new day for the Jews began
in the evening at what we would call 6 p.m.
Internal Evidence for Inspiration
• All the contradictions that are alleged against the
Bible can be adequately answered.
• Sometimes a passage contains extra information
(Matthew 27:59-60; John 19:38-40). Sometimes a
passage contains figures of speech (John 2:19-21;
Matthew 26:61). Sometimes a passage contains
language of everyday speech (Psalm 50:1;
1 Corinthians 15:6).
Manuscript Evidence
Additional Evidence
• The Unity of the Bible: Written by various authors and it fits well
together.
• Factual Accuracy of the Bible: Speaks of people and places that
were true all along.
• Prophecy in the Bible: Jesus fulfilled every prophecy spoken about
the Christ in the Old Testament.
• Scientific Foreknowledge of the Bible: The Bible describes the
shape of the earth centuries before people thought that the earth was
spherical (Isaiah 40:22).
Conclusion
• The Bible is externally and internally accurate and therefore is the
word of God.
Questions???