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Ambassadors for Christ
Frequently asked questions that really need answers
Do you know what you believe? Where’s the Core?
Part 2 – The Bible: Authority, Reliability and
Inspiration
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1. Table of Contents
1.
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 2
2.
Document Guide ............................................................................................................................. 4
3.
What’s all this talk about the Bible? ............................................................................................... 5
4.
The problem with human experience ............................................................................................. 6
5.
What do we mean by the “Word of God”?..................................................................................... 7
5.1
The “Word of God” as a Person: Jesus Christ ............................................................................. 7
5.2
The “Word of God” as speech by God ........................................................................................ 8
5.2.1
God’s Decrees ......................................................................................................................... 8
5.2.2
God’s Word of Personal Address ............................................................................................ 8
5.2.3
God’s Word as Speech Through Human Lips .......................................................................... 9
5.2.4
God’s Word in Written Form ................................................................................................ 10
6.
What do we mean by Inspiration? ................................................................................................ 12
7.
Supernatural Marks of Inspiration ................................................................................................ 13
7.1
Supernatural Prophecy ............................................................................................................. 13
7.1.1
Objection:.............................................................................................................................. 13
7.1.2
Response ............................................................................................................................... 13
7.2
Supernatural Unity .................................................................................................................... 14
7.3
Supernatural Insight into the Big Questions ............................................................................. 15
7.4
Accurate Index to History ......................................................................................................... 15
7.5
The Bible Changes Lives ............................................................................................................ 16
7.6
The Bible is a Fighter ................................................................................................................. 17
8.
Common Objections to the Bible as the Word of God ................................................................. 18
8.1
Attacks on the Content of the Bible (Allegations of Corruption) .............................................. 18
8.1.1
The Charge ............................................................................................................................ 18
8.1.2
Immediate Response ............................................................................................................ 18
8.1.3
Reasoned Response .............................................................................................................. 18
8.1.4
The Manuscript Evidence for the Reliability of the New Testament .................................... 21
8.1.1
The Evidence from Early Quotations. ................................................................................... 22
8.2
Attacks on the Inspiration of the Bible ..................................................................................... 23
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8.2.1
The Charge ............................................................................................................................ 23
8.2.2
Immediate Response ............................................................................................................ 23
8.2.3
Reasoned Response .............................................................................................................. 23
8.3
Attacks on our Understanding of the Bible............................................................................... 24
8.3.1
The Charge ............................................................................................................................ 24
8.3.2
Immediate Response ............................................................................................................ 25
8.3.3
Reasoned Response .............................................................................................................. 25
9.
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 26
10.
Notes ......................................................................................................................................... 27
11.
Early Witness to the Received Text........................................................................................... 29
Papyrus Bodmer II (p66) � 125 A.D. .................................................................................... 29
1.
12.
Additional Notes on the Origin of the Bible .............................................................................. 29
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2. Document Guide
The following images will be used to identify important elements in the document, and to assist you
to easily find key sets of information:
Scripture Reference
Scripture quotations will be from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), as described in the
bibliography, or as identified in-situ.
Objective
This image will be used to identify the core study objectives of each section.
DIY
Identifies where exercises for individual or group participation can be found.
Web Reference
Refers to websites or internet addresses. This will be used either as a guide to additional
information, or as an indication of reference or source material. Please note that internet
references are subject to more frequent updates and editing, so exact references may not be
available.
Further Reading
Refers to additional reading material or sources containing more material on the topic of
discussion.
Interesting Note
Used for information sake.
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3. What’s all this talk about the Bible?
Objectives



To grasp the meaning of the Authority of the Bible
To be able to discuss evidence for the Inspiration of the Bible
To be able to answer some of the most frequent attacks on Biblical Authority
“The key issue among all Christian people today is the matter of authority.
Where does genuine authority come from? Who or what is the source of
our authority? Is there a standard, a “rule” which will be authoritative for
God’s people today? Daily the Church faces ongoing issues that demand
answers. Inevitably, the answers or lack of answers relate to authority. It
has become the critical issue of our time”1
It is true that some questions can be answered through common sense, philosophy or even through
a study of the natural sciences, but where does the Christian find his or her ultimate authority?
How can we analyze competing claims to truth? Ultimately, there are three basic options:
1. Human Reason, which essentially affords three sub-options for arriving at truth:
Rationalism, empiricism and mysticism. An exclusive reliance on personal
experience also falls within this classification.
2. Ecclesiastical Authority, which in effect says my church is the ultimate authority, and
3. Divine Revelation, which actually falls into two categories – general or natural
revelation (the revelation of God in His creation), and special revelation, which is the
Word of God.
Christians have always been known as “people of the Book”. This is supposed to mean something!
It implies that we should not only have some knowledge of God of the Word (Theology), but also be
able to motivate our understanding of the authority, inspiration and reliability of the Word of God.
And by the way: It’s of very little use saying that we should believe in the Bible because it says so!
Even a passing examination of the internal and external support for the claim of the Bible to be the
only true Word of God, such as presented here, demonstrates pretty convincingly that the Bible we
have is not only a very accurate representation of the original texts, but clearly one that lives up to
all the claims of special revelation from the one true God.
This is reason to celebrate! No other religious or historical text even comes close to the authenticity,
integrity or historical veracity of the Christian Bible. Lets spread the news, destroying the
speculations being brought against the knowledge of God, and simultaneously strengthening our
own faith as well as that of our fellow believers.
1
(Draper & Keathley, 2001)
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4. The problem with human experience2
One of the most frequent means of verification of faith that is claimed by religious peoples of all
stripes is personal experience.
1. New Ager: “Proof lies solely with the person who has experienced God’s presences in her
life.”
2. The Christian says: “I just believe in Jesus. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within
my heart.” But which Jesus?
a. The Mormon has Jesus living in his heart, too; Jesus the spirit brother of Lucifer.
b. The Jehovah’ Witness has Jesus, the incarnation of Michael the Archangel, living in
his heart.
c. The New Ager has an experience with Jesus, the Hindu guru, the Ascended Master,
living in his heart.
How do we know which Jesus is the true Jesus? Experience has a major place in our personal
relationship with God, and also has its place in evangelism (even Paul gave his testimony a number
of times in Acts), but ultimately it’s not enough. Typically an objector to the faith won’t even give
you the time of day to deliver your testimony before you’ve not demonstrated that you are not only
appealing to subjective feelings.
There are some fundamental issues which need to be considered when accepting religious
experience as proof or validation of our faith:
1. Experience regularly validates views that contradict each other—they can’t both be
correct—showing that experience on its own is an inadequate test for truth.
2. We have to do better than, “I’ve experienced Jesus,” or, “I have Jesus in my heart and that’s
all I need.”
3. There must be a solid, objective basis, an authority we can appeal to.
a. Christians point to the Bible as the authoritative, objective basis for truth.
b. Classically Christians have defended their faith not only from their experience, but
from facts of history recorded in the Scriptures.
This leads to a challenge: “Why should I believe this book is from God?” Therefore, it’s our job to
make a defence for our claim. That’s why Peter writes:
Scripture Reference
1Pe 3:15 “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defence to everyone
2
(Koukl, Ambassador Basic Cirriculum, 2002) - From “The Bible, Has God spoken?”
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who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”
5. What do we mean by the “Word of God”?3
The Word of God has come to us in a variety of ways. If we do a survey of these in the Bible, we
distinguish between the following ways which God has chosen to speak to us:
5.1
The “Word of God” as a Person: Jesus Christ
Scripture Reference
John 1:1, 14
“1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…..
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten
from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
14
1 John 1:1-3
“1What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have
looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life, 2and the life was manifested, and we
have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested
to us, 3what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with
us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Rev 19:13
“And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”
Heb 1:1-3
“1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in
these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He
made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and
upholds all things by the word of His power.”
3
(Grudem, 1994) – The descriptions of the Word of God given here have by and large been taken from Wayne
Grudem’s Systematic Theology – An introduction to Biblical Doctrine.
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These verses clearly convey the message that it is especially Jesus who in person as well as in his
words has the role of communicating the character of God to us and of expressing the will of God for
us.
5.2
The “Word of God” as speech by God
5.2.1 God’s Decrees
God’s words sometimes come in the form if decrees or commands. He spoke the world into being in
Genesis, and it is through the decrees of the Lord the existence of all things are maintained:
Scripture Reference
Psalms 33:6
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.”
Heb 1:3
“3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by
the word of His power.”
5.2.2 God’s Word of Personal Address
It sometimes happens that God speaks to persons directly. These words are characterised by the fact
that they are spoken in human languages and are immediately understandable and do not have to
be interpreted. These direct addresses can be to a single person or a whole group at a time.
Scripture Reference
Gen 2:16-17
“16The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
17
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it
you will surely die."
Mat 3:16,17
“16After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were
opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17and behold, a voice out
of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."”
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5.2.3 God’s Word as Speech Through Human Lips
The Bible is full of examples where God raises up prophets through whom he speaks. It is however
evident that although these are human words spoken by normal people, the authority and
truthfulness of these words is in no way diminished: These are still completely God’s words as well.
Scripture Reference
Deuteronomy 18:17-22
“17The LORD said to me, 'They have spoken well. 18'I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you,
and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19'It shall come about that
whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.
20
'But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or
which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
21
"You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'
22
"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing
which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”
Ezekiel 13:1-8
“1Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,
2
"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own
inspiration, 'Listen to the word of the LORD!'
3
Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.
4
"O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5"You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you
build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the LORD. 6"They see falsehood and
lying divination who are saying, 'The LORD declares,' when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the
fulfillment of their word.
7
"Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, 'The LORD declares,' but it is not I who
have spoken?"'" 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore
behold, I am against you," declares the Lord GOD.
2Pe 1:19,20
“19So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a
dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
20
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture 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 Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
These are frightening statements! I honestly believe this to be one of the gravest issues
in our modern Church, where it has become easy (almost fashionable!) to claim that
“The Lord told me to do this or that”.
Do we grasp the magnitude of such a statement!? God certainly does!
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5.2.4 God’s Word in Written Form
In addition to God’s decrees and God’s words of Personal Address, we also find several instances in
the Bible where God’s words were put in written form – both by Gods prophets, as well as by God
Himself.
There is also ample evidence in the New Testament that the Apostles were inspired by the Holy
Spirit to:
a. Remember the things that Jesus had told them
b. Write it down accurately and without error
Scripture Reference
Exodus 31:18
“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the
testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.”
Exodus 32:16
“The tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing engraved on the tablets.”
Deuteronomy 31:9-13
“9So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant
of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. 10Then Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of every
seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, 11when all Israel comes
to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of
all Israel in their hearing.
12
"Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that
they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law.
13
"Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live
on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess."
John 14:25-26
"25These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 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 said to
you.”
2Ti 3:16
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
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DIY
Do you think that you would pay more attention if God spoke to you from heaven or through the
voice of a living prophet than if He spoke to you through the written words of Scripture?
What positive steps can you take to make your attitude towards Gods Word in all its forms, but
specifically in its written form more like the kind of attitude God wants you to have?
When you think of the many ways in which God speaks and the frequency with which He
communicates, what conclusions might you draw concerning the nature of God and the things that
bring delight to Him?
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6. What do we mean by Inspiration?
Scripture Reference
2Ti 3:16
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in
righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
DIY
How do you understand the process of inspiration?
Would you say that the application of scripture (i.e. its usage, interpretation and exegesis) is as
inspired as scripture itself?
How should we think about contemporary writings and their inspiration and authority? Is there a
difference between being artistically or literally inspired to create Christian literature and the
inspiration we are referring to here?
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7. Supernatural Marks of Inspiration
Firstly, we should understand that inspiration should be verifiable both internally and externally. We
cannot claim inspiration on behalf of the Bible!
a) We should be able to discuss and refer to the Bible’s own claims to inspiration and
b) We should be able to make a clear and compelling case for our assent to this claim.
The internal evidence of biblical claims to inspiration and authority were discussed in the previous
section – let’s now look at the conclusions we can make from the actual contents about which the
claim of inspiration was made:
7.1
Supernatural Prophecy
The Bible has supernatural fulfilled prophecy—predictions of the future that are precise, detailed
and accurate. (There are over three hundred references to the Messiah alone that were fulfilled in
Jesus!)
1. The Bible is the only volume ever produced by man in which detailed prophecies relating to
the rise and fall of individuals and empires are given with hair-splitting accuracy.
2. Not like Siener van Rensburg or Nostradamus that are vague, unclear and somewhat right
some of the time, but very detailed and accurate, and unfailingly correct.
3. Daniel gives prophecy so detailed it reads like history written after the fact (note for
example the “70 years” prophecy, Daniel 9:2, as prophesied in Jer 25:12, Jer 29:10)
4. There were dozens of specific prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ life alone.
7.1.1 Objection:
These prophecies were written after the time of Jesus, and therefore fulfilled themselves!
7.1.2 Response
The age of the Old Testament books containing the prophecies are not contended to the
level that they would pose any threat whatsoever. Just think of:
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The Septuagint (Greek Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) written in the reign of
Ptolemy Philadelphius (285-246 BC)

The validation of the Old Testament through the findings of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
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Web Reference
Have a look at Messianic Christology—A Study of Old Testament Prophecy Concerning
the First Coming of the Messiah, by Arnold Fruchtenbaum (Ariel Ministries,
www.ariel.org).
Further Reading
Josh McDowell’s The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1999),
7.2
Supernatural Unity4
Given the diversity of authorship, topics, conditions etc. the tremendous unity in message and
authenticity points towards Supernatural Inspiration:
1. The Bible is the only book that was written over nearly fifteen hundred years span!
2. Diverse origins:
a. Diversity of authorship (Luke – a historian, David – a shepherd/king, Joshua – a
general, Matthew – a tax collector, Paul – a rabbi)
b. Diversity of writing conditions (dungeons, battlefields, the wilderness, jails,
palaces)
c. Diversity of controversial topics
d. Written on three continents (Asia, Africa, Europe)
e. Written in Three Languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek)
f. Written in a large variety of literary styles
2. Profound unity:
In spite of this tremendous diversity, there is a plan woven through the entire Bible from Genesis to
Revelation, which unfolds unerringly:
 God’s creation, love for and redemption of humanity.
 It was a plan that no individual writer understood completely.
 Each one added a little piece to the puzzle which, when assembled, showed God’s
plan for the ages.
4
(Bruce, 1964), (McDowel, 1999), (Koukl, Stand to Reason)
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7.3
Called to Service
Supernatural Insight into the Big Questions
1. The Bible answers the big questions of life…
a. In way consistent with the way we experience and perceive the world and…
b. In a way that is internally cohesive. It makes sense.
2. Many religions give answers, but the question is whether they give answers that fit the
world the way we know it to be.
3. E.g., Hinduism
a. All distinctions are illusion (“Maya”).
i. There is no ultimate distinction between good and evil.
ii. The meaning and goal of life is to “evaporate” back into the Godhead.
iii. This doesn’t ring true with the things we seem to know about the world.
4. 4. The Bible, by contrast, takes evil and good seriously, fully acknowledging both the true
nobility and true cruelty of man (Francis Schaeffer’s terms).
a. Man’s nobility is real, explained be the fact that we’re made in the image of God.
i. Man has transcendent value.
ii. That’s why we fumigate termites, but not people, because human beings are
innately more valuable than animals.
b. Man’s cruelty (his sin and true moral guilt) is real, explained by the fall.
5. The Bible also gives the solution to the problem of man’s cruelty (fall): The solution to guilt is
not denial; it’s forgiveness.
6. The Bible’s answer resonates with the deepest intuitions we have about ourselves and our
world.
7.4
Accurate Index to History
This is important for two reasons:
1. A book allegedly given by God must get its history right.
a. Israel is one big archaeological dig.
b. In fact, there is a trade journal called Biblical Archaeological Review.
c. The testimony of archaeology and Bible history fit hand in glove.
i. The Bible is the only book that can look to historical evidence to support its
unique theological claims.
ii. The New Testament documents are the best historical documents of the
ancient world when approached using the standard cannons of historical
research untainted by naturalistic presuppositions.
1. There is controversy in academic circles about the accuracy of both
the Gospels (by the “Jesus Seminar,” etc.) and the accuracy of the
Hebrew Scriptures (by the “minimalist” school).
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2. These critiques are deeply tainted by a naturalistic (antisupernatural) bias and, especially in the case of the Old Testament,
a refusal to accept any account without independent corroboration,
a virtual impossibility when dealing with texts this ancient.
3. A more even-handed approach to the accounts using the standard
criteria of historiography minus the bias yields high marks for the
Bible as an historical source.
“But isn’t the Qur’an historically accurate?” This leads to the second point…
2. The Bible accurately records supernatural historical events.
a. The history the Bible reports is a history of supernatural events, unlike the Quran.
b. These historical documents record Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah, the only way to
God. They record His miracles, and His resurrection from the dead.
i. If the Bible is historically accurate, and those are the events that it records,
then Jesus is no ordinary man.
ii. His words would have tremendous authority.
Not only has the historical reliability of the Bible been confirmed many times over, but it
also wins immense credibility against other “holy” texts. The Qu’ran is not only fraught
with internal inconsistencies, but is also frequently at odds with secular history and
biblical records.
Some internal inconsistencies include the Qur’an’s affirmation of the “Book of Moses
and the Gospel”5 This is clearly a problem, since the historical narratives of the Qur’an
and that of the Bible differ considerably.
External inconsistencies include the narrative of the army of the King of Ethiopia which
was (according to the Qur’an in Sura 105) defeated by birds that dropped stones of
baked clay on the soldiers. But according to history, King Abraha halted its attack on
Mecca due to a smallpox outbreak.
7.5
The Bible Changes Lives
1. “Thumbs up” was the emperor’s sign that a gladiator had won the right to live for another
battle. Thumbs up reminds me that the Bible changes lives.
5
Arberry, Qu’ran Interpreted p. 83
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a. Our lives are not changed because of something we’ve done, turning over a new
leaf. We’ve tried that before.
b. Instead, God changes us in a way we never could change ourselves when we obey
the Scriptures.
2. This experience of transformation is universal, the same around the globe. It transcends all
economic, ethnic, geographical boundaries.
3. When people consistently obey the teachings of this book, something radical happens, both
to individuals and to whole cultures.
7.6
The Bible is a Fighter
Scripture Reference
1Pe 1:24
For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word
which was preached to you.
1. Biblical witness:
a. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
(Matthew 13:31)
b. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:8)
c. Paul: “The Word of God cannot be imprisoned.” (2 Timothy 2:9)
2. Voltaire, noted French infidel 1778:11
a. “In 100 years Christianity will be swept from existence and passed into history.”
b. But 50 years after his death the Geneva Bible society used Voltaire’s press and
house to print stacks of Bibles!
3. There have been many powerful, concerted attempts to destroy this book externally
(through destruction) and internally (through criticism)—to no avail. The Bible remains the
best selling book of all time. If this book had not been the book of God, men would have
destroyed it long ago.
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8. Common Objections to the Bible as the Word of God
8.1
Attacks on the Content of the Bible (Allegations of Corruption)
8.1.1 The Charge


The Bible has been translated and re-translated so many times that we cannot still
have the original text! (Or simply – the Bible has been Corrupted)
How do we know that the words we have today are the same words written in the
originals?
8.1.2 Immediate Response
To be fair, always start with questions first:



“Really? How did you come to that conclusion? Have you actually studied the history
of the ancient documents?”
“Explain to me how the Bible was handed down, as you understand it.” Or “What
makes you think that’s the way the documents were handed down?”
“Tell me, how many times was the Bible translated and retranslated? Do you know?”
8.1.3 Reasoned Response
As a point of fact, the current translations go directly from the ancient Greek / Hebrew to the
English. There are no multiple steps of translation in between.
The problem



No originals exist of any classical writer, or even for works as recent as William
Shakespeare.
Until the advent of the printing press, all copies were made by hand.
It seems reasonable to expect errors in transmission to occur (e.g., “telephone
game”).
Things change in the process of communication!
However, there’s a fundamental misunderstanding in this illustration, as we’ll see:


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First, the “telephone game” assumes a linear transmission of the text.
Second, it presumes oral communication, not written.
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The solution: explaining the actual process of Textual Transmission
Aunt Sally’s secret sauce:




Aunt Sally develops an elixir to live forever. She’s written it down and given to
friends who have also made hand-written copies and given to their friends.
Aunt Sally’s silly schnauzer swallows the script.
Sally must contact her friends to get an accurate rendering of the original (most
were looking pretty good because they had been sippin’ the sauce).
Yet only a few of the copies of the original remained, and there were variations.
How do you reconstruct an original document you don’t have any more from handwritten copies
that are a few generations removed from the autograph?
You must compare all existing copies to solve the riddle!
In the above diagram, there are 26 total "documents" - designated by solid lines. The red
documents contain variants. In this illustration there would be a total of nine variants in 26
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copies. But, we can see that they are really one variant that has been copied. This illustrates why
the Bible is actually extremely well preserved since we are able reconstruct the document tree and
see where variants are introduced and then document them.
Until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1940's, the oldest extant copy of any Old
Testament writings were the Masoretic Text dated around 916 AD. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were
discovered, a complete copy of Isaiah was found. Its date was 125 BC. The difference in dates
between the oldest copy and the newly discovered Isaiah document was 1000 years. This provided a
pristine opportunity to judge the copying accuracy of the Old Testament documents since it would
be easily discernable which errors crept in over 1000 years. The documents proved to be 95%
textually identical. The 5 percent that was different were mainly misspellings of words and did not
constitute any threat to the content or reliability of the text. This shows how accurately it was
transmitted. 6
The problem with the “telephone game”


Linear—Only one “witness” at a time transmits verbally, vs.…
Geometric—Multiple witnesses transmit verbally and in writing.
The Science of textual criticism (“lower criticism”) is there to determine the extent of possible
corruption.
Two important academic elements to consider:

How many existing copies are there to examine?
a. The more copies, the more reliable the result.
b. The fewer copies, the less reliable the result.

How close in time are the oldest existing documents to the original?
a. The older the copies, the more reliable the result.
b. The more recent the copies, the less reliable the result.
Many people do not believe that the Bible is a reliable document of history. But, the fact is the Bible
is very trustworthy as a historical document. If we were to look at a chart that compared the biblical
documents with other ancient documents, we would see that the Bible is in a class by itself
regarding the number of ancient copies and their reliability.
6
(Slick)
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8.1.4 The Manuscript Evidence for the Reliability of the New Testament
Please consider the chart below7:
Author1
Date
Written
Book
Lucretius
died 55 or 53 B.C.
Pliny
61-113 A.D.
Plato
Demosthenes
Earliest Copy
Approximate
Number
Time Span
of
between original
Copies
& copy
1100 yrs
2
850 A.D.
750 yrs
7
427-347 B.C.
900 A.D.
1200 yrs
7
4th Cent. B.C.
1100 A.D.
800 yrs
8
480-425 B.C.
900 A.D.
1350 yrs
8
75-160 A.D.
950 A.D.
800 yrs
8
460-400 B.C.
900 A.D.
1300 yrs
8
Euripides
480-406 B.C.
1100 A.D.
1300 yrs
9
Aristophanes
450-385 B.C.
900 A.D.
1200
10
100-44 B.C.
900 A.D.
1000
10
59 BC-AD 17
4th
Cent.
(partial), mostly 400- 1000 years
10th Cent
20
circa 100 A.D.
1100 A.D.
1000 yrs
20
Aristotle
384-322 B.C.
1100 A.D.
1400
49
Sophocles
496-406 B.C.
1000 A.D
1400 yrs
193
800-900 B.C.
400 B.C.
500 yrs
643
History
Herodotus
Suetonius
History
Thucydides
Caesar
Livy
Tacitus
Homer
Gallic Wars
History of Rome
Annals
Iliad
Greek New Testament
New
Testament
Languages
in
1st Cent. A.D. (50-100 2nd Cent. A.D. less
A.D.
(c. 130 A.D. f.) years
than
100
other 1st Cent. A.D. (50-100 2nd Cent. A.D. less
A.D.
(c. 130 A.D. f.) years
than
100
5686
19,284
It should be obvious that the biblical documents, especially in the New Testament documents, are
superior in their quantity, time span from original occurrence, and textual reliability. The question of
accurate textual transmission of the Bible’s text is beyond reproach.
Sir Frederic G. Kenyon, who was the director and principal librarian of the British Museum and
second to none in authority for issuing statements about the New Testament Manuscripts, says in
The Bible and Archaeology: “The interval then between the dates of original composition and the
7
This chart was adapted from three sources:
a) Christian Apologetics, by Norman Geisler, 1976, p. 307;
b) the article "Archaeology and History attest to the Reliability of the Bible," by Richard M. Fales, Ph.D., in The Evidence
Bible, Compiled by Ray Comfort, Bridge-Logos Publishers, Gainesville, FL, 2001, p. 163; and
c) A Ready Defense, by Josh Mcdowell, 1993, p. 45.
d) (McDowel, 1999) p35
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earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any
doubt that the Scriptures avec me down to us substantially as they were written has now been
removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may
be regarded as finally established.”
8.1.1 The Evidence from Early Quotations. 8
Bruce Metzger says: “Besides textual evidence derived from New Testament Greek Manuscripts, and
from early versions, the textual critic has available the numerous scriptural quotations included in
the commentaries, sermons, and other treatises written by early Church Fathers. Indeed, so
extensive are these citations that if all other sources for our knowledge of the text of the New
Testament were destroyed, they would be sufficient alone for the reconstruction of practically the
entire New Testament.”
Normal Geisler remarks: The quotations are so numerous and widespread that if no manuscripts of
the New Testament were extant, the New Testament could still be reproduced from the writings of
the Early Church Fathers alone. (Paraphrased)
Early Patristic Quotations of the New Testament9
Writer
Approx Date
Gospels
Acts
Pauline
Epistles
General
Epistles
Revelation
Total
Justin Martyr
AD 133
268
10
43
6
3
330
Irenaeus
AD 70 – 110
1,038
194
499
23
65
1,819
Clement of
Alexandria
AD 150-212
1,107
44
1,127
207
11
2,406
AD 185-253/4
9,231
349
7,778
399
165
17,992
Tertullian
AD 160-220
3,822
502
2,609
120
205
7,258
Hippolytus
AD 170-235
734
42
378
27
188
1,378
AD 375
3,258
211
1,592
88
27
5,176
19,368
1,352
14,035
870
664
36,289
Origen
Eusebius
Total
8
Some scholars claim that only eleven verses of the whole New Testament are not found in the writings of the
early Church Fathers. If this is so – great! Even if this were not so, it is very clear from the table above that a
very substantial part of the New Testament documents are to be found outside of the strict Manuscript
Evidence, and is available for the purposes of textual criticism. Having said this – these writings are typically
employed as corroborative evidence to establish the correctness of a given manuscript, rather than primary
evidence, since they are very often quoted in different languages, paraphrased and used loosely (just as we
would do when emailing friends or writing letters to acquaintances).
9
(McDowel, 1999)
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8.2
Called to Service
Attacks on the Inspiration of the Bible
8.2.1 The Charge
The Bible is full of errors and contradictions! It was after all just written by men, and men make
mistakes!
8.2.2 Immediate Response


Could you please define what you understand under the term “Inspiration”?
Does it necessarily follow that because the Bible’s written by men, that it therefore must be in
error?
8.2.3 Reasoned Response
Of course, the doctrines of Inspiration and Biblical Inerrancy are very closely related, but we should
not allow objections to the one to automatically influence the other.
A simple definition of the doctrine of Inerrancy would be:
The doctrine of Inerrancy holds that the original text of the Bible (the autographs) is inspired
by the Holy Spirit and as such is accurate in everything it teaches, affirms or claims.
The Claim IS:
The Claim is NOT:
The original documents were the inspired,
inerrant word of God.
Scripture is accurate in everything it teaches,
affirms or claims.
All current translations, in all languages are
inerrant.
Every sentence in scripture is true when it is read
by a reader, whatever the context.
Everything recorded in the Scripture, including
people’s opinion are true.
Scripture accurately records actual places,
events, people and their opinions.
Don’t be easily discouraged when you see allegations of “errors” or “contradictions” in the
Bible. The vast majority of these allegations have been eloquently and adequately
answered by scholars. Just do a bit of research! Some questions may be a bit harder to
answer, but as you study these allegations, you will quickly learn that the answer is out
there – TIME after TIME!
Don’t just go on the defence when someone brings you issues like these –
Rather DO some research, and go back to your challenger with a proper answer.
Further Reading
Both Norman Geisler and Gleason Archer have excellent reference books on biblical
difficulties. Either (or both!) will make valuable addition to your library.
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8.3
Called to Service
Attacks on our Understanding of the Bible
8.3.1 The Charge
Surely you don’t take the Bible literally? The message of the Word is simply your subjective
interpretation. Any way, if you take one verse literally, you have to do it with every verse, and before
you know it you’ll end up cutting off your hands and plucking out your eyes!
An interesting analogy when it comes to the literal interpretation of the Bible is that of
the sports pages of a newspaper:
If anyone should ask you whether you take the news reported in the paper “literally”,
the obvious answer seems to be “Yes!” Yet no one seems to really take it literally when
they read that one team “wiped the floor” with another, or “completely destroyed”
them!
In considering the question of the literal reading of the Bible, one should typically
reword the question, or respond in a more accurate way, such as:
“I take the Bible as it was given. Historical books, I read as real history. The poetry and
lyrics contained in the Bible should be read like any other song – with the understanding
that poetic license, hyperbole and all kinds of other literary devices will occur.”
It is important to not only read the words, but read the context and structure as well.
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8.3.2 Immediate Response
Two simple questions can be asked here:

Do you mean that I can read the Bible and make up my own meaning as I go, and you can
read the same Bible and make up yours?
That’s very interesting! Do you read all your mail that way?

8.3.3 Reasoned Response
When the objection is given to a specific interpretation of a specific verse, of course the best way to
respond is to simply turn to that verse, read it out loud and ask for the objector’s interpretation.
The vast majority of scripture is easily understood, straight forward and very hard to misunderstand.
If the concern raised was not just a dismissal, but a fair objection, the person you are reasoning with
should be able to answer questions such as:
a. “Please explain to me why my interpretation is not a good, fair, or truthful inference from
the text.” or
b. “Yes, the Bible does require accurate interpreting. Tell me the reason why my interpretation
is not a good one.”
Usually this is not really their issue. They just want you to go away, so they dismiss you with this faux
objection.
Let’s consider some New Testament verses for different interpretations:
Scripture Reference
John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of God abides on him.”
John 8:24
“I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in
your sins.”
John 10:7-9
Jesus therefore said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came
before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters
through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
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As someone once said, “Some things I don’t understand; some things I think I understand; but there
are some things it’s impossible to misunderstand.”
The important things in Scripture are usually quite clear, especially if we are careful to mind the
context.
9. Bibliography
Bruce, F. F. (1964). The New Testament Documents, Are they Reliable? (Fith Revised Edition ed.).
Downers Grove, Ill, InterVarsity Press.
Craig, W. L. (n.d.). Retrieved from Reasonable Faith: http://www.reasonablefaith.org
Draper, J. T., & Keathley, K. (2001). Biblical Authority - The Chritical Issue for the Body of Christ.
Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Evans, C. S. (1982). Philisophy of Religion, Thinking about Faith. InterVarsity Press.
Grudem, W. (1994). Systematic Theology - An Introduction to Biblical Theology. InterVarsity Press.
Holman Illustrated Study Bible. (2006). Holman Bible Publishers.
Jan van de Watt, F. T. (2005). Apokriewe Ou en Nuwe Testament. Christelike Uitgewers Maatskappy.
König, A. (2006). Die Groot Geloofswoordeboek. Christelike Uitgewers Maatskappy.
Koukl, G. (n.d.). Retrieved from Stand to Reason: http://www.str.org
Koukl, G. (2002). Ambassador Basic Cirriculum. Retrieved from Stand to Reason: www.str.org
Lewis, C. (1952). Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis Signature Classics Edition, 2002 ed.).
McDowel, J. (1999). The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict. IMprint Edition - Campus Crusade
Mass Media.
New American Standard Bible. (1960). Lockman Foundation.
R Albert Mohler, J., Moreland, J. P., VanHoozer, K. J., & Köstenberger, A. (2005). Whatever Happened
to TRUTH. (A. Köstenberger, Ed.) Crossway Books.
Slick, M. (n.d.). Retrieved 2007, from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: www.carm.org
Strobel, L. (2000). The Case for FAITH. Zondervan.
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10.
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Notes
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11.
Called to Service
Early Witness to the Received Text
Compiled Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
1. Papyrus Bodmer II (p66) � 125 A.D.
This papyrus codex contains most of the
Gospel of John and consists of 75 leaves
and 39 unidentified fragments. The leaves
are nearly rectangular measuring 6.4
inches high and 5.6 inches wide. The
written pages are numbered consecutively
from 1 to 34, 35 - 38 are missing, and then
from 39 to page 108.
12.
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Additional Notes on the Origin of the Bible
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