Doctrinal teaching on
WORD OF GOD
The Divine inspiration and
infallibility of the Holy
Scriptures as originally given
and its supreme authority in
all the matters of faith and
conduct
విశ్వాసవనిప,ై ప్రవర్త నపై
అంతిమ అధికవర్ం కలిగిన
అసల ైన ప్రిశుద్ధ లేఖనాలు
దో షర్హితం మరియు
దైవవవేశం వలల కలిగినవి
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of
man, but men spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit
2 Peter 1:21
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16,17
 ఏలయనగవ ప్రవచనము ఎప్పుడును మనుషయుని ఇచఛనుబట్టి
కలుగలేద్ు గవని మనుషయులు పరిశుద్ధాత్మవలన ప్రేరేప్ింప
బడినవారై దేవపని మూలముగ ప్లికిరి - 2 ప్రత్ురు 1:21
 దైవజనుడు సననద్ు
ధ డై ప్రతి సత్ాార్ుమునకు ప్ూర్ణ ముగవ
సిద్ధప్డి యుండునట్ల
ల ద్ైవావేశమువలన కలిగిన పేతిలేఖనము
ఉప్దేశంచుట్కును, ఖండించుట్కును, తప్పు దిద్ు ుట్కును,
నీతియంద్ు శక్షచేయుట్కును ప్రయోజనకర్మై యుననది - 2
తిమోతి 3:16-17




Reliability of New Testament
documents (నమమద్గినవి)
Integrity of the New Testament
authors (నిజాయితి)
Credibility of the claims of Jesus
Christ (విశాసనీయత)
Bible as the inspired Word of God
(ద్ైవావేశము)
Dr. C. Sanders – a non Christian literary expert
Criteria to establish the reliability (నమమద్గినవి) and
accuracy (ఖచ్చితతాం) of any piece of literature in
history
1. Bibliographical test
2. Internal test (అంతర్గ తమైన)
3. External test (బాహ్ు)
Since we do not have the original
documents, how reliable are the
copies we have in regard to the
number of manuscripts (MSS) and
the time interval between the
original and the extent of copy?
Author
Date written
Earliest copy
Time span
(Years)
No. of
copies
Caesar
100-44 BC
AD 900
1000
10
Tacitus
AD 100
AD 900
1000
20
Thucydides
460-400BC
AD 900
1200
7
Herodotus
480-425BC
AD 1000
1300
8
Sophocles
496-406BC
AD 1100
1400
193
Euripides
480-406BC
AD 1100
1500
9
Demosthenes
383-322BC
AD 1100
1300
200
Aristotle
384-322BC
AD 1100
1400
49
Homer
900BC
400 BC
500
643
New Testament
AD 40-100
AD 125
25
24,000
The benefit of the doubt is to be given to
the document itself, and not arrogated by
the critic himself
Aristotle
One must listen to the claims of the
document under analysis, and not assume
fraud or error unless the author
disqualified himself by contradictions or
known factual inaccuracies.
John W. Montgomery
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have
been fulfilleda among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by
those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the
word. 3Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything
from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly
account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the
certainty of the things you have been taught
Luke 1:1-4
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are
witnesses of this.
Acts 3:15
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses
of his majesty.
2 Peter 1:16
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may
have fellowship with us.
1 John 1:3
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a
sudden flow of blood and water.35The man who saw it has given
testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth,
and he testifies so that you also may believe..
John 19:34,35
“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by
God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you
through him, as you yourselves know.
Acts 2:22
 ఘనతవహించ్చన థయొఫిలా, ఆర్ంభమునుండి కనునలార్ చూచ్చ
వవకుసేవకుల ైనవవర్ు మనకు అప్ుగించ్చన ప్రకవర్ము
మనమధ్ును నెర్వేరిన కవర్ుములనుగూరిి వివర్ముగ
వవరయుట్కు అనేకులు ప్ూనుకొనానర్ు గనుక నీకు
ఉప్దేశంప్బడిన సంగతయలు నిశియముగవ జరిగినవని నీవప
త్లిసికొనుట్కు వవట్ట ననినట్టని మొద్ట్నుండి తర్చ్చ
ప్రిష్వార్ముగవ త్లిసికొనియునన నేనును నీ పేర్ట్ వవట్టనిగూరిి
వర్ుసగవ ర్చ్చంచుట్ యుకత మని యించ్చతిని. లూకా 1:1-4
 మీర్ు జీవవధిప్తిని చంపితిరి గవని దేవపడు ఆయనను
మృతయలలోనుండి లేపను; అంద్ుకు మేము సవక్షులము. అపో .
కారయములు 3:15
 ఇశ్వాయిేలువవర్లారవ, యిీ మాట్లు
వినుడి. దేవపడు నజరేయుడగు యిేసుచేత అద్ుుతములను
మహ్త్ాార్ు ములను సూచకకిాయలను మీ మధ్ును చేయించ్చ,
ఆయనను తనవలన మప్పుప ందినవవనిగవ మీకు కనబర్చను;
ఇది మీరే యిర్ుగుద్ుర్ు. అపో . కారయములు 2:22
 ఏలయనగవ చమత్ాార్ముగవ కలిుంచ్చన కథలను అనుసరించ్చ మన
ప్రభువెైన యిేసుకరాసత ుయొకా శకితని ఆయన రవకడను మేము మీకు
త్లుప్లేద్ు గవని ఆయన మహాతమయమును మేము కనునలార్
చూచ్చనవవర్మై త్లిపితివిు.ఈయన నా పిరయకుమార్ుడు
ఈయనయంద్ు నేను ఆనందించుచునానను అను శబు ము
మహాదివుమహిమనుండి ఆయనయొద్ు కు వచ్చి నప్పుడు, తండియి
ర ైన
దేవపనివలన ఘనతయు మహిమయు ఆయన ప ంద్గవ మేము ఆ
ప్రిశుద్ధ ప్ర్ాతముమీద్ ఆయనత్ోకూడ ఉండిన వవర్మై, ఆ శబు ము
ఆకవశము నుండి రవగవ వింట్టమి. 2 ప్రత్ురు 1:16-18
 జీవవవకుమునుగూరిినది, ఆదినుండి ఏది యుండనో, మేమేది
వింట్టమో, కనునలార్ ఏది చూచ్చతిమో, ఏది నిదానించ్చ కనుగ ంట్టమో,
మా చేతయలు దేనిని త్ాకి చూచనో, అది మీకు
త్లియజేయుచునానము. 1 యోహాను 1:1
 మాత్ోకూడ మీకును సహ్వవసము కలుగునట్ల
ల మేము చూచ్చనదానిని
వినినదానిని మీకును త్లియజేయుచునానము. మన సహ్వవసమైత్ే
తండిత్
ర ో కూడను ఆయన కుమార్ుడైన యిేసుకరాసత ు త్ోకూడను ఉననది.
1 యోహాను 1:3
 సైనికులలో ఒకడు ఈట్ెత్ో ఆయన ప్రకాను
ప డిచను, వెంట్నే ర్కత మును నీళ్ల
ల ను కవరెను.
 ఇది చూచ్చన వవడు సవక్షు మిచుిచునానడు; అతని
సవక్షుము సతుమే. మీర్ు నముమనట్ల
ల అతడు
సతుము చప్పుచునానడని ఆయ నెర్ుగును.
యోహాను 19:34,35
What sources are there apart from
the literature under analysis that
confirm its’ accuracy ఖచ్చితతాం,
reliability విశ్వాసనీయత and
authenticity పవరమాణికతాం?
1. The testimony of ancient history
2. The testimony of archaeology
The testimony of ancient history
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus (AD 37-100)
Roman Historian, Cornelius Tacitus (Born 56117)
Pliny the younger (AD 112)
Samaritan born historian, Thallus (AD 52)
The Jewish Talmud (completed by AD 50)
Greek Satirist, Lucian (2nd century)
Roman historian, Suetonius (AD 120)
Examples of archaeological
confirmations
a. Luke 2:1-3 – Census, Quirinius
b. John 19:13 – Pilate’s trial on stone
pavement
c. John 5:1-14 Pool at Bethesda
d. Acts 16:12 Philippi, district of
Macedonia
 In the midst of a political controversy over the
Sethusamudram project, the Centre on Wednesday told the
Supreme Court that there was no historical evidence to
establish the existence of Lord Ram or the other
characters in Ramayana
 In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the
Archaeological Survey of India rejected the claim of
the existence of the Ram Sethu bridge in the area where
the project was under construction.
 The multi-crore rupee project proposes to provide a shorter
sea route from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka.
 Referring to the Ramayana, the affidavit said there is no
"historical record" to incontrovertibly prove the existence
of the character, or the occurrences of the events, depicted
therein.
 Earlier, Marine and Water Resources Group, Space
Application Centre, Ahmedabad, which had
conducted the study had said, "The Adam's
bridge/Ram Sethu is believed to be constructed by
Lord Ram to cross over to Sri Lanka.“
 The period of Ramayana is considered as Tretha Yug
(more than 17,00,000 years ago). The study, however,
concluded that the Adam's bridge is not man made
in nature.
 NEW DELHI: The Centre has informed the Supreme Court
that it intends to go ahead with the Rs 25,000 crore
Sethusamudram shipping channel project, which had
raised a political storm after it was revealed that the
mythical Ram Sethu would face dredging.
 After the controversy over the Centre's affidavit in 2007
doubting the existence of Ramayana and Ram, a statement
which was quickly withdrawn following waves of protest,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed an expert
group headed by environmentalist R K Pachauri to study
the economic and ecological viability of the planned
shipping route and the alternative alignment.
 Advani speaks to PM, wants withdrawal of Ram
affidavit. (PTI Sep 12, 2007)
 Courts cannot decide issues of faith: BJP
 "Government's stand on Ram Setu is objectionable and
unacceptable. It cannot ask for issues of faith to be
decided by the court, it is for the elected government
to decide," he said.
 New Delhi : An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officer,
suspended last year for not carrying out changes in a counter reply to
the Supreme Court on the Ram Sethu project, has filed a case against
Culture Minister Ambika Soni and her senior officials for making him
a “convenient scapegoat” to save herself from the public furore that
ensued.
Seeking to quash the chargesheet against him, Chander Shekhar,
Director (Administration) in the ASI, has told the Central
Administrative Tribunal that the “purpose and motive of issuance of
chargesheet is oblique and aimed solely at providing cover to the
respondents in respect to the situation, which are their own creation,
resulting in political fallout causing serious consequential
repercussion to them”.
Shekhar, along with Assistant Director (Monuments) V Bakshi,
was suspended in September 2007 for not incorporating
corrections in the counter affidavit that set off a political storm, with
the BJP accusing the UPA Government of hurting religious
sentiments of Hindus in stating that there was no historical or
scientific proof about the existence of Lord Ram.
 Justice SU Khan held that no temple was
demolished for constructing the mosque at the
disputed structure. He said the mosque was
constructed under orders of Babar over the ruins of
temples lying in that state for a very long time
NT Writers Included Embarrassing Details
Concerning Themselves.
• Failure - To understand Jesus' sayings
(Mk 9:32; Lk 18:34; Jn 12:16).
• Cowardice - None of the disciples but
1 is present when Jesus goes to the
cross. Peter denies Christ three times
after explicitly promising not to (Mt
26:33-35).
NT Writers Included Embarrassing Details
Concerning Themselves.
Rebuked - Peter, one of the pillars of the early
church, is called Satan by Jesus; Paul rebukes
Peter for being wrong on a theological issue
(Mk 8:33 and Gal 2:11).
 Doubtful - Despite being taught repeatedly
that Jesus would rise from the dead (Jn 2:1822; 3:14-18; Mt 12:39-41; 17:9, 22-23), some
doubt even after seeing him risen (Mt 28:17).

NT Writers Included Embarrassing Details and Diffcult
Sayings of Jesus..
 Jesus is considered to be out of his mind by his
mother and brothers (i.e. his own family) who
come to seize him in order to take him home (Mk
3:21, 31).
 Not believed by his own brothers, is thought to be
a deceiver, and is deserted by many of his followers
(Jn 7:5, 12; 6:66).
 He turns on Jews who had believed in him to the
point that they want to stone him (Jn 8:30-31, 59).
NT Writers Included Embarrassing Details
and Diffcult Sayings of Jesus..
 Labeled as drunkard, demon-possessed madman (Mt
11:19; Mk 3:22; Jn 7:20; Jn 8:48; Jn 10:20)
 His feet were wiped with the hair of a prostitute, an
event which had the potential to be perceived sexually
(Lk 7:36-39).
 Crucified by Jews and Romans, even though anyone
who is hung on a tree is under God's curse (Dt 21:23;
Gal 3:13)
NT Writers Carefully Distinguished Jesus' Words from
Their Own..
 Would have been very easy for the New Testament
writers to solve any 1st century theological disputes by
putting words into Jesus' mouth (e.g. obeying Law of
Moses, circumcision, speaking in tongues, women in
the church, etc).
 Paul's letters reveals to us these theological disputes,
and yet argues without putting words into Jesus'
mouth (he only quotes Jesus a few times, but mostly
OT)
NT Writers Include Events Related to the Resurrection
That They Would Not Have Invented...
 Burial of Jesus: Joseph of Arimathea, a member of
the Sanhedrin, the council that sentenced Jesus to
die for blasphemy. Considering the bitterness against
Jewish authorities, unlikely they would put one in
such a favorable light. And why would they put Jesus
in the tomb of a Jewish authority? If Joseph didn't
really bury Jesus, the story would have been easily
exposed as fraudulent, but the Jews never denied the
story, and no alternative burial has ever been found.
NT Writers Include Events Related to the
Resurrection That They Would Not Have Invented...
 First Witnesses: All four Gospels identify women as the
first witnesses of the empty tomb and first learn of the
Resurrection, one of whom was Mary Magdalene who (Lk
8:2) was once demon-possessed. If women in general were
not considered reliable witnesses in that day and culture
(and they weren't), then certainly neither were demonpossessed ones! This could only hurt your attempt of
passing this o as truth ), which implies that the best
explanation is that this is a true account.
NT Writers Include Events Related to the
Resurrection That They Would Not Have Invented...
 Conversion of the Priests: Many priests in Jerusalem
became believers (Acts 6:7; 15:5) Everyone would have
known Luke was a fraud if there had not been
significant converts from the Pharisees, in particular
first-century readers and the Pharisees themselves!
Why would Luke give them an easy way of exposing his
lies? If you're trying to pass on a lie as truth, you don't
make it this easy for an enemy to expose your story.







Claims of Jesus
Christ claimed to live a sinless life
Jesus Christ claimed to be the ONLY way to God
Jesus Christ claimed to be able to forgive sins
Christ claimed to be able to give everlasting life
Christ claimed to be a Heavenly king
Jesus claimed that he would die and come back to life
Christ claimed that he would return again to judge the
world




Having established the reliability of New
Testament documents
having established the integrity of the New
Testament authors
having established the credibility of the claims
of Jesus Christ
and if Jesus Christ claimed the Bible is written
Word of God – then it is confirmed by his
divine authority
 Inspiration: The Greek word theopneustos is
actually a compound term. Its two parts
(theos and pneustos) literally mean “Godbreathed.” For this reason, English
translations render the word by the phrase
‘inspired of God,’ rather than just ‘inspired’
 Infallible = unable to make a mistake or error,
Incapable of error
verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible. infallible rule
of faith and practice in all matters of religious, ethical,
and spiritual value.
God’s superintending of human authors so that, using
their own individual personalities, they composed and
recorded without error in the words of the original
autographs His revelation to man (Ryrie).
 Inerrant: But then ‘infallible’ began to be
limited to matters of faith only rather than
also embracing all that the Bible records
(including historical facts, genealogies,
accounts of Creation, etc.), so it became
necessary to add the concept of ‘unlimited
inerrancy.’ Each addition to the basic
statement arose because of an erroneous
teaching
Supreme Authority:
a) For Roman Catholics - Church
b) For Liberals - Reason
c) For Evangelists - Bible
Supreme Authority implications
1. We should search and study
2. We should not twist the scriptures
3. We should not add or subtract from it
Supreme Authority in all matters of faith and conduct
Eg: Friend & Habits, decisions, life style
 United States Presidents
George Washington (First) – “It is
impossible to rightly govern the world
without the Bible.”
 World Leaders
Winston Churchill – “We rest with
assurance upon the impregnable rock of
Holy Scripture
 Scientists
Sir Isaac Newton –“We account the Scriptures of
God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find
more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than
in any profane history whatsoever.
Michael Faraday – “Why will people go astray
when they have this blessed Book to guide them?”
 Historians
H. G. Wells – “The Bible has been the Book that
held together the fabric of Western civilization....
The civilization we possess could not come into
existence and could not have been sustained
without it.
unity is achieved in spite of the many authors (some 40) and their various
occupations (approximately 40)
Moses was an Egyptian prince
Nehemiah was a cupbearer
Joshua was a soldier.
Matthew was a tax collector
Samuel was a priest
Mark was an evangelist
David was a king
Luke was a physician.
Job was a rich farmer.
John was a wealthy fisherman.
Amos was a poor farmer.
Peter was a poor fisherman
Ezra was a scribe.
Jude and James were probably
carpenters
Isaiah was a prophet.
Paul was a tentmaker
Daniel was a prime minister
unity is achieved in spite of the different geographical places where the
Bible was written
In the desert (Exod. 17)
In Persia (Esther)
On Mount Sinai (Exod. 20)
In Corinth (1 and 2 Thessalonians)
In Palestine (most)
In Ephesus (Galatians?)
In Egypt (Jeremiah?)
In Caesarea (Luke?)
On the Isle of Patmos (Revelation)
From Rome (2 Timothy)
In Babylon (Daniel)
unity is achieved in spite of the many different styles of its writing
As history
As law
As prophecy
In letter form
As biography
In symbolic form
As autobiography
In proverb form
As poetry
In doctrinal form
 A biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books





considered as authoritative as scripture. The word "canon"
comes from the Greek A biblical canon, or canon of
scripture, is a list of books considered as authoritative as
scripture. The word "canon" comes from the Greek,
meaning "a straight rod," or "a carpenter's rule."
Who is the writer?
Acceptance of the First Church
Acceptance of the First Church Leaders
Summary of the Book
Personal care& prosperity
1 Esdras
Epistle of Jeremiah
2 Esdras
Song of the Three Children
Tobit
Story of Susanna
Judith
Bel and the Dragon
Additions to Esther
Prayer of Manasseh
Wisdom of Solomon
1 Maccabees
Ecclesiasticus
2 Maccabees
Baruch