Evotional - Is the Bible Reliable?

TXT—2
IS THE BIBLE INSPIRED?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

theopneustos (theh-op'-nyoo-stos); divinely breathed, given by inspiration of God.

IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?

THE INTERNAL TEST

DO THE WRITERS OF THE BIBLE CLAIM THEIR WRITINGS ARE TRUE?

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

The books of the New Testament were all based on primary sources, that is people who were there with Jesus or people who were getting their information from those were there with Jesus.

The time frame the New Testament was written in is also interesting. Every book was written within 100 years of Jesus’ birth (or about 60 years of His death). The Gospels themselves as thought to have been written only 40-50 years of Jesus’ death with the possibility that one of them was written only 30 years after. Seems like quite a few years - but lets look at some other books that historians consider reliable -

Alexander the Greats Biographies - 400 years
Buddha - 600 years
Zoroaster - 1800 years

THE EXTERNAL TEST

WHAT DOES OUTSIDE EVIDENCE SAY ABOUT THE BIBLE?

"It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference." Nelson Glueck - Former President of the Jewish Theological Seminary and noted archaeologist.

Many of the events in the Old Testament are validated archaeologically. More than enough to validate it as none have ever refuted anything that the Bible said happened. The New Testament events are also validated in this way and by other written histories at the time. Non-Christians wrote about Jesus, the early church, and even John the Baptist.

Dr. Edwin M. Yamauchi (History Bigwig) wrote this:

“[Regarding if we did not have the written Gospels] We would still have a considerable amount of important historical evidence; in fact, it would provide a kind of outline for the life of Jesus…”

THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC TEST

HOW WELL WERE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TRANSLATED TO TODAY?

The bottom line is this: scholars have concluded the Greek manuscripts from which we translate our English Bibles are 98% genuine. That is, only about 2 percent varies from the original manuscripts. These variations are minor as they are mostly things like different spellings of names of people and places. None of the variations make a difference in the meaning of the passage or the theological doctrines that make up Christianity.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God brought His word to us. Not only that, but I hope that it is clear to you tonight that you can trust the Bible’s that you have in front of you.

You can trust that it is God’s word to you.

Wow.

I'm putting the finishing touches on TXT part 2 for tomorrow (if your even thinking about missing it your crazy, some of this stuff of the Bible will blow your mind) and thumbing through the "Pocket Guide to the Bible" [Relevant Book] by Jason Boyett.

His summary of the book of Romans is both short and profound. I don't cry. But something about this statement still adds a little moisture to my eyes.

"[Regarding the book of Romans] This is Paul's longest letter, and the crux of his argument is that following the Law is powerless when it comes to salvation. No human is righteous, which sucks. And which also means we can't save ourselves. The only source of salvation? The only rescue from the dregs of sin? The only hope for fallen humanity? It's faith in Jesus Christ." [Emphasis Mine]

Evotional - The History of the Bible

There has never been another book that can compare to the Bible.

Many have tried.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:16

shakach (shaw-kakh'); to lay aside, to forget, to take for granted or neglect.

One of the problems with us and the Bible is that concept. We forget about it and for the most part we take it for granted. One of the things that can help us not to neglect the Bible is to understand where it comes from. We have it available and for free. But it has not always been that way.

Here is the history of the Bible.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

History Timeline

• 1400 - 1500 BC: God wrote the 10 Commandments in ancient Hebrew on stone.
• 500 BC: 39 books that make up the Old Testament were completed and preserved in Hebrew on scrolls.
• First Century AD: New Testament had been completed and was preserved in Greek on papyrus.
• 393 AD: Synod of Hippo officially approved the New Testament for the entire Church.
• 500 AD: Bible had been translated into over 500 languages.
• 600 AD: Bible was restricted to only Latin. All other versions were considered illegal.
• 400-1400 AD: Known as the “Dark Ages.”
• 500’s - 1300’s: Secret Bible society made up of the “Culdees” continued to study God’s word.
• 1380: John Wycliffe (often called the Morningstar of the Reformation) translated the Bible into English.
• 1415: John Hus burned at the stake for his stance for the Bible. Wycliffe’s bibles used to start the fire.
• 1517: Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Thesis on the church door at the church in Wittenberg.
• 1526: William Tyndale printed the first English Bible.
• 1536: Tyndale was incarcerated before he was strangled and burned at the stake. Before dying, Tyndale prayed, “Oh Lord, open the King of England’s eyes".
• 1539: King Henry VIII finally allowed (and even funded) the printing of an English Bible.

Do Not Neglect God’s Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-2, 14

The idea of God giving us a record of His character in written form is not a new one. The question is what will we do with it? Not a single one of us will be on the run for a having the Bible in a language we can read. Others who came before us paid the price so that we could be able to have it.

The question is will we shaw-kakh it? Will be neglect God’s Word and the power it can have to change our life?

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:16