Christian Ministry 2 Using Your Bible Week 2 - Inspiration of the Bible
Opener • Recall and share with someone close to you one point that stuck out for you in reading Does Inerrancy Matter? • Share one insight from your meditation on 2 Cor 2: 14 -17. • What does each word in the phrase Verbal Plenary Inspiration mean?
Clarification • Memory verse 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17 • 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Introduction • Def of VPI • God so moved the human authors of scripture that the resulting product was the Word of God, written totally without error in all that it affirms in the original autographs, in every area including theology, history, geography and science. • Support: 2 Tim 3: 16 -17 & 2 Pet 1: 20 -21
Introduction • Problems with these statements? • “The Bible is inspired because IT claims to be inspired. ” • “I believe the Bible is inspired by God because its contents resonate with me. ”
Argument for Inspiration • Nature of the Argument: • We do not have empirical proof • We have lines of evidence that provide us with sufficient reasons to put our trust in Christ, whose authority then assures us of the verbal plenary inspiration of the scriptures.
Argument for Inspiration • Argument from Jesus’ Authority • If Jesus is God made man, then he has the authority to proclaim God’s view of scripture. • If Jesus’ statements have been accurately transmitted in the New Testament, then we should adopt his perspective.
Long before Jesus lived, Argument for Inspiration many detailed predictions were made about the Messiah. • Argument Flow. . . Jesus fulfilled all of them, demonstrating 1. Demonstrate that there is evidence to prove that he was the that the Gospels accurately record what Jesus Messiah, the son of God. said and did. 2. Show that Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.
Argument for Inspiration • Argument Flow. . . 3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God. 4. Therefore, we view all scripture as inspired by God, based on Jesus’ authority as the divine Messiah.
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • 3 Tests for Reliability for All Historical Documents: • Bibliographical - How close are the copies to the inspired originals? • Internal - How close were the authors to the events they recorded? Are there any contradictions? • External - Do other sources support or contradict the text?
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • Bibliographical Test: • Do we have sufficient number of copies and copies close enough in time to the originals to be reasonably confident in the reliability of our present text? • Multiple copies, compare & contrast to identify variations ➔ Textual Criticism • The more copies, the closer we can come to the originals!
In addition to the 5500+ 1. Evidence to prove the Gospels Greek documents. . . there accurately record. . . are thousands of other AUTHOR Caesar (Gaellic Wars) Tacitus (Annals) Aristotle ancient New Testament EARLIEST NUMBER WRITTEN TIME SPAN manuscripts in other COPIES OF COPIES languages. There are 8, 000 to 10, 000 Latin 58 -50 B. C. A. D. 900 950 years 10 Vulgate manuscripts, plus a total of 8, 000 in 100 A. D. 1100 1, 000 years 20 Ethiopic, Slavic, and Armenian. In all, there 384 -322 B. C. A. D. 1100 1, 400 years are about 24, 000 49 documents in existence. Homer 900 B. C. 400 B. C. (Illiad) New 40 -100 A. D. 350 Testament 500 years 643 250 5, 500+ ~ Lee Strobel
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • Sir Frederic Kenyon • The interval between the dates of original composition (of the New Testament) and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come 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.
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • Internal Test: Two Questions: • Were the authors sufficiently close to the events they recorded (eyewitness or hearsay)? • Do their accounts contain internal contradictions?
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • Internal Test: • NT Authors claim to be eyewitnesses or base their writing on eyewitnesses Luke 1: 1 -3. . . • • 2 Peter 1: 16. . . • 1 John 1: 1, 3. . . • John 19: 35; 21: 24. . . • Quote from F. F. Bruce. . .
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • Internal Test: • The accounts of the NT authors are consistent (not contradictory) The trustworthiness of a testimony is to a great extent dependent on the consistency of the claims being made. . •
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • Internal Test: • The accounts of the NT authors are consistent (not contradictory) The benefit of the doubt must be given to a document unless it disqualifies itself. In other words, we begin by accepting its claims unless it disproves itself. Otherwise, there is no way to do history. • • Quote by Gleason Archer. . .
. . . Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for the abominations, External Test: Sources outside the called Christians by Gospels which contradict or confirm the populace. them? Christus, from • Early extra-biblical records: whom the name had its origin, Tacitus (Roman historian) suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one or our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. . . ” 1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • •
1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • External Test: Sources outside the Gospels which contradict or confirm them? • Early extra-biblical records: • Tacitus (Roman historian) • Two other Roman historians also refer to Christ: Suetonius and Pliny
“Luke's historicity is 1. Evidence to prove the Gospels unsurpassed in accurately record. . . respect to its • trustworthiness. . . Luke is a historian External Test: Sources outside the of the first rank; not Gospels which contradict or confirm merely are his them? statements of fact • Early extra-biblical records: trustworthy. . . this author should be Archaeology confirms the Gospels historical and placed along with geographical accuracy. the very greatest of Higher critics and Acts. . . historians. ” Sir William Ramsay • • J. P. Free. . . ~ Sir William Ramsay
The Bible has shown itself to be a reliable source of historical External Test: Sources outside the Gospels information. which contradict or confirm them? This allows us to place • Other “scriptures” confidence in Easter Religions: their sciptures have no interest in the truthfulness history of its claims. The Quran: almost entirely assertions of Allah. Has very little historical interface. Contains inaccuracies - Sura 26: 55 -60 1. Evidence to prove the Gospels accurately record. . . • • Book of Mormon: makes historical references, but is full of historical anachronisms and geographical inaccuracies - 1 Nephi 2: 5 -8 and Alma 46: 15
Reflect • Which of the arguments below do you think would help persuade an unbeliever you know to consider the Bible as truth from God? • • • Bibliographical Internal External
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • God uses fulfilled prophecy to validate scripture. • Other “scriptures” either do not even claim to be revelation (Easter religious “scriptures. . . ) • Or they do not provide a means of external verification for their claims (Qu’ran, Book of Mormon, Writings of Baha’u’llah”)
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • God uses fulfilled prophecy to validate scripture. • Isaiah 44: 7, 24, 25 • Isaiah 48: 3 -5 • Must establish OT Integrity. . . • 3 tests for reliability?
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Bibliographical Test for OT • Many have been skeptical. . . why? Earliest copies dated to around 900 A. D. (1300 years after the OT was completed) • Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - 1947 • Left by Qumran Community - Jewish Sect • Date back to b/w 200 B. C. and A. D 70. • Contain copies of much of the OT
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Bibliographical Test for OT • DSS are important for two reasons: • Show that the text of the OT has been faithfully transmitted • Show that the specific prophecies about Jesus Christ were NOT written after the fact.
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • External Verification for the OT • Archaeology has also resolved many apparent discrepancies. . . (historical & geographical) • Critics used to say. . . • During the time of Moses and his alleged writings, humans did not yet write. Such detailed legislation wasn’t recorded until the Persian period (538 B. C. - 900 yrs after Moses) • Many cities and people in the OT were fictitious
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • External Verification for the OT • Recent archaeological studies. . . • Ebla Tablets • Confirm biblical descriptions of people, customs, • and laws of that time. Economic records include references to biblical sites such as Hazier, Gaza, Megiddo, and Jerusalem Commercial texts mention Sodom and Gomorrah. They also mention Chedorloamer and other citykings mentioned in Gen 14 that were considered fictitious
“It may be stated 2. Show Jesus is the divine categorically that no archeological Messiah based on fulfilled OT discovery has ever prophecy controverted a biblical passage. • External Verification for the OT • Scores of Recent archaeological studies. . . archeological Excavations at Dan in 1993 findings have been made which Evidence for King David’s existence found in an confirm in clear inscription in stone outline or exact Detailed in the article “Is the Bible True? ” in US detail historical News and World Report from October 25, 1999. statements in the Bible. ” • • • ~ Nelson Glueck
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • External Verification for the OT • The OT has been transmitted accurately • The OT is ancient in origin and clearly predates the NT • The OT has been externally verified by vigorous archaeological research
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • OT prophecy predicts the coming of a divine Messiah • Jesus claimed to be that Messiah • Jesus fulfilled prophecies about the Messiah • Jesus and the apostles considered these prophecies to be sufficient evidence for believe in Jesus as Messiah (Matt 11: 2 -6)
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Fulfilled messianic prophecies are especially important because they demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah and therefore his teaching about the Bible is authoritative. • The Old Testament contains over 300 prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus. • Luke 24: 44 -46; Acts 17: 2 -4; 1 Cor 15: 3 -4
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Some of the most compelling (b/c many of these could not be deliberately fulfilled) • • • Place of birth: Micah 5: 2 Lineage: Matthew 1 and Luke 3 Time of his death: Daniel 9: 24 -26 Manner of his death: Psalm 22 (both crucifixion and people gambling for his clothes) Purpose of his death and manner of burial: Isaiah 53
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • We want to understand the following well enough to use in witnessing situations. . . • Isaiah 52: 13 -53: 1 -12 (Purpose of Christ’s Death) • Psalm 22: 1 -18 (Manner of Christ’s Death) • Daniel 9: 24 -26 (Timing of Christ’s Death)
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Isaiah 52: 13 -53: 1 -12 • Not about the nation of Israel because the servant dies for Israel (vv 4 -6, 8) • Servant submits himself to unjust treatment and condemnation to execution (vv 7 -8) • The manner of the Servant’s death is vividly described, including that fact that He is scourged and pierced (vs. 5)
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Isaiah 52: 13 -53: 1 -12 • God’s chosen Servant fulfills the sacrificial • • system. That is, His substitutionary death is the basis upon which God forgives and justifies those who entrust themselves to the Servant (5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12) Servant is resurrected - comes to life after clearly being killed (8, 10, 11) Jesus could not have orchestrated the manner of his own burial (9)
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Psalm 22: 1 -18 (Manner of Christ’s Death) • David is not talking about himself • he never fell into his enemies' hands (vs 12, 16) • he died in peace in his bed rather than by execution (vs 15) • he was born in a state of iniquity (vs 9, 10 contrasted to Ps. 51: 5).
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Psalm 22: 1 -18 (Manner of Christ’s Death) • David is describing crucifixion • Note the dehydration (vs 14: poured out like water; " vs 15: "my tongue cleaves to my jaws), dislocation (vs 14: "all my bones are out of joint"), heart failure (vs 14: "my heart is like wax"), physical exhaustion (vs 15: "my strength is dried up like a potsherd"), pierced hands and feet (vs 16)11, and nakedness (vs 17: "I can count all my bones"). This form of death was not invented until several centuries after David died.
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Psalm 22: 1 -18 (Manner of Christ’s Death) • Jesus could not have deliberately fulfilled key elements of this prophecy. • Jesus would have been unable to deliberately fulfill the soldiers' gambling for his clothes (v. 18) • In addition, he could not have orchestrated the mockery from his Jewish countrymen (v. 6 -8), or Gentiles executing him (v. 12, 16).
2. Show Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled OT prophecy • Daniel 9: 24 -26 (Timing of Christ’s Death) • See the Daniel 9 handout
Review of the Argument for VPI based on Jesus’ Authority • Demonstrate that there is evidence to prove • • • that the Gospels accurately record what Jesus said and did. Show that Jesus is the divine Messiah based on fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God. Therefore we view all scripture as inspired by God, based on Jesus’ authority
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ view of the OT • Matthew 5: 17, 18*. . . • Jesus says that the OT is eternally authoritative down to the very letters used • In Matthew 22: 23 -32, Jesus uses the OT quote, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. . . ” to support the resurrection of God’s children who have died
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ view of the OT • John 10: 35 -36. . . • Jesus is responding to the Jews’ charge of blasphemy because he said “I and the Father are one. " • Citing Ps. 82: 6, in which God called people “gods” (elohim), Jesus argues (a fortiori) that if it is appropriate for humans to be called “gods, ” how much more appropriate is it for him (as the Son of God) to refer to himself as "one with the Father. "
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ view of the OT • Mark 7: 5 -13. . . • Jesus viewed the Old Testament in a totally different category than religious tradition. • Jesus affirmed the historicity of Old Testament characters and events. See Matthew 12: 38 -40 (Jonah); Matthew 19: 4 -5 (creation of Adam and Eve); Luke 17: 26 -32 (Noah); Luke 20: 37 (call of Moses); John 3: 14 (Moses/serpent in wilderness).
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ perspective of his own words • Matthew 24: 35*. . . • Notice the deliberate parallelism to Matt. 5: 18. • Jesus is consciously equating the authority of his own words to that of the Old Testament.
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ perspective of his own words • Matthew 7: 24 -27. . . • John 12: 48. . . • Jesus claims that people's eternal destiny will be decided by how they respond to his words (see also Jn. 5: 24)
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ perspective of his own words • John 8: 31, 32. . . • Jesus regards his teaching as "the truth" which is capable of setting people free from sin. Old Testament passages like Ps. 119 make similar claims for the word of God. • The Old Testament prophets' "Thus said the Lord" is similar to Jesus' "Truly I say to you". This would have been heard loud and clear by his audience as a statement of divine authority.
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ view of his Apostles’ writings • Matthew 10: 40*. . . • Compare to John 12: 48. Jesus is the Father’s authoritative spokesman. So, to reject his words is the reject the Father. So also, the Apostles are Jesus’ authoritative spokesmen, so that to reject their words is to reject Jesus and the Father.
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ view of his Apostles’ writings • John 14: 26. . . • The Holy Spirit gave them supernatural recall of Jesus' words and the ability to interpret Jesus' life and death. • John 15: 26, 27. . . • The Holy Spirit gave them the authority to "bear witness" (provide legal testimony) concerning Jesus.
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Jesus’ view of his Apostles’ writings • John 16: 13. . . • The Holy Spirit would enable them to interpret Jesus' coming death and resurrection, and to prophesy concerning the future (e. g. , John in Revelation)
3. Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God • Conclusion • Jesus viewed the OT as God’s Word • Jesus viewed his own words as God’s Word • Jesus viewed the Apostles’ words as God’s Word • Therefore: Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God (both OT & NT)
4. Hence, since Jesus viewed all scripture as inspired by God, we view all scripture as inspired by God based on Jesus’ authority as the divine Messiah.
Other Reasons to Believe the Bible is Inspired by God • The biblical message corresponds with reality in a way that no other worldview does!! • The Bible is one unified story, despite being written by many authors widely separated by time, geography, and culture.
If we come to Summary Christ believing • Argument for VPI his words of • Demonstrate that there is evidence to prove salvation, then that the Gospels accurately record what we must also Jesus said and did. believe his • Show that Jesus is the divine Messiah words about the based on fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Bible! • Demonstrate that Jesus viewed all scripture • as inspired by God. Therefore we view all scripture as inspired by God, based on Jesus’ authority
Reflect • What step in the argument for VPI stood out most to you tonight? Why?
Reflect • You are talking with a new Christian who says, “I believe in Jesus for salvation, but I don’t really think all of the Bible is truth from God. ” • How might you respond using the argument for VPI to persuade this person begin accepting the entire Bible as truth?
Questions?
Next Week • Canonicity
Memory Verses • Please note: the last page of your notes gives a description of the verses, not the actual wording of the verses • Matthew 5: 17, 18* • Matthew 24: 35* • Matthew 10: 40*
Assignment • Read chapter 3 of The Case for Christ (see handout) and write one-paragraph summary of the chapter. • Continue the Church Visitation Assignment • Write out your meditation on 2 Cor. 4: 7 -12
Corporate Prayer
Скачать презентацию Christian Ministry 2 Using Your Bible Week 2
6dbc0a25736412835e43f8619182b4df.ppt