apologetics the bible. why do you trust the bible? what are some objections you have heard...

ApologeticsThe Bible

The BibleWhy do you trust the Bible?

What are some objections you have heard concerning the Bible?

The BibleTYPES OF DEFENSES WE

GIVE

Evidentialism

Presuppositionalism

The BibleEVIDENTIALISM

Also know as total rationalism

The belief that you can prove the Bible is the Word of God by historical and logical arguments.

The BibleEVIDENTIALISM

Notable People who came to Christ by evidence:

Josh McDowell (Evidence that demands a verdict)Lee Stroebel (a Case for Christ)

The BiblePRESUPPOSITIONALISM

Divine authority is accepted unconditionally and wholeheartedly by supernaturally-endowed fatih.

If we try to reason with people, we are putting reason over God

The BiblePRESUPPOSITIONALISM

This system rejects all attempts to independently verify the Christian truth-claims because sinful, rational man has no legitimate standard by which to test God and His revelation.

The BibleSEMI-RATIONALISM OR SEMI-

BIBLICISM

Recognize that we have presuppositions, but seek to verify whether or not those presuppositions are valid through evidence.

Arguments for The Bible

“I get a good feeling when I read it”

Mormons have that. They call it a “burning in their bosom”


It changed my lifeSelf help books can change your life.


Both of these arguments are subjective!

It changed my lifeI get a good feeling when I read it


Self-AttestationThe Bibles says that it is the inspired word of God2 Timothy 3:16-17


Self-Attestation ProblemsUsing this in an arguments or defense leads to a logical fallacyCircular Reasoning or “Begging the Question”“The Bible is true, because the Bible says that it is true.”

Stronger Arguments for The

BibleUniqueness

66 Different documentsDifferent Genres More than 40 Different authorsWritten on different continentsDifferent lanquagesWritten over a 1500 year period

Stronger Arguments for The

BibleUniqueness

Most critiqued collection of documents –EVERStill Best Seller –Holy vocabularyMost importantly: it tells a unified, internally consistent account!

The Five E’sEvidence the NT is

TrueEarly Testimony

Eyewitness Testimony

Embarrassing Testimony

Excruciating Testimony

Extra-Biblical Testimony


TrueEarly Testimony

5700 handwritten Greek manuscripts of the New TestamentEarliest Parts of John: AD 117-138Dead Sea Scrolls: AD 50-70

Parts of Mark, Acts, Romans, 1 Tim., 2 Peter, and James


TrueEyewitness Testimony

Acts 2:322 Peter 1:16Luke 1:1,2



Why should we believe them as eyewitnesses?

They correctly cite locations, dialects, authorities and officials, current eventsWhy are these important?



A writer who thus relates his story to the wider context of world history is courting trouble if he is not careful; he affords his critical readers so many opportunities for testing his accuracy. Luke takes this risk, and stands the test admirably – F.F. Bruce


TrueEmbarrassing Testimony

The principle of embarrassment:Any detail embarrassing to the author are probably true.Why?



They are dim-witted – numerous times they fail to understand what Jesus is saying.They are uncaring – they fall asleep on Jesus twice when he asks them to pray.



They are rebuked – Peter is called “Satan” by Jesus.They are cowards They are doubters


TrueEmbarrassing Testimony about Jesus

He is considered “out of his mind” by his mother and brothersIs not believed by his own brothersIs called a “drunkard”



Has his feet wiped with the hair of a prostitute (an event that had the potential to be perceived as a sexual advance)Is crucified by the Jews and Romans, despite the fact that anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse



Buried by a member of the group that sentenced Jesus to deathFirst appeared to women


TrueExcruciating Testimony

NT Believers abandoned long-held sacred beliefs, adopt new ones, and don’t deny their testimony under threat of death!


TrueCopy slide



He is considered “out of his mind” by his mother and brothersIs not believed by his own brothersIs called a “drunkard”


TrueExcruciating Testimony

Most of the Gospel writers and apostles were martyred and/or tortured for their faith!Many will die for something they believe is the truth, but no one dies for something they know is a lie!


TrueExtra-Biblical Testimony

Flavius Josephus (ca. 37 – ca. 100)Greatest Jewish historian of his time“Antiquities of the Jews” which he finished ca. AD 93Mentions Jesus multiple times



“At this time [the time of Pilate] there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good and (he) was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples...



...Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the...



Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders”



10 known non-Christian writers mention Jesus within 150 years of his life.9 sources mention Tiberius CaesarIf you include Christian sources, there are 43!



What we knowJesus lived during time of Tiberius CaesarLived a virtuous lifeWas a wonder workerHad a brother named James



What we knowWas acclaimed to be the MessiahCrucified under Pontius Pilate on the eve of the Jewish PassoverDarkness and an earthquake occurred when he died.



What we knowHis disciples believed he rose from the deadHis disciples were willing to die for their beliefHis disciples denied the Roman gods and worshiped Jesus as God

apologetics the bible. why do you trust the bible? what are some objections you have heard...

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