The BibleThe Bible

From God or From Man?From God or From Man?

John Oakes JuneJohn Oakes June, 2007, 2007

Delos B. McKown:

“Christianity is scientifically unsupported and probably insupportable, philosophically suspect at best and disreputable at worst, and historically fraudulent.”

Proposition #1Proposition #1

The Bible is scientifically unsupported and The Bible is scientifically unsupported and probably insupportibleprobably insupportible

Papyrus EbersPapyrus Ebers

The Ebers PapyrusThe Ebers Papyrus::

““To prevent hair from turning gray, To prevent hair from turning gray, anoint it with the blood of a calf anoint it with the blood of a calf which has been boiled in oil or with which has been boiled in oil or with

the fat of a rattlesnake.”the fat of a rattlesnake.”

““A mixture of six fats, namely those A mixture of six fats, namely those of the horse, the hippopotamus, the of the horse, the hippopotamus, the crocodile, the cat, the snake and crocodile, the cat, the snake and the ibex.... to prevent hair loss.the ibex.... to prevent hair loss.””

Drugs of Choice included:Drugs of Choice included:

Lizards bloodLizards blood Swine’s teethSwine’s teeth Putrid meatPutrid meat Moisture from Pigs’ earsMoisture from Pigs’ ears Excreta from animals including Excreta from animals including

human beings, donkeys, antelope, human beings, donkeys, antelope, dogs, cats and fliesdogs, cats and flies

“I will not bring on you any of these diseases...”

Exodus 15:26

“Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third and seventh day...take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and furnishings and the people who were there.”Numbers 19

SemelweissSemelweiss

Vienna, 1847Vienna, 1847

In maternity wards one out In maternity wards one out of every six women dies.of every six women dies.

Obstetricians ascribe Obstetricians ascribe deaths to constipation, fear deaths to constipation, fear and poisonous air.and poisonous air.

Death Rate falls Death Rate falls from 18% to 1%from 18% to 1%

Thymol (Oil of Hyssop)

“For the generations to come, every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised...”

Genesis 17:12

Vitamin K

Prothrombrin: a clotting protein.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

days

% o

f n

orm

alClotting Protein Peaks on Day EightClotting Protein Peaks on Day Eight

Available Prothrombin

Day Day CircumcisedCircumcised

Number of Number of Hebrew BoysHebrew Boys

Number of Number of DeathsDeaths

11 823823 44

33 759759 66

55 693693 88

77 855855 33

99 770770 22

1111 698698 44

Abraham’s Experiment

“The snail trailing a moist streak after it as it crawls, and so using up its vitality serves as a remedy for boils.”

“The sting of a hornet is healed by the house-fly, crushed and applied to the wound.”

“The gnat, feeble creature, taking in food but never secreting it is a specific against the poison of the viper.”

An ancient Hebrew medical manuscript.

Proposition #1Proposition #1

The Bible is scientifically unsupported and The Bible is scientifically unsupported and probably insupportibleprobably insupportible

Response: Oh really…Response: Oh really…

Proposition #2Proposition #2

““Christianity is Christianity is philosophically philosophically suspect at best”suspect at best”

Delos McKownDelos McKown

Socrates

Last Night:Last Night:

Christian Philosophy (theology) gives a more Christian Philosophy (theology) gives a more realistic description of things as they are than realistic description of things as they are than materialism or postmodernism.materialism or postmodernism.

Materialism denies the existence of truth, Materialism denies the existence of truth, morality and value.morality and value.

Postmodernism says that all truth is relative. No Postmodernism says that all truth is relative. No particular world view is preferred.particular world view is preferred.

The Impact of Christian Thinking on the The Impact of Christian Thinking on the World World

Women’s rightsWomen’s rights

Human rightsHuman rights

Abolition of SlaveryAbolition of Slavery

Science was created due to the Christian view of Science was created due to the Christian view of the worldthe world

Christian Philosophy/TheologyChristian Philosophy/Theology

Realism but not naturalismRealism but not naturalism

Genesis 1:31 The world/creation is good (vs Genesis 1:31 The world/creation is good (vs Pythagoreanism, Platonism, neo-Platonism, Pythagoreanism, Platonism, neo-Platonism, Gnosticism, etc.)Gnosticism, etc.)

Genesis 1:1 Defeats pantheism, atheism, Genesis 1:1 Defeats pantheism, atheism, dualism, materialism/scientism, humanism, dualism, materialism/scientism, humanism, animism, all in one verse. (Hebrews 11:3)animism, all in one verse. (Hebrews 11:3)

Christian Philosophy (cont.)Christian Philosophy (cont.)

Biblical theology solves the dual problems of Biblical theology solves the dual problems of suffering and evil.suffering and evil.

Evil the result of people with free will rebelling Evil the result of people with free will rebelling against God.against God.

Suffering is not evil. It is from God, but it should Suffering is not evil. It is from God, but it should be dealt with by compassion.be dealt with by compassion.

Nearly all compassionate works in the world are Nearly all compassionate works in the world are done by Bible believers.done by Bible believers.

Proposition #3Proposition #3

Christianity is historically fraudulentChristianity is historically fraudulent

Ruins of Hattusha, capital of the Hittites

The Lion Gate in Hattusha

The Five City League, including Sodom and Gomorrah

The Tel Dan Inscription

820 BC

2 Kings 8:28-29

Pilate Inscription Caesarea AD 30

Ziggurat in UrZiggurat in Ur

Proposition #4Proposition #4

The Bible is full of myths.The Bible is full of myths.

This charge is true! The Bible contains true This charge is true! The Bible contains true myths.myths.

Myths Common to Nearly All CulturesMyths Common to Nearly All Cultures

Creation mythsCreation myths– Gilgamesh (Akkadian/Sumerian)Gilgamesh (Akkadian/Sumerian)– Popol Vuh (Mayan)Popol Vuh (Mayan)– Sutras (Hindu) etc.Sutras (Hindu) etc.– vs. Genesis 1-3vs. Genesis 1-3

God/man mythsGod/man myths– Isis and OsirisIsis and Osiris– MithraMithra– KrishnaKrishna– Eleusian Rites, etc.Eleusian Rites, etc.– vs. Jesusvs. Jesus

Proposition #5Proposition #5

The Bible is full of contradictions.The Bible is full of contradictions.

– Genesis 7:17 vs Genesis 8:3Genesis 7:17 vs Genesis 8:3– Genesis 37:36 vs Genesis 39:1Genesis 37:36 vs Genesis 39:1– Mathew 27:5 vs Acts 1:18Mathew 27:5 vs Acts 1:18– John 19:17 vs Mark 15:21-23John 19:17 vs Mark 15:21-23– More serious Exodus 20:4-5 vs Ezek 18:19-20More serious Exodus 20:4-5 vs Ezek 18:19-20

Proposition #6 Proposition #6

You cannot trust the Bible because it has You cannot trust the Bible because it has been changed.been changed.

Oh really….Oh really….

Excerpt from DVCExcerpt from DVC

““Aha!’ Teabing burst in with Aha!’ Teabing burst in with enthusiasm. ‘The fundamental irony enthusiasm. ‘The fundamental irony of Christianity! The Bible, as we of Christianity! The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great.” (page 251, DVC) the Great.” (page 251, DVC)

The Rylands FragmentJohn 18:31-33, 37AD 125

Manuscript evidence for the canonical gospels

Codex Sinaiticus (350 AD)

Codex Vaticanus (350 AD)

Alexandrian Codex (350 AD)

Codex Bezae (300 AD)

Chester Beaty Papyrus (200 AD)

John Rylands Papyrus (125 AD)

Author Date Oldest Copy Interval Copies

Aristophanes 400 BC AD 900 1,300 years 45

Aristotle 340 BC AD 1100 1,450 years 5

Demosthenes 300 BC AD 1100 1,400 years 200

Julius Caesar 50 BC AD 900 950 years 10

Herodotus 435 BC AD 900 1,350 years 8

Homer 800 BC AD 100 900 years 643

Plato 360 BC AD 800 1,150 years 15

Sophocles 415 BC AD 1000 1,400 years 7

Thucydides 410 BC AD 900 1,300 years 8

Old Testament 1500 BC – 500 BC

200 BC 200-400 years

5,000

New Testament AD 50-90 AD 125 50 years 8,000

Textual Evidence for Ancient Manuscripts

Church Father QuotesChurch Father Quotes

Ignatius d. AD 115 Quotes from Matthew, John and Luke.Ignatius d. AD 115 Quotes from Matthew, John and Luke.

Polycarp, writing to the Philippians in AD 120 quotes from Polycarp, writing to the Philippians in AD 120 quotes from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, 1,2 Corinthians, Galatians, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, 1,2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1,2 Thessalonians, 1,2 Timothy, Ephesians, Philippians, 1,2 Thessalonians, 1,2 Timothy, Hebrews, 1 Peter, and 1,3 JohnHebrews, 1 Peter, and 1,3 John

Clement of Rome AD 95 or 96 quotes from ten of the Clement of Rome AD 95 or 96 quotes from ten of the twenty-seven New Testament books.twenty-seven New Testament books.

Nearly the entire New Testament can be reconstructed Nearly the entire New Testament can be reconstructed from quotes of the church fathers in the 2from quotes of the church fathers in the 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd centuries.centuries.

None of these ever quoted from a Gnostic gospel, ever!None of these ever quoted from a Gnostic gospel, ever!

Development of the New Testament CanonDevelopment of the New Testament Canon

Four gospels circulating and recognized as apostolic by AD Four gospels circulating and recognized as apostolic by AD 100 or even by AD 90.100 or even by AD 90.

A group of letters of Paul circulating together and A group of letters of Paul circulating together and recognized as apostolic by AD 100recognized as apostolic by AD 100

A still fluid, but developing complete list of canonical books A still fluid, but developing complete list of canonical books by AD 150. (some doubt about Hebrews, 2,3 John, by AD 150. (some doubt about Hebrews, 2,3 John, Revelation, 2 Peter, Epistle of Barnabus, Didache).Revelation, 2 Peter, Epistle of Barnabus, Didache).

By AD 200, the New Testament as we know it was By AD 200, the New Testament as we know it was canonized by acclamation of the church. (The Muratorian canonized by acclamation of the church. (The Muratorian Fragment, AD 175)Fragment, AD 175)

SummarySummary

The New Testament canon was selected by The New Testament canon was selected by consensus of the church in the second century as consensus of the church in the second century as those books with apostolic authority.those books with apostolic authority.

The evidence is conclusive that the Greek New The evidence is conclusive that the Greek New Testament we have is virtually identical to the Testament we have is virtually identical to the original writings of the inspired writers.original writings of the inspired writers.

The Text and Canon of the Old TestamentThe Text and Canon of the Old Testament

The Cairo Codex: The former and latter prophets The Cairo Codex: The former and latter prophets AD 895AD 895

The Leningrad Codex: Oldest Hebrew manuscript The Leningrad Codex: Oldest Hebrew manuscript of the whole Old Testament AD 1008of the whole Old Testament AD 1008

The Masoretes and the Masoretic Text. These The Masoretes and the Masoretic Text. These guys were fanatics!guys were fanatics!

All this changed in 1949 with an Arab child in the All this changed in 1949 with an Arab child in the hills east of Jerusalem….hills east of Jerusalem….

QumranCave #4

Last Old Last Old Testament Testament Book Book WrittenWrittenAutographAutograph

Dead Sea Scrolls Dead Sea Scrolls WrittenWritten

Oldest Old Oldest Old Testament Testament Manuscript Before Manuscript Before Dead Sea ScrollsDead Sea Scrolls

The Effect of the Dead Sea Scrolls

ConclusionsConclusions

The Bible is consistent with what we know from scienceThe Bible is consistent with what we know from science

Biblical philosophy solves the human problem as no human Biblical philosophy solves the human problem as no human philosophy doesphilosophy does

The Bible is the most accurate history of the ancient world The Bible is the most accurate history of the ancient world we havewe have

The Bible contains “true myths.”The Bible contains “true myths.”

The Bible does not contradict itself. It has an amazing unityThe Bible does not contradict itself. It has an amazing unity

We have a faithfully preserved inspired textWe have a faithfully preserved inspired text

If The Bible is the Word of GodIf The Bible is the Word of GodWe Need to Put it Into PracticeWe Need to Put it Into Practice

John 12:47-50 The Word will be our judgeJohn 12:47-50 The Word will be our judge

James 1:22-25 Put it into practiceJames 1:22-25 Put it into practice

John 7:17 It works.John 7:17 It works.

2 Tim 4:1-5 No sentimentality. Eternal life is 2 Tim 4:1-5 No sentimentality. Eternal life is at stake.at stake.