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Introduction to the Lesson
On the tabs above, follow STEP ONE and watch the two video links.
Today we turn our attention to the question of credibility. Can we trust the information contained in the books of the Bible? As we continue exploring the question, “Is there bias between the media and Christianity?” let’s listen carefully to what both sides are saying about the issue of credibility.
From the Christian perspective:
We have biblical records of the events of the nation of Israel, of the life of Christ and of the beginnings of the church. The media seems to do everything it can to discredit or disregard those records, treating them much the way they would treat a fairy tale. In the media’s own words, they treat the Christian faith as if it were “fake news.”
From the perspective of the journalist and media:
Christians cannot agree upon their interpretation of the Bible. They cannot agree about its source and circulation. Some cannot agree upon which books are to be included in the Bible. Some of the stories of the Bible would require a miracle for them to be true. It is impossible for us to determine its credibility, but the questions and lack of answers lead us to believe it is not credible.
Is the story factual? Are there inaccuracies in the accounts of the story? Is the story presented in a credible manner? These issues are important, not just when considering the Bible, but when considering any story that is covered by the media.
Today we are going to start class a little bit differently. Let’s pretend that you are going to be a reporter, taking part in a “press conference” of sorts. You are going to have the opportunity to interview course teacher and author Tom May, attempting to cover the credibility of Christianity. What questions trouble you about the issue of the credibility of the records of the Christian faith? Are there similar questions that concern you personally? Use the space in the form below to word your questions to the teacher. Usually within 24 hours, a response to your questions will be presented and sent to your email address. (Under “website” simply put the word “Biased.” Write your questions in the “message” area.
Alternative: Ask one of your ministers, church leaders or your small group leader to attend your meeting willing to answer similar questions. What are the crucial questions concerning the credibility of the Biblical records that need to be asked?
[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]
Lesson Content
As you begin looking at the content in today’s lesson, click on the STEP TWO tab above. Consider the theme of the lesson and continue to the STEP THREE tab.
Did you ever wonder if we could trust what the Bible says? Did anyone you know ever question the stories of the Bible? How do we answer their questions? What if they say – well all those things are in the Bible, but I don’t believe the Bible? Where do we go from there? How do we determine if we can trust the biblical records of history?
THE BASIS OF A BELIEVER’S TRUST
We believe things based on trust. We trust what we see ourselves. We trust what others have seen. We trust the opinions of certain people. “Did Indiana beat Kentucky in that ball game?” “Yes it was an incredible game, I was there! Let me tell you about it!”
How do we know we can believe what the Bible says? Two important factors stand out. First we believe the Bible because we trust God.
- The Character of God Establishes Trust
- The Faithfulness of God in Keeping His Promises Establishes Trust
- The Power of God to Preserve and Protect His Word Establishes Trust
Second, we believe the Bible because it was written by people who were present. They were eyewitnesses.
THE TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TO EVERYONE
The meaning of reliability for the New Testament is the same as for any record of history.
The reliability of the NT books means that they are credible, trustworthy and accurate. A credible writing would be a writing that the reader could trust what it said to be true. Such a writing would be reliable in its statements of history. In areas where the reader could not prove the statements by the writer, the reliability of “provable” statements would enhance the probability of the “unprovable” ones.
The rules of credibility for any testimony should be applied to the New Testament.
- Writers who have opportunity for personal knowledge of the facts in question are to be considered first. The concurrent testimony of independent writers greatly increases the probability of truthfulness. This is the highest degree of credibility.
- The next source of information would be writers who received their information from eyewitnesses. This is considered the second level of credibility.
- A writer who lives later than the events in question but whose sources of information were through persons or records that were not contemporary should be considered next. This is the last degree of credibility.
- If the events in question affect public life, were of general public knowledge, or were commemorated by public observation, the credibility of the author is enhanced. If the events are corroborated by people of another land or culture, the probability of accuracy is increased.
There is internal reliability of the New Testament.
The authors of the New Testament were contemporary to the events of the life of Jesus. Some were eyewitnesses. The others got their information from eyewitnesses.
The authors of the New Testament were contemporary to the events of the life of Jesus. Some were eyewitnesses. The others got their information from eyewitnesses. Look up the following Scriptures to gain insight into the credibility of the writings of Scripture.
Although we do not have any of the original documents written by their authors, we have a large number of manuscripts and there was very little time passed from the original document and the copies that we have.
- 8000 manuscripts of the Latin Vulgate
- 1000 manuscripts of other early versions
- 5000 manuscripts of the complete New Testament
- 13,000 manuscripts of portions of the New Testament
- Almost the entire NT can be reproduced from the quotations of other early Christian writers.
The manuscript evidence for the New Testament books is amazing compared to other authors and works of antiquity. It makes you wonder that God must have been involved in its preservation.
- For Julius Caesar’s Gallic War (written between 58 and 50 BC) there are only ten complete copies, and the oldest is 900 years after the time of Caesar.
- Plato’s Tetralogies (written between 427 and 347 BC) only has seven copies, the earliest of which is 900AD, a span of over 1200 years.
The Chester Beatty papyri, which some date around 140AD, contain portions of all the books in our New Testament. It is the earliest record of the listing of all of the books together. The interesting feature about these portions is their listing of the epistles of Paul. The epistles are given in the order of their length – and it includes Hebrews in between Romans and 1 Corinthians.
The chart below gives a conservative estimate of the books of the New Testament, their authors, and the approximate date of writing, based on both internal and external evidence.
| The New Testament | |||
| Gospels | Matthew | Matthew | AD45 |
| Mark | Mark | 65 | |
| Luke | Luke | 62 | |
| John | John | 85 | |
| Acts | Luke | 62 | |
| Pauline Epistles | Romans | Paul | 56 |
| 1 Corinthians | Paul | 54 | |
| 2 Corinthians | Paul | 55 | |
| Galatians | Paul | 55 | |
| Ephesians | Paul | 60 | |
| Philippians | Paul | 61 | |
| Colossians | Paul | 60 | |
| 1 Thessalonians | Paul | 50 | |
| 2 Thessalonians | Paul | 51 | |
| 1 Timothy | Paul | 64 | |
| 2 Timothy | Paul | 67 | |
| Titus | Paul | 65 | |
| Philemon | Paul | 60 | |
| General Epistles | Hebrews | Unknown (perhaps Paul) | 67 |
| James | James | 48 | |
| 1 Peter | Peter | 65 | |
| 2 Peter | Peter | 67 | |
| 1 John | John | 90 | |
| 2 John | John | 90 | |
| 3 John | John | 90 | |
| Jude | Jude | 75 | |
| Revelation | John | 92 | |
There is external evidence for the reliability of the New Testament.
The writings of the Jewish Historian Josephus (AD 37 – 101).
The writings of the Roman historian Tacitus (AD 56 – 120).
The writings of the Roman historian Pleny the Younger (AD 62 -113).
Conclude today’s lesson by considering the thoughts on the STEP FOUR tab above.