Bible Authority Bible Evidence Bible Authority Bible Evidence

Bible Authority Bible Evidence

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Some Bible terms for you to know: • • • • Pentateuch Greek Apocrypha Codex Vaticanus, Sinaticus, Alexandrinus Vulgate Aramaic New Covenant Canon Dead Sea Scrolls Hebrew Textus Receptus Masoretic Text Old Covenant Septuagint

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Some questions: • Can I trust my Bible? • What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? • Is there archeological evidence supporting the Bible? • Can the miracles of the Bible be proven?

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence The Bible is special: • Divinely inspired – 668 prophecies fulfilled, not proved false (3 unconfirmed) – 40 diverse writers, same message and theology • Spans 1600 years and over 3500 years old • Survived the entire history of the world – Natural disasters, weather – Persecution, ignorance

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence The Bible is special: • >25000 copies since 325 AD with >99. 5% accuracy – As a comparison, Homer’s Odyssey copies have 764 disputing lines – The entire NT have only 40 questionable lines, OT is less than 10. • Only a 60 yr gap between originals and the earliest available copies – As a comparison, the Gallic Wars has a 1000 yr gap and Aristotle’s writings has a 1400 yr gap

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Why is the Bible so hated? – Outlawed with penalties of prison or death • Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China, Belarus • Even in the U. S. you could be fired – Attempts to destroy it • Early translations into common languages were burned along with their translators • Some Communist countries are still burning Bibles – Kicked out of school • No allowed to be used as a historical textbook or even as literature – Denied • Many agnostic and atheist groups are publicizing information denying the Bibles authenticity, accuracy, and divine origins – Mocked, misquoted, and blasphemed • Even by Christians

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence • Dead Sea Scrolls – The most significant find of our day! – Clay pots containing scrolls and scroll fragments found in a cave near the Dead Sea in 1947 – All of the writings are 1000 yrs older than any other copy we had prior

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence • Dead Sea Scrolls • Subsequent digs have discovered 11 caves and over 800 documents – Every book of the OT except Esther – Entire scroll in perfect condition of Isaiah

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence • Dead Sea Scrolls – Ruins have been discovered near by indicating a community called “Qumran” of Essenes. – Probably dedicated to keeping and studying the scrolls – Destroyed by Romans in 68 AD

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence – Davidic Stele • One of the newest finds (1993) • Inscription referencing the House of David • Dated late 9 th century to early 8 th century BC

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence – Amulet scroll • Found in 1979 in some Jerusalem tombs dating back to 7 th century BC • Contains Num 6 priests blessing and the oldest recording we have of God’s name (YHWH – Yahweh)

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence – Galilean boat • Found in 1986 during an extreme drought dating back 2000 years • Measures 30 ft long x 8 ft wide • Typifies the boat Jesus and the disciples used

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence – Ciaphas ossuary • In 1990 a dump truck crushed the roof of several buried chambers • The most significant find in the old tombs was the tomb of Ciaphas and his family

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence – Pilate’s inscription • Found in 1961 • Bears the text: “Tiberius [the Roman emperor of the period]/Pontius Pilate/Prefect of Judea “

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence Archeological evidence – Ekron inscription • Found in 1993, the inscription dates back to the Philistine city of Ekron • Tablet found in the ruins of an Assyrian temple built around 600 BC during the Babylonian conquests

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence • Other Archeological evidence some even confirming “miracles” of the Bible – – – – – Noah’s Ark Red Sea Crossing Lot’s Wife (Pillar of salt) Rock fountain in the wilderness Shroud of Turin Giant skeletons Discoveries on Mt. Sinai Sodom & Gomorrah Mary Magdelene’s perfume bottle Jerusalem water tunnel

Bible Authority – Bible Evidence