Thrive Discipleship Apologetics Proverbs 11 28 Those who

Thrive Discipleship & Apologetics Proverbs 11 28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. The Integrity of Scripture John 17 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

When considering the integrity or truthfulness of the Bible first consider Jesus twelve disciples, and some other believers in scripture. Then consider the fulfilled prophecies regarding Jesus earthly life, death, and resurrection.

You can find in “FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS” a list of Christian Martyrs, the first two are listed in scripture. Stephen the Martyr Acts 7: 54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

7: 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin. ” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Saul persecutes the Church 8: 1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

James also known as James the Great in Church History Acts 12 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

In John 1: 43 -51 W see Philip was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee and was first called by the name of "disciple. " He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified, A. D. 54.

Matthew whose occupation was that of a tax collector, was born at Nazareth. He wrote the Gospel of Matthew. The scene of his labors was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A. D. 60.

James also known as James the Less, the brother of Jesus, was a chief member of the Jerusalem Counsel as shown in Acts 15. He also wrote the Book of James. At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's club.

Matthias the replacement for Judas Iscariot Acts 1: 12 -26 He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded. Andrew the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations; but on his arrival at Edessa he was taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground. Hence the derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross. Mark is supposed to have been converted to Christianity by Peter, wrote his Gospel of Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria. Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome. Jerome saith that he was crucified AD 120, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.

Paul, the apostle, who before was called Saul, after his great travail and unspeakable labors in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered also in this first persecution under Nero. Abdias, declareth that under his execution Nero sent two of his esquires, Ferega and Parthemius, to bring him word of his death. They, coming to Paul instructing the people, desired him to pray for them, that they might believe; who told them that shortly after they should believe and be baptized at His sepulcher. This done, the soldiers came and led him out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made, gave his neck to the sword. Jude the brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, A. D. 72. Bartholomew preached in several countries, and having translated the Gospel of Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in that country. He was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient idolaters.

Thomas Called Didymus, preached the Gospel in Parthia and India, where exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear. Simon the Zealot, preached the Gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even in Britain, in which latter country he was crucified, A. D. 74. John the "beloved disciple, " was brother to James the Great. The churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, were founded by him. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards banished him to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva, the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.

What can we conclude about the early Church Martyrs? 1. They all died for their faith. 2. They all died hideous deaths. 3. They all died alone. Question: would all of these people have died hideous deaths alone over something they new was not true?

Bible Prophesy foretells future events. Also, when prophesy has been fulfilled it shows the accuracy and trustworthiness and integrity of the Bible.

Bible passage Prophecy Fulfillment Gen. 3: 15 a He would be human, born of a woman Gal. 4: 4 -5, Matt. 1: 18 Gen. 3: 15 b He will reconcile people to God Heb. 2: 14, 1 John 3: 8 Gen. 3: 15 c He would crush evil at his own expense Matt. 27: 35, Luke 24: 39 -40 Gen. 22: 18 He would be a descendant of Abraham Matt. 11: 27 & Luke 3: 36 Gen. 26: 1 -5 He would be a descendant of Abraham's son Isaac Rom. 9: 7, Heb. 11: 18, Isa. 11: 1 He would be a descendant of Jesse's son King David Matt. 1: 1 Gen. 49: 10 He would appear after a succession of rulers from the Tribe of Judah History: Josephus writes that King Herod's son was dethroned in 6 A. D. and replaced by a Roman Procurator. Dan. 9: 25 He would appear after the rebuilding of Jerusalem History: Jerusalem had been rebuilt by the time of Jesus, after recovering from the Babylonian destruction. Dan. 9: 26 He would appear before the (Roman) destruction of Jerusalem History: The Rom. destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A. D.

Mic. 5: 2 He would be born in Bethlehem Matt. 2: 1 -5 Isa. 7: 13, 14 Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus Luke 1: 35 Isa. 7: 14 He would be called Immanuel (God with us) Matt. 1: 23 Isa. 40: 3– 4 He would be preceded by a forerunner Matt. 3: 1 -4 http: //www. about-jesus. org/complete-chart-prophecies-jesus. htm (Retrieved 08/21/2019) Some of the most important prophetic words spoken in scripture are spoken in the Old Testament, Isiah, and Psalms etc. The reason this section is considered so important is we have the entire book of Isiah in the Dead Sea scrolls. Prior to it’s discovery skeptics would say the prophesies in scripture were written after the event due to their detail.

“Based on various dating methods, including carbon 14, paleographic and scribal, the Dead Sea Scrolls were written during the period from about 200 B. C. to 68 A. D. Many crucial biblical manuscripts (such as Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 61) date to at least 100 B. C. As such, the Dead Sea Scrolls have revolutionized textual criticism of the Old Testament. Phenomenally, we find the biblical texts in substantial agreement with the Masoretic text, as well as variant translations of the Old Testament used today. ” https: //www. allaboutarchaeology. org/deadsea-scrolls. htm (Retrieved 08/21/2019)

Psalm 22 6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. 7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” 9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.

11 Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. 13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.

In conclusion, based on the testimony of the disciples of Jesus and full filled prophesy we can conclude that the Bible is accurate and true. Please note we have only scratched the surface. Having said that, the Bible does describe in detail who we should worship. For next week we will look at: The Attributes of God.