10a the Bible: Evidence of Reliability

1. The Writers Claims for the Bible

i. Daniel on Jeremiahs Prophecy (Daniel 9:2)

ii. Peter on the writings of Old Testament Prophets ( 2 Peter 1:21) iii. Peter on the writings of Paul (2 Peter 3:15 16)

iv. John on divine inspiration (1 John 4:6) v. Isaiahs view (Isaiah 1:2) vi. Jeremiah view (Jeremiah 1:4) vii. Pauls claims (Galatians 1:11 12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

2. Its Unity In Diversity i. Unity 1. A single story: the rescue of mankind from sin through the death of Jesus Christ 2. Old Testament as the hope of mankind, New Testament is the fulfilment of that hope ii. Diversity 1. Written by 40 authors 2. Written over a period of 1,600 years 3. Three languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic
4. Writers came from all walks of life (Prophet, Priest , Zechariah,

Shepherd, King, David, Servant) 5. Written in three continents, Asia, Africa, Europe
6. A gap of 400 years separated the writing of Old Testament and New

Testament

3. Textual Preservation i. Miraculous preservation ii. Old Testament

10a the Bible: Evidence of Reliability

1. Written in papyrus or parchment 2. Masoretes Hebrew Scholars with elaborate counting systems 3. Dead Sea Scrolls iii. New Testament 1. Minor differences but mostly with spelling 2. Most well attested document of its era a. Caesars Gallic Wars (AD 900) 10 copies b. Livys History of Rome (AD 400) 20 copies c. Thucydides History (AD 900 ) 8 copies

d. Herodotus History (AD 900) 8 copies e. New Testament (AD 125) 14,000 copies 3. Rylands Library Papyrii contains fragment from John 18 4. Chester Beatty collection almost all NT between AD 200 and AD 275