Why do I believe in the
Bible?
Inspired by Voddie Baucham
Do
you know why you believe in the Bible?
Many people have two answers to this
question. However, the answers are not good enough to correctly answer this
question. The two answers most frequently given are:
1.
That’s
the way I was raised. AAAAAHHHH. NO. WRONGGGGG!
·
You
ask why?! The answer is simple. This answer is not good enough because other
people are raised to believe other things that are contradicting to the Bible
and it’s ideas. This statement doesn’t hold water because there is no validity
in your statement.
2.
I
tried it and it worked for me! AAAHH. NOPE. WRONG AGAIN.
·
Again,
you ask why?! That answer is perfect. Wrong. For example, by this logic,
anything could fill this void because it “worked”. An alcoholic goes to
Alcoholics Anonymous and step 3 is to find a higher power to help you quit. The
alcoholic goes through religions and theories and nothing works immediately.
Hmmmm… Well, to complete step 3, the alcoholic must have a “higher power” for
the upcoming meeting. On a last minute whim, the alcoholic says to himself,
“That lamppost outside never moves, always has light, and I can rely on it to
never fail me.” Because of this he tells the AA coach that the lamppost is his
higher power. The alcoholic has not had a drink since for six years. So,
according to the logic of “it worked for me,” the alcoholic’s lamppost has as
much “authority” as your Bible and our Lord and Savior, because he tried the
lamppost and it worked for him. Hmmm… “Smellin’ what I’m steppin’ in?”
THESE ANSWERS AREN’T
GOOD ENOUGH! IT DOESN’T WORK! THEY DO NOT HOLD WATER!
SOOOOO….
Now we need an answer that can solidify our argument of why we believe the
Bible.
Well,
here it goes…
Ø
The
Bible is a reliable source of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses
during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses that report supernatural events which
took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim to be divine rather
than human in origin.
I
KNOW, I KNOW! You’re thinking “HOLY DANG BANANAS!!!” Most people are trying to
figure out what this means and how to break it down to get the true meaning
behind it. So, here it goes. I’ll do it for you.
§ Remember these quotes as we go
through this. “Defend the Bible? I would just as soon defend a lion. Just turn
the Bible loose. It will defend itself.” – Charles Spurgeon
§ Voddie Baucham says, “I do not defend
the Bible, I only defend my belief in the Bible, because the Bible can defend
itself.”
Step
1. Take out your Bible.
Step
2. Turn to 2 Peter 1:16-21 (NASB)
16
“For we did not
follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For
when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this
was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am
well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven
when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 So we have the
prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay
attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that
no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21
for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the
Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
v. 16a
“For
we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
·
What
does this mean? Hmmm.
I.
66
Books of the Bible
II.
40+
authors
III.
3
different Continents (Africa, Asia, Europe)
IV.
3
languages (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic)
V.
1500+
years to write
v Over all these years, many, if any,
of these authors never met or even heard of each other.
v 23,000+ archaeological digs that are
directly related to historical events in the Bible have been conducted. NOT ONE
has ever caused Scripture to have to be altered in any way.
§ Luke says in Chapter 1:1-4, “Inasmuch
as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among
us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were
eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having
investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out
for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know
the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”
v. 16b
“…but
we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
·
Well,
what is this supposed to mean?!?!
I.
Take
a crime scene drama (i.e. CSI) and put eyewitnesses in the first scene. What
happens? No drama can occur because eyewitnesses solidify truth and purpose of
the investigation; therefore, leaving the investigation completed.
Step
3. Turn to 1 John 1:1-4 (NASB)
1
“What was from the
beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have
looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and
the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the
eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what
we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have
fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His
Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made
complete.”
Step
4. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NASB)
1 “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I
preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by
which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first
importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the
third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas
[Peter], then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five
hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have
fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”
·
Over
300 witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ were still alive when the
Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians.
v An argument that is proposed to these
verses is:
·
Do
we have documents written much later? Ordo we have the gospels of Thomas and
Judas? [Da Vinci Code argument]
-
This
is a conspiracy derived basis of the New Testament.
1.
However,
manuscripts refute this act of conspiracy. Over 6000 manuscripts or pieces of
manuscripts have been found of the New Testament.
Comparison:
a) Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars has less than ten original manuscripts that we can put
our hands on today.
b) Aristotle’s Poetics has less than five original manuscripts that we can put our
hands on today.
c) Homer’s Iliad has less than ten manuscripts available today.
ALSO….
v Gallic
Wars: earliest known
copy was written over 900 years after the original was written.
v Poetics: earliest known copy was written
between 1400-1500 years after the original was composed.
v Iliad: earliest known copy was written
2000+ years after the original was composed.
v New Testament documents: We have
documents written as early as A.D. 120. The new Testament was finished around
A.D. 95.
Hmmmmmm….
900 Years, 1400-1500 Years, 2000+ years…. 25 Years…
2.
16 “But the eleven disciples proceeded
to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw
Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus
came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I
am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20
·
Because of this, if these documents were available
and “contradicted” the Bible, the monks from the time would have had to change
every translation. This is after they stole EVERY document, cover up the ink
changes, and return EVERY document back to its original place without getting
caught. BTW by this time, the Bible had been translated into four languages.
(Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Coptic). Therefore, there were 6000 documents per
language.
3.
Early
church fathers at that time did commentaries extensively on these documents. We
could retain 95-98% of the New Testament scripture from their quotes in these
commentaries.
SOOOOO….hmmmm…
Ø
6000
Greek manuscripts, 6000 Latin manuscripts, 6000 Syriac manuscripts, 6000 Coptic
manuscripts, EVERY commentary of EVERY early church fathers in all four
languages.
·
It
has been determined it would take 300-400 years to complete this task with a
full force of monks at a non-stop pace. Hmmm…. interesting huh?!
v This usually somehow brings up
Constantine. Wasn’t the bible written during his reign? (A.D 306 - A.D. 337)
·
“Oddly”
enough [sarcasm], the early church had the New Testament long before
Constantine reigned.
v. 17-18
17 “…For when He received honor and glory from God the
Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This
is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves
heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy
mountain…”
Ø
MIRACLES
1. Voice of
God on the Mount of Transfiguration. (Matt. 17:1-5)
2.
Paralytic – Jesus heals the man who is paralyzed
after in which his friends lowered him through the roof to see Jesus. (Mark
2:1-12)
3.
Withered hand – Jesus heals a man’s withered hand on
the Sabbath. (Matt. 12:9-13)
4.
Lepers – Jesus heals the lepers. (Matt. 8:1-4, Mark
1:40-45, Luke 5:12-16)
5.
Bleeding Woman – Jesus heals her by her touching the
hem of His robe. (Mark
5:21-43, Matt. 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56)
6.
Jesus
walks on water. (Matt. 14:22-33)
7.
Friday
DEAD, Sunday RISEN! (Luke 24)
Step
5. Turn to Psalm 22.
1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my
deliverance are the words of my groaning.
2 O my God, I cry by day, but
You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
3 Yet You are
holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In
You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You
they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not
disappointed. 6 But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men
and despised by the people.
7 All who see me sneer at me;
They
separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
8 “Commit yourself
to the LORD; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in
him.” 9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me
trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon You I was cast from
birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb. 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 open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
14
I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is
like wax;
It is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a
potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of
death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has
encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all
my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments
among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But You, O LORD, be
not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
20 Deliver my
soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.
21
Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer
me. 22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of
the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you
descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the
affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he
cried to Him for help, He heard. 25 From You comes my praise
in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26
The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the
LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will
remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will
worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S
And He rules over
the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot
keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of
the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will
declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.”
FYI –
We didn’t have chapters or verses until the 1500’s. [fun fact for Will
Flournoy]
Does this sound familiar?!!?!??
Ø Hmmm. You are thinking, “Didn’t Jesus
say this on the cross?”
Yes. He did. But what’s the significance of this? Well,
let’s see.
a)
V. 6-8 This is what is being said to Jesus
as He is being crucified.
b)
V.12-14 Crucifixion scenario – Spear to the
side, blood and water running down Jesus’ body.
c)
V. 15 Thirsting
d)
V. 16 Dogs = Gentiles, between evildoers
(Crucifixion)
e)
V. 16-17 It was a High Holy Day…Because of
this, they wanted to get the men down from the crosses and they were going to
break their legs. However Jesus had already died, so breaking his bones wasn’t
necessary and Jesus had no broken bones.
f)
V. 18 Romans did this with Jesus’ clothes.
This was written around 1000 years before Jesus’ birth. FACT: David had NEVER
witnessed a crucifixion. You know why? It wasn’t even invented yet. Hmmmm…
Ø This is why Peter is able to say in
in 2 Peter 1:19, “…So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you
do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day
dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts…”
v
“…
And claim to be divine rather than human in origin…”
g)
V. 20-21 God is the author.
·
Paul
says, “All Scripture is God breathed.”
o
The
Bible claims God to be the author when it says:
1. “And God spoke to Abraham…”
2. “And the Lord said to Moses…”
A problem with this always seems to arise. It goes like
this:
§
Men
wrote the Bible, which means it can’t be “authoritative” because they wrote
it?!
- Why is this?! Is this correct?!
v
If
you want to argue this, don’t you have to disqualify EVERY book ever written?
Men wrote those too.
Ø Because of this, you have to judge
the Bible on the same standard of penmanship and articulation as ANY other
book. By what it says and historical truth.
Ø Some people want to hold the Bible to
another standard. Problem is, they don’t always know what standard that is.
v
They
want proof SCIENTIFICALLY.
- However, if you feel this way, you do
not have the intellectual ability to understand what scientifically proving
would require. Apparently, you do not know the Scientific Method.
1. Observe – Something must be
observable.
2. Measurable – Something must be able
to be measured.
3. Repeatable – Something must be
repeatable.
Which means………
- You cannot prove ANY history with the
scientific method. History isn’t observable, measurable, or repeatable.
For
you to ask for scientific methods proving the veracity of Scripture, is like
you saying, I want you to prove SCIENTIFICALLY that George Washington was the
first President of the United States of America. You CANNOT do it! You know why?
It is because his presidency isn’t observable, measurable, or repeatable.
·
You
do NOT use the Scientific Method to prove ANY historical events.
Do you know what you do use? Hmmmm….
·
It
is called the Evidentiary Method, which is the method we use in a courtroom.
But, what happens when you apply this Evidentiary
Method?
1. Do you have internal consistency in
what is written?
2. Do you have corroboration in what is
written?
3. Do you have reliability in what is
written?
OK, so you have 3 languages, 3 continents, 40+ authors,
66 books, and 1500 years. Authors who didn’t know each other, with all of this
it is ONE story without any contradictory issues in values, penmanship, or
rhetoric. Hmmmm……
Ø
Moreover,
these 40+ authors use names, dates, and places to specifically identify who,
what, where, and when EVERYTHING took place.
If we are looking for internal consistency, if we are
looking for corroboration, and if we are looking for reliability then we have
two sides…..Here they are:
1. Is it actually an intellectual person
who doubts the New Testament?
OR
2. Is it the intellectual person who
says, “I choose to believe the Bible, because it is a reliable collection of
historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other
eyewitnesses that report supernatural events which took place in fulfillment of
specific prophecies and claim to be divine rather than human in origin?
Would you consider this more than
efficient???
- But, if they don’t understand after
this say, “I tried it….it worked for me!”
ALWAYS remember one thing. Know what you
believe, why you believe it, and always be able to communicate it effectively and
truthfully to others.
From
your brother in Christ,
Michael
Langford
