Part 6 - Common Arguments II
"...But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" 1 Peter 3:15
We believe what we believe as absolute truth based on the the fact that we recognize that The Bible is inspired by God. Proving this logicly , will take any contrary theory or idea away. The Bible and only the Bible can stand on its own with evidences in areas like archeology, time, science and content. No other so-called sacred book can make such claims.
1. Fulfilled Prophecy
2. Archeological and manuscript evidences
3. Consistency
4. Textual verified precision
5. Scientific accuracy and foresight
...this is the continuation of "Common Arguments I"
3. CONSISTENCY
The Bible deals with most controversial questions without contradiction:
- How did the universe come into existence?
- Does God exist? … what is He like?
- Why does man exist? What is our purpose for being here?
- Why is there evil and suffering in the world?
- What happens to death?
Elements that help us to assertain the consistency of the Bible:
A. Wide variety
The Bible is a compilation of 66 different documents, (39 OT, 27 NT) written throughout 1500 years (60 generations) by about 40 authors with different education and backgrounds in 3 continents and 3 different languages. With all that, it does still keep complete consistency and train of thought. No other written collection can boast on such claim
B. Textual critics verified
There are more than 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies of the New Testament alone, dating as far back as the first century A.D.
And there are dozens of thousands of Old Testament manuscripts, dating as far back as the third century B.C. >> British Museum, the Cambridge University Library, the Smithsonian Institute, Oxford University, the Israel Museum, the National Library at Paris, etc.
Some critics have come up with analysis that shows between 200,000 and 400,000 contradictions in the Bible. However, when textual critics have looked into each of those supposed contradictions they have found out that about 99% of them are grammatical differences between one copy and another, largely due to translation between languages or other cultural differences in the way they were copied. It is critical to note that such large percentage of differences do not change the meaning of the text. The differences are such as noun replacement (i.e.: He instead o Jesus), vowels, letter, titles, ticks etc
The very small percentage of discrepancies that indeed differ between the original manuscripts and today’s Bibles will be explained here soon. However, it is crucial to understand that non of the actual differences argue in any way with any of the basic theological doctrines we hold such as the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, salvation by faith etc. Rather, the elements that this discrepancies put into doubt are of less importance theologically and practically
Actual contradictions coming soon…
Even if we did not have any of the manuscript copies in our hands, we could reconstruct ~86% of the NT based on the church fathers (Christian leaders of the 2nd- and 3rd century) documents and letters available today. (Justin Martyr, Eusebius, Tertullian, Polycarp.)
C. Consistent but not made up: honesty of Characters:
If we were to accept the theory that The Bible was written by people who agreed to conspire and create a story, logic tells us that they would have made a better job in portraying themselves as better people than they really were. Instead, we have an honest presentation of the Bible’s characters showing both victories and moments of weakness:
- Noah’s getting drunk shortly after getting off of the ark (Gen. 9:21);
- Abraham, lying (on more than one occasion) about Sarah being his wife (Gen. 12:13; 20:2);
- Moses’ outburst of anger, how he misrepresented God, and wasn’t even allowed to enter into the promise land (Num. 20:10-11);
- Israel’s rejection of God on numerous occasions (for example, see the book of Judges);
- David’s adultery and subsequent murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11);
- Disciple’s argument over which one of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24);
- Peter’s denial of the Lord (Matt.26:72) and his fear of being seen eating with Gentiles (Gal.2:11-12);
- Disciples falling asleep when Jesus asked them to pray (Mark 14:32-41);
- Paul, confession that he was “a wretched man” (Rom 7:24) the “chief” of sinners (1 Tim.1:15);
- Paul and Barnabas argument over whether or not Mark should be allowed to travel with them (Acts 15:38-39).
“someone making up the Bible would write about themselves?
D. The Disciples testimony
Many could die for a lie thinking that it is truth. However, it is difficult to logicly accept that someone would die (and suffer) for something they know is not truth.
All The disciples martyr's deaths for their on-going belief and preaching that Jesus’ resurrection was an absolute fact of history! EYEWITNESSES
Historian Flavius Josephus & Eusebius and others tell us that:
- Matthew was slain with a sword in a city of Ethiopia.
- Mark died in Alexandria, in Northern Egypt after having been cruelly dragged through the streets of that city.
- Luke was hung upon an olive tree in the land of Greece.
- James was beheaded in Jerusalem.
- James the Less (as he’s called in Mark 15:40) was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the temple.
- Philip was hung up against a pillar at Heiropolis in the province of Phrygia.
- Bartholomew was flayed alive.
- Andrew was bound to a cross, and left to die.
- Jude was shot to death with arrows.
- Matthias (the apostle chosen to replace Judas) was first stoned, and then beheaded.
- Barnabas was stoned to death by the Jews at Salonica.
- Paul, … a variety of tortures and persecutions, was finally beheaded in Rome.
- Peter was crucified (just as Jesus told him he would be in John 21) in Rome.
- Thomas, the former skeptic of the resurrection (John 20:28), was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East Indies for preaching the gospel.
= People may be willing to die for something that they think is true,
= Nobody willingly dies for something they know is a lie.
E. Clear against alleged contradictions
The following are some of the apparent contradictions most often brought up by critics:
1. Angels at the tomb
Matthew 28:2-7 describes one angel sitting on the stone
John 20:11-12 mentions two angels inside the tomb.
Contradiction? No!!, the two accounts are not contradicting but complementary. A partial report is not a false nor a full report.
2. Jericho
Luke 18:35-38 says that Jesus was going to Jericho
Mark 10:46 says that Jesus came from Jericho
Contradiction? No again!!. For years scholars and believers were puzzled about this one until in 1909 the archeologist Earnst Sellin discovered “The twin cities” evidence. This proved that besides the city of Jericho we know about (OT Joshua’s), there was another city with the same name built by the Romans 1 mile apart from each other.
The critics were unfamiliar with context and culture. Also, they had the very dangerous and false idea that there is an error unless proven otherwise. (Absence of evidence does not equal to evidence of absence)
3. Time of the Passover meal
[For the sake of time I am going to quote from C. Campbell’s Alwaysbeready.com]
Matthew seems to say that it was the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, but John seems to say that it was the following night (the day of Jesus’ crucifixion). Let’s look.
Matthew 26:18-20 says, "And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve."
You know the rest of the story. Jesus’ disciples enjoyed their final meal, the Passover meal, with their friend and Lord before His crucifixion. If you were to read the rest of the story we learn that this meal took place the night before Christ was crucified. Ahh, but John seems to contradict that by saying that the Passover meal was actually eaten the next day, on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion (24 hours later). Turn over to John’s gospel, Chapter 18.
John 18:28 says, "Then they [this speaks of the people that arrested Jesus] led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, [The Praetorium was the headquarters for the commanding officer of the Roman military –WHY did they not want to be defiled? John says…] but that they might eat the Passover [When? Later that day, the day after Jesus and his disciples ate the passover].”
Hold on! I thought the Passover meal was already eaten the night before. That’s what Matthew 26 told us. John seems to place the Passover meal 24 hours later than the other three Gospels. There seems to be a problem here doesn’t there? Was the Passover meal eaten the night before Jesus was crucified as Matthew tells us? Or Was it eaten the following day as John tells us? Well, the critic says: “This is a contradiction!!” A student of the Scriptures says “Not at all.”
Here’s the solution: The Passover meal was historically eaten on two different days. How do we know that? Two different extra-Biblical sources. 1. Josephus, that Roman historian who lived in the first century A.D. 2. The Mishna What’s the Mishna? The Mishna is a compilation of the writings of well-known Jewish scholars that was completed in the third century A.D. These two sources reveal to us that the Pharisees and the Sadducees (the two popular religious parties in Jesus’ day) disagreed about the day of the week on which to celebrate the Passover. The reason why is this: There was a disagreement over when a day began. When God rescued His people from Egypt, He instructed them in Exodus 12:18 to celebrate the Passover on “the 14th day of the first month at twilight.” The Jews knew that. …but when did a day begin? The Jews who lived in Northern Israel believed that a day began with the sunrise. Northern Israel included the region of Galilee, where Jesus and all the disciples, except Judas, had grown up. The Pharisees also believed that a day began with sunrise. So they calculated days from sunrise to sunrise. The Jews who lived in Southern Israel—which included Jerusalem, the priests who lived there, and the Sadducees—calculated days from sunset to sunset. This difference in opinion, as to when a day started, is what led Jesus and His disciples from Northern Israel to celebrate the Passover a day before those who lived in the south did.
So once again, with a little research, an alleged contradiction is cleared up. The Passover meal was eaten on two different days. Let’s look at a fifth apparent contradiction that critics have pointed out. It’s found over in Mark 15 and it has to do with…
4. Time of crucifixion
[For the sake of time I am going to quote from C. Campbell’s Alwaysbeready.com]
What time was Jesus crucified? (Who knows the answer?) Approximately 9AM. Why do we believe that? Mark 15.
Mark 15:24-26 says, "And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. 25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Mark here tells us here that Jesus was nailed to the cross during “the third hour.” When did a day begin? Papias (A.D. 60-130) and Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 150-215) tell us that the source of information for Mark’s Gospel came from the apostle Peter who related the events to Mark. Where was Peter from? Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:21,29). Ahh, where’s that? Northern Israel. When did the Jews in northern Israel believe that a day began? At approximately 6AM, with the rising of the sun. So, to say “the third hour” (Mark 15:25) would be the equivalent of approximately 9AM. Well, that poses an apparent problem. Turn over to John 19.
John 19:14-16 says, "Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he [Pilate] said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away."
Notice back there in v. 14, that this whole scene with Pilate, this whole trial, which took place before Jesus was crucified, was taking place at “about the sixth hour” (John 19:14). About “the sixth hour”?!?! Mark just told us in Mark 15 that Jesus was crucified at “the third hour” (Mark 15:25). John tells us that Jesus is still standing before Pilate on trial at “about the sixth hour” (John 19:14). Three hours later!! Do you see the problem here? What’s the solution? As we pointed out a minute ago, Mark’s gospel was referencing the Jewish time system, which for him began at sunrise. John, on the other hand, when he makes mention of Jesus standing before Pontius Pilate at the “sixth hour” (Jn. 19:14) was referencing the Roman time system whose day began at 12:00 AM (like ours). This is something John does over and over again in his Gospel (For example, see John 20:19 where the evening of the resurrection is still called the first day of the week (Sunday) not the second day of the week). So this scene here with Pilate, that John talks about, took place early in the morning (around 6AM), three hours before Jesus was crucified. This fits perfectly with the sequence of events. But why would John use the Roman time system? Matthew, Mark and Luke all used the Jewish time system; Why would John, who was also a Jew, do differently? Q. Where was John was when he wrote this Gospel?
Q. Was he in Israel still hanging out with the Jews when he wrote the Gospel of John? No. Where was he? Eusebius, and other first and second century writers tell us he was living in Ephesus.
Q. What was Ephesus? Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. John lived under the Roman time system! That was what he and his original audience would have been accustomed to! So, knowing a little background, like the fact that there were two time systems in place—the Jewish as well as the Roman—solves the apparent problem. Jesus was standing before Pilate at “the sixth hour” (according to the Roman time system – John 19:14), which would have been about 6:00 AM. And Jesus was being crucified about the “third hour” (according to the Jewish time system – Mark 15:25), which would have been about 9:00 AM our time.
4. SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY AND FORESIGHT
The Bible is the only so-called divinely inspired book that has no scientific errors. (0). Others, are full of unscientific views of astronomy, medicine, hygiene, etc.
The Qur’an says in Surah 18:86 that the sun sets in a muddy spring. “when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring”
These are some of the scientific facts found on the Bible that only tens and hundres of years later were ‘discovered’ by scientists:
A. The Sun
.. actually on a circuit through space. Psalm 19:6, David said, “Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end.”
B. The Shape of the Earth
Isaiah 40:22 “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth." [“chuwg”] literally means “sphere.” [740 and 680 B.C. 300 years before Aristotle]
“On the Heavens” Proverbs 8:27 and Job 26:10.
More than 2,000 years later some people still believed that
Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was going to sail off the edge of a flat planet in 1492!
C. The Suspension of the Earth
Before Isaac Newton discovered gravity
- Hindus believed that the earth rested on the back of an elephant
who stood on the back of a turtle that was swimming in a great endless sea.
- The Greeks believed that the mythical god Atlas carried the earth on his shoulders.
Job 26:7, “He [God] hangs the earth on nothing.”
Scientists did not discover that the earth hangs on nothing until 1650.
D. The Stars
Greek astronomer and mathematician Hipparchus (190-120 B.C.) said there were exactly 1,026 stars.
The astronomer, and mathematician Ptolemy said there were 1,056 stars.
The German astronomer, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), counted 1,006.
until the invention of the telescope. When Galileo first pointed his telescope to the heavens in 1608, we discovered there were a lot more stars than anybody had ever imagined, just as Jeremiah had said:
Jeremiah 33:22 “The host of heaven [a reference to the stars] cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured.”
Today approximately 100 billion galaxies containing approximately 200 billion stars each.
Carl Sagan (1934-1996), the world famous astronomer, said, “The total number of stars in the universe is greater than all the grains of sand on all the beaches of the planet Earth.” (Cosmos, p. 196).
Dr. Mark Eastman says, “Counting at a rate of ten stars per second it would take over 100 trillion years.
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