Lesson 8:Lesson 8:Historical Historical

Reliability of the Reliability of the N.T.—Internal & N.T.—Internal & External TestsExternal Tests

I. INTERNAL EVIDENCE I. INTERNAL EVIDENCE Test—Can we trust what Test—Can we trust what

the authors wrote?the authors wrote?

A. The Benefit of the DoubtA. The Benefit of the Doubt

Aristotle’s Dictum: “The benefit Aristotle’s Dictum: “The benefit of the doubt is to be given to the of the doubt is to be given to the documentdocument and not to the critic.” and not to the critic.”

B. Contradictions?B. Contradictions?

Law of Non-Contradiction:Law of Non-Contradiction:

If one statement absolutely contradicts If one statement absolutely contradicts another statement, without qualification, another statement, without qualification, at least one of those statements cannot at least one of those statements cannot be true. be true.

But in order for one statement to But in order for one statement to absolutely contradict another, there must absolutely contradict another, there must be no sense in which the statements can be no sense in which the statements can both be true. If there is a possible both be true. If there is a possible logical logical explanation, it is not a real contradiction.explanation, it is not a real contradiction.

Example: When was Example: When was Christ crucified?Christ crucified?

The list of alleged The list of alleged discrepancies gets discrepancies gets shorter and shorter.shorter and shorter.

C. The Authors Based Their C. The Authors Based Their Accounts on Accounts on EyewitnessEyewitness Testimony.Testimony.2 Peter 1:162 Peter 1:16

1 John 1:11 John 1:1

Luke 1:1–4Luke 1:1–4

This confirms their recall This confirms their recall abilityability..

D. Contemporary Critics Were D. Contemporary Critics Were a Constant Correctivea Constant CorrectiveThe authors no doubt tried to be The authors no doubt tried to be very careful with how they handled very careful with how they handled the facts. During the time they wrote, the facts. During the time they wrote, they had a lot of they had a lot of criticscritics who would who would have loved to discredit their have loved to discredit their testimony. If the authors had made testimony. If the authors had made a mistake, the critics would have a mistake, the critics would have pointed it out.pointed it out.

E. The Authors Died for Their Doctrine.

E. The Authors E. The Authors DiedDied for for Their DoctrineTheir DoctrinePeople will sometimes die for what they People will sometimes die for what they believe to be true, but never for believe to be true, but never for something they something they knowknow to be to be falsefalse..

If the Resurrection had not taken place, If the Resurrection had not taken place, the disciples would have known it. the disciples would have known it.

The authors willingly gave their lives for The authors willingly gave their lives for their belief in Christ’s Resurrection.their belief in Christ’s Resurrection.

This confirms their This confirms their honestyhonesty..

II. The EXTERNAL II. The EXTERNAL EVIDENCE Test—Is EVIDENCE Test—Is

There Outside There Outside Corroboration?Corroboration?

A. Supporting Evidence from A. Supporting Evidence from Other Early Christian WritersOther Early Christian WritersPapias, acquaintance of John the Papias, acquaintance of John the apostle: “The Elder apostle: “The Elder the Apostle Johnthe Apostle John used to say this also: ‘Mark, having been used to say this also: ‘Mark, having been the interpreter of the interpreter of PeterPeter, wrote down , wrote down accuratelyaccurately all that he all that he [Peter][Peter] mentioned, mentioned, whether sayings or doings of Christ, not, whether sayings or doings of Christ, not, however, in order.’”however, in order.’”

Irenaeus, student of Polycarp Irenaeus, student of Polycarp (student of John): (student of John):

““So firm is the ground upon which So firm is the ground upon which these Gospels rest, that the very these Gospels rest, that the very hereticsheretics themselves bear witness to themselves bear witness to them, and starting from these them, and starting from these documents, each one of them documents, each one of them endeavors to establish his own endeavors to establish his own particular doctrine.”particular doctrine.”

B. Supporting Evidence B. Supporting Evidence from Early Non-Christian from Early Non-Christian Historical SourcesHistorical Sources

We get the following picture if we We get the following picture if we combine the testimonies of combine the testimonies of Josephus, Tacitus, Lucian, Josephus, Tacitus, Lucian, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, Thallus, and the Talmud—all Thallus, and the Talmud—all contemporary non-Christian contemporary non-Christian sources:sources:

1. Jesus was crucified 1. Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate under Pontius Pilate at Passover time. at Passover time. (Tacitus, Thallus, (Tacitus, Thallus, Josephus, Talmud)Josephus, Talmud)

2. He was believed by his disciples 2. He was believed by his disciples to have risen from the dead three to have risen from the dead three days later. (Josephus)days later. (Josephus)

3.3. Jewish leaders charged Christ Jewish leaders charged Christ with with sorcerysorcery and believed He was and believed He was born of adultery. (Talmud)born of adultery. (Talmud)

4.4. The Judean sect of Christianity The Judean sect of Christianity spread even to spread even to RomeRome. (Tacitus, . (Tacitus, Suetonius)Suetonius)

5.5. NeroNero and other Roman rulers bitterly and other Roman rulers bitterly persecuted and martyred early persecuted and martyred early Christians. (Tacitus, Suetonius)Christians. (Tacitus, Suetonius)

6.6. Early Christians denied polytheism, Early Christians denied polytheism, lived dedicated lives according to lived dedicated lives according to Christ’s teaching, and Christ’s teaching, and worshippedworshipped Christ. (Pliny, Lucian)Christ. (Pliny, Lucian)

C. Archaeology as External C. Archaeology as External EvidenceEvidence1.1. SIR WILLIAM RAMSAYSIR WILLIAM RAMSAY

He went to study in the Bible lands He went to study in the Bible lands as a liberal; fifteen years later he as a liberal; fifteen years later he became a firm believer in a reliable became a firm believer in a reliable New Testament.New Testament.

Ramsay said that Ramsay said that LukeLuke was was unsurpassed as an historian.unsurpassed as an historian.

For example, when Luke made For example, when Luke made reference to reference to 3232 countries, countries, 5454 cities, and cities, and 99 islands, he made no islands, he made no mistakes.mistakes.

2. The PAVEMENT2. The PAVEMENT• The place where Jesus was The place where Jesus was

tried before Pilate.tried before Pilate.

• Once considered a Once considered a mythmyth because there was no record because there was no record of it in Jewish or secular maps of it in Jewish or secular maps or history.or history.

2. The PAVEMENT2. The PAVEMENT• It was finally It was finally foundfound..

• When Titus destroyed Jerusalem, he When Titus destroyed Jerusalem, he built barracks there. When these were built barracks there. When these were abandoned and had crumbled, other abandoned and had crumbled, other buildings were built on top. buildings were built on top. Archaeologists had dug down to the Archaeologists had dug down to the barracks, but no further until recently. barracks, but no further until recently. When they did go underneath, they When they did go underneath, they found the found the pavementpavement..

3. The POOL OF BETHESDA3. The POOL OF BETHESDA

• Mentioned in John 5, as the place Mentioned in John 5, as the place Jesus healed an invalid.Jesus healed an invalid.

• No record in Jewish or secular maps or No record in Jewish or secular maps or histories; therefore considered a histories; therefore considered a mythmyth..

• In 1888, it was found while In 1888, it was found while archaeologists were digging around the archaeologists were digging around the Church of Church of St. AnneSt. Anne..

4. NELSON GLUECK4. NELSON GLUECK• Jewish, and universally esteemed Jewish, and universally esteemed

as one of the greatest as one of the greatest archaeologists.archaeologists.

• Said that no archaeological Said that no archaeological discovery has ever discovery has ever contradictedcontradicted the Bible.the Bible.

III. Application of III. Application of LessonLesson

Share the internal and external evidence Share the internal and external evidence for the historical reliability of the N.T. for the historical reliability of the N.T. with someone who has doubts. Use with someone who has doubts. Use diagrams on paper as much as possible. diagrams on paper as much as possible. If he says that he has problems with the If he says that he has problems with the N.T. because of contradictions, ask him, N.T. because of contradictions, ask him, “What contradictions? Could you give “What contradictions? Could you give me some examples?” Share an example me some examples?” Share an example of a contradiction that has been resolved.of a contradiction that has been resolved.