The Case for the Bible:The Case for the Bible:Scriptural InspirationScriptural Inspiration

Presented by Kedron JonesApologetics Research Society

www.evidenceforchristianity.org

“But in your heart revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the

reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” –

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Facts of the BibleFacts of the Bible

“The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed.” --Thomas Paine

Facts of the BibleFacts of the Bible

• The Bible is a collection of 66 books (39 OT & 27 NT).

• Written over a period of 1600 years by over 40 different authors.

• Written on three different continents, in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).

What Inspiration is & is NotWhat Inspiration is & is Not

1. The Bible is not inspired in the same sense that an artist might be inspired.

•We use the word inspiration based on 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

•Inspiration is the means by which the writers accurately wrote what God wanted written.

What Inspiration is & is NotWhat Inspiration is & is Not

2. Inspiration is not total dictation.

•The personalities and styles of the Apostles are seen in their writings.

•Example: The Greek in the book of Hebrews is written more elaborate than that of Revelation.

Serious Consequences for Non-Serious Consequences for Non-InspirationInspiration

"This question of inspiration is no light one. It involves tremendously grave consequences. If the Bible is not the Word of God and inspired, the whole of Christendom for 1800 years has been under an immense delusion; half the human race has been cheated and deceived, and churches are monuments of folly. If the Bible is the Word of God and inspired, all who refuse to believe it are in fearful danger; they are living on the brink of eternal misery. No man, in his sober senses, can fail to see that the whole subject demands most serious attention.” Old Paths (1878), Bishop J.C. Ryle.

The Claim for Inspiration?The Claim for Inspiration?• Many defenders of various religious faiths do not realize

that many of their “holy” texts do not themselves claim to be the inspired word of God.

1. The Bhagavad-Gita

2. The Book of Mormon

3. The Qur’an

4. The Bible

Criteria for InspirationCriteria for Inspiration

• Does the text make the claim for inspiration?

• Does the text have external evidences to substantiate the claim for inspiration?

• Does the text have internal evidences to substantiate the claim for inspiration?

Is The Bhagavad-Gita Inspired?Is The Bhagavad-Gita Inspired?

• The belief that everything is maya, illusionary, denies real evil exist.

• If everything is an illusion then the Bhagavad-Gita is an illusion. If it is an illusion then how do we gain any truth from it?

Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book.” History of the church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith

Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?

“Anyone who will place in parallel columns the teachings of these two great books on such subjects as the atonement, plan of salvation, gathering of Israel, baptism…will find conclusive proof of the superiority of Book of Mormon teachings.” Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie

Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?

“Anyone who will place in parallel columns the teachings of these two great books on such subjects as the atonement, plan of salvation, gathering of Israel, baptism…will find conclusive proof of the superiority of Book of Mormon teachings.” Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie

Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?Is The Book of Mormon Inspired?• The Book of Mormon endorses large scale wars (see Mormon

6:9-15) near Hill Cumorah in present day New York, however there is no archaeological evidence to support their claim.

• Alma 7:10 "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem, which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin...“

• Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not Jerusalem.  Second, in none of the Bible's predictions is a name given, why then is Mary's name given in the Book of Mormon?  Maybe it's because Joseph Smith knew that Mary would be the mother of Jesus.  

• II Nephi 5:16 "And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon...“ Pyramids and temples were not built in America until after 300 A.D. The Mormons claim that Nephi lived in 600 B.C., 900 years earlier.

Is The Qur’an Inspired?Is The Qur’an Inspired?

• Muhammad’s words were written down hundreds of years after his death.

• (Internal contradiction):According to Sura 21:76, Noah and his family were saved from the flood, but in Sura 11:42-43 his son drowns.

• External contradiction): In Sura 27:18-19 Soloman overhears a “conversation of ants.”

Is The Bible Inspired?Is The Bible Inspired?

• The Bible makes the claim for inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17 & 2 Peter 1:20-21).

• Just because it makes the claim for inspiration does not mean it is inspired.

External Evidence for InspirationExternal Evidence for Inspiration

• The Hittites were once thought to be a biblical legend, until their capital and records were discovered in Turkey.

• The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered southeast of the Dead Sea.

• Many examples of silver shrines to Artemis were found (Acts 19:28).

Internal Evidence for InspirationInternal Evidence for Inspiration

• Most critics of the Bible have not read, nor taken the time to understand the background of the Bible.

Apparent Contradictions:

• Mark 15:25 & John 19:14

• The Jews and the Romans used different standards for reckoning the hours of the day, although both systems split the day into two periods of 12 hours. A new day for the Romans began at midnight (as it does for us today), whereas a new day for the Jews began in the evening at what we would call 6 p.m.

Internal Evidence for InspirationInternal Evidence for Inspiration• All the contradictions that are alleged against the

Bible can be adequately answered.

• Sometimes a passage contains extra information (Matthew 27:59-60; John 19:38-40). Sometimes a passage contains figures of speech (John 2:19-21; Matthew 26:61). Sometimes a passage contains language of everyday speech (Psalm 50:1; 1 Corinthians 15:6).

Manuscript EvidenceManuscript Evidence

Additional EvidenceAdditional Evidence• The Unity of the Bible: Written by various authors and it fits well

together.

• Factual Accuracy of the Bible: Speaks of people and places that were true all along.

• Prophecy in the Bible: Jesus fulfilled every prophecy spoken about the Christ in the Old Testament.

• Scientific Foreknowledge of the Bible: The Bible describes the shape of the earth centuries before people thought that the earth was spherical (Isaiah 40:22).

ConclusionConclusion• The Bible is externally and internally accurate and therefore is the

word of God.

Questions???Questions???