Validating The Historical Truth In The Bible
The Bible was developed over centuries based on meticulous copying and translation. The history of its development is an essential starting point for understanding its accuracy, reliability and trustworthiness.
This first 8 minute video from the Canadian Bible Society presents a brief overview of how the Bible was developed. Its historical viewpoint provides a solid foundation for understanding the Bible’s reliability and accuracy.
History Of The Bible’s Development
Highlights
- The Bible is the best selling book in all history
- 5 billion copies have been printed in 2000 languages
- The Hebrew Bible was meticulously captured and copied over centuries
- The New Testament was established based on usage of Paul’s letters and the Gospels in early churches
- Emperor Constantine brought the Old and New Testaments together into one biblical document
- A Latin translation came first but English and other translations were initially outlawed
- The Gutenberg press and subsequent translations like the King James version prevailed
- Today the Bible is available in 2000 languages
Unparalleled Accuracy Throughout The Centuries
This complementary 8 1/2 minute video from the Canadian Bible Society presents a key set of evidence for the accuracy and reliability of the Bible. The insights presented here make it clear the Bible is a trustworthy historical document.
Highlights
- Earliest copy of the New Testament is from ~25 years after it was written – AD 125
- 24,000 copies, 99.5% consistent with one another – far better than any other ancient document
- Earliest copy of the Old Testament is from ~300 years after it was compiled – 400 BC
- 95% consistent with the version from AD 900 – differing only by spelling and word order
- First Gospels written within 30 years of Jesus death
The Bible was written by 40 authors, over 13 centuries, on 3 continents and in 3 languages with one consistent message of redemption
Archeological Findings Validate The Bible As Historically Accurate
Archeologists in Israel and around the Middle East have found a great deal of physical evidence authenticating various accounts within both the Old and New Testaments. So much such evidence has been found that most reputable scholars consider the Bible to be a valid source of verifiable history. Here are two videos citing 17 pieces of evidence verifying biblical accounts. The first is 8 minutes from the World Video Bible School and the second is 11 1/2 minutes from TenZ.
9 pieces of evidence validating biblical accounts
- Pilate Inscription
- Hezekiah’s Tunnel
- Taylor Prism
- Assyria siege of Judah
- David Inscription
- Moabite Stone
- Omri as King of Israel
- Nazareth House
- Cyrus Cylinder
- Pool of Siloam
- Hittite Tablets
More archeological evidence supporting biblical accounts
- Kuntillet Ajrud – Yahweh
- Pontus Pilate Grand Avenue
- Stepped Stone Structure – King David’s Palace
- Merneptah Stele – Israelites in Canaan
- Jerusalem Discoveries
- City of David, 2nd temple
- Rosetta Stone – Egyptian hieroglyphs validating scripture
- Dead Sea Scrolls – parchments validating biblical consistency
- Kitef Hinnon Scrolls – oldest biblical text – Numbers 24-26 benediction
The New Testament Was Written Within Decades Of Jesus’ Death
How do we know whether the books in the New Testament represent the truth about Jesus? Why are these books in the Bible and while others are not? In this 7 minute video from Living Stones Churches, we see:
- All the New Testament books were written by one of Jesus’ Apostles or under the guidance of an Apostle
- They were all written within several decades of Jesus’ death
- Witnesses were still alive during this time who could easily have refuted them if they weren’t true and accurate
- The books in the Bible were affirmed because they were used in early Christian churches started by the Apostles – not by men meeting in smoke-filled rooms
- The Bible we have today is based on 5686 manuscripts that are 95.5% consistent with each other
- Translations are the result of extensive collaboration across many scholars
- Even skeptical, atheist scholars attest to the historical veracity of the Bible
The Old Testament Was Similarly Established By Early Judiasm
The majority of the Old Testament was established within Judiasm before 200 BC. All Bibles include this aligned set of books. Some churches also incorporate in their Bibles additional books written by Jewish leaders after 200 BC. This additional set of books, called the Apocrypha, is not typically included in Protestant Bibles because those Bibles are based on the Greek language version of the Old Testament established before the Apocrypha was written. The Greek version of the Old Testament is also the one used by Jesus and all other Jews prior to and during Jesus’ time in the 1st century AD. This is explained further in this 4 minute video from the Museum of the Bible.
Embarrassing Accounts Validate The New Testament As Presenting The Truth
The New Testament contains many embarrassing accounts associated with the life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. The sheer number of them can be seen dispelling any notion that the New Testament is filled with myths and legends. This is because myths and legends typically present the main character and his associates in a heroic manner. Why include so many frank, honest and embarrassing stories in the New Testament if the intent were to exaggerate the divinity or legend of Jesus? Watch this 9 1/2 minute video from Frank Turek at Cross Examined. It is both concise and entertaining.
Embarassing evidence in the New Testament
- The Bible is the best selling book in all history
- 5 billion copies have been printed in 2000 languages
- The Apostles seem dim-witted – don’t understand Jesus
- The Apostles fall asleep in Jesus’ hour of need
- The Apostles run away when Jesus dies and don’t bury him – Joseph, a Jewish leader, buried him and does so in a Jewish tomb
- Jesus rebukes his Apostles – Peter is called Satan
- Paul rebukes Peter, future leader of the church in Jerusalem
- Paul’s letters document many problems in the new church
- Jesus’ disciples run away when he is arrested and Peter denies him three times
- Women are the brave ones, demonstrating attributes that only men of the time should demonstrate
- The Apostles are doubters – before and after the resurrection
- Jesus’ own family think he’s “out of his mind”
- His brothers are not followers – until much later
- Jews want to stone him for claiming to be “I am”
- He is called demon possessed and a drunkard
- He is crucified – “on a tree” under God’s curse
Conclusion
The Bible is accurate, reliable, and trustworthy
- The Bible was developed over centuries based on meticulous copying and translation
- It is a reliable source of historical information with unparalleled accuracy of transmission
- The Bible is historically accurate supported by dozens of archeological findings
- The New Testament was written within a few decades of Jesus’s death and used as scripture by the early Christian church
- The Old Testament was similarly established by early Judiasm
- The New Testament includes many embarrassing accounts that dispel the argument it is comprised of mythology and legend