Eyewitness Class 2

Agenda Purpose driven Prepare for defense Acting out our Faith Trusting Scriptures Dating Gospels Creeds Bible Statistics

Purpose driven Think about the material as if there were going to be a test Imagine taking this material to someone and discussing it Put the material in your own words and thoughts Decide now how you can use it.

Prepare for Defense Don’t Correct a Scoffer “WHOEVER CORRECTS A SCOFFER GETS HIMSELF ABUSE, AND HE WHO REPROVES A WICKED MAN INCURS INJURY. DO NOT REPROVE A SCOFFER, OR HE WILL HATE YOU; REPROVE A WISE MAN, AND HE WILL LOVE YOU” (PROVERBS 9:7-8). Don’t Overstate Your Case “WHOEVER SPEAKS THE TRUTH GIVES HONEST EVIDENCE, BUT A FALSE WITNESS UTTERS DECEIT” (PROVERBS 12:17). Listen Carefully to the Other Side. “A FOOL TAKES NO PLEASURE IN UNDERSTANDING, BUT ONLY IN EXPRESSING HIS OPINION” (PROVERBS 18:2). “IF ONE GIVES AN ANSWER BEFORE HE HEARS, IT IS HIS FOLLY AND SHAME” (PROVERBS 18:13). “THE ONE WHO STATES HIS CASE FIRST SEEMS RIGHT, UNTIL THE OTHER COMES AND EXAMINES HIM” (PROVERBS 18:17) Think Before You Answer. “THE HEART OF THE RIGHTEOUS PONDERS HOW TO ANSWER, BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED POURS OUT EVIL THINGS” (PROVERBS 15:28) Don’t Let Their Insults Get to You. “THE VEXATION OF A FOOL IS KNOWN AT ONCE, BUT THE PRUDENT IGNORES AN INSULT” (PROVERBS 12:16) Don’t Make It About Winning Arguments. “DO NOT REJOICE WHEN YOUR ENEMY FALLS, AND LET NOT YOUR HEART BE GLAD WHEN HE STUMBLES” (PROVERBS 24:17). Don’t Trust Your Own Wisdom. “BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES; FEAR THE LORD, AND TURN AWAY FROM EVIL” (PROVERBS 3:7). Commit Your Work of Apologetics to the Lord. “COMMIT YOUR WORK TO THE LORD, AND YOUR PLANS WILL BE ESTABLISHED” (PROVERBS 16:3).

Words having meaning Truth vs Facts All truth is relative There is no absolute truth Possible vs Reasonable It is possible that I can win the lottery BUT IS IT REASONABLE ! Faith vs Conviction Belief vs Confidence Believe that vs Belief in

Why is dating of Scriptures important? Early dating does not allow for legend to creep in Witnesses alive to refute or buttress the Gospels An accurate telling of the life of Jesus Christ Changes over time to the written narrative by coping Not a story that is morphed by “Telephone Game” Written by people that were eyewitness to Jesus

Why we can trust Scriptures? Which car will get washed more often? Which car will get waxed more often? Which car would a scratch get noticed? Which car would small dents get noticed? So it has been with God’s Word.

Acceptance of historical documents Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars  Essays chronicle the history of his military engagements during the years 58-51 B.C. in Gaul, Germany, and Britain Authored around 50BC The earliest copies we have appear around 900AD (950 year gap) Number of copies = 10 Plato’s Dialogues He is considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy  Authored around 400BC Written records appear 900AD (1300 year gap) 7 copies exist Aristotle’s Poetics The earliest surviving work of dramatic theory and first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary theory in the West Authored around 400BC First Documents appear 1100AD (1500 year gap) 5 Copies

Dating of the Gospels authorship > 200 Years Earlier Than 250AD The "Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri" from Aphroditopolis contains eleven manuscripts, and three of them are fragments of the New Testament, including the four canonical gospels. They have been dated from 200-250AD. Earlier Than 200AD The “Bodmer Papyri” This set of papyri contains a text of the Gospel of John, dated to the first part of the third century (circa 200-225AD). Earlier Than 180AD Tatian the Assyrian was a Christian theologian who lived from 120 to 180AD. He wrote the “Diatessaron”; it is a paraphrase (or “harmony”) of the four gospels. Earlier Than 150AD Justin Martyr, in his “First Apology” (150AD) quotes and alludes to the Gospel of John Chapter 3 (1 Apol. 61, 4-5). This is consistent with the fact that Justin was Tatian’s teacher and surely knew what Tatian knew about the existing gospels. Earlier Than 130AD “Ryland’s Papyri” contains a fragment of John’s gospel dating to 130AD.

Dating of the Gospels authorship > 100 Years Earlier Than 120AD The only surviving work from Polycarp, an early Church leader, is a letter he wrote to the Philippian Church in 120AD. Polycarp quoted from the gospels and other letters of the New Testament in this document Earlier Than 110AD Ignatius was Bishop of Antioch wrote several letters around 110AD that quote or allude to the Gospel of Matthew. His letters to Ephesus, Smyrna and Polycarp quote or allude to Matthew 12:33, 19:12 and 10:16. Earlier Than 100AD The "Didache" or "Teaching of the Twelve Apostles" also quotes from Matthew's version of the Lord's Prayer in Didache 8:1. Athanasius described it as "appointed by the Fathers to be read by those who newly join us, and who wish for instruction in the word of goodness". The Didache is most recently dated at approximately 100AD Earlier than 95 AD Clement ( 2nd or 3rd Bishop of Rome) Authored 1 Clement, dated 95 AD. Referenced Matthew’s Gospel

Dating of the Gospels authorship > 60 Years Earlier than 64 AD Two important events 1- Roman Army dispatched Mid 60s AD 2- Temple destruction 70AD. Jesus predicted the temple destruction Luke 21:5. This would have made a compelling argument for Jesus predicting the future. Acts competed and makes no reference to Temple destruction or the Roman Army invasion. Certainly both are significant events. Acts makes no mention of the martyrdom of James 61 AD, martyrdom of Paul 64AD or martyrdom of Peter 65AD. In fact at the end Paul is still alive. Luke wrote Acts we know the Gospel of Luke was written prior ACTS 1:1 Now dates Luke prior to 64 AD Early 60sAD Earlier Than 60 AD Luke as a historian and quoted Mark which can now reasonably put Mark’s authorship in late 50s AD Earlier Than 55 AD 1 Corinthians 15 Paul summarizes the Gospels Paul’s writings quote Luke writing from 53 – 57 AD Last, and controversial, Jose O’Callaghan dated a fragment of Dead Sea Scrolls (Gospel of Mark) “7Q5” to 50 AD

Bible Statistics Certainly written in 1st Century AD (50-100AD) Multiple copies 2nd Century AD Less than 100 years between authorship and copies 5600 copies In Greek 24,000 copies in other languages More being found all the time

An Oral Tradition “Creeds” Oral tradition was the norm Christ’s return was expected quickly Formal statement of Christian beliefs Creeds became the way of affirming faith Easy to commit to memory Baseline to keep false teachings from creeping into teachings Very early dating (1-5 years) Agreed and not arguable

Pauline Creed 1 Cor. 15:3-5 is considered by many scholars to be an extremely early creed of the Christian church. A creed is a statement of belief. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the [a]Twelve 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 (AMP)

Creeds start within 3 to 5 years Luke’s Gospel Written 50-53AD Death of Peter 61-65AD Siege of Jerusalem 67-70AD Jesus Dies 33AD Creeds start within 3 to 5 years Luke’s Gospel Written 50-53AD Luke Writes ACTS 57-60AD Mark’s Gospel written 45-50AD Paul Quotes Luke 53-57AD Death of James 61-65AD Death of Paul 61-65AD Temple Destroyed 70AD

Approximate Time Span between original & copy Author Date Written Earliest Copy Approximate Time Span between original & copy Number of Copies Accuracy of Copies Lucretius died 55 or 53 B.C.   1100 yrs 2 ---- Pliny A.D. 61-113 A.D. 850 750 yrs 7 Plato 427-347 B.C. A.D. 900 1200 yrs Demosthenes 4th Cent. B.C. A.D. 1100 800 yrs 8 Herodotus 480-425 B.C. 1300 yrs Suetonius A.D. 75-160 A.D. 950 Thucydides 460-400 B.C. Euripides 480-406 B.C. 9 Aristophanes 450-385 B.C. 1200 10 Caesar 100-44 B.C. 1000 Livy 59 BC-AD 17 ??? 20 Tacitus circa A.D. 100 1000 yrs Aristotle 384-322 B.C. 1400 49 Sophocles 496-406 B.C. A.D. 1000 1400 yrs 193 Homer (Iliad) 900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 yrs 643 95% New Testament 1st Cent. A.D. (A.D. 50-100) 2nd Cent. A.D. (c. A.D. 130 f.) less than 100 years 5600 In Greek 24,000 In Other Languages 99.5%

Wrap up Why is Caesar's Gallic Wars considered more reliable than NT? Does the comparisons make sense to you? Does the early dating give you more confidence? Anything standout for you? How can you use this material? Critique the material and presentation please