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Defend Your Faith Lesson 3 Is the Bible the Word of God? Presented by Chris Reeves * Park Road church of Christ * Gospel Meeting * April 14, 2013

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” – 1 Peter 3:15

The Bible Is the Word of God Ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) The importance of this question (Revelation 20:12) Where are God’s words found today (Hebrews 1:1-2)? What attitudes toward the Bible exist today? Apologetics and the Bible (Luke 1:1-4) Can we trust the Bible to be the word of God?

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( A Divine Book From Beginning to End ) PERSON The PERSON of the Bible is divine (Psalm 19:9; John 17:17)

“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” – Psalm 19:9 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” – John 17:17

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( A Divine Book From Beginning to End ) PERSON The PERSON of the Bible is divine (Psalm 19:9; John 17:17) PROCESS The PROCESS of the Bible is divine (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” – 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” – 2 Peter 1:20-21

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( A Divine Book From Beginning to End ) PERSON The PERSON of the Bible is divine (Psalm 19:9; John 17:17) PROCESS The PROCESS of the Bible is divine (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) PRODUCT The PRODUCT of the Bible is divine (Romans 3:2; 1 Peter 4:11)

“Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God” – Romans 3:2 (NIV) “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God…” - 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( Evidences That the Bible Is the Word of God ) Perfect unity and harmony (Psalm 119:160)

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever” – Psalm 119:60

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( Evidences That the Bible Is the Word of God ) Perfect unity and harmony (Psalm 119:160) Fulfilled prophecy (Jeremiah 28:9)

“The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him” – Jeremiah 28:9

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( Evidences That the Bible Is the Word of God ) Perfect unity and harmony (Psalm 119:160) Fulfilled prophecy (Jeremiah 28:9) Accuracy in all areas (Luke 1:1-4)

“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” – Luke 1:1-4

Presenting Your Case For the Bible Presenting Your Case For the Bible ( Evidences That the Bible Is the Word of God ) Perfect unity and harmony (Psalm 119:160) Fulfilled prophecy (Jeremiah 28:9) Accuracy in all areas (Luke 1:1-4) Reliability of both testaments (Titus 1:9)

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” – Titus 1:9

Presenting Your Case For the Bible

The Bible Is the Word of God The Bible Is the Word of God “All scripture inspired of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16) Divine Person God Knows All No Lie Not A Man Word Is True Divine Process Authors Revelation Inspiration Word Is True Divine Product Bible Unity Prophecy Accuracy Reliability Word Is True

Answering Objections to the Bible Objection #1: You cannot turn to the Bible to prove the Bible is the word of God. This is circular reasoning. For example, the Bible claims to be the word of God just like the Book of Mormon claims to be the word of God. However, where is the best place to start looking for proof? Internally, like drilling for oil. Let’s start with the Bible facts first. There is also external evidence for the Bible’s reliability (archaeology, uninspired writers).

Answering Objections to the Bible Objection #2: The Bible contains contradictions and mistakes. 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). What constitutes a contradiction?

Answering Objections to the Bible Objection #3: The Bible has been corrupted through time and translation. We have already examined the biographical evidence for the reliability of both testaments. Accurate translations from the original languages exist today (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek). Jesus used the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Old Testament when he spoke in Matthew 22:32 (Exodus 3:6).

Answering Objections to the Bible Objection #4: The Bible is a myth fabricated by the followers of Jesus. There was little time for a “myth” to spread. No evidence for a “myth” exists. The style of the NT text is not that of a myth, but one of 1 st Century eyewitness testimony. The Bible text can be cross-checked. The NT text was written by men with no motive to write a “myth”. The NT text was written by men who did not follow “cunningly devised fables” (2 Peter 1:16). They were intelligent, competent, knowledgeable authors.

Defend Your Faith The Bible is either the word of men or the word of God. If from men (men who would be both liars and foolish), the evidence presented is difficult to explain. If from God, the evidence presented is easily explained. How we accept and view the Bible will determine our eternal destiny! Do you have the will to believe today (John 7:17)?

“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” – John 7:16-17