1. Our Faith does not require …… Our Faith does not require …… Blind Faith

2. WHY are YOU a Christian? N Y Is The Bible True? Does God Exist? Is Jesus God’s Son? Y Y N N Atheism Pantheism Hinduism Buddhism Islam Polytheism Deism Judaism Christianity Is the Bible Inspired by God? Verification: What do others believe?

3. or FICTION ? “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Tim 3:16

4. What We Have Seen So Far: #1: The Dead Sea Srolls #2: The Septuagint #3: The canon of the OT #4-6: Authorship of OT books #7: The NT manuscript evidence #8: The Early Church Leaders #9: The creeds #10: The canon of the NT

5. The Old Testament was Accurately Copied/Preserved Authorship and Dating of the Old Testament The New Testament Manuscript Evidence The Bible is Founded on Facts and Truth Authorship and Dating of the New Testament Evidences from Archeology and History Testimony of Non-Christian Writers The Honesty of the Eye-witnesses

6. Analyzing the New Testament Matthew Mark John Luke Acts Romans 1 Corinthians Galatians 2 Corinthians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 2 Thessalonians1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy2 Timothy Titus Hebrews Philemon James 1 Peter2 Peter 2 John1 John3 John Jude Revelation Gospels History Pauline Epistles General Epistles Prophecy

7. Exhibit #11: The Synoptic Gospels and Acts ‘M’ Nativity ‘L’ ‘Q’ (Quelle) 90% 50% 60% 25% 10% 25% 40% 25% Mark Matthew Luke

8. Evidence for Matthew Matthew Mark John Luke Acts Gospels History Church tradition Not a ‘logical’ choice Papias (120 or even 110 AD): “Matthew also issued a written gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome.” Greek as to be expected from a Jewish tax collector Written by a Jew for Jews Most extensive record of Jesus’ sayings & teachings

9. Evidence for Mark Matthew Mark John Luke Acts Gospels History Unanimous Church tradition Not a ‘logical’ choice Papias (120 or even 110 AD): Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. Intriguing details: Mark 14:51-52; 14:12-16

10. Evidence for Luke & Acts Matthew Mark John Luke Acts Gospels History Unanimous Church tradition Not a ‘logical’ choice Both are written by the same, well educated, native Greek writer Marcion (140 AD) selected Luke for his canon The ‘we’ clauses. Acts 16:10-17, 20:5-21:18, 27:1-28:16 Luke is referred to by Paul in Colossians 4:14, Timothy 4:11 and Philemon 24

11. Dating the Gospels Establishing the order: Mark --> (Matthew -->) Luke --> Acts Mark Luke Matthew Acts

12. Evidences for Early Dating Acts mentions many details, ends in Rome but no mention of: - the Jewish revolt against the Romans nor the fall of Jerusalem - the persecution under Nero of the mid-60s - the death of Peter or Paul (mid-60s) but mentions Stephen/James Luke uses ‘Son of Man’ (changed to Son of God by early church) In Mark (13), Matthew (24) and Luke (21), Jesus prophecies the fall of Jerusalem, however this is not very explicit, nor is the fulfillment mentioned. Therefore it is very likely that Acts was written before 65 AD; and therefore the other books were written even earlier! “Do you see these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown done.” Mark 13:2

13. Conclusions on Dating Option 1: Mark (50-60) < Luke (55-62) < Acts (60-65) Option 2: Mark (65-70) < Luke (70-75) < Acts (70-90) Option 3: Acts is written after 90 AD within 20-60 years of the resurrection during the lifetime of the eyewitnesses too close to allow for forming of myths and legends early enough for the authors to be corroborated as the writers of these documents

14. Exhibit #12: the Gospel of John Matthew Mark John Luke Acts Gospels History Ireaneus (170-180 AD) the Ryland’s papyrus of 125 AD Author was hew well familiar with Jewish customs and the OT Knowledgeable of Palestine, particulary Jerusalem Claims to be an eyewitness (John 21:24) ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’ part of ‘the inner circle’ Does not mention the apostle John by name in the gospel Refers to John the Baptist as ‘John’ only

15. Exhibit #13: the Pauline Epistles Clement of Rome (95 AD), Ignatius (107 AD) and Polycarp (115 AD) All letters claim to be written by Paul Authorship and dating is generally undisputed 2 Peter 3:15-17 confirms Paul’s authorship Romans 1 Corinthians Galatians 2 Corinthians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 2 Thessalonians1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy2 Timothy Titus Philemon

16. Paul’s Timeline Paul’s Timeline 33 35 46 48 50 52 53 57 59 62 67 70 Crucifixion Eye witness period Destruction of Jerusalem Peter/Paul executed Saul/Paul converted Jerusalem council 1st missionary journey 2nd missionary journey 3rd missionary journey Imprisoned in Caesarea Imprisoned in Rome GalatiansRomans 1st/2nd Corinthians ‘prison’ letters 1st/2nd Thessalonians Book of Acts

17. The New Testament - Timeline -6 0 33 40 50 60 70 80 90 Jesus born Crucifixion Eye witness period Destruction of Jerusalem Mark Matthew Luke & Acts John Paul’s letters Rest of the New Testament Peter/Paul executed Paul’s missionary journeys

18. The Nag Hammadi Library Discovered in 1945 at Nag Hammadi, 300 miles south of Cairo Texts in Coptic – Egyptian language written in Greek alphabet 12/13 papyrus codices (52 writings) are dated between 350-400 AD Translations from original Greek manuscripts: Gnostic Christian and non-Christian texts non-Gnostic Christan texts some miscellaneous texts Includes Gospels of Thomas, Judas, Philip, Truth, Mary Magdalene

19. What is Gnosticism? ‘Gnosis’ = ‘knowledge’ It developed in the ‘Middle East’ at the end of the first century, It reached its climax in the 2 nd -3 rd century It attempted to influence/redefine Christianity What does a Gnostic believe? 1.Dualism: different Gods in the OT and NT 2.Cosmogony: the physical world is evil 3.Salvation: salvation by knowledge only. No resurrection of flesh 4.Eschatology: redemption of the soul into a spiritual world 5.Cult and community: various rites of worship and sacraments (see 1 John 4:2-3 and the Apostle’s Creed)

20. Exhibit #14: These ‘Lost’ Books were never Lost DatedTextRemarks Gospel of Judas150-200350-400Gnostic Gospel of Philip150-300350-400Gnostic sacraments Gospel of Truth100-200350-400Gnostic salvation Gospel of Mary100-200350-400Gnostic redaction Infancy of Thomas100-200variousChristian fiction Gospel of Hebrews65-100fragmentsNon-apostolic gospel Early Church letters90-110VariousNot apostolic Gospel of Thomas90-150?350-400Gnostic redaction Gospel of Peter90-150?8 th /9 th centDocetic * redaction Q35-50??Synoptic theory * Believed Jesus was a spirit and the resurrection an illusion

21. The Old Testament was Accurately Copied/Preserved Authorship and Dating of the Old Testament The New Testament Manuscript Evidence The Bible is Founded on Facts and Truth Authorship and Dating of the New Testament Evidences from Archeology and History Testimony of Non-Christian Writers The Honesty of the Eye-witnesses

22. ‘Digging’ for Evidence - What to Expect ? Archeology/History cannot prove the divine inspiration of the Bible. It can only confirm the accuracy of the events or it can DISprove the events We can only study and interpret the evidence left behind How evidence is understood depends on the interpreter's presuppositions and world view Thousands of archives have been discovered, but an enormous amount of material has been lost Only a fraction of available archaeological sites have been surveyed, and only a fraction of surveyed sites have been excavated

23. Silver Scrolls Numbers 6:24-26 Found in 1976, in a burial cave near Jerusalem, Two silver amulets, dated around 600 BC.

24. Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19:1-29

25. Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom?, Excavated site Five ancient cities discovered Occupied in 2000-3000 BC period Well populated and fortified cities Massive fire destroyed Bab Ehd-Dhra Only five cities (Genesis 14:1-3) Evidence is considered ‘non conclusive’

26. The Nuzu or Nuzi tablets Nuzi or Nuzu (near Kirkuk, Iraq) Collection of 1000s of clay tablets, Found in 1925, from 15 th century BC Abraham’s ‘adoption’ of Eliezer as “son of his house” (Genesis 15:4) Hagar arranged as surrogate wife Selling one’s birthrights (Esau-Jacob) Binding character of a deathbed’s will Rachel’s thefts of her father’s household gods (Genesis 31:19)

27. The Price of a Slave

28. The Walls of Jericho Read Joshua 6:2-5 Over the past century four prominent archaeologists have excavated the site: Carl Watzinger from 1907-1909, John Garstang in the 1930's, Kathleen Kenyon from 1952-1958, and more recently Bryant Wood: Jericho has massive fortifications the walls fell outwards the city was totally destroyed by fire destruction was around 1400 BC (date is subject to fierce discussions)

29. The City of Shiloh “Shiloh, to the north of Bethel, and east of the road that goes from Bethel to Shechem, and to the south of Lebonah.” (Judges 21:19)

30. The House of David House of David Tel Dan Stela, a stone slab dated 9 th century BC

31. The Kings of Israel and Judah Black Obelisk of Salmaneser III. Around 840 BC Tribute of King Jehu, King of Israel (841-814 BC) “Tribute of Iaua [Jehu], son of Omri. Silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden beaker, golden goblets, pitchers of gold, tin, staves for the hand of the king, [and] javelins, I [Shalmaneser] received from him.”

32. The Kings of Israel and Judah Moabite Stone or Mesha Stela, Dated 840-820 BC. Mesha, king of Moab (2 Kings 3:4), writes that Omri, king of Israel, and his son Ahab had subdued Moab because Chemosh, the national god, was angry with his land. Mesha, however, claims to have found favor with Chemosh and to have been enabled to rebel and reclaim the land lost to Israel. Confirms King Ahab and his father King Omri.

33. Sennacherib's Prism On the six inscribed sides of this clay prism, King Sennacherib of Assyria recorded eight military campaigns undertaken against various peoples. As part of the third campaign, he besieged Jerusalem and imposed heavy tribute on Hezekiah, King of Judah 18 As for Hezekiah the Judahite, 19 who did not submit to my yoke: forty-six of his strong, walled cities, as well as 20 the small towns in their area, 21 which were without number, by leveling with battering-rams 22 and by bringing up siege-engines, and by attacking and storming on foot, 23 by mines, tunnels, and breeches, I besieged and took them. 24 200,150 people, great and small, male and female, 25 horses, mules, asses, camels, 26 cattle and sheep without number, I brought away from them … 2 Kings 18:13 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.

34. The Cyrus Cylinder ‘In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing: This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you—may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.”’ 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 Written around 450-425 BC 500 BC

35. Archeological evidence for the Old Testament DiscoveryLocationEvidence/InscriptionSignificance Silver ScrollsBefore 600 BCNumbers 6:24-26Confirms 6 th century BC Torah texts Sodom and GomorrahAround 2000 BCExcavated ‘cities of the Plains’Corroborates Genesis accounts Nuzi or Nuzu tablesAround 1400 BCDescribe Bronze Age customsCorroborates Torah accounts and customs JerichoAround 1400 BCDestroyed as described in Joshua chapter 6 Corroborates Joshua’s invasion of Canaan ShilohAround 1100 BCDestroyed around 1050 BCCorroborates books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel Tel Dan Stela9 th century BC‘House of David’, ’[Jeho]rm’, ’[Ahaz]yahu’ Corroborates King David, Jehoram and Ahaziah Tel Al-Rimah Stela870-810 BC‘Joash the Samarian’Corroboratse king Joash (805-790 BC) Moabite Stone840-820 BC‘House of David’. ‘Omri’, ‘Ahab’Corroborates King David, Omri and Ahab Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III840 BC‘the tribute of Jehu, son of Omri’Corroborates Omri and Jehu Annals of the king Tiglath-Pileser III 744-727 BC‘the Land of Omri….king Pekah,,,,Hoshea’, ’As for Menahem….’, ‘..tribute of Azriau…Ahaz of Juda’ Corroborates accounts of Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea of Israel and Uzziah and Ahaz of Judah Annals of king Sargon II721-705 BC‘I conquered…the Land of Omri’Corroborates accounts of king Omri(885-874 BC) Taylor Prism700-680 BC‘Hezekiah, the Jew…’Corroborates Hezekiah Prism B of king Esarhaddon680-669 BC‘….Manasseh, king of Judah’Corroborates Manasseh (696-642 BC) Rassam Cylinder of Ashurbanipal668-633 BC‘Manasseh, king of Judah’Corroborates king Manasseh Ration documents of Nebudchadnezzar 605-562 BC‘to Jehoichin, king of Judah’Corroborates Jehoiachin (597-560 BC) Neo-Babylonian Chronicle600 BCRecords of NebudchadnezzarConfirms Babylonian invasion of Palestine Cyrus Cylinder500 BCCyrus’s victory and decree permitting free worship Confirms Ezra 1:1-4

36. Exhibit #15: The OT is Historically Reliable Noted archaeologist Nelson Glueck writes: "As a matter of fact, however, it may be clearly stated categorically that no archeological discovery has ever contradicted a single biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible."

37. Peter’s House in Capernaum Typical 60 AD house Remains in Capernaum Capernaum was inhabited till about 6 th century (…Luke 10:15 curse) Jesus found his first disciples, lodged at Peter’s house and had his headquarters in Capernaum Found a 5 th century Octagon church over a 1 st century house (church) Christian inscriptions (incl Jesus and Peter)

38. Peter’s House in Capernaum

39. Joseph, Who was Called Caiaphas Yehosef bar Kayafa' (Joseph, son of Caiaphas) Ossuary with inscription found in a burial cave in Jerusalem in 1990 “Besides which, he also deprived Joseph, who was called Caiaphas, of the high priesthood, and appointed Jonathan, the son of Ananus, the former high priest, to succeed him. After which he took his journey back to Antioch.” (Josephus)

40. Pontius Pilate Evidence for Pontius Pilate, the governor who presided over the trial of Jesus, was discovered in Caesarea Maritama (1961). In 1961, an Italian archaeologist named Antonio Frova uncovered a fragment of a plaque that was used as a section of steps leading to the Caesarea Theater. The inscription, written in Latin, contained the phrase, "Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea has dedicated to the people of Caesarea a temple in honor of Tiberius." This temple is dedicated to the Emperor Tiberius who reigned from 14–37 A.D

41. The Crucified Man of Giva’at Ha-Mitvar Ossurary discovered in 1968, bones dated first century Evidence for: crucifixion procedures breaking of the legs

42. The Pool of Bethesda “Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.” (John 5:2) Excavated 1914-1918

43. Erastus, the City’s Director of Public Works Archaeologists excavating a Corinthian theatre in 1928 discovered an inscription. It reads, "Erastus in return for his aedilship laid the pavement at his own expense." The pavement was laid in 50 A.D. The designation of treasurer describes the work of a Corinthian aedile. In Acts 19:22 and Romans 16:23, Erastus, a coworker of Paul, is named the Corinthian city treasurer

44. The Warren Shaft David’s capture of Jerusalem speaks of Joab using water shafts These are called Warren’s Shaft today (who discovered them) built by the Jebusites to surprise them and defeat them. Historians had assumed these were simply legendary, until archaeological excavations by R.A.S. Macalister, J.G.Duncan, and Kathleen Kenyon on Ophel now have found these very water shafts. Read: II Samuel 5:6-8

45. Archeological evidence for the New Testament DiscoveryLocationEvidence/InscriptionSignificance Excavated houseCapernaum1 st century house churchPeter’s house in Capernaum Ossuary of CaiaphasJerusalem‘Joseph son of Caiaphas’Bones of Caiaphas the High priest Fragment of plague with inscription Caesarea Maritama‘Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea’ Confirms Pilate as governor Bones of crucified manGiva’at ha-MitvarBones of crucified manConfirm crucifixion details Pool of BethesdaJerusalemPool with 5 porticoesConfirms John 5:2 Pool of SiloamJerusalemPool with inscriptionJohn 9:7-11 Slab with ‘ordinance of Caesar’ NazarethStrict prohibition against disturbing of graves Confirms early Christian claims of resurrection Galilean boatSea of Galilee1 st century fishing boatCorroborate gospel accounts Golden GateJerusalemAncient gate under current Golden gate Mark 11:11? Slab of limestone in pavement Corinth‘Erastus in return for his aedileship…’ Romans (16:23), 2 Timothy (4:20) Temple inscriptionDamascus‘Lysanias the tetrarch’Luke 3:1 Dated Greek inscriptionDelphi‘Lucius Junios Gallio…Achaia’Acts 18:12-17

46. Exhibit #16: The NT is Historically Reliable “The excessive skepticism shown toward the Bible by important historical schools of the eighteenth- and nineteenth centuries, certain phases of which still appear periodically, has been progressively discredited. Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition to the value of the Bible as a source of history.” W.F. Albright