Introduction

1 Peter 3:15 –  We are to give a reasonable defence – explainable, understandable, logical – and to do it gently and respectfully

Everything

Doctrine of inspiration – Bible is divine & human/human & divine

• Cultural context of writers cannot be denied

Variety of literature

• Library rather than a book – 66 different books, different literary style, 40 authors from diverse backgrounds over 1500 years – yet has a unity of message

• History, law, prophecy, letters, poetry…

• Different pieces trying to do different things

• Writing is written through cultural lens of author (all genres)

God wants us to have the Bible – He speaks through it

Useful for teaching, training, correcting, that we may be equipped to serve God (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

2 Timothy 3:14-17

v.14 - Timothy has become convinced as to the authenticity of the Biblical message received from Paul and most likely his grandmother and mother. (2 Tim 1:5)

‘Sacred writings’ (v.15) – Old Testament – Jesus referred to these throughout His ministry and used them to teach about himself – road to Emmaus - These can make us ‘wise to salvation’ (v.15)

‘Scripture’ (v.16) – refers to Old Testament, but also writings of Paul (see 2 Pet 3:16)

Bible was not dictated from heaven and mindlessly copied down

But it is living (God-breathed) it can work, transform, encourage…

True

If the Bible is true then we can take seriously its witness

Historical evidence

Archaeology has confirmed many of the narrative accounts of the Old Testament

Luke – writer of Luke-Acts – gives great detail – much of which has been historically verified

Textual evidence

5000 pieces of manuscripts preserved from original Greek writings – testify to the accuracy of NT record

97-99% of NT record can be reconstructed beyond reasonable doubt

For other historic writings that are unquestioned in their validity – much less documentary evidence

• Caesar’s Gallic War (c.50 BC) – 9-10 good manuscripts survive –

• Tacitus – fourteen books of Roman history – 4 ½ manuscripts

• Overwhelming evidence (compared to similar age writings) that the NT is genuinely what was written

• Josephus – Jewish historian corroborates much of what Jesus said and did

Prophetic evidence

Plenty of prophecies about Jesus that have been miraculously fulfilled – some about His birth – which He couldn’t have much influence over!

Prophecies about the nature of his death – before crucifixion was invented by the Romans

Conclusion

• Bible is not trying to be science, not trying to be textbook

• Bible records some things – that are difficult to read – but adds to its validity - it does not airbrush its heroes

• Bible points to THE truth – Jesus the Christ

• Christianity’s claims are bound up with the historical Jesus saying and doing the things recorded in the NT

• Holy Spirit leads us into all truth

• Witness of the saints – the Bible does speak today

John Wesley:

I want to know one thing the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be "homo unius libri (a man of one book)."

Further reading

The case for faith – Lee Strobel

Reasonable Faith – William Lane Craig