THE SIGNIFICANCE AND INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
The Bible has sold over 5 billion copies and been translated into over 2000 languages. It is clearly the most significant book on earth. Can we trust the transmission of this ancient document? God's chosen leaders have controlled the documents. Evidence now available proves without a doubt the accuracy of that transmission. Regarding the Old Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls are a game changer. In 1947 they found 500 complete books of the OT in eleven caves. Carbon dated from the second century B.C. sealed and unopened. Because of the meticulousness of the scribes, they found only a few minors differences with the Bible transmitted to us today and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The differences were mostly in the spelling of names.
2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
God's Words were committed to faithful Apostles and Prophets and their associates to preserve accurately. The Dead Sea Scrolls proved this beyond any doubt. Scholars gained fame by questioning the authenticity of the scriptures. Then the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and set critics back on their heels; overwhelmed by this evidence. The scrolls are carbon dated back to the second century B.C. They proved to be very accurate including the debunking of Isaiah as more than one book.
Prophets like Ezra and the Leviticus priest had a count for every page in a scroll of a book. When scribes made a meticulous copy they checked the page count. If the count was off in the slightest they were to tear up and burn the copy and start all over again. The early New Testament church leaders, those chosen by men like the Apostles Paul and John, would behave in a similar fashion. If they encountered a copy of one of the New Testament books and found any errors or false documents, they burned that erroneous copy. They did not canonize material they knew was uninspired. The books have so few variations though copied by hand many times that the few minor variations that do exist are ways of labeling the copies as from a certain root or family of texts. God cursed those who would purposely inject error into His Words.
Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
That statement in the book of Revelation is the final warning in all the Bible. God enforces the accuracy of his word.
IS THIS ANCIENT BOOK RELEVANT FOR US TODAY?
Are the books of the Old and New Testament of value for us today? Some today approach the Bible with suspicion and haughty disdain. Many leaders in society including the media, Hollywood and academia are blinded to the inspiration. They do not wish to see or acknowledge any forces higher than themselves.
Romans 8:6-7 NKJV 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be.
Some of the leaders of this world are blinded by their carnality. All of the Books of the Bible when applied correctly, are good for us today.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
When Timothy was a youth only the Old Testament existed. We are so blessed to have all of the Bible to make us wise for our ultimate salvation. God demands that we look for His guidance and are hungry for the truth. Ask God to make you hungry for the truth and wisdom and the guidance of God's Word.
Isaiah 66:2 NKJV 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
We must learn to respect and live by God's directions. Don't be critical of the Bible; let it be critical of us. May God inspire us to approach His Words with humility and awe. However God wants us to be objective and look at the evidence proving the authenticity of his books.
THE CLAIMS OF JESUS AND THE APOSTLES
Jesus Christ said that Moses, author of the first five books of the Bible, known as the “Law” spoke about Him many centuries before His life and ministry.
John 5:38-46 NKJV 38 "But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me... 42 "But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you...44 "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? 45 "Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you--Moses, in whom you trust. 46 "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
Christ gave His stamp of approval on the OT. The events of Jesus' ministry are prophesied in the OT. Christ was following the script written for Him by the prophets and fulfilling His awesome, God given destiny.
Luke 24:44-46 NKJV 44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
Peter and other Jewish authors of the Bible were inspired to be honest witnesses. They reported the unvarnished truth. Many of these Apostles and Prophets died in service to that truth.
2 Peter 1:16-17 NKJV 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
One noted Jewish scholar said that if we Jews had made up the Bible we would make our history a glorious celebration of our nation. No one creates a story to make themselves look so non-spiritual. The Bible tells of the ultimate blessings of Israel in-spite of their many failures.
OVERWHELMING ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE
Archaeological digs in and around Jerusalem recently have unearthed a treasure trove of hard evidence to support Bible claims. These include support for the following lately: Abraham, the Hittites, Nazareth, Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas the high priest, The Wall of King Hezekiah, The tomb of Herod the Great, The Goliath/David battleground ,King David Castle among other hard items. These prove the veracity of scripture with hard incontrovertible evidence.
Further the New Testament is supported by 5,861 manuscripts and counting with the smallest historical gap between events and documentation than any other classical ancient historical event. For instance, the works of Tacitus has only 33 copies and a nearly 900 time gap from the writings and our earliest copy. The works of Pliny the Elder has only 200 ancient copies and a 400 year time gap from the event to the earliest copy available. Further, Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars has only 251 copies and a 8 century time gap. The New Testament has stronger historical evidence than all other ancient writings with less than a century time gap.
2 Corinthians 3:15-16 NKJV 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Be open to the truth of the Bible and ask God to remove the veil of carnality.
