On The Topic of Proof

Considering the gospels as evidence

…because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the

Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be

among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV)

…“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of

the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with

you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand,

and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:25-27 ESV))

He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them

during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3 ESV)

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by

proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:22 ESV)

but test everything; hold fast what is good.(1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV)

A dog is not a cat is not a pig…

There are different kinds of proofs for different subjects

• Mathematical proofs– 1+1=2, all wives are women

• Empirical proofs– Medicine, history, law, science

When evidence is overwhelming faith bridges the gap.

EVERYONE lives by faith,

somehow.

Historians Use 3 Tests

• Time interval between autographs and mss…

“In no other case is the interval of time between the composition

of the book and the date of the earliest extant manuscripts so

short as in that of the New Testament.”

-Sir Fredrick Kenyon-Former Director and Principal

Librarian of the British Museum-Handbook to the Textual Criticism

of the New Testament

Dating of New Testament Manuscripts

Fragments of an Unknown Gospel and Early Christian Papyri contains materials from the Gospels dated

no later than 150 AD.

The John Rylands fragments has been dated around 130 AD

The Institute of New Testament Research dates fragments of the NT mss within 25-50 yrs of the

autographs.

The Magaden Papyrus is dated between 70-100 AD

Compare NT dating to…

Caesar’s Gallic Wars, written between 58-50 BC with oldest

copy being 900 years from the autograph.

Tacitus’ Histories, written about 100 AD with the oldest copy being 800

years from the autograph.

Thucydides History written between 460-400 BC with the closest copy being dated 900-1300 years after

the author wrote.

Historians Use 3 Tests

• Time interval between autographs and mss

• Number of existing mss for comparison

The Institute for New Testament Textual

Research has catalogued over 5,000 mss of the NT.

• Compared to 10 copies of Caesar’s Gallic War

• Compared to four and half copies of sixteen volumes

of Tacitus’ Histories• Compared to 10 full

copies of Tacitus’ Annals of 16 volumes.

Historians Use 3 Tests

• Time interval between autographs and mss

• Number of existing mss for comparison

• Textual agreement

Hort’s final judgment is that the field covered by substantial variations can hardly form more than a thousandth part of the entire text. In order to gain an idea of what this

means, we can be very plain. A Greek New Testament lying at my side contains five

hundred and sixty pages not as large as my hand, and there are a couple of lines of

various readings on most of the pages. A thousandth part of that would then after all be

in the neighborhood of half a page or fifteen or sixteen of these small lines.

James Bales

- You Believe

The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for

many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of

questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their

authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt. It is a curious fact that

historians have often been much readier to trust the New Testamant records than have

many theologians.

F.F Bruce

- The New Testament Documents, Are They Reliable

By every bibliographical test of mss of antiquity the New Testament shows itself to be reliable and trustworthy.

Overwhelming evidence

allows faith to bridge the gap

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things

not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must

believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)

Based on Bibliographical evidence…

• The New Testament is true and factual

• It testifies that Jesus is God, therefore God Is

• It bears witness that judgment is ahead for us all

Are we logical, thinkers enough to make a

decision??