The Word Made More Sure!

2 Peter 1:19“And we have the word of the prophets made

more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it…”

An Old Problem:Doubting God’s Word

Good Questions!Any extra-Biblical mention of… The darkness during the Crucifixion?Thallus (52 AD), Phlegon (2nd Century AD), and Julius Africanus (160-240)

The torn veil?Tacitus (Hist. V. 13), Josephus (Wars VI, 5, 3) and the Jewish Talmud

Joshua’s sun stood still

Which Darius? - Darius the 4th King of Persia

Sumarian King List details – sars (units of 3600), ners (units of 600), and sosses (units of 60)

Ages

* There is some question on Terah and Joseph: Terah had all three sons by the time he was 75. Rabbinical tradition says that Abram was born when Terah was 70. Joseph had his two sons during the seven years of plenty, which started when Joseph was 30.

The Black Obelisk

The Moabite Stone

The Dead Sea Scrolls

Blue = Law (to-RAH), Red = Prophets (ne-vi-IM), Green = Writings (ktu-VIM)

Hebrew Bible (TANAKH) Book Order

In the Tanakh, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles are not divided into two books; Ezra and Nehemiah are combined.

New Testament

• As of 2003, there are 5,735 ancient Greek manuscripts. (Up from 5,300 in 1980)

• There are over 19,000 early translations into Syriac, Latin, and Coptic.

• Using quotes from the early Christians, you can reconstruct the entire N.T. except for 11 verses.

• The N.T. stands alone in this incredible textual evidence.

Early Manuscripts

• p64 is a fragment from Matthew and some date it to about AD 50

• John Ryland p52 100 AD• Bodmer Papyrus 150-200 AD• Chester Beatty Papyri 200 AD• Many fragments, or collection of books, first

complete Greek N.T. - Codex Sinaiticus about 350 AD.

Other Writings of Antiquity

Want More?

• Thompson Chain Reference Bible – Archaeological Supplement

• Halley’s Bible Handbook

• http://www.christiananswers.net/archaeology/

• http://www.rationalchristianity.net/

• http://carm.org/

• Evidence That Demands A Verdict, More Evidence That Demands A Verdict, and just about anything else written by Josh McDowell

Resources: