SURVEY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
by Andrew Corbett
1. Does the Bible contain God's truth, or is it God's Truth?
_____________________________________________________________2. What happens to our Christianity if we reject the authority of the Bible?
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Possibly one of the main reasons the Bible isn't held in its rightful place of honor is the lack of understanding regarding its authority. When theologians begin to study the Bible like a piece of machinery, they can almost become desensitized to its simple message. There is a stream of theological study, known as Biblical Criticism. This is where scholars examine the Bible like an historical document. They look into the question of authorship, reason for writing, historical settings, the grammar and linguistics employed by the author and how translators have dealt with the text. While there are many godly Biblical critics who truly confirm the Scriptures as totally inspired (such as R. K. Harrison, B. K. Waltke, D. Guthrie, and G. D. Fee), many have lost touch with the concept of the Holy Spirit being the author.
3. What does the Bible say about its own contents? (1 Cor. 1:21)
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4. The Bible is a book of faith. This is the very foundation of the Christian life. Is our faith in the Bible always logical?
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What we are about to examine does not prove the authority of the Bible as God's Word, but it does provide confirming evidence to support its claims. This is because if the Bible is God's revelation to man then it would naturally be communicated by a God who could make Himself known without the need for man's proof. Therefore, the Bible is the sole basis of all reliable truth. When an archaeological discovery is made that agrees with the Biblical account, this does not prove the Bible, rather it is the other way around. But the discovery can be used to confirm what the Bible states as truth.
CONFIRMING EVIDENCES
There is perhaps no such thing as irrefutable
evidence to substantiate the Bible as God's authoritative Word. But
there are confirming evidences. These include-
1. Archaeological
2. Internal Testimony
3. Experienced
4. Fulfilled Prophecy.
5. Based on Hebrew 11:6, what would you say to someone who demanded undeniable facts about the Bible's authenticity?
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL
-Nelson Glueck, Jewish archaeologist.
Archaeology is a study of remains from the ancient past. These include buildings, art, inscriptions and artefacts. By excavating an area, archaeologists have discovered the remains of ancient Biblical cities. For many years, the Biblical accounts of ancient civilizations and cities were ridiculed by some who felt that they were merely fables. There are now confirming evidences to support even some of the earliest Genesis records.
6. For example, if the account of Genesis 6 - 8 (about the flood) was correct, what sort of archaeological support evidence could we expect?
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Elba Kingdom- In 1964, an archaeologist, Dr. Paolo Matthiae, from the university of Rome, discovered the ruins of the ancient city of Elba. This city was at the height of its power about 2300 BC.. It had a population of 260,000 people. Since 1974, 17,000 tablets have been unearthed. The significance of this find was revolutionary. Many critics of the Bible argued that the books normally attributed to Moses could not have been written by him because literacy techniques were not that developed. But the highly developed records from the ruins of Elba date back 1000 years before Moses! Also, it was argued that the highly developed laws of Moses could not have been written by him either, because the Israelites were too primitive. Such passages as Deuteronomy 22:22-30 (laws and penalties regarding rape) were thought to have been written about 538-331 BC.. However, that tablets containing the judicial laws of Elba were actually very similar to some of the Deuteronomical Law.
Jericho- During the excavations of Jericho from 1930-1936, an archaeologist, Dr. Garstang found something curious about the remains of the walls of the city. It was such a surprise to him that he made two of his assistants sign a statement to verify what they had found. He states that "As to the main fact, then, there remains no doubt: the walls fell outwards so completely that the attackers would be able to clamber up over their ruins into the city."
7. How does this statement compare with Joshua 6:20?
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Dead Sea Scrolls- These are the most sensational archaeological discovery this century. While searching for a lost goat, a young shepherd boy threw a stone into a cave. To his surprise, he heard the sound of breaking pottery. When he investigated, he discovered parchments wrapped in tar and placed in earthen-ware jars. Thinking that these manuscripts might be of some value, he tried to sell them back in Bethlehem for twenty pounds, but couldn't. Later they revealed copies of most Old Testament books, with fragments of John's Gospel. This discovery validated the existing copies of other manuscripts and verified that what we have today as God's Word is almost word-for-word to the original.
New Testament Examples- The writings of Luke have been attested to their historical accuracy by archaeological findings. At one time it was thought by some that Luke cared little for accuracy. Such things as the census, that Quirinius was the governor of Syria, and that everyone had to return home to their birth place was mocked by critics. But then, discoveries were made that showed that the Romans had a regular enrolment of tax-payers and also held censuses every fourteen years. Secondly, an inscription was found in Antioch ascribed to Quirinius as the governor of Syria.
8. What did Christ say about the Old Testament Records?
Mtt. 5:17-19
_____________________________________________________________Lk. 24:27, 44
_____________________________________________________________Jn. 10:34-36
_____________________________________________________________9. Where does the verse 2 Peter 1:21 claim the Bible has its authority?
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10. What do the expressions found in these Scriptures suggest about the authority of the Bible, Ex. 14:1; Lev. 4:1; Num. 4:1; Deut. 32:48?
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Moses was told to write the words of the Lord down by God Himself- Ex. 17:14; 34:27. This he did- Ex. 24:4; 34:28; Num. 33:2; Dt. 31:9, 22, 24. Statements like "Thus says the Lord" occur at least 3,800 times in the Bible!
11. What was Paul claiming in 1 Cor. 14:37?
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The Bible is unashamed in its presentation as the only infallible Word of God to mankind. Its authority comes firstly from God, and then from within itself. This means that it must have the first authoritative voice for its interpretation. When some teacher or organisation claims that the Bible cannot be interpreted or understood without their guidance, they have just violated the Word of God's own authority. This is why it says that it requires two or three witnesses for a matter to be proven (Deut. 19:15). There always interpret Scripture with Scripture, first.
EXPERIENCED
The Bible is not a theory book. It has some very valid offers that can be received now. The fact that what the Bible says can be experienced gives comfort and hope to all that search its treasured contents. If the offers made available in the Bible could not be experienced, then its credibility would be worthless.
12. How is 1 Peter 5:7 a valid claim that can be actually experienced?
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13. How could you answer someone who said that the Bible's claims were only a psychological stimulant? (It helps you only because you think it helps you.)
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Many religious books contain nice philosophies and fanciful stories, but none can compare with the Bible's ability to be experienced. Our experience of what the Bible says does not prove that the Bible is right, it only confirms it.
FULFILLED PROPHECY
Approximately two thirds of the Bible deals with predictive prophecy. Examining this argument alone for the inspiration of the Bible would lead to a logical conclusion that the Bible is no ordinary book. Some authors in the past have claimed the gift of foretelling future events. Possibly the most notable would be Nostradamus. Yet, there are a number of glaring differences between his writings and those of the Scriptures. Firstly, the Scriptures do not talk in vague terms, with veiled meanings and endless possibilities of fulfilment.
14. What was predicted in Isaiah 7:14?
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If we were to assume that God is able to communicate intelligently with His creation, then it would make sense that when He talks about the future, He will do so in such a way that could be clearly understood. So, when God records future events for us, we won't be left wondering what on earth He means.
15. If we were to take the prophecy in Micah 5:2 literally, what would you think it was referring to?
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Some of the prophecies in the Bible are incredibly
detailed. There is still much to be fulfilled. Perhaps critics might
argue that it is merely chance that the Bible is able to be so accurate.
If this is the case, then the following probability needs careful consideration:
| Number of details: | Fulfilment chances, one in- |
| 1 | 2 |
| 5 | 32 |
| 10 | 1,024 |
| 40 | 1,099,511,627,776 |
In certain chapters of Isaiah (note chapter 53), for example, there are sometimes over twenty details given in a predictive prophecy, that were fulfilled precisely!
THE ONLY CONCLUSION
We must regard the Bible as the authoritative Word of God. Its message is unalterable. Its contents are sacred. Its accounts truthful, accurate and reliable.