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Is our present day Bible the same as the original writings? Were there any changes in the accounts of the Bible? Did any story or teaching change over the centuries?
We will examine some of the evidences to show that there are very good reasons to believe that the words originally written were preserved and handed down the years accurately so that the Bible today contains the same words as the originals.
The stories and teachings have not been altered. This is because God preserves it to ensure that all mankind have the same revelation of God as He once revealed to others in the past.
The Bible was originally written in Hebrew by Jewish prophets and priests. After the birth of Christ, the Bible was written in Greek by Christ’s disciples and the apostles.
Accuracy of the Copying Process
From a very young age, the Jews were taught to memorise Scripture. This was carried out very strictly as the Scriptures were highly revered as God’s revelation. Being monotheistic has moved them to be very passionate about their faith as their surrounding neighbours worshipped a multiplicity of gods and lacked divine revelation.
The prophets who received God’s revelation were quick to write down revelations from God. Moses, Joshua, Samuel an Isaiah all wrote the words spoken of by the Lord (Ex 24:4; Josh 24:26; 1 Sam 10:25; Isa 8:1).
The writing of Scripture was by means of divine inspiration. These prophets could have penned other words, but the Scriptures they wrote were inspired. This means that God superintended the human writers so that they wrote exactly what God intended to be written.
God used their personal style to compose without error His revelation. This process is different from dictation. God did not dictate the words. The writers used words from their own personal vocabulary and knowledge. The final result is the Bible, a perfect and errorless book. It contains information that is accurate and truthful in every way – historically, medically, culturally, and scientifically.
After Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, he instructed that the books be kept in the ark of the covenant for safe keeping. The ark of the covenant was a chest inlaid with gold that represented the presence of God (Deut 31:24-26).
It is also instructed in the Bible that the king should copy the Scriptures for himself so that he can read and be instructed in God’s ways (Deut 17:18-19).
When copies of the Scriptures were made, the Jewish scribes observed very strict rules to ensure that the Scriptures were accurately copied.
They copied every line with exactly the same number of words as the original. Every page has the same number of words. The number of words was counted to make sure that none was missing. Then the number of alphabets was counted. The middle alphabet and word were determined to make sure it is the same as the original. The work of at least four scribes went into this painstaking copying and counting process which acted as a “fence to the Scriptures (Massorah) because it locked all words and letters in their places… It records the number of times the several letters occur in the various books of the Bible; the number of words, and the middle word; the number of verses, and the middle verse; the number of expressions and combinations of words, etc… All this …for the set purpose of safeguarding the Sacred Text, and preventing the loss or misplacement of a single letter or word” (Bullinger, The Companion Bible)..
“A synagogue roll [remember that they did not have paper as we do today] must be written on the skins of clean animals, the length of each column must not extend less than 48 or more than 80 lines; the breadth must consist of 30 letters. No word or letter, not even a yod, must be written from memory… Between every consonant the space of a hair or thread must intervene, between every book three lines. Besides this the copyist must sit in full Jewish dress, and wash his whole body” (Davidson, Hebrew Text of the Old Testament).
“The new evidence confirms what we had already good reason to believe – that the Jewish scribes of the early Christian centuries copied and recopied the text of the Hebrew Bible with the utmost fidelity” (F F Bruce, Second Thoughts on the Dead Sea Scrolls, 1956, pg. 61, 62).
This ensures that the words originally written by the prophets are being handed down word-for-word and to the exact details to our present day. There is no alteration or any change to the original Biblical records.
Biblical accounts are truthful
Contrary to what some think, the Bible is not a book of fairy tales. Its stories are real. The men and women mentioned were real people, not fictitious people with superhuman powers. They existed in history. They were made of flesh and blood, with strengths and weaknesses like ordinary people.
These biblical writers wanted to tell the truth. In so doing, they need to tell everything about themselves in order to give a true picture, including their weaknesses, mistakes, failures, sins and other embarrassing details about themselves. They did not make up stories about how clever or good they were. The apostle Peter said that he and the other disciples did not invent stories of Jesus. They don’t have to because they were eyewitnesses (2 Pet 1:16). This was echoed by the apostle John (1 John 1:1). Biblical stories are eyewitness accounts.
There are stories of miracles and supernatural healings in the Bible. But these incidents were not ad hoc events. They serve a purpose and there is always a lesson behind them. They were not meant to embellish the prophet. These miracles point people to God and show His love, mercy, wisdom and other characteristics.
Many prophets and almost all of Jesus’ disciples gave their lives in defense of the truth they witnessed. Jesus’ disciples lived with Him for three years. They heard His teaching, saw Him performing miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons, calming storms, walking on water, raising the dead back to life. They saw Him alive after His crucifixion, death and burial.
At first, they did not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. They dismissed the women’s testimony that they saw Him alive. Thomas doubted His resurrection. But when Jesus appeared to them, they believed.
Each of them left their families and careers, risked their lives to proclaim that Jesus is the living Saviour of the world. They had no doubts about who Jesus is. When they were forbidden by the authorities to stop preaching Jesus, their reply was that they cannot but speak what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
They were persecuted, tortured, beaten, imprisoned, and eventually killed for their eyewitness accounts. Now, it doesn’t make sense if they were to die for a lie. Would you die for something you knew was a lie?
The Scriptures were written very close to the actual events
There are good reasons to believe that the New Testament books were written before A.D. 70. Jerusalem fell to the Romans in that year. The city was sacked and the Jews fled Palestine. This was a major historical event in the history of the Jews. There is no mention of the fall of Jerusalem in any of the New Testament writings.
This means the books were written prior to A.D. 70. Since Jesus was crucified at the age of 33, the books were written within 35 years, or most probably less than 30 years from the time of Christ.
The apostle Paul died in A.D. 64. So his writings were dated before that.
“This means that we have clear widespread testimony to a miracle-working, supernatural, resurrected Jesus no latter than fifteen to twenty years after the events of His life.” (J P Mooreland, Does God Exist? The Great Debate).
The Time Gap between the Originals and the Copies
There are 5,686 manuscript copies (partial and complete) of the New Testament available today. They date from A.D. 200 to 600.
In addition, there are over 10,000 Latin and 9,300 versions in other languages of the New Testament. Together, they number no less than 25,000 manuscript copies. This number far exceeds the number of copies of other ancient manuscripts.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, which was discovered in 1947, date back to 150 B.C. or earlier. Prior to this discovery, the oldest Old Testament is dated 980 A.D. these two manuscript copies are 1,000 years apart.
But when the two manuscripts are compared, “they proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more than 95 percent of the text. The 5 percent of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations in spelling.” (Gleason Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction).
So, the time gap between the actual writings and the oldest copy of the Bible is very small, being about a hundred years or less. Compare this other ancient books:
| Ancient Author |
Book |
Date Written |
Earliest Copy |
Time Gap |
Number of Copies |
| Homer |
Iliad |
800 B.C. |
400B.C. |
400 yrs |
643 |
| Caesar |
Gallic Wars |
100-44 B.C. |
A.D. 900 |
1,000 yrs |
10 |
| Tactitus |
Annals |
A.D. 100 |
A.D. 1100 |
1,000 yrs |
20 |
| Thucydides |
History |
5th cent. B.C. |
A.D. 900 |
1,300 yrs |
8 |
| Herodotus |
History |
400-425 B.C |
A.D. 900 |
1,350 yrs |
8 |
| New Testament |
|
1st cent. A.D. |
2th cent. A.D. |
100 yrs |
25,000 |
“The interval between the dates or original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.” (Sir Frederic Kenyon, Director and Principal Librarian, British Museum)
is the bible accurately transmitted.pdf
Why doesn’t God create a world where there is no suffering, pain or sickness? Why doesn’t He create a world where everybody lives in peace and where there is no pain or suffering or death?
Well, that is exactly what He did.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth …. Then God saw everything that He had made and indeed it was very good.” (Gen 1:1, 31)
God created a wonderful world where man and animals lived together in harmony against a beautiful landscape of mountains and waterfalls.
God created man with the freedom to choose. Man can choose to obey God or disobey Him. We often hear young people complain that they don’t have freedom. They want freedom to do what they like. That is exactly what God gave to man. Instead of living as robots, man can choose to do what is good and right.
Unfortunately, due to pride, man chose to do what he thinks is good for him instead of living according to God’s way.
This rebellion is called sin. It resulted in man doing wrong, evil things. Sin is a disease in man’s heart.
Suppose you see a Ferrari car that got smashed up in an accident. Would you ask, “Why does Ferrari make cars in such a shape?” Definitely not. You would know that Ferrari make exquisite and expensive cars but this particular Ferrari got involved in an accident.
God made a wonderful world but man messed it up.
Suffering is caused by man’s sin
Because of pride, we seek only our own good. We become self-centred and selfish. We think only of our own survival. We boast about ourselves. We exaggerate and promote ourselves to the extent of lying. We seek self glory and applause.
There is envy and jealousy in our hearts. We desire to have what others have or what others do not have, for our own comfort and reputation.
Hatred, greed, dishonesty, gossip, lust, impurity, revenge, and unkindness are only some acts of sin that plague the world we live in.
Crimes of murder, robbery, burglary, rape and molest are reported in our newspapers daily. Millions of people die in wars, violence, and acts of terrorism.
In the arena of health, diseases like AIDS, SARS, and flu pandemics spread globally. Cancer and heart diseases cause death. Sicknesses hasten death by complicating our body condition.
Sin causes disharmony within human relationships. The lack of love results in dysfunctional families and severed friendships.
Greed causes man to destroy his environment for the sake of money.
Misunderstanding, evil agenda, covetousness lead to war.
Because of our sin, we destroy our lives. And our world.
Why do victims suffer?
Why then do innocent victims suffer? They have not done anything wrong. Innocent people get knocked down by drunken drivers, travellers get robbed in foreign countries, people get cheated in investment scams, and nurses contracted diseases while helping others.
We live in a broken world. Broken relationships, broken dreams, broken plans, broken lives.
There is loneliness, worry, fear, discouragement, troubles, burdens, stress, and all kinds of problems. We have gone through all of them.
God understands the troubles we face. He invites us to call upon Him for help.
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Ps 50:15)
But don’t expect Him to help us the way we want Him to. That’s because He is much wiser than us.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My (God’s) ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:9).
Our job is to cooperate with Him. Life can be very unfair and unpleasant. God is near you to help you. Don’t depend on your pride and your own understanding. That is what resulted in sin in the first place.
If you would cooperate with God and trust Him that He has the best for you, you will understand His plan in the end. But if you don’t, you will only regret in the end.
It seems the weak suffer and innocent people die. There will never be an adequate answer as to why there is so much suffering in this world. The answer cannot be provided outside of God. God will eventually ensure that justice is executed.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexually immoral, sorcers, idolatoers, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8)
Only God can give us hope. Hope of eternal life. What man loses in his sufferings on earth will be fully compensated by God in heaven. All the sufferings on earth can never be compared with all the eternal glory of heaven that awaits man.
Jesus came to suffer with us
Jesus came to pay the price for man’s rebellion. He paid a price He did not owe in order to pay for us the price we owe but could not pay. He suffered terribly though He did not do anything wrong.
He lived a perfect life, but was wrongly accused, arrested and crucified. He was flogged until His back was scarred. He was mocked by his accusers. The soldiers kicked Him, roughly handled Him, spit at Him, cursed Him, ridiculed Him, laughed at Him, and plaited a crown of thorns to press into His head.
Then He carried a heavy wooden cross up a hill called Calvary where the soldiers hammered nails to fasten His hands and feet to the cross. His cross was lifted up and placed into a hole in the ground. Surrounding Him, the people further jeered and mocked at Him. He hung on the cross for about six hours until He died.
Jesus did not die for nothing. He died for our sins. He suffered though He is perfect and sinless. We are sinners and deserved to be punished. But by Jesus taking our punishment, we can be set free from our punishment.
This is God’s way for us to go to heaven to have eternal life. Otherwise, we have to suffer the consequence of our sin by punishment in hell.
Jesus was not a religious teacher who just sat down and taught the people in a church or temple. He suffered so as to suffer for and with us. His suffering is meaningful. He did not suffer as a consequence of His sin. We suffer as a consequence of our sin, but not Jesus.
God will restore His creation
Ultimately, God will restore His creation back to its original state and even better.
We will rejoice eternally in heaven. All tears will be wiped away. There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain (Rev 21:4).
if god is good why do we have to suffer.pdf
Can we trust the Bible for what it says? Are the accounts historically accurate? Or is it a book of myths and legends?
Manuscript Evidence
The Bible is divided into two sections: Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew before Jesus lived while the New Testament was written in Greek after Jesus’ resurrection.
Books were copied by hand. The Jews were very strict in the copying process. Every word, syllable, letter, and line was counted carefully by the scribes to ensure accuracy.
Before 1947, the oldest existing Old Testament manuscript was the Hebrew Massoretic Text which dated around A.D. 900. Scholars could compare the words of this ancient copy with modern existing Old Testaments to verify their similarity.
In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in the Qumran caves. These scrolls contain all the books of the Old Testament dating back to as early as 200 B.C. They contain exactly the same words as the Massoretic Text and the Old Testament that we have today.
The Old Testament of the Bible has been faithfully preserved for us through 22 centuries without any change in the words. Transmission of the texts prior to the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls was even stricter to ensure accuracy.
There are more than 5,300 ancient Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin Vulgate, and 9,300 ancient manuscripts in other languages (Syriac, Armenian, etc) of the New Testament. Altogether, there are more than 24,000 copies of the New Testament in existence today. They show that the New Testament of the Bible we have today is the same as those ancient manuscripts. Nothing is lost. Transmission of the Bible down twenty centuries has ensured that we have the same words and message as the original Bible.
Among all the books in the world, the New Testament has the most number of surviving copies to attest to its genuiness. Second on the list is the Iliad by Homer, which has 643 surviving copies. Other ancient books like the History of Thucydides, Caesar’s Gallic War, have less than two dozen surviving copies.
Not only is the transmission of the Bible accurate, the time span between the events and the time they were recorded was short. Accounts of Jesus’ works and words were recorded within 30 years of His death. These accounts, as we have shown above, remain unchanged over the centuries. There was insufficient time for any misrepresentation or development of legendary stories about Jesus. Though the Gospel writers wrote at different times and places, they recorded the same accounts of Jesus and His teachings. The enemies of Jesus were still alive at the time of writing and they could have refuted the Gospel writings,
Copies of biblical writings were also copied within a short period of time.
“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 Frederic G Kenyon, Director and Principal Librarian, British Museum)
External Evidence
Non-Christian writers who lived close to the time of Christ also mentioned about some characters mentioned in the Gospels. Their writings lend support to the authenticity of the biblical records. They add further confirmation that the biblical records are true.
Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, wrote about John the Baptist, a character in the Gospels. He wrote that John was baptizing people in the river Jordan and that he was executed by King Herod. His accounts of John are similar to what the Bible says about the latter.
Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman historian, wrote about Christ’s crucifixion by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor, complained in a letter to Emperor Trajan about “the troublesome sect of Christians.” Apparently, he had executed many Christians because they were wrongly blamed for troubles caused by the Jews.
The Talmud and the Mishnah, Jewish writings on the interpretations of the Jewish religion, also mentioned about Jesus of Nazareth.
These writings “does at least establish for those who refuse the witness of Christian writings, the historical character of Jesus Himself … The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for the unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar.” (F F Bruce, University of Cambridge)
Besides non-Christian sources, early church fathers such as Papias, a student of the apostle John, wrote that John told him the Gospel of Mark was written by Mark himself.
Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (A.D. 180), referred to the four Gospels as the four cardinal points of the compass.
 
Archaeology
The Bible has been criticized as a book containing fables with fictitious names of people and places. However, archaeological works around the places mentioned in the Bible have shown that biblical places did exist. Places, persons, customs and events mentioned in the Bible have been verified through archaeology.
The following biblical places or events have been proven by archaeology:
- Israel derives its ancestry from Mesopotamia.
- Cities such as Jericho, Sodom, Gomorrah existed in the exact locations mentioned.
- It was thought that Moses could not have written the first five books of the Bible because handwriting was not yet invented. The Elba Tablets unearthed in northern Syria contain handwriting which predates Moses.
- Social customs as recorded in the Bible are in harmony with archaeological discoveries.
- Cities mentioned in the Gospels and the Acts have also been unearthed.
- The Roman census which caused Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem has also been authenticated.
- Names of governors like Pontius Pilate have also been discovered during archaeological findings.
“There can be no doubt that archaeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of Old Testament tradition.” (William F Albright, well-known archaeologist)
“Archaeology has in many cases refuted the views of modern critics. It has shown in a number of instances that these views rest on false assumptions and unreal, artificial schemes of historical development. This is a real contribution, and not to be minimized.” (Millar Burrows, University of Yale)
“Archaeology has produced an abundance of evidence to substantiate the correctness of our Masoretic text.” (Sir Frederic Kenyon, Director and Principal Librarian, British Museum)
Conclusion
What the Bible says about history, culture, geography and science are true and accurate. Historical accounts in the Bible have been shown by archaeology to be true. Matters relating to science are also known to be true. The Bible does not tell of mythical persons with superhuman powers living in a world of fantasy. It presents men and women like us who overcame odds by faith in God to show us what we can also accomplish with our lives for God.
If all the historical and scientific areas in the Bible are accurate, the same can also be said of spiritual matters. What it says about God, man and sin must be correct. We have a solid foundation upon which to build our faith.
who is jesus.pdf
Is Jesus Christ a myth or a historical figure? Did He ever existed or is He a mythical character who never existed?
Who was Jesus, really?
What ancient secular historians say
“Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius; but the pernicious superstition (Christ’s resurrection), repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also.” (Tacitus, Roman historian, Annals XV 44, AD 112)
“Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be indeed lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works-a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians so named after him, are not extinct at this day.” (Josephus, Jewish historian, Antiquities, xviii 33, AD 93)
“The man (Jesus) who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world.” (Lucian of Samosata, The Passing Peregrinus, 2nd century)
“On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu (Jesus) and the herald went before him for forty days saying (Yeshu) is going forth to be stoned in that he hath practiced sorcery and beguiled and led astray Israel.” (Babylonia Sanhedrin 43a, part of Jewish Talmud)
From the above, we can be certain that Jesus existed and was not a mythical figure.
But Jesus is more than a mere man. He claims to be God.
His teachings
Jesus’ teachings have no equal in moral and ethical excellence in its content. No liar or lunatic could ever come up with such self-incriminating truths. His teachings form the foundation of the entire Western civilisation.
“They (Jesus’ teachings) are read more, quoted more, loved more, believed more, and translated more because they are the greatest words ever spoken…Their greatness lies in the pure lucid spirituality in dealing clearly, definitively, and authoritatively with the greatest problems that throb in the human breast…No other man’s words have the appeal of Jesus’ words because no other man can answer these fundamental human questions as Jesus answered them. They are the kind of words and the kind of answers we would expect God to give.” (Bernard Ramm, Professor of Theology)
His works
Jesus is omnipresent, that is, He could be present everywhere (John 14:16, 26; 16:7, 13; Matt 18:20; 28:20).
He is omniscient, that is, He has infinite knowledge (Matt 24:24-25; John 16:30; 21:17; Luke 6:8; 11:17).
He is omnipotent, that is, He is all-powerful.
He created the universe (John 1:30);
He has power over nature (Mark 4:4; Matt 21:19);
He overpowers demons (Mark 5:11-15);
He heals diseases (Luke 4:38-41);
He exercises power over death (John 5:25-29; 6:39);
He performs miracles (John 5:36; 10:25, 37-38; 20:30-31).
His miracles demonstrated clearly who Jesus was. Jesus held up the miracles as credentials that He was the Son of God: “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:37-38).
The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them
He has authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-7).
He has power to raise the dead (John 5:25-29).
He accepted honour and worship (Matt 15:25; John 5:23)
He instructed to pray in His name (John 14:13).
He claims to hold people’s eternal destiny (John 6:40; Luke 12:8-9).
His sinless life and character
Jesus had no sin – not in word, deed or even thought (Heb 4:15).
Some people may claim to be righteous, maybe even perfect. But nobody will take them seriously, especially those well acquainted with them. But those disciples who followed Jesus, ate with Him and walked and talked with Him constantly throughout His ministry for three years, testified to and were willing to die for their belief that He was the sinless Son of God.
Jesus challenged His enemies, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” (John 8:46). None could.
Even at His trial, His accusers had to resort to false witnesses because no one could testify to any wrong He had ever done (Matt 26:59-61). The Roman governor Pilate’s verdict was, “I find no fault in Him” (John 19:6).
The centurion who oversaw Jesus’ execution, was so filled with awe, “glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’” (Luke 23:47). One of the criminals, who was crucified with Jesus, rebuked the other condemned man: “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40-41).
His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy
His birth and life were prophesied over 300 times in the Bible centuries before His actual advent. Only Jesus fulfilled all of them. Jesus could not have accidentally or deliberately fulfilled these prophecies.
- Born of a virgin (Isa 7:14)
- Born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2)
- Preceded by a forerunner (Mal 3:1)
- Entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Zech 9:9)
- Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12)
- Crucified with other prisoners (Isa 53:12)
- Pierced through hands and feet (Ps 22:16)
- Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isa 53:9)
- Would be resurrected (Ps 16:10)
His Resurrection
Frank Morrison was a young journalist who set out to do disprove Christianity once and for all. He knew that if he could debunk the Resurrection story, Christianity would fall like a pack of cards. So he started out his research with the aim to prove the Resurrection of Christ was a hoax.
At the end of his research, he wrote a book, entitled, “Who Moved the Stone?” The preface of the book was “The Book that Refused to be Written” wherein he explained his original intention and after examining the evidence of the Resurrection, he himself became a believer in the Resurrection of Christ.
who is jesus.pdf
Jesus Christ has often been called a great moral and religious teacher. He is placed on the same status level as Buddha, Mohammed or Confucius. There is no doubt that Jesus’ teachings are highly moral. But what set Jesus apart from all the rest of the world religious teachers is this: He claims to be God.
It was precisely this claim that aroused the envy and anger of the Jewish religious leaders. It was also this claim that got Him crucified.
Who is Jesus? Is He the God He claims to be? This the most important question facing us because He says that the only way to go to heaven is through Him. Thus, our eternal destiny in heaven or in hell depends on our response to Him.
Here is a list of who He claims to be:
- God (Mark 14:61-64; John 5:23; 8:58; 10:30-33; 14:1, 9)
- the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26)
- the Bread of life (John 6:35)
- the Light of the world (John 8:12)
- the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
- the Creator (Rev 22:13)
- He spoke of His kingdom (Luke 22:30)
- He forgave sins (Matt 9:6; Mark 2:7)
- He offered salvation (Matt 10:32-33; 16:27; John 3:16)
- He claims all authority in the universe (Matt 28:19-20)
- He claims He will judge the world one day (Matt 25:31-32; Mark 14:61-64; John 5:27)
- He accepted worship (Matt 4:10; 8:2; John 9:3-39)
Jesus’ teachings centred on Himself as God and having the ability to save man. Other religious founders point man to a set of teachings that can help them. Jesus points man to Himself.
“Whatever we may make of their claims, one reality is inescapable. They are teachers who point to their teaching or show some particular way. In all of these, there emerges an instruction, a way of living. It is not Zoroaster to whom you turn; it is Zoroaster to whom you listen. It is not Buddha who delivers you; it is his Noble Truths that instruct you. It is not Mohammad who transforms you; it is the beauty of the Koran that woos you. By contrast, Jesus did not only teach or expound His message. He was identical with His message.” (Ravi Zacharias)
Jesus need not seek for answers to life. He knew all the answers. He did not ask people to follow a set of instructions. He invited them to follow Him.
Did the disciples make up stories about Jesus?
“A character so original, so complete, so uniformly consistent, so perfect, so human, and yet so high above all human greatness, can be neither a fraud nor a fiction. The poet, as has been well said, would in this case be greater than the hero. It would take more than a Jesus to invent a Jesus.” (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, pg 109)
Christians at that time were persecuted for their faith in Christ. The penalty for being a Christian was death.
Furthermore, eye witnesses were still around after Jesus’ death and resurrection. They could refute the Gospel accounts about Jesus.
A Liar?
Some say that Jesus is a great moral teacher. But how could Jesus have been a great moral teacher if He lied about God?
Such contradiction would not warrant Him as a great moral teacher. There is no personal gain from making such a claim. One would have to substantiate it by healing the sick, performing miracles and exercising power over nature.
Making such a claim also meant death during Jesus’ time. No one would be willing to die for a known lie.
“No one recognized leader, not Moses, Paul, Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, has ever claimed to be God; that is, with the exception of Jesus Christ.” (Thomas Schultz, The Doctrine of the Person of Christ with an Emphasis upon the Hypostatic Union, pg 209)
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse…but let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has no left that open to us. He did not intend to.” (C.S. Lewis)
A Lunatic?
A lunatic would not have the capacity to influence the world on such a magnitude over time.
Jesus taught with such depth and sanity. Even His enemies were amazed at His answers and teachings.
“His teachings were ultimate, final – above those of Moses and the prophets. He never added any after thoughts or revisions; He never retracted or changed; He never guessed, ‘supposed,’ or spoke with any uncertainty. This is all so contrary to human teachers and teachings.” (Fred John Meldau, 101 Proofs of the Deity of Christ from the Gospels, pg 5)
Jesus taught with power and authority. He healed the lepers, diseased, lame, blind, deaf and dumb.
Conclusion
The claims of Jesus Christ force us to choose. If Jesus is not a liar or a lunatic, then who is He?
“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse… but let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher…. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to…..
We are faced then with a frightening alternative. The man we are talking about was (and is) just what He said or else a lunatic or something worse. Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God. (C.S. Lewis)
is jesus god liar or lunatic.pdf
The Bible records for us that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. We call this the Resurrection. Throughout history, only Jesus rose from the dead.
Every religious leader in history died and lies buried in his tomb. There might be remains of his body still around today. But Jesus’ tomb is empty because death could not keep His body in the tomb. Jesus overcame death and rose from the dead.
We will examine some of the historical evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. These evidences are exceedingly strong enough to show that Jesus, after He was put to death on the cross, was seen alive.
If these eyewitnesses were wrong, then it means that Christianity was founded upon a lie.
But if they were right, then what Jesus claimed about Himself being God and His power to save us is true.
The resurrection of Christ is a historical event. Eye witnesses saw Jesus appeared to them for 40 days. Some wrote of these experiences in Biblical records and passed them down. How do we know?
Jesus spoke in advance of His death
Before Jesus was arrested to be crucified, He spoke of His death and resurrection. Death would have no hold on Him. He would live again, though He were to die.
No founder of any religion ever dared to predict his conquest of death. But Jesus dared to say something that only a fool would dare to say, that He would die and come back three days later. His death and resurrection would prove to people that He is God.
If He failed to keep His promise, He would be exposed as a fraud.
Jesus was arrested and put on an unlawful trial. He was falsely convicted of treason and condemned to die by crucifixion. He was brutally whipped again and again. Then the executioners nailed his hands and feet to a wooden cross before raising up the cross.
Jesus hung on the cross for about six hours before He died. To make sure He really died, a soldier pierced his spear through His side. A mixture of blood and water flowed out from His body confirming His death.
A man called Joseph of Arithmathea asked for Jesus’ body to be buried. Jesus’ body was buried in a tomb which was sealed by a huge stone and guarded by Roman soldiers.
Jesus’ disciples were so frightened by his horrific turn of events that they all fled and hid themselves for fear that they too would be arrested.
However, three days later, just as Jesus foretold, very early on Sunday morning, the stone that sealed the tomb was rolled aside to reveal not a rotting body, but an empty tomb.
Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. He appeared to His disciples and 500 other people for 40 days before His ascension into heaven.
When the disappearance of Jesus’ body was reported to the religious leaders, they bribed the soldiers to lie that the disciples came at night to steal the body while they slept.
True account or fairy tale? We shall examine what some critics say about the resurrection of Christ and the historical evidences.
1. Jesus did not really die on the cross. He was wounded but managed to walk away.
This criticism does not stand. Even ancient credible non-Christian historians like Josephus and Tactitus recorded the death of Jesus as history.
Jesus had many enemies among the Jewish religious leaders. They hated Him so much to the extent that they wanted Him dead. That was why they got Jesus arrested, falsely accused Him of blasphemy and finally, when they could not find any charge against Him, accused Him of treason. They would make it certain that Jesus be put to death.
The Romans themselves were professional executioners. They showed no mercy. Orders were meant to be obeyed. Anyone sentenced to death by crucifixion bade his last farewell to his friends.
If Jesus did not die, then He would have been so mortally wounded by the scourging and crucifixion, without sleep and food the previous night, run through with a spear, He would be so weak to wiggle out of the tightly bound graveclothes, let alone push aside the huge stone door and then overpower the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb.
2. The disciples stole the body of Jesus.
The disciples were themselves of no help to Jesus. They had dispersed and fled the scene of Jesus’ arrest. Even the most prominent disciple, Peter, denied Christ three times when questioned if he was His disciple.
These disciples were no match for the well-trained, highly skilled Roman soldiers on guard. To get to the body of Jesus, they would have to get past the Roman soldiers who would have sounded the alarm. The disciples were certainly not in the mood to try.
The disciples would also respect Jesus too much to want to move His body.
Then, why weren’t the soldiers questioned or executed for letting a prisoner escape, according to Roman army enforcement?
When the disappearance of Jesus’ body was reported to the religious leaders, they did not check the tomb. They knew it was empty.
3. Robbers probably took away the body of Jesus or His body was eaten by vultures.
Other than the religious leaders who wanted Jesus dead, it was of no benefit to anyone to keep the body of Jesus.
His body was buried in a highly sealed, professionally guarded and totally secure tomb. This was done to ensure that nobody takes the body away. It was in the interest of the religious leaders to keep the body of Jesus secure to prove Jesus and His disciples wrong.
4. The disciples went to the wrong tomb.
Jesus was buried in a private tomb, not in a public cemetery where thousands of bodies laid.
The religious leaders would have produced the body of Jesus to prove that Jesus was a fraud.
5. The disciples were hallucinating. They saw Jesus’ spirit or someone who looked like Jesus.
Hallucinations occur over a long period of time. However, the appearances of Jesus to the disciples came to an abrupt end forty days later. If the disciples had hallucinations, they would continue hallucinating throughout their lives.
The appearance of Jesus was seen by as many as 500 people at one time. 500 people could not have the same hallucination at the same time.
If the disciples were hallucinating about Jesus, they would never have become the church leaders they were. People would not believe their testimonies.
6. The disciples made up the story.
Legends and myths take hundreds of years to form.
But fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, and having seen Him and communed with Him, the disciples were totally transformed. When once they hid themselves in cowardice and fear of being persecuted, they now openly proclaimed the risen Lord and Saviour.
They could not have persisted in their preaching of the resurrection of Christ if Christ had not risen. They rose from ordinary men to heroes of the early church. All of them suffered martyrdom. Nobody would want to die for a lie. It is not worth it.
Conclusion
We have all wondered what will happen to us when we die.
If our bodies were to rot and we cease to exist, then life is an accident with no ultimate meaning. We will not enjoy any fame or fortune once we die. There is no remembrance, no happiness, and no hope.
But if there is a resurrection that we can look forward to, an eternal life of joy and rewards, then it certainly is worth going through this present life, for there is a better life to look forward to.
Jesus Christ, through His resurrection, has shown us that there is a better life after death. He has conquered death for us all. He has shown us that if we follow Him, we can experience a resurrection just like His.
The evidences are overwhelmingly strong that Jesus did rise from the dead. All religious founders lie buried somewhere, but Jesus’ tomb is empty, because He is God and Saviour, He is alive today as are we ourselves.
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead.pdf
The Bible is the only physical evidence of the existence of God. Other religious books prove that their religious founders existed in times past. The Bible proves that God exists.
The Bible claims to be the Word of God. Though it was written by men, God’s truth is revealed to them so that they can write what God desires to tell man. They never claim to originate the Scriptures. They credited their writings to God’s revelation and proclaimed them as God’s Word, and never their own.
Forty men wrote sixty-six books that are compiled into the Bible. Either they are telling the truth or they are lying. The contents of the Bible must be taken seriously because therein lies the answer and hope for man’s destiny.
We encourage you to seriously consider the following evidences for the truthfulness and reliability of the Bible. You will see that the Bible is not and could not have been written by man, but by God.
Evidence No. 1 Unity of the Bible
The Bible has a very remarkable structure. Although it is a collection of 66 books, written by 40 different men over a period of 1,500 years in 3 continents and under various trying circumstances, it is clearly one Book, with perfect unity and consistency in its message.
The main message of the Bible is that God created man to love Him and one another. Though man ruined God’s plan, God still loves him and prepares a way for man to live eternally with Him. That way is through Jesus Christ. The Bible tells the story of mankind beginning from the creation of man. The Bible concludes with the end of mankind’s history on earth. In between, it tells of God’s dealings with man.
The writers had no idea that their writings would eventually be incorporated into such a Book, but each book nevertheless fits perfectly into place and serves its own unique purpose as a component of the whole.
What is the probability then that 40 men writing from 3 different continents over a span of 1,500 years, under different circumstances, of different occupations, would write 66 books that when put together gives one consistent theme – eternal life through God’s Son, Jesus Christ?
No other book in the whole world throughout history can lay claim to such powerful evidence.
Bob Jones, Jr, once argued – The Bible cannot have been written by a liar, because a liar will not want his lies to be exposed and be called a sinner. The Bible cannot have been written by a righteous man because a righteous man will not lie about its authorship. Thus, if a liar could not have written the Bible, and a righteous man did not write the Bible, then who could have written it, but God?
Lewis S Chafer remarks, “The Bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.”
Evidence No. 2 – Scientific Accuracy of the Bible
The Bible contains many scientific truths laid hidden within its pages centuries before they were discovered. These scientific truths were only discovered hundreds of years after the Bible was written and not a few were discovered only within the last hundred years.
Consider the following scientific facts found in the Bible:
Uncountable number of stars (Jer 33:22)
Spherical shape of the earth (Isa 40:22)
Gravity (Job 26:7)
Water cycle (Eccl 1:7, Job 36:27-29)
Law of mass and energy conservation or 1st Law of thermodynamics (Gen 2:1-2, 2 Pet 3:7)
Law of deterioration of 2nd Law of thermodynamics (Ps 102:25-27)
Wind currents (Eccl 1:6-7)
Blood circulation (Lev 17:11)
Life is in the blood (Lev 17:11)
Medical and sanitary regulations (Lev 11)
These scientific phenomena are presented in the Bible thousands of years ago but were only discovered recently. For instance, the water cycle was discovered only during the Elizabethan era, whereas it was stated in the Book of Ecclesiastes 3,000 years ago. Man first saw the roundness of the earth when the American Apollo came back with photos of the earth. The prophet Isaiah already stated the fact that the earth is round way back in 700 B.C.
It is significant also that no real mistake has ever been demonstrated in the Bible – in science, in history, or in any other subject.
Evidence No. 3 – Unique Historical Accuracy
Archaeology confirms that the history recorded in the Bible is true, accurate and factual.
Over the last two centuries, pottery, tablets, and even entire cities have been dug up from past civilizations to confirm Biblical events and places.
Dr. Nelson Glueck, an authority on Israeli archeology, has said: “No archeological discovery has ever contradicted a Biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.”
The historical accuracy of the Scriptures is likewise in a class by itself, far superior to the written records of Egypt, Assyria, and other early nations.
Here are some examples of the discoveries of archaeology to demonstrate the reliability and plausibility of Biblical records:
- Clay tablets discovered at Ebla, in northern Syria, and dated about 2300 B.C. contain names found in book of Genesis in the Bible.
- Ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah were discovered.
- Stories of Hebrew slaves and their exodus to the Promised Land were recorded in Egyptian temple walls and artefacts.
- The Hittites were once thought to be non-existent, until their capital and records were discovered at Bogazkoy, Turkey.
- It was once claimed there was no Assyrian king named Sargon as recorded in Isaiah 20:1. Then, Sargon’s palace was discovered in Khorsabad, Iraq. His capture of Ashdod mentioned in Isaiah 20, was recorded on the palace walls. Fragments of a stela memorializing the victory were found at Ashdod itself.
- Ancient sites visited by Paul and dignitaries he spoke to have also been verified by ancient records.
Thus, archaeological discoveries verify the historical reliability of the Old and New Testaments.
Evidence No. 4 – Fulfilled Prophecies
The remarkable evidence of fulfilled prophecy proves that there is a higher Power and an all-knowing Mind behind history. Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled, specifically and meticulously, often long after the prophetic writer had passed away. These prophecies deal with individual nations and cities and with the course of history in general, all of which have been literally fulfilled.
For example, Daniel the prophet predicted in about 538 BC (Daniel 9:24-27) that Christ would come as Israel’s promised Savior and Prince 483 years after the Persian emperor would give the Jews authority to rebuild Jerusalem, which was then in ruins. This was clearly and definitely fulfilled, hundreds of years later.
Bible prophecies unfold the entire story of mankind. There is purpose in the history of the nations as God moves behind the scene to save man. Each prophecy fits into an intricate whole to show God’s plan of redemption. There is no other book, ancient or modern, like this with prophecies on such a tremendous scale.
Others have tried to make predictions, but they are usually vague and erroneous, with no purpose at all.
Here are some examples of Bible prophecies, written 2,000 years ago, that are fulfilled during the last century. We can see these prophecies being fulfilled today:
More frequent and more intense earthquakes (Rev 16:18-20).
- Global warming (Rev 16:8-9).
- Worldwide pollution, depletion of natural resources (Rev 6:6-8).
- Possibility of asteroid hitting earth (Rev 8:10-11).
- Worldwide epidemics caused by insects (Rev 9:3-6).
- Return of Jews to their homeland Israel (Deut 30:3-5).
- Constant war between Israel and her neighours after the former’s return (Isa 11:14).
- Rise of Russia (Ezek 38:8).
- Rise of Asian military (Rev 9:16; 16:12)
- Restoration of the Roman empire in Europe (Dan 2:40-43).
- And many more.
Evidence No. 5 – Messianic Prophecies
The Old Testament includes about sixty different prophecies, with more than 300 references, of the coming of the Messiah. It was through the fulfillment of these prophecies that Israel was told she would be able to recognize the true Messiah when He came. The four gospels record several times when Jesus said that He was fulfilling a prophecy of the Old Testament. (Luke 24:27).
Here are some prophecies of the coming of Christ and their fulfillment:
From the house of David (2 Sam 7:12-16; Jer 23:5; Ps 89:3-4).
Born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2).
Born of a virgin (Isa 7:14).
A messenger will prepare the way for Him (Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1).
Will perform many miracles (Isa 35:5-6).
Will open the eyes of the blind (Isa 29:18).
Will speak in parables (Ps 78:2).
Will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Zech 9:9).
Will be betrayed by a friend (Ps 41:9).
His betrayal will be thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12).
We will be crucified or pierced (Psalm 22:16; Zech 12:10).
His bones will not be broken (Ps 34:20)
He will be buried with the rich (Isa 53:9).
He will be resurrected from the dead (Ps 16:10).
No man in history have been prophesied about before his birth except Jesus. The Bible prophesied about His coming at least 500 years before His actual birth. All the prophecies were fulfilled in Him. How were the prophets able to predict so accurately about the life of one Person? Who in history has fulfilled so many prophecies?
Evidence No. 6 – The Bible’s Unique Effect
The Bible is unique also in terms of its effect on individual men and on the history of nations. It is the all-time best seller, appealing both to hearts and minds, beloved by at least some in every race or nation or tribe to which it has gone, rich or poor, scholar or simple, king or commoner, men of literally every background and walk of life. No other book has ever held such universal appeal nor produced such lasting effects.
One final evidence that the Bible is true is found in the testimony of those who have believed it. Multitudes of people, past and present, have found from personal experience that its promises are true, its counsel is sound, its commands are wise, and its wonderful message of salvation meets every need for both time and eternity.
Dr Harry Ironside, a famous Bible preacher and pastor, was once challenged by Arthur Lewis, a well-known atheist and lecturer, to debate on the subject “Atheism versus Christianity.” Ironside accepted the challenge. He told Lewis, “I accept on these conditions: First, that you promise to bring with you to the platform one man who was once an outcast, a slave to sinful habits, but who heard you or some other infidel lecture on atheism, was helped by it and cast away his sins and became a new man and is today a respected member of society, all because of your unbelief. Secondly, that you agree to bring with you one woman who was once lost to all purity and goodness, but who can now testify that atheism came to her while deep in sin and implanted in her poor heart a hatred of impurity and a love of holiness causing her to become chaste and upright, all through a disbelief in the Bible.”
“Now, sir, if you will agree, I promise to be there with one hundred such men and women once just such lost souls, who heard the Gospel of the grace of God, believed it and have found new life and joy in Jesus Christ our Savior. Will you accept my terms?”
The atheist Lewis declined. He knew as well as anyone that only the Bible has the power to transform lives.
Conclusion
There is abundant evidence available in the Bible as basis for faith in God’s Word.
We do not believe the Bible blindly. The Christian faith in founded upon God’s Word which is the revelation of God. The Christian faith is rational and intelligent.
The Bible is the most remarkable book in the world. It has survived four thousand years of human history. Other ancient books have perished, but the Bible has been handed down the ages. This is because God does not want His message of love to be lost. He wants you to know that there is hope in Him if you would trust Him as your Lord and Savior.
How Do We Know the Bible is the Word of God.pdf
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