What evidence backs up the bible?

Question

I want you to think about this and draw a conclusion by citation. This will turn up the heat and allow for an open forum. If anyone throws insult I will report you.

Either than that, please have fun.

Answer 1

M-A-P-S to Guide You through Biblical Reliability

by Hank Hanegraaff





Use M-A-P-S to guide you through Biblical reliability:

Manuscripts, Archaeology, Prophecy, Statistics



Have you tried to show someone the historical reliability of the Scriptures, and not known where to start? A quick trip to your local well-stocked Christian bookstore likely will overwhelm you. Where among the dozens of impressive, comprehensive reference books should you start?



Fortunately, while there is a wealth of information available to support the reliability of Scripture, you don’t have to burn, the midnight oil to give a reasonable answer to those who ask, “How can we know the Bible is reliable?” Four basic principle chart your way to understanding basic biblical reliability.



To help you remember, I’ve developed the simple acronym “MAPS.” Remember the word MAPS and you will be able to chart Bible reliability.



Manuscripts



Manuscripts relates to the tests used to determine the reliability of the extant manuscript copies of the original documents penned by the Scripture writers (we do not possess these originals). In determining manuscript reliability, we deal with the question: How can we test to see that the text we possess in the manuscript copies is an accurate rendition of the original? There are three main manuscript tests: the Bibliographic, Eyewitness, and External (a second acronym — BEE — will help you remember these).



The bibliographic test considers the quantity of manuscripts and manuscript fragments, and also the time span between the original documents and our earliest copies. The more copies, the better able we are to work back to the original. The closer the time span between the copies and the original, the less likely it is that serious textual error would creep in. The Bible has stronger bibliographic support than any classical literature — including Homer, Tacitus, Pliny, and Aristotle.



We have more than 14,000 manuscripts and fragments of the Old Testament of three main types: (a) approximately 10,000 from the Cairo Geniza (storeroom) find of 1897, dating back as far as about AD. 800; (b) about 190 from the Dead Sea Scrolls find of 1947-1955, the oldest dating back to 250-200 B.C.; and (c) at least 4,314 assorted other copies. The short time between the original Old Testament manuscripts (completed around 400 B.C.) and the first extensive copies (about 250 B.C.) — coupled with the more than 14,000 copies that have been discovered — ensures the trustworthiness of the Old Testament text. The earliest quoted verses (Num. 6:24-26) date from 800-700 B.C.



The same is true of the New Testament text. The abundance of textual witnesses is amazing. We possess over 5,300 manuscripts or portions of the (Greek) New Testament — almost 800 copied before A.D. 1000. The time between the original composition and our earliest copies is an unbelievably short 60 years or so. The overwhelming bibliographic reliability of the Bible is clearly evident.



The eyewitness document test (“E”), sometimes referred to as the internal test, focuses on the eyewitness credentials of the authors. The Old and New Testament authors were eyewitnesses of — or interviewed eyewitnesses of — the majority of the events they described. Moses participated in and was an eyewitness of the remarkable events of the Egyptian captivity, the Exodus, the forty years in the desert, and Israel’s final encampment before entering the Promised Land. These events he chronicled in the first five books of the Old Testament.



The New Testament writers had the same eyewitness authenticity. Luke, who wrote the Books of Luke and Acts, says that he gathered eyewitness testimony and “carefully investigated everything” (Luke 1:1-3). Peter reminded his readers that the disciples “were eyewitnesses of [Jesus’] majesty” and “did not follow cleverly invented stories” (2 Pet. 1:16). Truly, the Bible affirms the eyewitness credibility of its writers.



The external evidence test looks outside the texts themselves to ascertain the historical reliability of the historical events, geographical locations, and cultural consistency of the biblical texts. Unlike writings from other world religions which make no historical references or which fabricate histories, the Bible refers to historical events and assumes its historical accuracy. The Bible is not only the inspired Word of God, it is also a history book — and the historical assertions it makes have been proven time and again.



Many of the events, people, places, and customs in the New Testament are confirmed by secular historians who were almost contemporaries with New Testament writers. Secular historians like the Jewish Josephus (before A.D. 100), the Roman Tacitus (around A.D. 120), the Roman Suetonius (A.D. 110), and the Roman governor Pliny Secundus (A.D. 100-110) make direct reference to Jesus or affirm one or more historical New Testament references. Early church leaders such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, and Clement of Rome — all writing before A.D. 250 — shed light on New Testament historical accuracy. Even skeptical historians agree that the New Testament is a remarkable historical document. Hence, it is clear that there is strong external evidence to support the Bible’s manuscript reliability.



Archaeology

Returning to our MAPS acronym, we have established ,the first principle, manuscript reliability. Let us consider our second principle, archaeological evidence. Over and over again, comprehensive field work (archaeology) and careful biblical interpretation affirms the reliability of the Bible. It is telling when a secular scholar must revise his biblical criticism in light of solid archaeological evidence.



For years critics dismissed the Book of Daniel, partly because there was no evidence that a king named Belshazzar ruled in Babylon during that time period. However, later archaeological research confirmed that the reigning monarch, Nabonidus, appointed Belshazzar as his co-regent whi1e he was away from Babylon.



One of the most well-known New Testament examples concerns the Books of Luke and Acts. A biblical skeptic, Sir William Ramsay, trained as an archaeologist and then set out to disprove the historical reliability of this portion of the New Testament. However, through his painstaking Mediterranean archaeological trips, he became converted as — one after another — of the historical statements of Luke were proved accurate. Archaeological evidence thus confirms the trustworthiness of the Bible.



Prophecy

The third principle of Bible reliability is Prophecy, or predictive ability. The Bible records predictions of events that could not be known or predicted by chance or common sense. Surprisingly, the predictive nature of many Bible passages was once a popular argument (by liberals) against the reliability of the Bible. Critics argued that the prophecies actually were written after the events and that editors had merely dressed up the Bible text to look like they contained predictions made before the events. Nothing could be further from the truth, however. The many predictions of Christ’s birth, life and death (see below) were indisputably rendered more than a century before they occurred as proven by the Dead Sea Scrolls of Isaiah and other prophetic books as well as by the Septuagint translation, all dating from earlier than 100 B.C.



Old Testament prophecies concerning the Phoenician city of Tyre were fulfilled in ancient times, including prophecies that the city would be opposed by many nations (Ezek. 26:3); its walls would be destroyed and towers broken down (26:4); and its stones, timbers, and debris would be thrown into the water (26:12). Similar prophecies were fulfilled concerning Sidon (Ezek. 28:23; Isa. 23; Jer. 27:3-6; 47:4) and Babylon (Jer. 50:13, 39; 51:26, 42-43, 58; Isa. 13:20-21).



Since Christ is the culminating theme of the Old Testament and the Living Word of the New Testament, it should not surprise us that prophecies regarding Him outnumber any others. Many of these prophecies would have been impossible for Jesus to deliberately conspire to fulfill — such as His descent from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:3; 17:19; Num. 24:21-24); His birth in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2); His crucifixion with criminals (Isa. 53:12); the piercing of His hands and feet at the crucifixion (Ps. 22:16); the soldiers’ gambling for His clothes (Ps. 22:18); the piercing of His side and the fact that His bones were not broken at His death (Zech. 12:10; Ps. 34:20); and His burial among the rich (Isa. 53:9). Jesus also predicted His own death and resurrection (John 2:19-22). Predictive Prophecy is a principle of Bible reliability that often reaches even the hard-boiled skeptic!







Statistics

Our fourth MAPS principle works well with predictive prophecy, because it is Statistically preposterous that any or all of the Bible’s very specific, detailed prophecies could have been fulfilled through chance, good guessing, or deliberate deceit. When you look at some of the improbable prophecies of the Old and New Testaments, it seems incredible that skeptics — knowing the authenticity and historicity of the texts — could reject the statistical verdict: the Bible is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God, just as Scripture predicted many times and in many ways.



The Bible was written over a span of 1500 years by forty different human authors in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), on hundreds of subjects. And yet there is one consistent, noncontradictory theme that runs through it all: God’s redemption of humankind. Clearly, Statistical probability is a powerful indicator of the trustworthiness of Scripture.



The next time someone denies the reliability of Scripture, just remember the acronym MAPS, and you will be equipped to give an answer and a reason for the hope that lies within you (1 Pet. 3:15). Manuscripts, Archaeology, Prophecy, and Statistics not only chart a secure course on the turnpikes of skepticism but also demonstrate definitively that the Bible is indeed divine rather than human in origin.

Answer 2

I don't think you're understanding this concept of "evidence". What you've presented here is a story pointed out some points that people could potentially think were internal inconsistencies. The best you can do with this approach (and a lot more work) is show that your story is probably internally consistent. This doesn't mean it's true, of course! It's very, very easy to come up with false, internally consistent stories. For example, I may believe that invisible elves take my keys from time to time. It's such a simple story, and there's nothing inherently contradictory about invisible elves existing, so there's going to be no contradiction. However, it's not true! "God's righteous judgement is his evidence if you bother to read what i wrote" I did read what you wrote, and I did pick that up. Do you also know how circular your evidence is? Your evidence for the existence of your god is his "righteous judgement". If we thought his righteous judgement existed, don't you think we wouldn't be atheists? "were is the arguement against what i wrote? because what i say is historical accurate and the prophecy came true" Well, I can't poke holes in your story because I don't see any. What holes can you poke in mine about the elves? You could say that elves don't exist, but then again, I could say the same thing about your god. Like I said, you're just coming up with an internally consistent story. But, I'm trying to tell you that this is not evidence. "Are your hearts so hard you won't even look at the evidence" What do hearts have to do with evidence? You examine evidence with your mind. It shouldn't be an emotional or spiritual response; reason is very much intellectual. Stories are still not evidence, even if you try to insult our hearts.

Answer 3

What I have observed so far is that love conquers all that it's opposite fails at if not sooner then later when truth surfaces. Today relativism has clouded the meanings of love and hatred...right and wrong. It's like hitting someone over the head and ordering them not to feel it or else. People need to learn to say OR ELSE WHAT?

Love is about dealing, sometimes debating, standing up for positive outcome, not being lazy, honest, use of wisdom, kind, if need be stern, and wise enough to accept, etc. It definately doesn't stand for running off and hiding from taking responsibility for wrong or taking responsibility to stand up for what is right. It definately doesn't mean every situation is tainted with hatred or that everything will be perfect. I can't find anything in the Bible that states people are to are to allow themselves to be weakened by those who fantasize about being worshiped.

John 14:6 proves that Jesus (God in the flesh) was not controlling and has left proof in the Word which is proof enough for me that love is grounded.

Answer 4

I will gladly send you a book called "The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell if you e-mail me.

There is MUCH evidence for the bible.

McDowell started out to compile the evidence against the bible and found out that the evidence was overwhelmingly in favor of it.

Answer 5

The Bible's accuracy and reliability have been proved and verified over and over again by archaeological finds produced by both believing and no believing scholars and scientists. This included verification for numerous customs, places, names, and events mentioned in the Bible.
One among many examples is the fact that for many years the existence of the Hittites (a powerful people who lived during the time of Abraham) was questioned because no archaeological digs had uncovered anything about them. Critics claimed the Hittites were pure myth. But today the critics are silenced. Abundant archaeological evidence for the existence of the Hittites during the time of Abraham has been uncovered.
Bible scholar Donald J. Wiseman notes, "The geography of Bible lands and visible remains of antiquity were gradually recorded until today more than 23,000 sites within this region and dating to Old Testament times, in their broadest sense, have been located." Nelson Glueck, a specialist in ancient literature, did an exhaustive study and concluded: "It can be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverter a biblical reference." Well-known scholar William F. Albright, following a comprehensive studies, wrote: "Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition of the value of the Bible as a source of History."

There are more than 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies of the New Testament. These manuscript copies are very ancient and they are available for inspection NOW. there are also some 86,000 quotations from the early church fathers and several thousand lectionaries (church-service books containing Scripture quotations used in the early centuries of Christianity). In fact, there are enough quotations from the early church fathers that even if we did not have a single copy of the Bible, scholars could still reconstruct all but 11 verses of the entire New Testament from material written within 150 to 200 years from the time of Christ. Bottom line: The New Testament has an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting its reliability.

Answer 6

1. Written History (See Archko Volume; also, Chinese language has the story of Genesis embedded in it)
2. Prophecy
3. Archaology
4. Its unity and cohesion (66 books written by 45 different authors, most of whom had never met each other, over a period of 1500 years, and yet it is one cohesive unit.)

There are 4 more evidences, but I can't recall at the moment; I'll have to get back to you.

Answer 7

It's backed up historically, archaeologically, geographically and scientifically. There are also incredible mathematical codes in it that no man or machine could ever duplicate. One such book to find some of this proof is "The Signature of God" by Grant Jeffrey. Peace :-)

Answer 8

That's a difficult question because certain historical facts stated in the bible obviously did happen but not always in the way the bible claims. The walls of Jericho for example did collapse in the Bronze age but only because of seismic activity not Israelite trumpets.

Answer 9

WORLD HISTORY OF EGYPT EMPIRE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD

Abraham was a Hebrew Gen.12:4; age 75 and Gen.12:10; He went down into Egypt Empire #1 of the world, 427 years after the flood.
Abraham is given the Promised Land covenant that generation four will be heir to all of the land of Canaan, the land of the Genesis chapter 14 land pirates. Abraham died 527 Gen.25:7,9; after the flood, Shem had died 502 Gen.11:10,11; and Noah had died 350 Gen. 9:28,29;
Isaac the son of Abraham died 632 after the flood. Gen.21:5 born Gen.35:28,29 died.
His son Jacob is in Egypt Empire #1 at age 130 and 642 years after the flood with all 70 of his family members Gen.47:9,11,28 [ Joseph his 11th son is governor of Egypt by a miracle ]; Joseph dies 712 after the flood Gen.50:26 to end the book of Genesis.
So 777 years after the flood, Moses is born in Egypt Empire #1.
Exo.7:7; 12:40.41 [ 430 years ]; Gal.3:16-18 430 years after Abraham at 427 was in Egypt, at 857 years after the flood, they exit Egypt Empire #1. Assyria Empire #2,
Babylon Empire #3, Promised Land destroyed, no kings any more, the bible people are in the midst of these Empires, Cyrus of the Medes and Persians of Empire #4 has the Promised Land rebuilt.
At 1110 years O.T. books of 39, done 443 before Christ. Greece Empire #5 is from 336 before Christ, Christ Jesus is son Number 62 in genealogy of Matt.1:1-17; born in Roman Empire #6, N.T. book of 27 done 50 to 100 years after Christ.
The end of world Empire #7, means the world has had the bible in circulation over 300 years to be an excepted translation by law of man and God, marks end of world.
Dan.8:12-14 [ 2300 after Babylon Empire #3 ends king, king Jesus is next, plus 300 years is 2600 after Babylon Empire #3 ]; World is 2613 years after Babylon Empire #3.

Answer 10

The parting of the red sea was proven. I'm not gonna waist my time searching through articles on the internet to find it thou.

Answer 11

Evidence and faith are not compatible. The bible is based on the later.