DO YOU BELIEVE THE BIBLE

Introduction: Hebrews 11: 6

A. Having Considered The Evidence, We Believe That God Exists.

B. Which Information About God Do We Believe?

C. Why Should We Believe The Bible?

Body: 2 Peter 1: 19 - 21

I. The Bible's History.

A. Its unity.

1. 66 books of different styles and subjects.

2. Written by 30 - 40 authors.

2. Written in 3 different languages.

3. Written over a period of 1500 years.

B. Its survival.

1. Nations, leaders and others have tried to destroy it.

2. It has been scrutinized more than any other book.

C. Its Influence.

1. Wherever it has become widely accepted, it has improved the lives of people.

2. It has changed many from evil to good.

D. No other book is like it.

1. It tells the whole story of its heroes.

2. It is brief in its descriptions.

II. Historical Evidence

A. Manuscripts.

1. There are at least 5,686 Greek manuscripts.

2. There are more than 19,284 manuscripts in other languages.

There are approximately 25,000 manuscripts.

Compared With Others

The New Testament is the most historically backed book of antiquity.

B. Historical Writers

1. Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny, and others mention Jesus or the Christians and their beliefs.

2. The Early "Church Fathers".

a. Evidence of the time of writing and authors of the books of the New Testament.

b. Using their writings from the 2nd and 3rd century, you can write a copy of the New Testament and only not have 11 verses.

III. Archeology

A. The Flood (Genesis 7: 17 - 24).

1. Fossils of sea creatures at the tops of mountains.

2. Many civilizations tell of a similar story (Greeks, Hindus, Chinese, Mexicans, Hawaiians, etc).

B. Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19: 24 - 30).

1. Found a location with 5 cities (four destroyed by fire, one apparently abandoned).

2. Bitumen (black, asphalt like, oil) is plentiful in that area.

3. Layers of rock have melted together.

C. Jericho (Joshua 6: 20 - 24).

1. The walls fell outward. During normal conquests, the walls were pushed inward.

2. Much of the remains are burned.

3. Valuable artifacts were taken. Personal possessions and food stores were left.

4. Houses were found between the walls in the poor section of town.

D. The Gospel of Luke.

1. References 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands.

2. Each reference is accurate.

IV. Scientific Accuracy

A. The circle of the earth = the earth is round (Isaiah 40: 22).

B. Hangs the earth on nothing = the earth is not held by any visible, physical means (Job 26: 7).

C. Describes the water cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7).

Conclusion:

A. The Bible Has Stood The Test Of Time And Intense Scrutiny.

B. Once Again It Comes Down To You. You Must Choose.

1. Believe the Bible which has been proven in all aspects.

2. Believe something else which is disproven, untested, or unproveable.