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Is the New Testament historically reliable?: Difference between revisions
Is the New Testament historically reliable? (view source)
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, 6 years ago→The historicity of the New Testament supports belief in the Christian faith
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Which worldview, of the many that exist today, is correct? Secular humanism? Islam? Buddhism? Hinduism? Christianity? Is there evidence that supports any of these worldviews? | Which worldview, of the many that exist today, is correct? Secular humanism? Islam? Buddhism? Hinduism? Christianity? Is there evidence that supports any of these worldviews? | ||
Many people, including some Christians, view faith in Jesus Christ as requiring “blind faith”, a faith that simply trusts without question. But the Bible supports the importance of evidential or reasonable faith, a faith that is based on evidence and logic. In John 14:11, Jesus pointed to the importance of evidence when he said, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” | Many people, including some Christians, view faith in Jesus Christ as requiring “blind faith”, a faith that simply trusts without question. But the Bible supports the importance of evidential or reasonable faith, a faith that is based on evidence and logic. In John 14:11, Jesus pointed to the importance of evidence when he said, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), John 14:11.</ref> | ||
Luke starts out his Gospel with a clear reference to the importance of evidential proof: | Luke starts out his Gospel with a clear reference to the importance of evidential proof: | ||
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. | :''Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.<ref>The New International Version, Luke 1:1–4.</ref> | ||
Luke reiterates the importance of evidence and proof in his opening statement in the Book of Acts, which he also authored: | Luke reiterates the importance of evidence and proof in his opening statement in the Book of Acts, which he also authored: | ||
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. | :''In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. <ref>The New International Version, Acts 1:1–3.</ref> | ||
The Christian faith is a reasonable, intelligent and logical faith. Paul reasoned in the synagogue on a weekly basis with Jews and Greeks who believed in the God of the Old Testament. He also debated with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens. | The Christian faith is a reasonable, intelligent and logical faith. Paul reasoned in the synagogue on a weekly basis with Jews and Greeks who believed in the God of the Old Testament.<ref>The New International Version, Acts 18:4.</ref> He also debated with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens.<ref>The New International Version, Acts 17:18.</ref> | ||
What Paul and the Gospel authors recognized was that the one thing that changes everything is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul stated that if the resurrection did not take place then he was a false witness and the Christian faith was futile. | What Paul and the Gospel authors recognized was that the one thing that changes everything is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul stated that if the resurrection did not take place then he was a false witness and the Christian faith was futile.<ref>The New International Version, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19</ref> | ||
But the Christian faith rests firmly on the eyewitness testimony of the authors of the Gospels. The hope of the Christian faith is not based on a fairy tale or a collection of myths but on the sound evidence that has stood the test of time. Christianity is not afraid of the hard questions that may be asked by the skeptic, as we have found there are solid answers to those questions. | But the Christian faith rests firmly on the eyewitness testimony of the authors of the Gospels. The hope of the Christian faith is not based on a fairy tale or a collection of myths but on the sound evidence that has stood the test of time. Christianity is not afraid of the hard questions that may be asked by the skeptic, as we have found there are solid answers to those questions. | ||