Gary and Barb Glover

1. Why We Can Trust the Bible Gary and Barb Glover

2. Overview of the Session • WEEK TITLE • 1. What the Bible Says about the Bible • 2. Manuscripts and Translations • 3. The Apocrypha • The “Lost” Books of the Bible? • and the Canon • 5. Translations, Versions and • How We Got the English Bible • 6.Modern Versions • Archaeology and the Bible • The Prophecies Are aProof • How We Really Know the Bible Is True

3. In 1993, archeologists digging at Tel Dan in the Galilee in northern Israel found a fragment of a stone inscription that clearly refers to the “house of David” and identifies David as the “king of Israel.”

4. 17 kings of Judah and Israel are mentioned in the records (in stone) by other kings and pharaohs.

5. Seal of Baruch

6. Isaiah 20:1 “In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him) and fought against Ashdod, and took it.” This is the only mention of King Sargon in the Bible, and the only one in ancient literature. His place in history was severely questioned on this account.

7. But in the years, 1842-1845, P.E. Botta, uncovered the tremendous royal palace of Sargon. Among the other things discovered was an account of the siege of Ashdod mentioned in Isaiah.

11. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

12. “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, he is the God, which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:1-3

13. “I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king. “I gathered all their former inhabitants and returned to them their habitations.”

14. “Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be 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 the first did not forsake him. For he appeared 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 from him, are not extinct to this day.”

15. There are over 39 extra-biblical sourcesthat attest to over one hundredfacts regarding the life and teachings of Jesus.

16. “. . .the physician/historian mentions xxx32countries, xxx54cities, xxxand 9 Mediterranean islands. In addition, he alludes to xxx95different people, xxx62of which are not mentioned by xxxxxxanyother New Testament writer. 27 of these are unbelievers, xxxchieflycivil or military officials.” Henry J. Cadbury, of Harvard University

17. “…[N]o ancient work affords so many tests of veracity; for no other has such numerous points of contact in all directions with contemporary history, politics. . . . J.B. Lightfoot

18. In Acts 13:7, mention is made of Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus. The governors of Cyprus were proconsuls. It specifically mentions Sergius Paulus. Thessalonica — politarchs. Ephesus — temple wardens. Malta — the first man of the island.

19. LESSON 8 The Prophecies Are A Proof The Scripture remains the primary source of authority.

20. Top 10 Psychics 3 year study 98% wrong 2% correct 6 out of the 10 were 100% wrong

21. Some famous prophecies “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

22. Some famous prophecies “Computers in the future may weigh no more that one and a half tons.” Popular Mechanics, 1949

23. Some famous prophecies “640K [of memory] should be enough for anybody.” Bill Gates

24. Fulfilled prophecy is the signature of God on the Bible

26. The Bible is 27% Prophecy Prophecy is in virtually all the books of the Bible, not just the Prophets.

27. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:9, 10

28. Four views on prophecy Conditional “if you do this I will do this, but if. . .” God makes it happen “I will do all that I please.” Trends The obvious outcome of current events God just sees the future

29. 1 Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Christ to be born in Bethlehem

30. Matthew 2:4-6 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” Christ to be born in Bethlehem 1 to 280,000

31. 2 Isaiah 50 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Christ would be spat upon and struck

32. Matthew 26:67 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?” Christ would be spat upon and struck 1 to 1,000

33. 3 Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Christ to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey

34. Matthew 21:4-7 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. Christ to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey 1 to 100

35. 4 Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. Christ to be betrayed by a friend

36. Luke 22:21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. Christ to be betrayed by a friend 1 to 1,000

37. 5 Zechariah 11:12 I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. Christ to be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

38. Matthew 26:15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. Christ to be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver 1 to 1,000

39. 6 Zechariah 11:13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter. 30 pieces of silver casted down and used to buy a potter's field

40. Matthew 27:3-10 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

41. 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” 30 pieces of silver casted down and used to buy a potter's field 1 to 100,000

42. 7 Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Although innocent, Christ kept silent when on trial

43. Mark 14:60-61 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Although innocent, Christ kept silent when on trial 1 to 1,000

44. 8 Psalm 22:16 Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. Christ crucified

45. John 19:17, 18 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Christ crucified 1 to 10,000

46. 10 28 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000