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The Authenticity of the New Testament

The Authenticity of the New Testament. Importance of Evidence. Claims that the New Testament wasn’t written for 100-200 years after Christ died. Reliability rests on how close to the actual events it was recorded Eyewitnesses are vital Authors claim to have been present

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The Authenticity of the New Testament

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  1. The Authenticity of the New Testament

  2. Importance of Evidence • Claims that the New Testament wasn’t written for 100-200 years after Christ died. • Reliability rests on how close to the actual events it was recorded • Eyewitnesses are vital • Authors claim to have been present • Acts 16:11-12; 2 Peter 1:16 -18

  3. Evidence for the early existence of the New Testament • Internal Evidence • Ending of the book of Acts • Acts 28:30-31 ends abruptly with Paul in prison awaiting trial • Luke wrote it before Paul finally appeared before Nero. • Luke & Acts were written before 63 A.D.

  4. Evidence for the early existence of the New Testament • Internal Evidence • No mention of the destruction of Jerusalem • Jesus prophesied it would take place in that generation (Mk.13:1-4,14,30) • History records its destruction in 70 A.D. • Not a single Biblical writer mentions it

  5. Evidence for the early existence of the New Testament • Papyri Fragments • Chester Beatty Papyri (200 A.D.) • Gospels, Acts, Paul’s letters, Revelation • John Rylands MSS (130 A.D.) • "Because of its early date and location (EGYPT), some distance from the traditional place of composition (ASIA MINOR), this portion of the gospel of John tends to confirm the traditional date of the composition of the gospel." GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE, Geisler & Nix

  6. Evidence for the early existence of the New Testament • Church Fathers • Epistle of Polycarp to Philippians • 120 A.D. • Quotes from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, 1 Peter and 1 John

  7. Evidence for the early existence of the New Testament • Church Fathers • Letters of Ignatius (115 A.D.) • Quotes from Matthew, John, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Timothy and Titus • Epistle of Clement to Corinthians • 95 A.D. • Quotes from 11 New Testament books

  8. Implications of the Evidence • Nelson Glueck • President of the Jewish Theological Seminary in Cincinnati • Renown Jewish Archaeologist • “In my opinion, every book of the New Testament was written between the 40s and 80s A.D.”

  9. Implications of the Evidence • W. F. Albright • Biblical Archaeologist • “We can already say emphatically that there is no longer any solid basis for dating any book of the New Testament after 80 A.D.”

  10. Implications of the Evidence • Passes the acid test of antiquity • Written in the same generation the events took place. • Circulated among the very people they spoke of while they were alive. • Giving them a chance to deny what was written • No one did!

  11. So What, if it was written early? • How do we know what we read today is even an accurate account of the original? • How do we know the Bible hasn’t been corrupted over time?

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