The Truthfulness of the
Eyewitness Accounts as
Presented in the Bible
By W. R. Miller
In Chinese
A
religion that claims to be true must be based upon truth.
Christianity
not only claims to be true, it claims to be based upon actual
historical
events. For Christianity to be true, it must be based
upon actual
historical events.
These
events are chronicled in the Bible, a collection of over 60 documents
spanning
over 1,500 years, written by over 40 authors including shepherds and
kings,
fishermen and doctors, soldiers and lawyers. They all testified
of their
experiences with the supreme Creator of the universe, and how, even
today, one
can have a relationship with the Creator.
For
those willing to investigate their testimonies, the following questions
arise: Did the Prophets and the Apostles report their experiences
accurately, or were they mistaken, or did they want to mislead their
readers? How can we accept their testimony as true? Why
should we
trust them?
Skeptics
contend, “You can’t quote the Bible to prove the Bible. That’s
circular
reasoning!”
Which is like saying, “You can’t quote an encyclopedia to prove an encyclopedia. That’s circular reasoning!”
Webster’s
College Dictionary defines “encyclopedia” as “n. a book or set of
books
containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical
arrangement,
covering all branches of knowledge or all aspects of one
subject.”
Encyclopedias contain articles written by multiple authors, purporting
information that can be verified.
Webster’s
College Dictionary defines “Bible” as “n. 1. The collection of
sacred
writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New
Testaments.”
That’s
right. Just like an encyclopedia, the Bible is a set of books, of
accounts written by multiple authors, purporting information that could
be
verified. How so? That is what this essay will demonstrate.
The
books of the Bible were written by over 40 independent sources, which
could be
verified, or disqualified, by contemporaries with the means, motive,
and
opportunity to do so. When we study the books of the Bible,
we
should apply the same standards as we would any historical document.
“All Christianity asks of men on this subject, is that they would be consistent with themselves; that they would treat the evidence of other things; and that they would try and judge its actors and witnesses, as they deal with their fellow men, when testifying to human affairs and actions, in human tribunals,” writes Simon Greenleaf, one of the founders of Harvard Law School. “Let the witnesses be compared with themselves, with each other, and with surrounding facts and circumstances; and let their testimony be sifted, as if were given in a court of justice, on the side of the adverse party, the witness being subjected to a rigorous cross-examination.” [1]
The
writers of the Biblical accounts invited critical analysis, as revealed
in 1
Thessalonians
This
essay isn’t a philosophical discussion. This is an examination of
the
historical record and whether or not it’s valid. Keep in mind
that, while
the evangelists professed the truth, they also reported historical
facts.
So while the Bible addresses philosophical issues, it also reports
facts which,
by definition, are synonymous with truth.
Webster’s
College Dictionary:
True: “adj. 1. Being in accordance with the actual state or conditions; conforming to reality or fact: a true story. 2. Real; genuine; authentic: true gold. 3. Sincere: not deceitful: a true interest in others. 4. Loyal; faithful; steadfast: a true friend. 5. Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character: the true meaning of his statement. 6. Conforming to or consistent with a standard, pattern, etc.: a true copy. 7. Exact; precise; accurate, correct: a true balance. 8. Such as it should be; proper: to arrange things in their true order. 9. Properly so called; rightly answering to a description: true statesmanship. 10. Legitimate or rightful: the true heir. 11. Reliable, unfailing, or sure: a true sign. 12. Exactly or accurately shaped, formed, fitted, or placed, as a surface or instrument. 13. Honest; honorable; upright. 14. Conforming to the type, structural standards, or norm of a particular group: The lion is a true cat.”
Truth: “n. 1. The true or actual state of a matter: to tell the truth. 2. Conformity with fact or reality; verity: to check the truth of a statement. 3. A verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths. 4. The state or character of being true. 5. Actuality or actual existence. 6. An obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude. 7. Honesty; integrity; truthfulness. 8. (often cap.) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience. 9. Agreement with a standard or original. 10. Accuracy, as of position or adjustment.”
Fact: “n. 1. Something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact. 2. Something known to exist or to have happened. 3. A truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true: scientific facts about plant growth. 4. Something said to be true or supposed to have happened. 5. An actual or alleged event or circumstance, as distinguished from its legal effect or consequence.” (Bold emphasis mine.)
This
essay assumes the Scriptures we have are reliable copies of the
originals. For those who wish to explore why the copies
we have
are reliable, check out the articles at the following links:
Are the Biblical Documents Reliable? by Jimmy Williams
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bib-docu.html
The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part One
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC0802W2.htm
The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part Two
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC0902W2.htm
The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part Three
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC1002W2.htm
The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part Four
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC1102W2.htm
Textual Trysts: The Textual Reliability of the New Testament
http://www.tektonics.org/lp/nttextcrit.html
Professor Greenleaf
states, “In examining the evidence of
the Christian religion, it is essential to the discovery of truth that
we bring
to the investigation a mind freed, as far as possible, from
existing
prejudice, and open to conviction. There should be a readiness,
on our
part, to investigate with candor to follow the truth wherever it may
lead us,
and to submit, without reserve or objection, to all the teachings of
this
religion, if it be found to be of divine origin.” [2]
So,
what proof is there that the writers of the Bible were trustworthy, and
what
they reported is accurate and true? Following the outline, each
heading
will be demonstrated by a list of Scriptures. In this manner we
let the
eyewitnesses of the events speak for themselves.
Outline
Introduction: The
Prophets and the Apostles.
A. The
prophets and the apostles knew the law
regarding false witness.
B. The
prophets and the apostles knew the
consequences for disobeying the law.
C. The
prophets and the apostles knew the
rewards for obeying the law.
D. The
prophets and the apostles knew God
Himself was a witness to their actions.
E. The
prophets and the apostles appealed to
reason.
F. The
prophets and the apostles appealed to the
truth.
G. The
prophets and the apostles appealed to the
truthfulness of their testimony as eyewitness accounts.
H. The
prophets and the apostles risked their
lives proclaiming the truth.
II. Divine
Confirmation.
A. God
ordained the authority of the prophets and the apostles.
B. Jesus
confirmed authority to the prophets and the apostles.
C. The
Holy Spirit confirmed authority to the prophets and the apostles.
III. Confirmation
by Miracles.
A. The
truthfulness of the prophets and the
apostles were confirmed by supernatural miracles.
B. The
prophets and apostles warned of
counterfeits, and encouraged testing.
IV. Legal
Confirmation.
A. The
testimony of the prophets and the
apostles was confirmed by other prophets and apostles.
B. Prophets
confirmed Mosaic authorship of the
Law.
C. Apostles
confirmed Law and the Prophets.
D. The
Rulers of the People and the Synagogue
confirmed the Law and the Prophets.
E. The
People confirmed the Law and the Prophets.
F. Jesus
confirmed the Law and the Prophets.
1. Jesus believed all the Hebrew
Scriptures to be authoritative.
2. Jesus denounced those who
were unfamiliar with the Hebrew Scriptures.
3. Jesus believed the Scriptures
were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
4. Jesus believed the Hebrew
Scriptures were prophetic.
5. Jesus referred to the Hebrew
Scriptures as the Word of God.
6. Jesus quoted from each of the
divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures.
a. The Law.
b. The Prophets.
c. The Writings.
7. Jesus acknowledged the
Passover seder, and the covenant God made with
G. Jude
confirmed 2 Peter as authoritative.
H. Peter
denounced false prophets and equated
Paul’s epistles with Scripture.
I.
Paul confirmed Luke’s testimony as Scripture.
J. Paul
acknowledged Luke as an Eyewitness.
K. Paul
acknowledged other apostles and
prophets.
L. Paul
acknowledged as an apostle.
1. Acknowledgement by the other apostles.
2. Acknowledgement by God in the use of miracles.
M. As an Apostle, Paul had authority.
N. Paul
claimed all Scripture is God-breathed.
O. The
prophets and the apostles regarded Scripture as the Word of God.
P. What
God says, the Bible says. What the
Bible says, God says.
A. Prophets
confirmed specific historical events
and persons in the Hebrew Scriptures.
1. The
Creation of
2.
3.
Adam’s sin acknowledged.
4.
Noah.
5. God
grants the
6.
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.
7. The sin and destruction of
8. Jacob wrestles with God.
9. Hosea refers to Jacob and
Rachel and Moses.
10. Jacob buys land for 100
pieces of silver.
11. The bones of Joseph.
12. Dividing the
13. Daniel refers to Moses.
14. Micah refers to Moses,
Aaron, Miriam.
15. Micah refers to Balaam,
Balak.
16. Observance of the Passover.
17. Mosaic legislation on
carrying the Ark of the Covenant with poles.
18. Independent references to manna.
19. Samuel recalls the Amakite
treachery.
20. Amos refers to the
Israelites wandering in the wilderness and the Amorites.
21. The Bronze Serpent.
22. Jephthah, a Hebrew judge,
recalls the Exodus and the conflict of Ammon.
23. Rahab the harlot.
24. Joshua refers to the Torah /
Pentateuch.
25. Nehemiah quotes from
Deuteronomy.
26.
27. Fulfillment of 1 Kings
13:31.
28. Jeroboam’s Golden Calves.
29. Elijah is acknowledged.
30. Prophecy of the Exile from
the books of Moses.
31. Jonah the Prophet.
32. Historical records from Adam
to David acknowledged.
33. The genealogy of Ruth
acknowledged.
34. God’s judgment upon
35. Independent references to
the Canaanite god Baal.
36. Daniel refers to Jeremiah
the Prophet.
37. Daniel endorses Scripture.
38. Ezekiel refers to Noah,
Daniel and Job.
39. The prophecy of Micah.
B. Jesus
confirmed specific historical events
and persons in the Hebrew Scriptures.
1. The
creation of Adam and Eve.
2.
Jesus acknowledged the concept of marriage.
3.
Noah and the Genesis Flood.
4. The
Patriarchs.
5.
6.
Moses and the burning bush.
7.
David eating the showbread.
8. The
Queen of
9. The
Exodus.
10.
11.
Elijah, Elisha, the widow of
12.
Jonah the Prophet, The great fish,
13.
The murders of Abel and Zechariah.
14.
Daniel the Prophet.
15.
Jesus accepted prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures.
C. Matthew
confirmed historical events and
people from the Hebrew Scriptures.
D. Luke
confirmed historical events and people
from the Hebrew Scriptures.
E. John
confirmed historical events and people
from the Hebrew Scriptures.
F. Stephen
confirmed historical events and
people from the Hebrew Scriptures.
G. Peter
confirmed historical events and people
from the Hebrew Scriptures.
H. Paul
confirmed historical events and people
from the Hebrew Scriptures.
I. The
writer of Hebrews confirmed historical
events and people from the Hebrew Scriptures.
J. James
confirmed historical events and people
from the Hebrew Scriptures.
K. Jude
confirmed historical events and people
from the Hebrew Scriptures.
L. Jesus,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, Peter,
James, John confirmed afterlife appearances of Moses and Elijah.
M. Paul
confirmed the life and ministry of Jesus
Christ.
1.
Paul confirmed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2.
Paul confirmed the Lord’s Supper.
3.
Paul referred to Jesus’ prohibition of divorce and remarriage.
4.
Paul proclaimed the resurrected Jesus Christ.
5.
Paul acknowledged the power of Jesus Christ.
6.
Paul confirmed Jesus’ prophecy regarding His return.
7.
Paul acknowledged the gospel of Jesus Christ.
8.
Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
9.
Paul preached the same doctrine of salvation as Jesus and the
other Apostles.
a.
Jesus.
b.
Other Apostles.
c.
Paul.
d. Results.
10.
Paul urged his readers to follow the example of Christ.
a.
Paul affirmed the beatitudes.
b.
Service to others.
c.
Other examples.
B. Jesus
confirmed prophecies concerning Himself.
C. Matthew
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
D. Mark
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
E. Luke
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
F. John
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
G. Philip
confirmed prophecies about Jesus.
H. Apollos
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
I. Paul
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
J. Paul
confirmed prophecies of the Holy Spirit.
K. Writer
of Hebrews confirmed prophecies of
Jesus.
L. Peter
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
M. James
confirmed prophecies concerning Jesus.
N. Other
eyewitness accounts concerning Jesus
and prophecy.
VII. Confirmation
by Nonbelievers and Hostile Eyewitnesses.
A. Satan
cited Scripture as authoritative.
1. The
population of the children of
2.
Miraculous feeding of over 100 people.
3.
Miraculous feeding of over 5,000 people, plus healings.
4.
Followed by the miraculous feeding of over 4000 people, plus
healings.
5.
Regional healings involving great multitudes.
6.
Jesus exorcises a man with an unclean demon, spreading fame.
7. A
great multitude witnesses the healing of the epileptic.
8.
Acknowledgement of Lazarus’ resurrection; a great multitude
praises Jesus when He enters
9.
Approximately 120 disciples, post-Resurrection.
10.
Approximately 3000 people become Christians,
post-Resurrection.
11.
Over 5000 people become Christians, post-Resurrection.
12.
The ministry of Paul and Barnabas adds multitudes of
believers.
13.
Over 500 witnesses to the resurrected Christ.
1. Pharoah
Siamon (Unnamed in 1 Kings) and Queen
Tahpenes. Contemporary of King Solomon.
2. Pharoah
Shesonk I/Shishak. Contemporary of
King Rehoboam.
3.
Pharoah Shabaka (Unnamed in 2 Kings). Contemporary
of King Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, king of
4.
Tirhakah, King of
5.
Pharoah So. Contemporary of Ahaz king of Judah and
Hoshea, son of Elah and king of
6.
Pharoah Necho II. Contemporary of Josiah, king of
Judah, Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of
Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and the prophet Jeremiah.
7.
Pharoah Apries/Hophra. Contemporary of Zedekiah,
king of
8.
Naaman, Syrian commander.
9.
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Neo-Babylonian Empire (605 – 562
B.C.) Contemporary of King Zedekiah, Pharaoh Necho,
Jehoiachin, and
the prophets Jeremiah and Daniel.
10. Herod
Antipas the tetrarch, ruler of
11.
The Jewish Authorities.
12.
Nicodemus.
13.
Annas, the High Priest.
14.
Gamaliel I.
15.
Caiaphas, the High Priest.
16.
Pontius Pilate, Governor of
17.
Saul/Paul of
18.
Proconsul Sergius Paulus.
19.
Porcius Festus.
20.
King Herod Agrippa II.
VIII. Confirmation
of Objective Testimony.
A. The
prophets and the apostles included
testimony that indicated their own sinfulness and skepticism.
1. Adam.
2. Abram.
3. Moses.
4. Samson.
5. David,
King of
6. Solomon,
King of
7. Disobedient
prophets.
8. Elisha,
the prophet.
9. Jeremiah,
the prophet.
10. John the
baptizer.
11. The
disciples of Jesus Christ.
a. The
disciples testify of their own lack of
knowledge and understanding.
b. Fear,
lack of faith.
c. Lack
of faith.
d. Pettiness.
e. Judgmental.
f. Fallible.
g. Weak.
h. Disloyal.
(I.
Judas betrayed Jesus Christ.
(II.
The disciples abandoned Jesus Christ.
(III.
Peter denied Jesus Christ.
i. The
disciples were skeptical of Christ’s
resurrection.
B. The
prophets and the apostles testified of
those who disbelieved in spite of the miracles.
C. The
prophets and the apostles testified of
those who disbelieved in spite of the message.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the testimony of the prophets and
the apostles is true.
Acceptable in a Court
of Law: The Eyewitness Testimony of the Evangelists
A. Are the testimonies biased evidence?
B. Were the Scriptures deliberately altered to fit prophecies?
Objections to Truth
A.
Was there intent to deceive?
B.
Was the Gospel incomplete or not fully revealed?
Affirmation of the
Apostles
A. Jesus gave them understanding in matters of doctrine and
fulfillment
of prophecy.
B.
The Holy Spirit gave them understanding in matters of doctrine
and
prophecy.
Therefore, the
testimony of the prophets and the apostles is true.
The Bible is a reliable and trustworthy account of historical events, of God’s interaction with mankind, of mankind’s depravity apart from God, and how God’s love can reconcile the individual through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Because we can trust The Bible, we can trust what The Bible says about God. Through its collective accounts, The Bible declares itself to be the Word of God. As the Word of God, it is authoritative.
Because we can trust The Bible, we can trust what The Bible says about Jesus Christ. From the testimony of the eyewitnesses, Jesus Christ declared Himself to be the Son of God. As the Son of God, He is authoritative.
Because we can trust The Bible, we can trust what The Bible says about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the testimony of the eyewitnesses, Jesus conquered death and proved he was the Son of God. As the Son of God, we can trust Him.
Because we can trust Jesus Christ, we can trust the gift of salvation the Jesus offers.
For whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16.)
You can trust Jesus Christ, and you can trust that He loves you very much.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:13.)
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
All Have Sinned
Romans 3:9-26
9 What then? Are we better than they?
Not at all.
For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all
under
sin.
10As it is written:
“There is none righteous,
no, not
one;
11There is none
who
understands;
There is none who seeks
after God.
12They have all
turned
aside;
They have together become
unprofitable;
There is none who does good,
no, not
one.” [Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes
13”Their throat
is an
open tomb;
With their tongues they have
practiced deceit”; [Psalm 5:9]
“The poison of asps is under
their
lips”; [Psalm 5:9]
14”Whose mouth is
full of
cursing and bitterness.” [Psalm 10:7]
15”Their feet are
swift
to shed blood;
16Destruction and
misery
are in their ways;
17And the way of
peace
they have not known.” [Isaiah 59:7, 8]
18”There is no
fear of
God before their eyes.” [Psalm 36:1]
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those
who are
under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may
become
guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law no
flesh will
be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is
revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the
righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all [NU-Text omits and on all] who believe. For there is no
difference; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of
God, 24being justified freely by His grace through the
redemption
that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God set forth as a
propitiation by
His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in
His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He
might be
just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 5:1-21
1 Therefore, having been justified by
faith, we
have [Another ancient reading is, let
us have
peace] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through
whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but
we also
glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4and
perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does
not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time
Christ died
for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one
die; yet
perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But
God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners,
Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been
justified by
His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10For
if when
we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,
much
more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And
not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus
Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,
and
death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all
sinned--
13(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed
when
there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses,
even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the
transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15But
the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense
many
died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one
Man,
Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16And the gift is not like
that
which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from
one
offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from
many
offenses resulted in justification. 17For if by the one
man’s
offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive
abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the
One,
Jesus Christ.)
18Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to
all men,
resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the
free
gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19For
as
by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s
obedience many will be made righteous.
20Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
But where
sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21so that as sin
reigned in
death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life
through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Cf. Genesis 3:1-19.
For as in Adam
all die, even so
in Christ all shall be made
alive.
Acceptable
in a Court of Law: The Eyewitness Testimony of the Evangelists
Are
the New Testament documents acceptable as evidence in a modern court of
law? This was a question examined by Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853),
one of the greatest authorities on common-law evidence in Western
history.
Greenleaf authored the three-volume text, A
Treatise on the Law of Evidence (1842), which, according to Dr.
Wilbur
Smith “is still considered the greatest single authority on evidence in
the
entire literature on legal procedure.” (In Wilbur M. Smith, Therefore
Stand:
Christian Apologetics (
The London Law Journal wrote of Greenleaf
in 1874, “It
is no mean honor to
Further, “Dr. Simon Greenleaf was one of the
greatest legal
minds we have had in this country. He was the famous Royal Professor of
Law at
Greenleaf wrote The Testimony of the Evangelists Examined by the Rules of Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice, a volume in which he examined the legal value of the apostles’ testimony to the resurrection of Christ. He observed that it was impossible that the apostles “could have persisted in affirming the truths they had narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact.”
Greenleaf concluded that the resurrection of Christ was one of the best supported events in history, according to the laws of legal evidence administered in courts of justice.
His treatise is available online – though without
the
footnotes – at http://www.bibleteacher.org/sgtestimony.htm,
http://www.myfortress.org/simongreenleaf.html,
or http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/greenleaf.html
The Testimony of the Evangelists Examined by the
Rules of Evidence Administered in Courts of Justice was recently
published
in its entirety by Kregel Classics,
What do other legal
authorities think of the
Resurrection? Dr. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon discovered the
following:
Lord Darling, a former Lord Chief Justice in
John Singleton Copley (Lord Lyndhurst, 1772-1863)
is
recognized as one of the greatest legal minds in British history. He
was Solicitor General of the British
government,
Attorney General of Great Britain, three times the High Chancellor of
England and elected High
Steward of the
Hugo Grotius was a noted “jurist and scholar whose
works are
of fundamental importance in international law,” according to the Encyclopedia
Britannica.
He wrote
Latin elegies at the age of eight and entered
J. N. D. Anderson, in the words of Armand Nicholi
of the
Sir Edward Clark, K.C., observes: “As
a lawyer, I have made a
prolonged study of the evidences for the events of the first Easter
day. To me the evidence is
conclusive,
and over and over again in the High Court I have secured the verdict on
evidence not nearly so
compelling.
Inference follows on evidence, and a truthful witness is always artless
and disdains effect. The
gospel
evidence
for the resurrection is of this class, and as a lawyer I accept it
unreservedly as a testimony of
truthful men to
facts they were able to substantiate.” (In John Stott, Basic
Christianity (London: InterVarsity
Fellowship,
1969), p. 47.)
Irwin H. Linton was a
Examines the Bible,
he challenges his fellow lawyers “by every acid test known to the
law…to
examine the case for the Bible just as they would any important matter
submitted to their professional attention by a client….” (Irwin H.
Linton, A
Lawyer Examines the Bible: A Defense of the Christian Faith (
He believes that the evidence for Christianity is “overwhelming” and that at least “three independent and converging lines of proof,” each of which “is conclusive in itself,” establish the truth of the Christian faith. (ibid., p. 192.)
Linton observed that “the logical, historical…proofs of…Christianity are so indisputable that I have found them to arrest the surprised attention of just about every man to whom I have presented them….” (ibid., p. 120.) He further argues the Resurrection “is not only so established that the greatest lawyers have declared it to be the best proved fact of all history, but it is so supported that it is difficult to conceive of any method or line of proof that it lacks which would make [it] more certain.” (ibid., p. 50.)
And that, even among lawyers, “he who does not accept wholeheartedly the evangelical, conservative belief in
Christ and the Scriptures has never read, has forgotten, or never been able to weigh--and certainly is utterly
unable to refute--the irresistible force of the cumulative evidence upon which such faith rests….” (ibid., p.
45, cf., pp. 16-17.)
He concluded the claims of Christian faith are so well established by such a variety of independent and converging proofs that “it has been said again and again by great lawyers that they cannot but be regarded as proved under the strictest rules of evidence used in the highest American and English courts.” (ibid., p. 16.)
From “The Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Part 2: Could the Evidence Stand Cross-Examination in a Modern Court of Law?” by Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon, available online at:
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/apologetics/AP0302W3.htm
See also
Chuck D. “Holy Hearsay! A Pushback to Skeptics Who Use the ‘Hearsay’ Argument”
http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hearsay.html
Glenn Miller. “Question...How does the memory research of Elizabeth Loftus on eyewitness testimony affect the credibility of NT documents?”
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/loftus.html
The Historical Resurrection of Jesus Christ,
http://hometown.aol.com/Summersmr/Resurrection.html
Donald L Hudgel. “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Is it a Fact?”
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/resurct1.html
A. Are the
testimonies biased evidence?
Glenn Miller. “New Testament Bias,”
http://www.Christian-thinktank.com/nuhbias.html
Glenn Miller. “On Alleged ‘Creativity’ in the Early Church,”
http://www.Christian-thinktank.com/stil21.html
Glenn Miller. “Did the NT Writers Just “Rip Off” OT Stories?”
http://www.Christian-thinktank.com/qotripoff.html
Glenn Miller. “Did the Christians just OUTLIVE those who ‘knew better and were silent’?”
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qconspr.html
B. Were
the Scriptures deliberately altered to
fit prophecies?
Glenn Miller. Micah 5.2: The
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/fabprof3.html
Glenn Miller. Does Micah 5 speak about the birth-place of the Messiah, or only His birth-family? http://www.christian-thinktank.com/micah5.html
The
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/q1208/point1.html
http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/bethlehem.htm
Was Matthew wrong when
he thought
that Micah meant the town of
http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/q35.htm
The Messiah Pages: Everything you wanted to know about the Messiah but felt too embarrassed to ask.
http://www.shalom.org.uk/Messiah/Messiah_pages.htm
“Did the Messianic Jewish Believers use the OT deceitfully or ignorantly in the New Testament?”
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/baduseot.html
“Tis the Season to be Grouchy,”
http://www.tektonics.org/qt/singert01.html
Appendix 3: Objections to Truth
A.
Was there intent to deceive?
Skeptics point to the following verses in an attempt to indicate the Apostle Paul’s lack of integrity. The questions then arise: Why would he knowingly violate the law (The Ninth Commandment), knowing the punishment for disobedience, and the judgement of God and his fellow apostles? The answer, of course, is that when presenting the gospel message, Paul told the truth.
Responses
by J. P. Holding follow each verse cited in contention:
20and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, [NU-Text adds though not being myself under the law] that I might win those who are under the law; 21to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, [NU-Text reads God's law] but under law toward Christ [NU-Text reads Christ's law]), that I might win those who are without law; 22to the weak I became as [NU-Text omits as] weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
J.
P. Holding: “Is Paul being a chameleon and a charlatan? No
more so
than the teacher who learns the dialect of a student in order to be
more
effective teachers to them. Is it being a “chameleon” and being
“opportunistic”
to absorb local customs and behaviors for the sake of viable
communication? Not
at all. This was especially so in the ancient world. As Malina and
Neyrey note
in Portraits of Paul, it was natural and expected for persons
to submit
themselves to and for the good of the group by meeting their
expectations for
behavior . The “chameleon” insult is a product of anachronism by
a
Western mindset and in no way reflects any idea that Paul would lie or
make up
stories.
2. Romans
3:7
7For if the
truth of God has increased through my
lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
J.
P. Holding: “Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances
God’s
truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a
sinner?”“
This is a verse I have seen skeptics quote time and time again and
argue as
Smith has, that it means that “Paul’s contempt for reason is
further
illustrated by his willingness to deceive if it will hasten the spread
of
Christianity.” Okay, Skeptics, I give up. How do you folks get this out
of this
verse? Paul is in the middle of an extended “diatribe” with an imagined
opponent, and is here presenting an argument he supposes might be made
in light
of his previous ones. I don’t see any contempt for reason, or
willingness
to deceive. One of you fellows out there want to provide a detailed
exegesis,
please? (No takers yet, and it’s been years.)”
3. Philippians 1:18
18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
J.
P. Holding: “A Jewish anti-missionary site saw some alleged
significance
here thinking that they could prove Paul a liar, but the word
“pretence” here
is prophasis, which means an outward showing. It does not
reflect lies
in content, but lies in motive, and that is what Paul accuses opponents
of his
of doing, not himself--just as you may get a true Gospel message
unwittingly from a charlatan. Is eternal life not more of a concern
than the
bad habits of the preacher?”
4.
Jeremiah 8:8
8 “How can you say, ‘We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us’? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood.
J.
P. Holding: “This verse is often abused
by Muslims (and others) to suggest that the OT text was tampered with.
See
answers off-site here,
here,
and here.”
5. Jeremiah 14:14
14And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.
W. R. Miller: How do we know when a
prophet is telling a
lie? When the lie is exposed by other
prophets or apostles, or by the Scriptures, or by God Himself. See
6. Jeremiah
23:31
31”Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the LORD, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’
and
7. Jeremiah
23:36
36And the oracle of the LORD you shall mention no more. For every man's word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.
W.
R. Miller: Here the Lord is speaking of false prophets, as one can see from
reading the whole of Jeremiah 23, in the context of the entire chapter:
http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=JER+23&language=english&version=NKJV&showfn=on&showxref=on
Did
the prophets and the apostles distort the Hebrew Scriptures to create a
semblance of fulfillment? Did they wantonly violate the Ninth
Commandment? The following online essays address the specific
charges:
“The New Testament twists and mistranslates the Hebrew Bible.”
Did the Messianic Jewish Believers Use the Old Testament Deceitfully or Ignorantly in the New Testament?
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/baduseot.html
Three “Weird” Fulfillments in Matthew
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/fabrach.html
The Infancy Events of Matthew 2
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/ds/q1208/point4.html
“The so-called messianic prophecies are in the past tense; they are not about the future Messiah at all.”
Are the Messianic Prophecies in the Past Tense?
http://www.jewsforjesus.org/answers/qa/HebrewTenses.htm
“The genealogies of Jesus show that he can’t be the Messiah”
The Genealogy of the Messiah
http://www.jewsforjesus.org/library/issues/05-06/genealogy.htm
The Problem of the Curse on Jeconiah
http://www.jewsforjesus.org/answers/qa/jeconiah.htm
Problems in the Genealogies of Jesus
http://www.christian-thinktank.com/fabprof4.html
B.
Was the Gospel incomplete or not fully revealed?
1. John
16:12
12”I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
W. R. Miller:
A critic claims this verse indicates “Jesus states that
his
message is incomplete,” presumptuously assuming the “many things” is
the
Gospel. The critic ignores the fact that,
later, Jesus and the Holy Spirit would fully reveal the Gospel to the
apostles. All the critic had to do was
continue reading
the verses that followed:
John
16:13-15
13However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He
will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own
authority,
but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to
come.
14He will glorify Me, for He will
take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15All things
that
the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and
declare
it to you. [NU-Text and M-Text read He takes of Mine and will
declare it to
you]
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You,
Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the
wise and
prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it
seemed
good in Your sight.
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the
Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for
the faith
which would afterward be revealed
.
Ephesians
1:9
having made known to us the mystery of His will,
according to His
good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Ephesians 3:1-7
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- 2if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us
[NU-Text and
M-Text read you] they were
ministering the things which now have been reported to you through
those who
have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from
heaven--things
which angels desire to look into.
See also Appendix 4.
2. Ephesians
6:19
19and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
W. R. Miller: A
Muslin apologist believes this verse demonstrates “Paul even states the
Gospel
is unclear and incomplete.” The gospel
is no mystery to Paul, as stated in the verses listed above. Paul is asking for the saints to pray for him
regarding the delivery of the Gospel
message, not in the message itself. Read
the surrounding verses in context:
18