There is no God……so says the fool, Psa. 14:1

No CreatorNo TruthNo JudgmentNo Savior

The honest man knows there is a Creator, Heb. 3:4

Supreme BeingJudgmentSaviorTruth, Jn. 17:17

Written over about 1500 yearsFirst writing around 1400 BC – Before ChristLast writing around 96 AD – Anno DominiTime period

*Beginning of Creation: 4000 BC, Gen. 1:1*Close of Apostolic Age: 96 AD, Rev. 1:9

66 Books written by about 40 menMosesDavidIsaiahJonahMatthew, Mark, Luke, JohnPeterEtc.

Written in different times, cultures, nationsExodus, Kings, Captivity, OccupationEgyptian influence, Jewish, Babylonian, Roman

Written in three languagesHebrewAramaicGreek

In spite of all these factors,The Bible has one unified message

God is Creator,Gen. 1:1, 26; Psa. 33:6, 9; Heb. 11:3Man is lost,Gen. 3:6; Psa. 53:3; Rom. 3:23Savior needed,Gen. 3:15; Isa. 53:4, 5; Acts 4:10-12

Author When Written Earliest Copy Time Span No. of Copies

Caesar 100-44 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,000 yrs 10Plato 427-347 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,200 yrs 7Tacitus 100 A.D. 1100 A.D. 1,000 yrs 20Pliny 61-113 A.D. 850 A.D. 750 yrs 7Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs 8Herodotus 480-425 B.C. 900 A.D. 1,300 yrs 8Sophocles 496-406 B.C. 1000 A.D. 1,400 yrs 193Aristotle 384-322 B.C. 1100 A.D. 1,400 yrs 49Homer – Iliad 900 B.C. 400 B.C. 500 yrs 643NT 40-100 A.D. 125 A.D. 25 yrs 24,000 +

NT has over 24,000 copies from ancient timesOver 5,300 GreekOver 10,000 LatinOver 4,000 Slavic

Text in QuestionIliad: 15,600 lines, 764 questioned = 4.89%NT: 20,000 lines, 40 questioned = 0.2%

External evidenceJosephus, Jewish historian, & John the baptist

*Named*Herod’s arrest, imprisonment, execution*His influence by preaching among the Jews

External evidenceArcheological

*Erastus pavement stone, Rom. 16:23*“Synagogue of the Hebrews” inscriptionfound in housing district, Acts 18:4-7*Luke mentioned

32 countries54 cities9 Mediterranean islands95 people

The OT is inspired of God, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21Claims

*Moses “The LORD said” 45 times in Exodus*David, 2 Sam. 23:1, 2

The OT is inspired of God, 2 Pt. 1:20, 21Proof in prophecy

*Nations,Dan. 2:39, 40; Isa. 10:5, 6; 2 Kgs. 17:5, 6*People,1 Kgs. 13:1, 2; 2 Kgs. 23:15, 16; Isa. 44:28; Ezra 1:1-4*Christ,Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4; Dan. 2:44; Lk. 2:1;Psa. 22:16; Lk. 24:39

The NT is inspired of GodClaims

*Jesus, Jn. 16:13*Luke, Acts 2:4*Paul, Gal. 1:12*Peter, 2 Pt. 3:15, 16

The NT is inspired of GodProof

*Previous points*Miracles, Mk. 16:20*Jesus: lived, died, resurrectedTestimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Translation does not affect inspirationOT Greek translation Septuagint (LXX)Quoted by Jesus, apostles, & prophets

*Mt. 22:31, 32; Ex. 3:6*Heb. 1:5; Psa. 2:7*Acts 28:26, 27; Isa. 6:9, 10

The Bible is the inspired word of God: TruthIf not, it is a fraudIf not, reject itIf not, there is no truthIf not, we are utterly & hopelessly lost