Credibility of the Eyewitnesses (3)

Turning Skeptics Into Seekers  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Demonstrating that the eyewitness accounts are reliabile/credible

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The Credibility of the Eyewitnesses Sessions 3&4

Introduction:
1. Everyone can demonstrate the credibility of the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection by learning these five important facts.
Are the eyewitnesses credible?
2. The attacks on the NT are many:
Christians copied ancient myths
There are contradictions in the Bible
There are many errors in the Bible
How do you know the Bible is true?
What about all the other religious books?
The Gospels were not written by eyewitnesses
3. We depend on the testimony of eyewitnesses to convey to us the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection
a. The Manuscript Evidence
a. The most manuscripts
b. The Earliest Testimony
2. The Earliest Testimony
3. Internal Testimony - (Names)
c. Internal Testimony - (Names)
4. Embarrassing Testimony
d. Embarrassing Testimony
e. Corroborating Testimony
5. Corroborating Testimony
I. Manuscript Evidence
A. The Most Manuscripts
20 - 25,000 Manuscripts
5825 Greek
10,000 Latin
5-10,000 “other languages”
Earliest Manuscripts
John Ryland P52
P75
B. Competitors (Classical Gr. and Roman)
Pliny 700 years
2. Plutarch 800 years
3. Josephus 800 years
4. Polybius 1200 years
C. Comparisons
125 years after the Resurrection 43% of NT
125 years after any Greco-Roman writer 0%
Earliest copies of other writings is 700 years
D. Variants
Errors and contraditions
138,00 words in the NT
400,000 variants
E. Examples of Variants:
Jesus loves Paul
Jesus Paul loves
Paul Jesus loves
Paul loves Jesus
3. How much do they matter?
a. 98% are copy, spelling, etc.
b. 2% are additions or omissions.
c. Ex. Woman caught in adultery and
d. Ending in Mark’s Gospel 16:9ff
II. Earliest Testimony
A.
Paul’s Conversion
Paul’s 1st visit to Corinth
Dating Paul’s visits
B. Transmission of The Gospels
How do we know the Gospels are early?
Matthews
Luke’s account in his Gospel
Luke’s account in Acts
III. Internal Testimony (Names, Dates, Places)
A. Ossuaries
Comparisons with NT Names
NT names comply with Ossuaries
B. Distinctions
Examples of specific names
James the son of Alphaeus
James the son of Zebedee
How could they know if they were not eyewitnesses?
C. Geography, Politics, Governing
NT writers were familiar with the Geography
NT writers were familiar with the Politics
Judea was complex
Judea had five different governing bodies in 40 years
NT mentions all of them
IV. Embarrassing Testimony and more
A. Disciples were chastised
Little faith
Misunderstood Jesus’ Words
Peter’s confrontation
B. Women
Women were the first to see the risen Jesus
Why is this important?
2. Jesus allowed women to be taught
V. Corroborating Testimony
1. Christian Writers
Ignatius
Polycarp
Clement of Rome
Quadratus
2. Non Christian Writers
Josephus
Thallos
Tacitus
rSuetonius
Pliny the Younger
Thallos
Jesus died by Roman crucifixion
He was buried, most likely in a private tomb The disciples lost hope
Jesus’ tomb was found empty
The Disciples believed they saw Jesus alive
Their lives were transformed (willing to die).
They proclaimed the risen Christ
This took place in Jerusalem
The message centered on Jesus’ death and resurrection
Changed the Sabbath
Jesus’ brother James became converted
Saul of Tarsus became a believer
3. Undesigned Coincidences
An undesigned coincidence is a notable connection between two or more accounts or texts that doesn’t seem to have been planned by the person or people giving the accounts. Despite their apparent independence, the items fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
McGrew, Lydia. Hidden In Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts (Kindle Locations 226-228). DeWard Publishing Company, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
McGrew, Lydia. Hidden In Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts (Kindle Locations 226-228). DeWard Publishing Company, Ltd.. Kindle Edition.
Matthew 14:1-2
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”” (, NASB95)
Luke 8:1-3
Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.” (, NASB95)
Mark 1:16-20
Mark 1:16–20 NASB95
As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
Luke 5:1-11
Mark 1:16-20
Luke 5:1–11 NASB95
Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
Luke 23:1-4
Luke 5:
Luke 23:1–4 NASB95
Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate. And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” So Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”
John 18:33-40
Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. (, NASB95)
Conclusion:
Every Christian can demonstrate the credibility of the eyewitnesses by learning these 5 solid facts.
a. The Manuscript Evidence
b. The Earliest Testimony
c. Internal Testimony - (Names)
d. Embarrassing Testimony
e. Corroborating Testimony
Internal Testimony
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