You know, it’s interesting that there are tons of books written, studies published, and time wasted trying to disprove the authenticity of the Bible. All this work done, in spite of the fact that the Bible is one of the most proven documents in the world. Prophecies have been fulfilled, historical facts confirmed, authorship proven; but people still doubt. I guess this is why the Bible says, among other things on this subject, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the .” It is only by faith.
No one ever says that Plato or Socrates’ writings are probably faked. Nor do they say that some guy wrote the Iliad in the 1100s. Yet these documents have very little backup texts to support them.
It’s interesting to think about.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Uh … hmmm …
I’d have to say you DO have a bit of a problem on the authenticity issue.
Now, basically, if you are, say, trying to prove the authenticity of a check, you compare the signature on the check to the signature card that the depositor filled out when the account was first opened.
Where is God’s signature card?
April 27th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
The entire Bible has verification and proof of authenticity. God renewed His covenant with person after person after the original promise to Adam. Christ fulfilled and verified all the Old Testament in His coming and work. God verified the Son when He was baptized. “You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased,” and “…Listen to Him.”
Peter says, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed,which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place…”
God has verified it has His Word throughout history in His work amoung those who believe. (e.g. the defeat of the Spanish Armada)
Oh, and by the way, the Golden Mean is found in the Bible a lot. (the Golden Mean is sometimes called “God’s signature”)
For some of the instances, go here
April 28th, 2006 at 1:47 am
Bible.. New or old testament. I don’t think there are words of God.
Isn’t it a collection of prophecies and stories retold by the 12 diciples. The church compiled them and so, I do think authenticity is the question here. I’ve watched quite alot of Bible debate and there are alot of scientific and math mistakes.
The rotation of the sun around the earth is one of them. A compilation of church high priest by 12 (some goodly behaved and some not) diciples. I don’t see the rational of Bible authenticity.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Well that’s your opinion that there are no words of God. It just happens not to be true.
The Bible is not a collection of stories by the 12 disciples, the Bible was there hundreds of years before the disciples. (ever heard of the Old Testament or the Septuigent)The church did not compile all the books. That was done years before; the church only ruled out the Gnostic Gospels.
Give me a few scientific and math mistakes.
The Bible does not espouse the geocentric theory. You’re mixing up the Bible with the pope. There are verses in the Bible that support heliocentrism. When it says, for example, that the sun stood still; it is talking to people who did not understand all the relationships between heavenly bodies.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
But you’re basically trying to authenticate the Bible WITH the Bible. You can’t do that.
It reminds me of this friend of mine who said that Jesus rising from the grave was “proof” of Christianity.
Well that can’t be.
As Carl Sagan once said - extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
April 28th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Yes, because the Bible is the Word of God, and it is truth. Besides, I stated in my post that prophecies have come true, historical facts confirmed by archeological evidence, etc. But as I also said, the Bible is only true to those who believe by the Holy Spirit working in them. It repuires faith, just like evolution. Now there’s an extraordinary claim. (Oh boy, here we go again)
April 28th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
jesus rising from the grave is proof of christianity (or at least evidence that the bible is true) if there is evidence that it happened (apart from the bible, i mean) I understand that it is circular reasoning to use what the bible says as proof that it is true. It takes outside evidence. (e.g., eye-witness accounts, unity of the different gospels on the issue)
By the way, this circular reasoning kind of reminds me of the way the evolutionist archaologists have started dating the fossils by the rocks they are contained in and dating the rocks by the fossils inside them. And the whole thing is based on an iffy dating system! lol
April 29th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
prophecies have come true, historical facts confirmed by archeological evidence
If you dig up physical evidence of a battle described in the Bible, you have authenticated the Bible as a newspaper much as one could “authenticate” issues of the New York Times from the 1940’s by unearthing evidence of the Second World War.
What Biblical “prophecies” have come true?
April 29th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Yes, the Bible has newspaper-like accuracy. That’s because it’s the Word of God.
The prophecy about Tyre being destroyed has been fulfilled three times. Jesus’ coming, place of birth, ministry, , etc. were fortold and came to pass. The prophecy in Daniel about the (I think) five empires coming to rise and then falling came true. There are a few more.
But as I have to keep on saying; I can quote Bible verses and give evidence till the cows come home, but it won’t make a difference until the Holy Spirit opens your heart.