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HISTORICALLY RELIABLE BOOKS
A. Introduction: We’re working on a series about the importance of reading the New Testament. I’ve urged
you to read each New Testament book from start to finish, over and over, and become familiar with the
writings. Understanding comes with familiarity and familiarity comes from regular, repeated reading.
1. We live at a time when the reliability of the Bible is being increasingly challenged. Among other
things, people say that the Bible is filled with myths, contradictions, and mistakes. As part of our series
I’ve emphasized why we can trust what the Bible says. Tonight we’ll address some final thoughts.
a. The New Testament was written by eyewitnesses of Jesus (or close associates of eyewitnesses), men
who walked and talked with Jesus, saw Him die by crucifixion, and then saw Him alive again.
1. These men believed that Jesus was God Incarnate (fully God and fully man), and that He took
on a human nature so He could die as a sacrifice for sin. By doing so, He opened the way for
men and women to be restored to God through faith in Him. John 1:1; John 1:14; Heb 2:14-15
2. The New Testament authors wrote to tell the world what they witnessed and to proclaim what it
means for humanity. These men had a vital message to share: Salvation from sin is available
to all who acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord. Acts 2:21; Acts 4:12; etc.
b. Accurate reporting was critical since the message is based on the claim that Jesus was a real person
who lived, died, and rose again. False or inaccurate claims would have discredited the message.
2. Christianity is unique. It stands apart from every other religion or faith system in that is it not based on
its founder’s ideology, dreams, or visions. Christianity is based on the belief that Jesus Christ actually
existed, and that He was crucified for sin, died, and rose from the dead. These are historical claims.
a. We previously noted that the Bible is 50% history, and that much of the history is verifiable through
secular records and archeological evidence. However, the Bible is not our only source of
information about Jesus. Here are some of the non-biblical sources for the existence of Jesus.
1. Josephus, a Jewish historian from the 1st century AD (AD 37-100) made mention of Jesus. He
was not a Christian and had no reason to write about Jesus, if Jesus did not actually exist.
2. There are at least four Roman authors from the 1st century AD who were not Christians, but also
referred to Jesus: Pliny the Younger (AD 61-113), a Roman governor in modern-day Turkey,
mentioned Jesus in a letter to the Roman Emperor Trajan; Suetonius (AD 69-122?), a Roman
historian, referred to Jesus; Tacitus (AD 56-120), the greatest Roman historian, not only
confirmed Jesus’ existence, but gave a time frame for his death, AD 26-36; Thallus (a historian)
wrote, in about AD 50, about the darkness that took place at the crucifixion (Luke 23:44-45).
b. This is what we know about Jesus from non-biblical sources. He lived in the 1st century AD. He
was born to an unmarried woman, and was Jewish. He worked miracles and gathered followers.
Some believed He was the Messiah, while others referred to him as a sorcerer who led Israel astray.
He clashed with Jewish authorities and was crucified under Pontius Pilate (AD 26-36).
c. The historical data also tells us that Christianity spread quickly, and in large numbers, throughout
the Roman world. In AD 100 Tacitus (historian) wrote about “an immense multitude” of believers
in Rome. It makes no sense that Christianity could spread that far that fast if there was no Jesus.
3. The first four New Testament books, the Gospels, are actually historical biographies of Jesus. And, we
find out from these books what the eyewitnesses believed about Him—who He was and what He did.
a. However, because of the supernatural aspect of the Gospels, people have a bias against thinking of
them as history. But when these books are assessed by the same standards that are applied to other
ancient works, the Gospels are on a par with and stand up to other ancient biographies.
1. For example, the Gospels were written between 25 to 60 years after Jesus lived. This may
seem like a long time, but it’s a miniscule amount of time in ancient writings.
2. The two earliest biographies we have of Alexander the Great (founder of the Greek Empire)
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were written more than 400 years after his death in 323 BC. Yet they are considered reliable.
b. In this lesson we’re going to answer some of the charges that critics make against the reliability of
the ancient biographies of Jesus (the New Testament documents) as we wrap up this series.
B. We said in an earlier lesson that many of the so-called contradictions and mistakes in the Gospels can be
resolved when we understand the context, the culture, and the peculiarities of ancient literature.
1. Critics like to point out that the gospel writers often describe the same event differently, arrange events
in a different chronological order, and recount statements that people made differently. This is where
having an understanding of the peculiarities of ancient literature is helpful.
a. We know from secular writings that ancient writers were not as precise as historians today. Writers
were not concerned about putting events in chronological order or quoting people word for word, as
long as the essence of what happed and what was said was preserved.
b. Two events were sometimes combined into one, and single events were simplified. Authors often
paraphrased what was said. Quotation symbol didn’t even exist yet.
2. The four Gospels all cover the same basic story line, and there is a lot of repetition. But each book was
written to emphasize a different aspect of Jesus’ person and work (who He is and what He did). That’s
another reason why we see differences between the Gospels (as opposed to mistakes or contradictions).
a. Matthew geared his gospel toward a Jewish audience, to demonstrate that Jesus is the promised
Messiah who fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies about Him. Matthew used more quotes
from and allusions to the Old Testament than any other New Testament book (almost 130).
b. Mark wrote to a Roman (Gentile or non-Jewish) audience, so he doesn’t quote much from the Old
Testament. He gives no details about Jesus’ birth or childhood since Romans would not have been
interested. Mark emphasized Jesus as a man of action and power, which appealed to Romans.
c. Luke’s gospel was written to a man named Theophilus (a newly converted Gentile) to assure him of
the certainty of what he had believed. Luke presents Jesus, not just as the Jewish Messiah, but as
the Savior of all people. Because of this emphasis, Luke wrote much about Jesus’ interaction with
women, children, and outcasts from Jewish society (Gentiles and Samaritans).
d. John’s gospel was the last to be written. By that time, challenges to the apostles’ message had
arisen—false teachings that denied the Deity of Jesus, His incarnation, and His resurrection. John
wrote to clearly present Jesus as God—the Christ, the Son of the Living God. John 20:30-31
1. A quick side comment before we continue. Most of the people you meet who challenge the
integrity of the Bible have never actually read it. They’re repeating what they’ve heard.
2. If someone tells you that the Bible is filled with mistakes and contradictions, ask them to show
you one, so that you can discuss it with them. That will bring the conversation to a quick end.
3. We can’t cover every “problem” in the New Testament this lesson, but let’s look at a few more popular
ones and show how that, with some understanding of culture and the way ancient historians wrote, along
with reading in context, it becomes clear that these examples aren’t mistakes or contradiction.
a. Matt 12:40—Jesus said that He would be in the heart of the earth (dead) for three days and nights.
However, He died on Friday afternoon and arose early Sunday morning (that’s one full day and
part of two others). Three days and three nights was a common idiomatic phrase used to cover a
period of time that included any part of three days (Esther 4:16; 5:1).
b. Matt 28:2-5; John 20:12—Matthew mentions one angel at Jesus’ tomb on resurrection day, while
John mentions two. Matthew doesn’t say that there was only one (critics add the word only).
Where you have two angels, you always have one. Matthew focused on the one who spoke to the
women. John focused on how many they saw.
c. Matt 24:34—Jesus listed numerous signs which will indicate that His second coming is near and
said: This generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled. The Greek word that is
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translated generation can mean race or people group (Matt 17:17; Luke 16:8; Phil 2:15). Jesus said
the Jewish people group will not cease to exist before He returns. This passage is also sometimes
interpreted to mean that the generation that sees the beginning of these signs will see them all.
d. Two gospels report that Jesus said “He who is not with me is against me” (Matt 12:30; Luke 11:23).
But Mark wrote that Jesus said “Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:38-40). Matthew
and Luke were writing about a time when the Pharisees (men who weren’t Jesus’ followers) accused
Him of casting out devils by the power of Satan. Mark wrote about a different incident where Jesus
was talking about those who were His followers, but not part of the twelve apostles.

C. One of the charges made against the biographies of Jesus (the Gospels) is that the first Christians did not
believe that Jesus was God, or that He was raised from the dead. Critics maintain that those are myths and
legends that were added later. Is that possible? Can we know for certain what the first Christians believed?
1. We said in previous lessons that the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection was initially transmitted
orally, since 1st century Israel was an oral culture. Repetition and memorization was the primary way
information was taught and transmitted. The gospel writers grew up memorizing information.
a. We also talked about the reliability of memory in an oral culture, and made the point that accuracy
was vital to the apostles, and to those they spoke to, because of the nature of the message they were
relating: Salvation from sin is available through faith in Jesus (review lesson #1255 if necessary).
b. Thousands of people besides the writers saw and heard Jesus. If the authors made something up
about Jesus or got something wrong about His ministry, there were plenty of people to correct them.
2. Once the eyewitnesses died, what kept their testimony intact? How do we know that myth and legends
about the deity and resurrection of Jesus didn’t slowly creep in? We know this from Paul the apostle.
a. Paul wrote 14 of the 27 New Testament documents. Most of Paul’s major letters were written in
the 50s AD, before almost all of the Gospels. His letters indicate that there were even earlier
sources of information about Jesus—the creeds. Paul included a number of creeds in his epistles.
1. A creed is a statement or confession of essential beliefs. Creeds were being circulated among
believers before any of the New Testament documents were written.
2. The creeds show us what Christians believed from the very beginning. They believed that
Jesus was both truly human and truly divine, and that God raised Him from the dead.
b. Paul recorded an early creed in his first epistle to believers in the Greek city of Corinth. The letter
was written in AD 54 or 55. Paul made it clear that he was passing along an oral tradition.
1. I Cor 15:3-4—I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to
me—that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised
from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said (NLT).
2. Paul was reminding the Corinthians of something they already knew, and something he himself
had previously received and then passed on to them. (Paul established the church at Corinth).
3. Paul acquired this teaching (the information in this creed) within 2-5 years after the crucifixion. That’s
not enough time for myth and legend to have entered in and corrupted the message. Note this timeline.
a. Paul was converted about 32 AD (one to two years after Jesus’ death), when the resurrected Lord
Jesus appeared to him as he was traveling to Damascus, Syria to arrest Christians. Acts 9:1-9
1. In Damascus, Paul met a believer named Ananias, was baptized, and began to preach in local
synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Unbelieving Jews plotted to kill Paul, and he was
forced to leave the city. Acts 9:10-25
2. From there Paul went to Jerusalem where he met the apostles, was with them constantly, and
continued to preach in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:10:26-31
b. Paul could have received this creed from Ananias immediately after his conversion, or from Peter
and James when he went to Jerusalem three years later (Gal 1:18-19), or both. This puts core
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claims of Christianity back to the original apostles. Other early creeds in Paul’s writings include:
1. Phil 2:6-11, which shows that the earliest Christians believed that Jesus had both a human
nature and a divine nature. In the original language, this passage has a rhythm—two stanzas of
four lines each—the division found in songs and poems. These early creeds may have been
both sung and recited.
2. Col 1:15-20, which states that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, who created all things,
and through whom we are reconciled to God by His blood, shed on the Cross.
3. I Tim 3:16, which states that: (Jesus) was manifested in the flesh, vindicated (justified) by the
Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in
glory (ESV).
D. Conclusion: The primary purpose of this series of lessons has been to inspire you to become a regular,
systematic reader of the New Testament. As we close, let me make a few practical suggestions about
becoming a regular New Testament reader. I’m not giving you “the rules” for reading. I’m telling you
what helped me become familiar with the contents of the New Testament.
1. To read systematically means to read each book from beginning to end, over and over. As you read,
don’t worry about what you don’t understand. Just keep reading. The purpose of this type of reading
is to become familiar with the text, and to help you begin to see context.
a. This doesn’t mean you can’t stop to look up words, consult commentaries, read study notes at the
bottom of the page, or take time to contemplate verses that stand out to you—do it at another time.
b. You don’t necessarily have to read the New Testament books in order. I said in a previous lesson
that the books are not arranged in chronological order.
1. Developing a regular reading habit is difficult, so you might want to begin with the shortest
Gospel (Mark). If you read two chapters a day it’ll take eight days to read. Then read it again.
2. When I first began to read the New Testament, the Book of Revelation was too much for me.
After the first time I tried to read it, I didn’t go back to it for several years.
c. As you read, remember the general principles we’ve covered in this series. Learn to think in terms
of context. A real person wrote this passage to another real person to communicate important
information. What would this have meant to them?
1. The gospel writers were trying to give an accurate account of what Jesus did and said—not help
us solve our problems, give us the secrets of the universe, or a message for the 21st century.
2. They wrote the epistles to explain what Jesus’ death and resurrection accomplished and how
they should live in light of it. These letters address specific issues that developed as the first
Christians tried to live as followers of Jesus in a pagan world. Like the Gospels, the epistles
include customs, events, and names that are verifiable through secular records and archeology.
d. When you read something that makes no sense to you, remember that these people lived at a
different time and in a culture unfamiliar to us. This accounts for many of the statements that
seem strange to us. But these statements can be explained.
2. Regular reading of the New Testament will show you what genuine Christianity looks like. It builds a
framework and a filter in your mind through which you can assess what you see and hear around you.
a. Jesus said that the years leading up to His second coming will be marked by religious deception—
false Christs and false prophets who preach false gospels that deceive many. Matt 24:4-5; 11; 24
b. Your only protection against deception is accurate knowledge from the only fully reliable source of
information about Jesus—the written Word of God, the eyewitness testimony of those who walked
and talked with Jesus. If ever there was a time to know for yourself who Jesus is and why He came
into this world—according to the Bible—it’s now.