Why Should I Trust The Gospels? (Handout from talk at ASLP, Oct 2013)
6
1. Claims and Significance Luke’s Gospel Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4) John’s Gospel Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe x that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31) This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:24-25) Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthian Church For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Cor 15:16-17) 2. Corroboration of Luke-Acts in non-Christian Ancient Historians On many counts, historical or incidental details in the gospels are corroborated by ancient classical writers. The most significant writers were: Josephus (AD 37-ca100): Romano-Jewish historian who worked for the emperors Vespasian and Titus Tacitus (AD ca56-ca117): Roman Senator and one of the greatest ancient historians writing in Latin Here is a selection of some of the key parallels: Date Event Historical & Circumstantial Corroboration 6 BC Luke 1:5, 26 Birth of John the Baptist & therefore of Jesus ‘in the days of Herod, king of Judea’ Josephus: Jewish War 1.210–673; Antiquities 15.1–16.354; Philo: In Flaccum 25; De Legatione 294–299 Tacitus: Annals 12.23; Histories 5.4, 9 Herod’s rule (40–04 BC) is extensively documented AD 6 Luke 2:1–2 ‘In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Josephus: Antiquities 17.355 The territory subject to Archelaus was added to Syria and Quirinius...was sent by Caesar to take a census of property in Syria and to sell the Estate of Archelaus. TRUSTING THE GOSPELS: Some Background Information All Souls, Langham Place October 2013
-
Upload
mark-meynell -
Category
Documents
-
view
1.171 -
download
0
description
The handout from my talk on 6 October 2013, at All Souls Langham Place, as part of our UNCOVER Apologetics series.Why Should I Trust The Gospels?also, see accompanying Keynote slides
Transcript of Why Should I Trust The Gospels? (Handout from talk at ASLP, Oct 2013)
1 Claims and SignificanceLukersquos GospelMany have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word With this in mind since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning I too decided to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theophilus so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 11-4)
Johnrsquos GospelJesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book But these are written that you may believe x that Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 2030-31)This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down We know that his testimony is true Jesus did many other things as well If every one of them were written down I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written (John 2124-25)
Paulrsquos First Letter to the Corinthian ChurchFor if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised either And if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile you are still in your sins (1 Cor 1516-17)
2 Corroboration of Luke-Acts in non-Christian Ancient Historians
On many counts historical or incidental details in the gospels are corroborated by ancient classical writers The most significant writers were
Josephus (AD 37-ca100) Romano-Jewish historian who worked for the emperors Vespasian and TitusTacitus (AD ca56-ca117) Roman Senator and one of the greatest ancient historians writing in Latin
Here is a selection of some of the key parallels
Date EventHistorical amp Circumstantial Corroboration
6 BC Luke 15 26Birth of John the Baptist amp therefore of Jesus lsquoin the days of Herod king of Judearsquo
Josephus Jewish War 1210ndash673 Antiquities 151ndash16354Philo In Flaccum 25 De Legatione 294ndash299Tacitus Annals 1223 Histories 54 9Herodrsquos rule (40ndash04 BC) is extensively documented
AD 6 Luke 21ndash2lsquoIn those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria
Josephus Antiquities 17355 The territory subject to Archelaus was added to Syria and Quiriniuswas sent by Caesar to take a census of property in Syria and to sell the Estate of Archelaus
TRUSTING THE GOSPELS Some Background InformationAll Souls Langham Place October 2013
Date EventHistorical amp Circumstantial Corroboration
AD 2829
Luke 31ndash2 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitisduring the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to Johnhellip
Tacitus Histories 59the nation was divided into three provinces under the sons of HerodJosephus Jewish War 2169Pilate being sent by Tiberius as procurator to JudeaJosephus Ant 18113ndash117Herod put John the Baptist to death though he was a good man
AD 33
Luke 233Pilate asked [Jesus] ldquoAre you the King of the Jewsrdquo
Tacitus Annals 1544Christussuffered the extreme penaltyat the hands of Pontius Pilate
AD 34
Acts 536ndash37For before these days Theudas rose up claiming to be somebody and a number of men about four hundred joined him He was killed and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him He too perished and all who followed him were scattered
NB there are some questions about how to date these two events
Josephus Antiquities 2097ndash89When Fadus was procurator of Judea a certain impostor named Theudas persuaded the majority of the masses to take up their possessions and follow him to the Jordan He stated that he was a prophet and that at his command the river would be partedWith this talk he persuaded manyTheudas himself was captured whereupon they cut off his head and brought it to Jerusalemrsquo [AD 44ndash46]
Josephus Jewish War 2118A GalileanJudas incited his countrymen to revolt [over] paying tribute to the Romans [In AD 6ndash7]
AD 44
Acts 1221ndash23On an appointed day Herod [Agrippa I] put on his royal robes took his seat upon the throne and delivered an oration to them And the people were shouting ldquoThe voice of a god and not of a manrdquo lsquoImmediately an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last
Josephus Antiquities 19344ndash349Clad in a garment woven completely of silverhe [King Herod Agrippa I] entered the theatre at daybreakhis flatterers addressed him as a godthe king did not rebuke them[he] felt a stab in his heartafter five days he departed this life
AD 44 ndash 45
Acts 1128Agabusforetold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius)rsquo
Josephus Antiquities 20101It was in the administration of Tiberius Alexander [AD 46ndash48] that the great famine occurred in Judea
AD 49
Acts 181ndash2 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth And he found a Jew named Aquila a native of Pontus recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome
Suetonius Claudius 254Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Date EventHistorical amp Circumstantial Corroboration
AD 51
Acts 1812But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia
An Inscription at Delphi fixes Galliorsquos appointment to Achaia in caAD 51
AD 57
Acts 2117ndash18 When we had come to JerusalemPaul went in with us to James and all the elders were present
Josephus Antiquities 20200[In AD 62] Ananus [Annas II] convened the judges of the Sanhedrin and brought before them James the brother of Jesus who is called Christto be stoned
Acts 2138Are you not the Egyptian then who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness
Josephus Jewish War 2261The Egyptian false prophetcollected a following of about 30000 dupes and led themfrom the desert to the Mount of Olives
Acts 232The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him [Paul] on the mouth
Josephus Antiquities 20103Herod King of Chalcisassigned the office [of high priest] to Ananias
AD 58
Acts 2424After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus
Josephus Antiquities 20131ndash143cf Tacitus Histories 59 Annals 1254At the time when Felix was procurator of Judea [Drusilla] married Felix
AD 60
Acts 2427When two years had elapsed Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus And desiring to do the Jews a favour Felix left Paul in prison
Josephus Antiquities 20182When Porcius Festus was sent by Nero as successor to Felix
Acts 2513Now when some days had passed Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus
Josephus Antiquities 20145Bernice lived for a long time as a widow But when the report gained currency that she had a liaison with her brother [Agrippa] she induced Polemo king of Cilicia to be circumcised and take her in marriage
Adapted from Paul Barnett Gospel Truth IVP (2012)
FF Bruce (Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism amp Exegesis at Manchester Uni 1959-1978)And it was not friendly eyewitnesses that the early preachers had to reckon with there were others less well disposed who were also conversant with the main facts of the ministry and death of Jesus The disciples could not afford to risk inaccuracies (not to speak of wilful manipulation of the facts) which would at once be exposed by those who would be only too glad to do so On the contrary one of the strong points in the original apostolic preaching is the confident appeal to the knowledge of the hearers they not only said lsquowe are witnesses of these thingsrsquo but also lsquoas you yourselves knowrsquo (Acts 222) Had there been any tendency to depart from the facts in any material respect the possible pressure of hostile witnesses in the audience would have served as a further corrective
The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable pp44-46
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
3 Archaeology and the Gospels
Text Detail Archaeological Corroboration
Mark 121
Jesus taught in a synagogue in the village of Capernaum on the NW shore of Galilee
A 1st C synagogue has been discovered under the remains of a later one in Capernaum
Matthew 2218-22
Jesus asks teachers of the law to name the image and inscription on a Roman coin
Many coins found with emperorrsquos image amp divine status
TI CAESAR DIVI AUG F AUGUSTUS = Augustus Tiberius Caesar Son of the Divine Augustus
Luke 31 Pontius Pilate the GovernorPrefect of Judaea
No archaeological evidence for his rule until 1961 when a slab inscribed with his name and title was unearthed at The Tiberium a temple for the worship of emperor Tiberius
John 52 A pool with five porticos named Bethesda near the Sheep gate in the city wall
For a long time assumption was John invented it Discovered in C19th by Conrad Schick exactly where John said it was
John 91-9
Jesus heals a blind man by telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
Part of the fresh-water pool has survived
John 1913
The Roman Prefect Pilate passing judgment on Jesus at a location known as ldquothe stone pavementrdquo or Gabbatha
ldquoThe Pavementrdquo was recently discovered next to the Tower of Antonia which was destroyed during the siege of Jerusalem (in 66-70 AD) suggesting eyewitness account pre 70AD
John 1917-41
Jesus being crucified at Golgotha just outside the city walls
Note that the walls were extended to include Golgotha within the city just 10 years after Jesusrsquo death = eyewitness account
John 1932-22
The soldiers come to break the legs of those crucified (to speed up dying process) but Jesus already deadNT crucifixion descriptions were disputed (eg suggesting ropes not nails used and criminals banned from Jewish burials)
In 1968 Vassilios Tzaferis found the first indisputable remains of a crucifixion victim named Yohanan Ben Harsquogalgol
Yohanan had a spike driven into both feet and nails driven between the lower bones of the arms He also appeared to have had his legs broken He was given a proper burial
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
4 Estimated Chronology of New Testament Books
NT Book Date Authored Author Place of WritingGalatians 49 Paul Syrian Antioch
1amp2 Thessalonians 50-51 Paul Corinth
1 Corinthians 55 Paul Ephesus
2 Corinthians 56 Paul Macedonia
Romans 57 Paul Corinth
James 50s-60s James Jesus brother Jerusalem
Mark Late 50s-early 60s John Mark (friend of Peter) Rome
Matthew Late 50s-early 60s Matthew Syrian Antioch
Philemon Colossians Ephesians
61-62 Paul Rome
Luke amp Acts 62 Luke (friend of Paul) Caesarea then Rome
Philippians 62 Paul Rome
1 Timothy 63-64 Paul Macedonia
Titus 63-64 Paul Nicopolis
1 Peter 63-64 Peter
2 Peter 65 Peter
2 Timothy 65 Paul Rome
Hebrews 68 Unknown
Jude Late 60s-early 70s Jude Jesus brother
John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
123 John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
Revelation Late 80s-early 90s John Patmos (off Asia Minor)
Adapted from Robert H Gundry A Survey of the New Testament 4th ed (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2003)
5 Transmission of the Gospels Down the Centuries
Doubts are sometimes raised about the Biblersquos transmission since the potential for textual distortions obviously grows the longer the gap between writing and our earliest extant copies But it is clear that the New Testament differs from all other ancient texts both in terms of the ldquocopy gaprdquo and the number of ancient copies that have survived Here are the figures for Markrsquos gospel
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Ancient Text Date of writing
Earliest complete
The ldquoCopyGaprdquo
No of ancient copies
Pliny the Youngerrsquos HISTORY
AD 61-113 AD 850 750 years 7
Caesarrsquos GALLIC WARS 100-44 BC AD 900 1000 years 10
Platorsquos DIALOGUES 427-347 BC AD 900 1200 years 7
Catullus POEMS 80-55 BC AD 1300 1350 years 3
Aristotle TREATISES 284-322 BC AD 1100 1400 years 49
Sophocles plays 496-406 BC AD 1000 1400 years 193
Euripides plays 480-406 BC AD 1100 1500 years 9
MARKrsquoS GOSPEL AD 50s - 60s AD 130 lt80 years 5000
Sir Frederic Kenyon (Director of The British Museum 1909-1931)The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible and the last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established
6 Further Reading And StudyIntroductory level
If you want something small Andrew Erringtonrsquos booklet Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus (Matthias Press 2009) is a great place to start (only 32 pages)
Barnett Paul Gospel Truth IVP (Nottingham) 2012
Bruce FF The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable IVP (Nottingham) 2000
Roberts Mark D Can We Trust The Gospels Crossway (Wheaton IL) 2007
More academicBauckham Richard Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Eerdmans (Grand Rapids) 2006
Blomberg Craig The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) IVP (Nottingham) 2007
Wright NT The Resurrection of the Son of God SPCK (London) 2003
Useful WebsitesBe Thinking Run by UCCF a wealth of articles on all kinds of
apologetic questions esp Bible amp Jesus sectionhttpwwwbethinkingorgbible-jesus
Bible amp Church A growing site with various lectures (incl on the Biblersquos historicity) from Tyndale House Cambridge
httpwwwbibleandchurchcom
Mark D Roberts website
Much of the material (and more) included in his book is available here - including great photos and links
httpwwwmarkdrobertscomhtmfilesresourcesgospelsreliablehtm
Theology Network UCCFrsquos companion site for more academic levels of theology
httpwwwtheologynetworkorgbiblical-studies
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Date EventHistorical amp Circumstantial Corroboration
AD 2829
Luke 31ndash2 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitisduring the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas the word of God came to Johnhellip
Tacitus Histories 59the nation was divided into three provinces under the sons of HerodJosephus Jewish War 2169Pilate being sent by Tiberius as procurator to JudeaJosephus Ant 18113ndash117Herod put John the Baptist to death though he was a good man
AD 33
Luke 233Pilate asked [Jesus] ldquoAre you the King of the Jewsrdquo
Tacitus Annals 1544Christussuffered the extreme penaltyat the hands of Pontius Pilate
AD 34
Acts 536ndash37For before these days Theudas rose up claiming to be somebody and a number of men about four hundred joined him He was killed and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him He too perished and all who followed him were scattered
NB there are some questions about how to date these two events
Josephus Antiquities 2097ndash89When Fadus was procurator of Judea a certain impostor named Theudas persuaded the majority of the masses to take up their possessions and follow him to the Jordan He stated that he was a prophet and that at his command the river would be partedWith this talk he persuaded manyTheudas himself was captured whereupon they cut off his head and brought it to Jerusalemrsquo [AD 44ndash46]
Josephus Jewish War 2118A GalileanJudas incited his countrymen to revolt [over] paying tribute to the Romans [In AD 6ndash7]
AD 44
Acts 1221ndash23On an appointed day Herod [Agrippa I] put on his royal robes took his seat upon the throne and delivered an oration to them And the people were shouting ldquoThe voice of a god and not of a manrdquo lsquoImmediately an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last
Josephus Antiquities 19344ndash349Clad in a garment woven completely of silverhe [King Herod Agrippa I] entered the theatre at daybreakhis flatterers addressed him as a godthe king did not rebuke them[he] felt a stab in his heartafter five days he departed this life
AD 44 ndash 45
Acts 1128Agabusforetold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius)rsquo
Josephus Antiquities 20101It was in the administration of Tiberius Alexander [AD 46ndash48] that the great famine occurred in Judea
AD 49
Acts 181ndash2 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth And he found a Jew named Aquila a native of Pontus recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome
Suetonius Claudius 254Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Date EventHistorical amp Circumstantial Corroboration
AD 51
Acts 1812But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia
An Inscription at Delphi fixes Galliorsquos appointment to Achaia in caAD 51
AD 57
Acts 2117ndash18 When we had come to JerusalemPaul went in with us to James and all the elders were present
Josephus Antiquities 20200[In AD 62] Ananus [Annas II] convened the judges of the Sanhedrin and brought before them James the brother of Jesus who is called Christto be stoned
Acts 2138Are you not the Egyptian then who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness
Josephus Jewish War 2261The Egyptian false prophetcollected a following of about 30000 dupes and led themfrom the desert to the Mount of Olives
Acts 232The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him [Paul] on the mouth
Josephus Antiquities 20103Herod King of Chalcisassigned the office [of high priest] to Ananias
AD 58
Acts 2424After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus
Josephus Antiquities 20131ndash143cf Tacitus Histories 59 Annals 1254At the time when Felix was procurator of Judea [Drusilla] married Felix
AD 60
Acts 2427When two years had elapsed Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus And desiring to do the Jews a favour Felix left Paul in prison
Josephus Antiquities 20182When Porcius Festus was sent by Nero as successor to Felix
Acts 2513Now when some days had passed Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus
Josephus Antiquities 20145Bernice lived for a long time as a widow But when the report gained currency that she had a liaison with her brother [Agrippa] she induced Polemo king of Cilicia to be circumcised and take her in marriage
Adapted from Paul Barnett Gospel Truth IVP (2012)
FF Bruce (Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism amp Exegesis at Manchester Uni 1959-1978)And it was not friendly eyewitnesses that the early preachers had to reckon with there were others less well disposed who were also conversant with the main facts of the ministry and death of Jesus The disciples could not afford to risk inaccuracies (not to speak of wilful manipulation of the facts) which would at once be exposed by those who would be only too glad to do so On the contrary one of the strong points in the original apostolic preaching is the confident appeal to the knowledge of the hearers they not only said lsquowe are witnesses of these thingsrsquo but also lsquoas you yourselves knowrsquo (Acts 222) Had there been any tendency to depart from the facts in any material respect the possible pressure of hostile witnesses in the audience would have served as a further corrective
The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable pp44-46
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
3 Archaeology and the Gospels
Text Detail Archaeological Corroboration
Mark 121
Jesus taught in a synagogue in the village of Capernaum on the NW shore of Galilee
A 1st C synagogue has been discovered under the remains of a later one in Capernaum
Matthew 2218-22
Jesus asks teachers of the law to name the image and inscription on a Roman coin
Many coins found with emperorrsquos image amp divine status
TI CAESAR DIVI AUG F AUGUSTUS = Augustus Tiberius Caesar Son of the Divine Augustus
Luke 31 Pontius Pilate the GovernorPrefect of Judaea
No archaeological evidence for his rule until 1961 when a slab inscribed with his name and title was unearthed at The Tiberium a temple for the worship of emperor Tiberius
John 52 A pool with five porticos named Bethesda near the Sheep gate in the city wall
For a long time assumption was John invented it Discovered in C19th by Conrad Schick exactly where John said it was
John 91-9
Jesus heals a blind man by telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
Part of the fresh-water pool has survived
John 1913
The Roman Prefect Pilate passing judgment on Jesus at a location known as ldquothe stone pavementrdquo or Gabbatha
ldquoThe Pavementrdquo was recently discovered next to the Tower of Antonia which was destroyed during the siege of Jerusalem (in 66-70 AD) suggesting eyewitness account pre 70AD
John 1917-41
Jesus being crucified at Golgotha just outside the city walls
Note that the walls were extended to include Golgotha within the city just 10 years after Jesusrsquo death = eyewitness account
John 1932-22
The soldiers come to break the legs of those crucified (to speed up dying process) but Jesus already deadNT crucifixion descriptions were disputed (eg suggesting ropes not nails used and criminals banned from Jewish burials)
In 1968 Vassilios Tzaferis found the first indisputable remains of a crucifixion victim named Yohanan Ben Harsquogalgol
Yohanan had a spike driven into both feet and nails driven between the lower bones of the arms He also appeared to have had his legs broken He was given a proper burial
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
4 Estimated Chronology of New Testament Books
NT Book Date Authored Author Place of WritingGalatians 49 Paul Syrian Antioch
1amp2 Thessalonians 50-51 Paul Corinth
1 Corinthians 55 Paul Ephesus
2 Corinthians 56 Paul Macedonia
Romans 57 Paul Corinth
James 50s-60s James Jesus brother Jerusalem
Mark Late 50s-early 60s John Mark (friend of Peter) Rome
Matthew Late 50s-early 60s Matthew Syrian Antioch
Philemon Colossians Ephesians
61-62 Paul Rome
Luke amp Acts 62 Luke (friend of Paul) Caesarea then Rome
Philippians 62 Paul Rome
1 Timothy 63-64 Paul Macedonia
Titus 63-64 Paul Nicopolis
1 Peter 63-64 Peter
2 Peter 65 Peter
2 Timothy 65 Paul Rome
Hebrews 68 Unknown
Jude Late 60s-early 70s Jude Jesus brother
John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
123 John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
Revelation Late 80s-early 90s John Patmos (off Asia Minor)
Adapted from Robert H Gundry A Survey of the New Testament 4th ed (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2003)
5 Transmission of the Gospels Down the Centuries
Doubts are sometimes raised about the Biblersquos transmission since the potential for textual distortions obviously grows the longer the gap between writing and our earliest extant copies But it is clear that the New Testament differs from all other ancient texts both in terms of the ldquocopy gaprdquo and the number of ancient copies that have survived Here are the figures for Markrsquos gospel
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Ancient Text Date of writing
Earliest complete
The ldquoCopyGaprdquo
No of ancient copies
Pliny the Youngerrsquos HISTORY
AD 61-113 AD 850 750 years 7
Caesarrsquos GALLIC WARS 100-44 BC AD 900 1000 years 10
Platorsquos DIALOGUES 427-347 BC AD 900 1200 years 7
Catullus POEMS 80-55 BC AD 1300 1350 years 3
Aristotle TREATISES 284-322 BC AD 1100 1400 years 49
Sophocles plays 496-406 BC AD 1000 1400 years 193
Euripides plays 480-406 BC AD 1100 1500 years 9
MARKrsquoS GOSPEL AD 50s - 60s AD 130 lt80 years 5000
Sir Frederic Kenyon (Director of The British Museum 1909-1931)The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible and the last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established
6 Further Reading And StudyIntroductory level
If you want something small Andrew Erringtonrsquos booklet Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus (Matthias Press 2009) is a great place to start (only 32 pages)
Barnett Paul Gospel Truth IVP (Nottingham) 2012
Bruce FF The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable IVP (Nottingham) 2000
Roberts Mark D Can We Trust The Gospels Crossway (Wheaton IL) 2007
More academicBauckham Richard Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Eerdmans (Grand Rapids) 2006
Blomberg Craig The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) IVP (Nottingham) 2007
Wright NT The Resurrection of the Son of God SPCK (London) 2003
Useful WebsitesBe Thinking Run by UCCF a wealth of articles on all kinds of
apologetic questions esp Bible amp Jesus sectionhttpwwwbethinkingorgbible-jesus
Bible amp Church A growing site with various lectures (incl on the Biblersquos historicity) from Tyndale House Cambridge
httpwwwbibleandchurchcom
Mark D Roberts website
Much of the material (and more) included in his book is available here - including great photos and links
httpwwwmarkdrobertscomhtmfilesresourcesgospelsreliablehtm
Theology Network UCCFrsquos companion site for more academic levels of theology
httpwwwtheologynetworkorgbiblical-studies
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Date EventHistorical amp Circumstantial Corroboration
AD 51
Acts 1812But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia
An Inscription at Delphi fixes Galliorsquos appointment to Achaia in caAD 51
AD 57
Acts 2117ndash18 When we had come to JerusalemPaul went in with us to James and all the elders were present
Josephus Antiquities 20200[In AD 62] Ananus [Annas II] convened the judges of the Sanhedrin and brought before them James the brother of Jesus who is called Christto be stoned
Acts 2138Are you not the Egyptian then who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness
Josephus Jewish War 2261The Egyptian false prophetcollected a following of about 30000 dupes and led themfrom the desert to the Mount of Olives
Acts 232The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him [Paul] on the mouth
Josephus Antiquities 20103Herod King of Chalcisassigned the office [of high priest] to Ananias
AD 58
Acts 2424After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla who was Jewish and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus
Josephus Antiquities 20131ndash143cf Tacitus Histories 59 Annals 1254At the time when Felix was procurator of Judea [Drusilla] married Felix
AD 60
Acts 2427When two years had elapsed Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus And desiring to do the Jews a favour Felix left Paul in prison
Josephus Antiquities 20182When Porcius Festus was sent by Nero as successor to Felix
Acts 2513Now when some days had passed Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus
Josephus Antiquities 20145Bernice lived for a long time as a widow But when the report gained currency that she had a liaison with her brother [Agrippa] she induced Polemo king of Cilicia to be circumcised and take her in marriage
Adapted from Paul Barnett Gospel Truth IVP (2012)
FF Bruce (Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism amp Exegesis at Manchester Uni 1959-1978)And it was not friendly eyewitnesses that the early preachers had to reckon with there were others less well disposed who were also conversant with the main facts of the ministry and death of Jesus The disciples could not afford to risk inaccuracies (not to speak of wilful manipulation of the facts) which would at once be exposed by those who would be only too glad to do so On the contrary one of the strong points in the original apostolic preaching is the confident appeal to the knowledge of the hearers they not only said lsquowe are witnesses of these thingsrsquo but also lsquoas you yourselves knowrsquo (Acts 222) Had there been any tendency to depart from the facts in any material respect the possible pressure of hostile witnesses in the audience would have served as a further corrective
The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable pp44-46
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
3 Archaeology and the Gospels
Text Detail Archaeological Corroboration
Mark 121
Jesus taught in a synagogue in the village of Capernaum on the NW shore of Galilee
A 1st C synagogue has been discovered under the remains of a later one in Capernaum
Matthew 2218-22
Jesus asks teachers of the law to name the image and inscription on a Roman coin
Many coins found with emperorrsquos image amp divine status
TI CAESAR DIVI AUG F AUGUSTUS = Augustus Tiberius Caesar Son of the Divine Augustus
Luke 31 Pontius Pilate the GovernorPrefect of Judaea
No archaeological evidence for his rule until 1961 when a slab inscribed with his name and title was unearthed at The Tiberium a temple for the worship of emperor Tiberius
John 52 A pool with five porticos named Bethesda near the Sheep gate in the city wall
For a long time assumption was John invented it Discovered in C19th by Conrad Schick exactly where John said it was
John 91-9
Jesus heals a blind man by telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
Part of the fresh-water pool has survived
John 1913
The Roman Prefect Pilate passing judgment on Jesus at a location known as ldquothe stone pavementrdquo or Gabbatha
ldquoThe Pavementrdquo was recently discovered next to the Tower of Antonia which was destroyed during the siege of Jerusalem (in 66-70 AD) suggesting eyewitness account pre 70AD
John 1917-41
Jesus being crucified at Golgotha just outside the city walls
Note that the walls were extended to include Golgotha within the city just 10 years after Jesusrsquo death = eyewitness account
John 1932-22
The soldiers come to break the legs of those crucified (to speed up dying process) but Jesus already deadNT crucifixion descriptions were disputed (eg suggesting ropes not nails used and criminals banned from Jewish burials)
In 1968 Vassilios Tzaferis found the first indisputable remains of a crucifixion victim named Yohanan Ben Harsquogalgol
Yohanan had a spike driven into both feet and nails driven between the lower bones of the arms He also appeared to have had his legs broken He was given a proper burial
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
4 Estimated Chronology of New Testament Books
NT Book Date Authored Author Place of WritingGalatians 49 Paul Syrian Antioch
1amp2 Thessalonians 50-51 Paul Corinth
1 Corinthians 55 Paul Ephesus
2 Corinthians 56 Paul Macedonia
Romans 57 Paul Corinth
James 50s-60s James Jesus brother Jerusalem
Mark Late 50s-early 60s John Mark (friend of Peter) Rome
Matthew Late 50s-early 60s Matthew Syrian Antioch
Philemon Colossians Ephesians
61-62 Paul Rome
Luke amp Acts 62 Luke (friend of Paul) Caesarea then Rome
Philippians 62 Paul Rome
1 Timothy 63-64 Paul Macedonia
Titus 63-64 Paul Nicopolis
1 Peter 63-64 Peter
2 Peter 65 Peter
2 Timothy 65 Paul Rome
Hebrews 68 Unknown
Jude Late 60s-early 70s Jude Jesus brother
John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
123 John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
Revelation Late 80s-early 90s John Patmos (off Asia Minor)
Adapted from Robert H Gundry A Survey of the New Testament 4th ed (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2003)
5 Transmission of the Gospels Down the Centuries
Doubts are sometimes raised about the Biblersquos transmission since the potential for textual distortions obviously grows the longer the gap between writing and our earliest extant copies But it is clear that the New Testament differs from all other ancient texts both in terms of the ldquocopy gaprdquo and the number of ancient copies that have survived Here are the figures for Markrsquos gospel
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Ancient Text Date of writing
Earliest complete
The ldquoCopyGaprdquo
No of ancient copies
Pliny the Youngerrsquos HISTORY
AD 61-113 AD 850 750 years 7
Caesarrsquos GALLIC WARS 100-44 BC AD 900 1000 years 10
Platorsquos DIALOGUES 427-347 BC AD 900 1200 years 7
Catullus POEMS 80-55 BC AD 1300 1350 years 3
Aristotle TREATISES 284-322 BC AD 1100 1400 years 49
Sophocles plays 496-406 BC AD 1000 1400 years 193
Euripides plays 480-406 BC AD 1100 1500 years 9
MARKrsquoS GOSPEL AD 50s - 60s AD 130 lt80 years 5000
Sir Frederic Kenyon (Director of The British Museum 1909-1931)The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible and the last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established
6 Further Reading And StudyIntroductory level
If you want something small Andrew Erringtonrsquos booklet Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus (Matthias Press 2009) is a great place to start (only 32 pages)
Barnett Paul Gospel Truth IVP (Nottingham) 2012
Bruce FF The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable IVP (Nottingham) 2000
Roberts Mark D Can We Trust The Gospels Crossway (Wheaton IL) 2007
More academicBauckham Richard Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Eerdmans (Grand Rapids) 2006
Blomberg Craig The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) IVP (Nottingham) 2007
Wright NT The Resurrection of the Son of God SPCK (London) 2003
Useful WebsitesBe Thinking Run by UCCF a wealth of articles on all kinds of
apologetic questions esp Bible amp Jesus sectionhttpwwwbethinkingorgbible-jesus
Bible amp Church A growing site with various lectures (incl on the Biblersquos historicity) from Tyndale House Cambridge
httpwwwbibleandchurchcom
Mark D Roberts website
Much of the material (and more) included in his book is available here - including great photos and links
httpwwwmarkdrobertscomhtmfilesresourcesgospelsreliablehtm
Theology Network UCCFrsquos companion site for more academic levels of theology
httpwwwtheologynetworkorgbiblical-studies
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
3 Archaeology and the Gospels
Text Detail Archaeological Corroboration
Mark 121
Jesus taught in a synagogue in the village of Capernaum on the NW shore of Galilee
A 1st C synagogue has been discovered under the remains of a later one in Capernaum
Matthew 2218-22
Jesus asks teachers of the law to name the image and inscription on a Roman coin
Many coins found with emperorrsquos image amp divine status
TI CAESAR DIVI AUG F AUGUSTUS = Augustus Tiberius Caesar Son of the Divine Augustus
Luke 31 Pontius Pilate the GovernorPrefect of Judaea
No archaeological evidence for his rule until 1961 when a slab inscribed with his name and title was unearthed at The Tiberium a temple for the worship of emperor Tiberius
John 52 A pool with five porticos named Bethesda near the Sheep gate in the city wall
For a long time assumption was John invented it Discovered in C19th by Conrad Schick exactly where John said it was
John 91-9
Jesus heals a blind man by telling him to wash in the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem
Part of the fresh-water pool has survived
John 1913
The Roman Prefect Pilate passing judgment on Jesus at a location known as ldquothe stone pavementrdquo or Gabbatha
ldquoThe Pavementrdquo was recently discovered next to the Tower of Antonia which was destroyed during the siege of Jerusalem (in 66-70 AD) suggesting eyewitness account pre 70AD
John 1917-41
Jesus being crucified at Golgotha just outside the city walls
Note that the walls were extended to include Golgotha within the city just 10 years after Jesusrsquo death = eyewitness account
John 1932-22
The soldiers come to break the legs of those crucified (to speed up dying process) but Jesus already deadNT crucifixion descriptions were disputed (eg suggesting ropes not nails used and criminals banned from Jewish burials)
In 1968 Vassilios Tzaferis found the first indisputable remains of a crucifixion victim named Yohanan Ben Harsquogalgol
Yohanan had a spike driven into both feet and nails driven between the lower bones of the arms He also appeared to have had his legs broken He was given a proper burial
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
4 Estimated Chronology of New Testament Books
NT Book Date Authored Author Place of WritingGalatians 49 Paul Syrian Antioch
1amp2 Thessalonians 50-51 Paul Corinth
1 Corinthians 55 Paul Ephesus
2 Corinthians 56 Paul Macedonia
Romans 57 Paul Corinth
James 50s-60s James Jesus brother Jerusalem
Mark Late 50s-early 60s John Mark (friend of Peter) Rome
Matthew Late 50s-early 60s Matthew Syrian Antioch
Philemon Colossians Ephesians
61-62 Paul Rome
Luke amp Acts 62 Luke (friend of Paul) Caesarea then Rome
Philippians 62 Paul Rome
1 Timothy 63-64 Paul Macedonia
Titus 63-64 Paul Nicopolis
1 Peter 63-64 Peter
2 Peter 65 Peter
2 Timothy 65 Paul Rome
Hebrews 68 Unknown
Jude Late 60s-early 70s Jude Jesus brother
John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
123 John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
Revelation Late 80s-early 90s John Patmos (off Asia Minor)
Adapted from Robert H Gundry A Survey of the New Testament 4th ed (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2003)
5 Transmission of the Gospels Down the Centuries
Doubts are sometimes raised about the Biblersquos transmission since the potential for textual distortions obviously grows the longer the gap between writing and our earliest extant copies But it is clear that the New Testament differs from all other ancient texts both in terms of the ldquocopy gaprdquo and the number of ancient copies that have survived Here are the figures for Markrsquos gospel
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Ancient Text Date of writing
Earliest complete
The ldquoCopyGaprdquo
No of ancient copies
Pliny the Youngerrsquos HISTORY
AD 61-113 AD 850 750 years 7
Caesarrsquos GALLIC WARS 100-44 BC AD 900 1000 years 10
Platorsquos DIALOGUES 427-347 BC AD 900 1200 years 7
Catullus POEMS 80-55 BC AD 1300 1350 years 3
Aristotle TREATISES 284-322 BC AD 1100 1400 years 49
Sophocles plays 496-406 BC AD 1000 1400 years 193
Euripides plays 480-406 BC AD 1100 1500 years 9
MARKrsquoS GOSPEL AD 50s - 60s AD 130 lt80 years 5000
Sir Frederic Kenyon (Director of The British Museum 1909-1931)The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible and the last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established
6 Further Reading And StudyIntroductory level
If you want something small Andrew Erringtonrsquos booklet Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus (Matthias Press 2009) is a great place to start (only 32 pages)
Barnett Paul Gospel Truth IVP (Nottingham) 2012
Bruce FF The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable IVP (Nottingham) 2000
Roberts Mark D Can We Trust The Gospels Crossway (Wheaton IL) 2007
More academicBauckham Richard Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Eerdmans (Grand Rapids) 2006
Blomberg Craig The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) IVP (Nottingham) 2007
Wright NT The Resurrection of the Son of God SPCK (London) 2003
Useful WebsitesBe Thinking Run by UCCF a wealth of articles on all kinds of
apologetic questions esp Bible amp Jesus sectionhttpwwwbethinkingorgbible-jesus
Bible amp Church A growing site with various lectures (incl on the Biblersquos historicity) from Tyndale House Cambridge
httpwwwbibleandchurchcom
Mark D Roberts website
Much of the material (and more) included in his book is available here - including great photos and links
httpwwwmarkdrobertscomhtmfilesresourcesgospelsreliablehtm
Theology Network UCCFrsquos companion site for more academic levels of theology
httpwwwtheologynetworkorgbiblical-studies
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
4 Estimated Chronology of New Testament Books
NT Book Date Authored Author Place of WritingGalatians 49 Paul Syrian Antioch
1amp2 Thessalonians 50-51 Paul Corinth
1 Corinthians 55 Paul Ephesus
2 Corinthians 56 Paul Macedonia
Romans 57 Paul Corinth
James 50s-60s James Jesus brother Jerusalem
Mark Late 50s-early 60s John Mark (friend of Peter) Rome
Matthew Late 50s-early 60s Matthew Syrian Antioch
Philemon Colossians Ephesians
61-62 Paul Rome
Luke amp Acts 62 Luke (friend of Paul) Caesarea then Rome
Philippians 62 Paul Rome
1 Timothy 63-64 Paul Macedonia
Titus 63-64 Paul Nicopolis
1 Peter 63-64 Peter
2 Peter 65 Peter
2 Timothy 65 Paul Rome
Hebrews 68 Unknown
Jude Late 60s-early 70s Jude Jesus brother
John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
123 John Late 80s-early 90s John Ephesus
Revelation Late 80s-early 90s John Patmos (off Asia Minor)
Adapted from Robert H Gundry A Survey of the New Testament 4th ed (Grand Rapids Zondervan 2003)
5 Transmission of the Gospels Down the Centuries
Doubts are sometimes raised about the Biblersquos transmission since the potential for textual distortions obviously grows the longer the gap between writing and our earliest extant copies But it is clear that the New Testament differs from all other ancient texts both in terms of the ldquocopy gaprdquo and the number of ancient copies that have survived Here are the figures for Markrsquos gospel
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Ancient Text Date of writing
Earliest complete
The ldquoCopyGaprdquo
No of ancient copies
Pliny the Youngerrsquos HISTORY
AD 61-113 AD 850 750 years 7
Caesarrsquos GALLIC WARS 100-44 BC AD 900 1000 years 10
Platorsquos DIALOGUES 427-347 BC AD 900 1200 years 7
Catullus POEMS 80-55 BC AD 1300 1350 years 3
Aristotle TREATISES 284-322 BC AD 1100 1400 years 49
Sophocles plays 496-406 BC AD 1000 1400 years 193
Euripides plays 480-406 BC AD 1100 1500 years 9
MARKrsquoS GOSPEL AD 50s - 60s AD 130 lt80 years 5000
Sir Frederic Kenyon (Director of The British Museum 1909-1931)The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible and the last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established
6 Further Reading And StudyIntroductory level
If you want something small Andrew Erringtonrsquos booklet Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus (Matthias Press 2009) is a great place to start (only 32 pages)
Barnett Paul Gospel Truth IVP (Nottingham) 2012
Bruce FF The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable IVP (Nottingham) 2000
Roberts Mark D Can We Trust The Gospels Crossway (Wheaton IL) 2007
More academicBauckham Richard Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Eerdmans (Grand Rapids) 2006
Blomberg Craig The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) IVP (Nottingham) 2007
Wright NT The Resurrection of the Son of God SPCK (London) 2003
Useful WebsitesBe Thinking Run by UCCF a wealth of articles on all kinds of
apologetic questions esp Bible amp Jesus sectionhttpwwwbethinkingorgbible-jesus
Bible amp Church A growing site with various lectures (incl on the Biblersquos historicity) from Tyndale House Cambridge
httpwwwbibleandchurchcom
Mark D Roberts website
Much of the material (and more) included in his book is available here - including great photos and links
httpwwwmarkdrobertscomhtmfilesresourcesgospelsreliablehtm
Theology Network UCCFrsquos companion site for more academic levels of theology
httpwwwtheologynetworkorgbiblical-studies
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
Ancient Text Date of writing
Earliest complete
The ldquoCopyGaprdquo
No of ancient copies
Pliny the Youngerrsquos HISTORY
AD 61-113 AD 850 750 years 7
Caesarrsquos GALLIC WARS 100-44 BC AD 900 1000 years 10
Platorsquos DIALOGUES 427-347 BC AD 900 1200 years 7
Catullus POEMS 80-55 BC AD 1300 1350 years 3
Aristotle TREATISES 284-322 BC AD 1100 1400 years 49
Sophocles plays 496-406 BC AD 1000 1400 years 193
Euripides plays 480-406 BC AD 1100 1500 years 9
MARKrsquoS GOSPEL AD 50s - 60s AD 130 lt80 years 5000
Sir Frederic Kenyon (Director of The British Museum 1909-1931)The interval then between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible and the last foundation for any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established
6 Further Reading And StudyIntroductory level
If you want something small Andrew Erringtonrsquos booklet Can We Trust What the Gospels Say About Jesus (Matthias Press 2009) is a great place to start (only 32 pages)
Barnett Paul Gospel Truth IVP (Nottingham) 2012
Bruce FF The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable IVP (Nottingham) 2000
Roberts Mark D Can We Trust The Gospels Crossway (Wheaton IL) 2007
More academicBauckham Richard Jesus and the Eyewitnesses Eerdmans (Grand Rapids) 2006
Blomberg Craig The Historical Reliability of the Gospels (2nd ed) IVP (Nottingham) 2007
Wright NT The Resurrection of the Son of God SPCK (London) 2003
Useful WebsitesBe Thinking Run by UCCF a wealth of articles on all kinds of
apologetic questions esp Bible amp Jesus sectionhttpwwwbethinkingorgbible-jesus
Bible amp Church A growing site with various lectures (incl on the Biblersquos historicity) from Tyndale House Cambridge
httpwwwbibleandchurchcom
Mark D Roberts website
Much of the material (and more) included in his book is available here - including great photos and links
httpwwwmarkdrobertscomhtmfilesresourcesgospelsreliablehtm
Theology Network UCCFrsquos companion site for more academic levels of theology
httpwwwtheologynetworkorgbiblical-studies
Trusting the Gospels Some Background Information All Souls Langham Place
Mark Meynell (httpmarkmeynellwordpresscom) October 2013
![Teo - Proper Diet and Nutrition -ASLP 2012 [Compatibility Mode]](https://static.fdocuments.net/doc/165x107/577d1f171a28ab4e1e8fdb86/teo-proper-diet-and-nutrition-aslp-2012-compatibility-mode.jpg)
