Our class thus far... 1) Who wrote the four Gospels? 2) When
were they written? 3) Is what we have now what they wrote then? 4)
Why do we only have four Gospels in the Bible? 5) Did the Gospel
writers get it right?
Slide 3
The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven. The Bible is the
product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall
magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of
tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless
translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a
definitive version of the book. -Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code
Slide 4
For starters: Why does this question even matter? A word of
warning...
Slide 5
For today... 1) Who wrote the four Gospels? 1) When were they
written? 2) Is what we have now what they wrote then?
Slide 6
Points to consider... A. The Gospels are anonymous B. Names
were attached in the second century. C. The testimony of the early
church. 1) Who wrote the four Gospels?
Slide 7
Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their
own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching in Rome, and
laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark,
the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in
writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion
of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards,
John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His
breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at
Ephesus in Asia. Irenaeus (A.D. 130-200), Against Heresies
Slide 8
Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down
accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the
things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor
followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who
adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no
intention of giving a connected account of the Lords discourses, so
that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he
remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any
of the things which he heard, and not to state any of them
falsely...So then Matthew wrote the oracles in the Hebrew language,
and every one interpreted them as he was able. Papias, quoted in
Eusebius (A.D. 260-340), Church History
Slide 9
... at which nevertheless he was present, and so he placed
[them in his narrative]. The third book of the Gospel is that
according to Luke. Luke, the well-known physician, after the
ascension of Christ, when Paul had taken with him as one zealous
for the law, composed it in his own name, according to [the
general] belief. Yet he himself had not seen the Lord in the flesh;
and therefore, as he was able to ascertain events, so indeed he
begins to tell the story from the birth of John. The fourth of the
Gospels is that of John, [one] of the disciples. The Muratorian
Fragment (c. 180)
Slide 10
One more point to consider... Why Matthew, Mark, and Luke?
Slide 11
Points to consider: A) Church Fathers Ignatius (35-117A.D.)
Papias (60-135A.D.) Polycarp (69-155A.D.) Didache (70-100A.D.)
Clement (96A.D) Irenaeus (130-200A.D) 2) When were they written?
Matthew: 65-85 A.D. Mark : 60-75 A.D. Luke: 65-95 A.D. John: 75-100
A.D.
Slide 12
Points to consider: B) P 52 2) When were they written? Matthew:
65-85 A.D. Mark : 60-75 A.D. Luke: 65-95 A.D. John: 75-100
A.D.
Slide 13
Points to consider: C) Acts, & the Synoptic Gospels Key
events missing from Acts: Death of Peter Death of Paul Neronian
Persecution Destruction of Jerusalem 2) When were they written?
Matthew: 65-85 A.D. Mark : 60-75 A.D. Luke: 65-95 A.D. John: 75-100
A.D.
Slide 14
Points to consider: A) We do not have the originals. 3) Is what
we have now what they wrote then?
Slide 15
Points to consider: B) Reconstructing the original: How many
MSS? How early are the MSS? How important are the textual variants?
3) Is what we have now what they wrote then?
Slide 16
Histories# of MSS Original vs.Copy Livy 59 B.C.-A.D. 17 150400
years Tacitus A.D. 56-120 31800 years Suetonius A.D. 69-140 300800
years Thucydides 460-400 B.C. 95100 years Herodotus 484-425 B.C.
1091350 years Plato 427-347 B.C. 2191300 years Homers Iliad2300400
years New Testament (Greek) 575635 years
Slide 17
Slide 18
The wealth of material that is available for determining the
wording of the original New Testament is staggering: more than
fifty-seven hundred New Testament manuscripts, as many as
twenty-thousand versions, and more than one million quotations by
patristic writers. In comparison with the average ancient Greek
author, the New Testament copies are well over a thousand times
more plentiful. If the average-sized manuscript were two and
one-half inches thick, all the copies of the works of an average
Greek author would stack up four feet high, while the copies of the
New Testament would stack up to over a mile high! This is indeed an
embarrassment of riches. -Reinventing Jesus
Slide 19
How important are the textual variants? 1) Spelling
differences. (70- 80%) Ioannes or Ioanes kai or kurios 2) Minor
differences that involve synonyms or do not affect translation. The
Joseph or The Mary in Luke 2:16 Jesus loves John Mark 6:31-8:26:
Jesus vs. He 3) Is what we have now what they wrote then?
Slide 20
How important are the textual variants? 3) Meaningful but not
viable differences. 1 Thessalonians 2:9, the Gospel of God vs. the
Gospel of Christ. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they
exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of
the Son of Man. Luke 6:22 3) Is what we have now what they wrote
then?
Slide 21
How important are the textual variants? 4) Meaningful but
viable differences. Romans 5:1, let us have peace with God or we
have peace with God. 1 John 1:4: These things we write, so that our
joy may be made complete. John 7:53-8:11 & Mark 16:9-20
footnotes 3) Is what we have now what they wrote then?
Slide 22
Less than 1 percent of all textual variants are both meaningful
and viable, and by meaningful we dont mean to imply earth
shattering significance but rather, almost always, minor
alterations to the meaning of the text...Significant textual
variants that alter core doctrines of the New Testament have not
been produced. -Dethroning Jesus
Slide 23
Points to consider... The Jewish foundation The authority of
Jesus The death of the Apostles The rise of heresies 3) Why are
these four Gospels in the NT?
Slide 24
Points to consider... Three Criteria for NT books: a)
Apostolicity b) Catholicity c) Orthodoxy 3) Why are these four
Gospels in the NT?
Slide 25
I. Clement of Rome (ca. 95) The Apostles received the Gospel
for us from the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus the Christ was sent from
God. The Christ therefore is from God and the Apostles from the
Christ. II. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (ca. 110) Disciple of John
For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up to the wisdom of
the blessed and glorified Paul.
Slide 26
III. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch (ca. 110) I do not, as Peter
and Paul, issue commandments unto you. They were apostles; I am but
a condemned man. IV. Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis (ca. 125) Friend
of Polycarp; heard John preach Affirms written Gospels of Matthew
and Mark V. Tertullian, presbyter at Carthage (ca. 160-230)
Acknowledges all four canonical Gospels as apostolic Equal to the
Law and the Prophets
Slide 27
VI. Justin Martyr, apologist/philosopher (ca. 150-160) And on
the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country
gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or
the writings of the prophets are read as...the president verbally
instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. VII.
Tatian, theologian and writer (ca. 150-160) Composed the
Diatessaron Student of Justin Martyr
Slide 28
VIII. Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch (ca. 177) Moreover,
concerning the righteousness which the law enjoined, confirmatory
utterances are found both with the prophets and in the Gospels,
because they all spoke inspired by one Spirit of God. IX. Ireaneus,
Bishop of Lyons (ca. 180) It is not possible that the Gospels can
be either more or fewer in number than they are...and the pillar
and ground of the Church is the Gospel and the spirit of life; it
is fitting that she should have four pillars. X. The Muratorian
Canon (ca. 180) Confirms 22 of the 27 NT books as Scripture.
Slide 29
The Gospel of... Peter Mary Magdalene Judas Matthias Philip
According to the Hebrews Etc. Three main issues: All date to the
second century and beyond. Gnostic influences. Case study: Serapion
& The Gospel of Peter
Slide 30
I. Infancy Gospel of Thomas Jesus calls a child an unrighteous,
irreverent idiot (3:1-3). Another child bumps into Jesus, and He
strikes the child dead (4:1-2). Joseph to Mary: Do not let him go
outside the door, for all those who provoke him die (14:3). II. The
Gospel of Thomas Simon Peter said to them, Let Mary leave us,
because women are not worthy of life. Jesus said, Look, I shall
lead her so that I will make her male in order that she also may
become a living spirit, resembling you males. For every woman who
makes herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven. (114)
Slide 31
"9. And in the night in which the Lord's day was drawing on, as
the soldiers kept guard two by two in a watch, there was a great
voice in the heaven; and they saw the heavens opened, and two men
descend with a great light and approach the tomb. And the stone
that was put at the door rolled of itself and made way in part; and
the tomb was opened, and both the young men entered in. 10. When
therefore those soldiers saw it, they awakened the centurion and
the elders, for they too were close by keeping guard. And as they
declared what things they had seen, again they saw three men come
forth from the tomb, and two of them supporting one, and a cross
following them. And the heads of the two reached to heaven, but the
head of him who was led by them overpassed the heavens. And they
heard a voice from the heavens, saying, You have preached to them
that sleep. And a response was heard from the cross, Yes."
Slide 32
5) Did the Gospel writers get it right? Points to Consider:
Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account
of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down
to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and
servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having
investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it
out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so
that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been
taught.
Slide 33
5) Did the Gospel writers get it right? Points to Consider:
Oral Tradition Memory in Community Rabbis and their students
Multiple Witnesses/Sources Written tradition...? Repetition of
stories Many of Jesuss sayings facilitate memorization Needs of the
early church...? The role of the Holy Spirit
Slide 34
5) Did the Gospel writers get it right? If anyone ever came who
had followed the elders [those who knew the original apostles] I
inquired into the words of the elders, what Andrew or Peter or
Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew, or any other of the
Lords disciples, had said...For I did not suppose that information
from books would help me so much as the word of a living and
surviving voice. -Papias, in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History
Slide 35
5) Did the Gospel writers get it right? Starting on their
journey, they took up the work of the evangelists and were zealous
to preach to all who had not yet heard the word of the faith, and
to transmit the writing of the divine Gospels. As soon as they had
no more than laid the foundations of the faith in some strange
place, they appointed others as shepherds and committed to them the
task of tending to those who had been just brought in, but they
themselves passed on again to other lands and peoples. Eusebius,
Ecclesiastical History
Slide 36
Our class thus far... 1) Who wrote the four Gospels? 2) When
were they written? 3) Is what we have now what they wrote then? 4)
Why are these four Gospels in the New Testament? 5) Did the Gospel
Writers Get it Right? 6) Are there contradictions in the Gospels?
7) Do miracles undermine the reliability of the Gospels? 8) Is
there any evidence for the Gospels outside the New Testament? 9)
Arent the Gospels just another version of pagan mythology?
Slide 37
Asking the right questions: What is a contradiction? X cannot
equal non-X at the same time and in the same sense. 6) Are there
contradictions in the Bible?
Slide 38
Asking the right questions: B) What was history writing like in
the ancient world? Modern History vs. Ancient History No quotation
marks Precision vs. accuracy Ancient Biographies 6) Are there
contradictions in the Bible?
Slide 39
And with regard to my factual reporting of the events of the
war I have made it a principle not to write down the first story
that came my way, and not even to be guided by my own general
impressions; either I was present myself at the events which I have
described or else I heard of them from eye-witnesses whose reports
I have checked with as much thoroughness as possible. It was
difficult for me to remember the exact substance of the speeches I
myself heard and for others to remember those they heard elsewhere
and and told me of...I have given the speeches in the manner in
which it seemed to me that each of the speakers would best express
what needed to be said about the ever-prevailing situation, but I
have kept as close as possible to the total opinion expressed by
the actual words.
Slide 40
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the
things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us
by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of
the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated
everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in
consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know
the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Luke
1:1-4
Slide 41
Dealing with contradictions: Two Principles to Remember: First,
differences dont necessarily equal errors. Second, an account can
be accurate without being as precise as it could be. 6) Are there
contradictions in the Bible?
Slide 42
Major Categories of Apparent Contradictions: A) Paraphrasing,
Summarizing, and Interpretation You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God. (Matt. 16:16) You are the Christ. (Mark 8:29) The
Christ of God. (Luke 9:20) 6) Are there contradictions in the
Bible?
Slide 43
Major Categories of Apparent Contradictions: B) Abbreviations
and Omissions Luke 7:1-10 vs. Matthew 8:5 Centurion vs. the elders
6) Are there contradictions in the Bible?
Slide 44
Major Categories of Apparent Contradictions: C) Reordering of
Events & Sayings The temptations of Jesus Matthew 4:1-11:
stones into bread, jumping from the temple, and receiving the
kingdoms of the world Luke 4:1-13: stones to bread, kingdoms of the
world, jumping from the temple 6) Are there contradictions in the
Bible?
Slide 45
Major Categories of Apparent Contradictions: D) Reporting of
Similar Events/Sayings Parable of the talents (Matt.25: 14-30
Parable of the minas (Luke 19:11-27 6) Are there contradictions in
the Bible?
Slide 46
Major Categories of Apparent Contradictions: E) Variation in
Numbers How many angels at the empty tomb? Mark: a young man
dressed in a white robe Matthew: an angel with clothing white as
snow Luke: two men in dazzling apparel 6) Are there contradictions
in the Bible?
Slide 47
Our class thus far... 1) Who wrote the four Gospels? 2) When
were they written? 3) Is what we have now what they wrote then? 4)
Why are these four Gospels in the New Testament? 5) Did the Gospel
Writers Get it Right? 6) Are there contradictions in the Gospels?
7) Do miracles undermine the reliability of the Gospels? 8) Arent
the Gospels just another version of pagan mythology? 9) Is there
any evidence for the Gospels outside the New Testament?
Slide 48
6) Do Miracles Undermine the Reliability of the Bible?
Slide 49
Points to consider... 1) What is a miracle? Direct acts of a
personal God that cant be predicted or explained by merely natural
causes. 6) Do Miracles Undermine the Reliability of the Bible?
Slide 50
Points to consider... 2) If God exists, miracles are possible.
Probability & Background Information 6) Do Miracles Undermine
the Reliability of the Bible?
Slide 51
Points to consider... 3) Miracles do not violate the laws of
nature. Science is descriptive, not prescriptive. 6) Do Miracles
Undermine the Reliability of the Bible?
Slide 52
Points to consider... 4) Case Study: The Resurrection of Jesus
A. Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross B. Jesus tomb was empty. C.
Jesus disciples believed He appeared to them. D. The transformation
of Paul and James 6) Do Miracles Undermine the Reliability of the
Bible?