Monday, March 14, 2011

Internal and External Evidences


Scripture is the number 1 documented historical event (with eyewitnesses) in the entire world! Josephus, a Jewish historian in Rome was hired by Rome to write the history of the Jews. Rome wanted a library of history all about their superiority over all other nations. So Josephus got to work. But since he was writing about the most eye-witnessed accounts and most accurately documented accounts he did not leave out the truth of all prophecies, miracles, and the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Thalus, Flagon, Tacitus, and others in this era wrote about the same events and all that went on during the crucifixion (such as the earthquake, the eclipse for 3 hours, etc) and all of these writings were from a secular world-view. There is so much internal and external evidence. And other than the Bible the most well documented events in history are about what went on during the crucifixion!
There are over 2,000 eye-witnesses that have been martyred during A.D. 34. And there are over 25,000 extant copies of Scripture, certainly more than any other documented historical event ever! There are only 7 copies of Plato’s writings, and the earliest copy was written 900 years after his death. Aristotle: less than 50 copies, written 1,100 years after his death. Julies Caesar: 10 copies written 1,000 years after his death. The New Testament however: 5,000 + copies in Greek, 6,000 more were found 3 years ago, 10,000 in Latin, 9,300 in other languages. All of these were written within 100 years of when the New Testament’s history actually happened. That comes to a total of over 25,000. Wow!
Psalm 12:6, 7 says: "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

Picture above: Old Testament scroll, located in Mullah Jacob's Synagogue in Isfahan

4 comments:

Puritan Dilemma said...

Yes, good stuff. Enough evidence to convict any one!

Anna Michael said...

Well, I would say thank you but you were the one who laid this evidence before me. So... Thank you :) This Book has become so important to me, I truly do thirst for it. Thank you for guiding me.

Joshua James said...

I'm loving these sermons, I want to memorize all these facts so I can instantly give an answer to those who claim the bible is just another holy book among many.

Anna Michael said...

Exactly, Joshua! I'm amazed every sermon...the truth just keeps pouring in on me. I do so desire to memorize all of this. How could I desire to read any other "holy book" when the evidence for the Bible is so clearly seen?!