cslewislover wrote:For both Waynepii and Ogjak, here is a link to an article that might interest you, "The Historicity of the New Testament" by JP Moreland, Professor of Philosophy. http://www.bethinking.org/bible-jesus/a ... tament.htm This site has many different resources that they classify as Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced. The article I linked to is considered Advanced. You may want to check out some of their other things. If I have time I'm going to go over some (some of Rich's, too) and try to summarize a few points here.
Great link. There are some great academic sites to show the historicity of the bible.
The Bible has been demonstrated to be reliable historically and archaeologically. When this debate is brought up we are merely repeating history. The bible has been critiqued from the get go. The reality is that many refuse to accpet the answers. They don't question the writings of Plato, or Josephus. Why? The content. No one is making a fuss over the lack of integrity in the historicity of Aristotle's works. The reality is that many if not most do not want the bible to be true, because it demonstrates a God with moral dictates they don't agree with.
So, if someone is sincerely seeking to know that the bible has been accurately preserved, then there is certainly solid proof that it can be trusted in that regard. The next question is if the historicity bible can be trusted, then what about the message? Is the message true?
If we could step away from the academic for a moment. John 14:21 says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and
manifest Myself to him.”
Now wouldn't it be great if God has provided a way to communicate to man the truth of Himself, through His Word?
If your desire to know is sincere then God has made a way to KNOW. A man with an argument is no match for a man with an experience. You can KNOW. But, if someone's questions are antagonistic, then they will never be satisfied with academic explanations.
In fact John 14:26 has to be one of the most intriguing verses in the Bible. Why is it included? Could it be that Jesus answered this very question. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and
bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."