Evidence is presented to support the New Testament as a reliable record of the ministry of Jesus and of the early Christian church. The means by which the New Testament has been preserved are also examined. Presentation by John Darms.

1. Is the Bible Reliable?
JOHN DARMS NOVEMBER 2017

2. Introduction
u Does the Bible inform us about the way the world really is?
u In other words, does the Bible correspond to reality (verisimilitude)?
u The historical details regarding Jesus have been reliably provided by
the New Testament documents.
u Can the survival and growth of Christianity be explained any other
way?
u The Gospels are the result of reliable eyewitnesses testimony.
u Although the original manuscripts of the New Testament aren’t
available the original can be reconstructed to a high precision.

3. Bart Ehrman
What do you suppose happened to the stories [about Jesus]
over the years, as they were told and retold, not as disinterested
news stories reported by eyewitnesses, but as propaganda
meant to convert people to faith, told by people who had
themselves heard them fifth- or sixth- or nineteenth-hand? Did
you or your kids ever play the telephone game at a birthday
party?
(Bart Ehrman, Jesus Interrupted, pages 146-147)

4. Rules for the telephone game
u You must whisper
u Can only say it once
u Only one source of information
u The biggest laugh results when you distort the message

5. What Else does Bart Ehrman Say?
“Where, then, did these anonymous Greek-speaking authors living
probably outside of Palestine some thirty-five to sixty-five years after
the events that they narrate get their information?”
(Bart Ehrman, Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium, page 46)

6. Qualifications for Reliable Witness
u Were the witnesses present?
u Multiple witnesses?
u Do the details from witnesses match too well?
u What corroboration is there for the witnesses?
u Are the witnesses consistent and accurate?
u Do the witnesses have bias? Money?, Lust? Protect loved one?
Power/Fame?
u Embarrassing details?
u Are the witnesses self-serving?

7. Were Jesus & the Disciples Literate?
u Jews had high regard for education; especially concerning their scripture
u Jesus was a rabbi who instructed disciples
u Disciples were required to learn and be able to teach others what they had
learned from their rabbi.
u Matthew, tax collector
u Luke, physician
u John Mark, family well off (Acts 12:12 ff, Herod Agrippa, James (Zebedee))
u John, fisherman
u Jesus engaged in theological/scripture debate with religious authorities
u Jesus appeared to be familiar with Jewish scripture
u Jesus founded movement which produced large body of writings

8. Were 1st Century Gentiles Literate?
u Greek and Aramaic was common in Galilee
u Thousands of public inscriptions found
u Graffiti was common throughout the Roman empire
u Ostraca was common (Post It note of Roman Empire)
u Examples of writing found from slaves, low ranking soldiers, working
class, etc.
u City dump of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt had papyri dating from 300 BC to
500 AD
u Evidence of Baker and his wife that were literate buried by Mt Vesuvius

10. What is the Bible?
u Written over period of 1400 years (1400 BC to 90 AD)
u Written from Italy to Mesopotamia
u Genre: history, law, poetry, parable, biography, letters, prophecy,
apocalyptic
u Diverse authors: fisherman, kings, soldiers, etc.
u Writes of virtues, vices, and failings of heroes and peoples

11. Bible Explains Reality
u Why is there something rather than nothing?
u Why is there a universe?
u Why is there life?
u Why are humans great?
u Why are humans bad?
u What is the purpose of human life?
u What is the basis for objective morality?
u Should we be moral?
u What is the solution for the human problem?
u What is the ultimate destiny for humans?

12. Unique Influence of the Bible
u Raised status of women and children
u Laid groundwork for democratic forms of government
u Human freedom
u End of slavery
u Science
u Art, Literature, Music, Architecture
u Universities
u Orphanages
u Hospitals
u Literacy

13. Matthew Parris Timesonline - 1
…And he notes the major worldview differences between Christianity and
African tribal beliefs: “Anxiety – fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature
and the wild, of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things – strikes deep
into the whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place
and, call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual spirit,
stunting curiosity. People won’t take the initiative, won’t take things into
their own hands or on their own shoulders.
… Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous
contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct
from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international
aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not
do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual
transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.
Matthew Parris from Timesonline December 2008

14. Matthew Parris - 2
…Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a
direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God,
unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human
being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework I’ve
just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious to cast off
a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it liberates.
Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition
must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the
knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the
change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted.
And I’m afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian
evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the
mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone and
the machete.
Matthew Parris from Timesonline December 2008

15. Bible Written and Preserved During
Persecution
u Christians accused of cannibalism and incest.
u Refused to worship Roman gods.
u Secrecy of rituals aroused suspicion.
u Sporadic and local persecution before 250 AD.
u 250 AD start of empire-wide persecution.

16. Jesus Crucified
Stephen Stoned
Trajan
Nero
Tiberias
Caligula
Claudius
Herod
The tetrarch
(Antipas)
Herod Agrippa
Herod Agrippa II
Pilate
Marcellus, Marullus
Fadus, Tiberius
Alexander, Cumanus
Felix
Festus
Albinus,
Florus,Julianus
Death of James (brother of Jesus)
30
40
50
70
60
80
100
90
110
20
Death of James son of Zebedee
Death of Paul
Death of Peter
Pliny the Younger
Domitian
Christian & Jewish Persecution

17. 120
130
150
140
160
180
170
190
200
210
220
Marcus Aurelius
Persecution in Lyon
Death of Polycarp
In Smyrna
Death of Justin Martyr
in Rome
Scillitan Martyrs

18. 230
240
250
270
260
280
300
290
310
320
330
Constantine
The Great
Diocletian
Decius
Valerian
Gallienus
Imperial Edicts
Edict of Milan
Christianity favored religion
Galerius

20. The New Testament Manuscripts Are An
Embarrassment Of Riches
u Stack of manuscripts for average classical writer 4 feet high.
u Stack of New Testament manuscripts 1 mile high.

21. New Testament Manuscripts
Language Earliest Manuscripts
Greek 130 AD 5,800
Armenian 862 AD 2,000
Coptic Late 200’s AD 975
Gothic 400 - 600 AD 6
Ethiopian 500’s AD 600
Latin 300’s AD 10,000
Syriac Early 400’s AD 350
Georgian 400’s AD 89
Slavic 900’s AD 4,000

22. Early
Church
Father
Lived
New
Testament
Citations
Justin Martyr 100 – 165 AD 300
Irenaeus 130 – 202 AD 1,800
Clement of Alexandria 150 – 215 AD 2,500
Origen 185 – 254 AD 18,000
Tertullian 160 – 220 AD 7,200
Hippolytus 170 – 235 AD 1,300
Eusebius 263 – 339 AD 5,200
Cyprian 200 – 258 AD 1,000

23. Dan Wallace
What can we conclude from this evidence? New Testament
specialist Daniel Wallace notes that although there are about
300,000 individual variations of the text of the New Testament, this
number is very misleading. Most of the differences are completely
inconsequential--spelling errors, inverted phrases and the like. A side
by side comparison between the two main text families (the Majority
Text and the modern critical text) shows agreement a full 98% of the
time.
Wallace, Daniel, "The Majority Text and the Original Text: Are They Identical?," Bibliotheca Sacra, April-June,
1991, 157-8.

24. Geisler & Nix
Of the remaining differences, virtually all yield to vigorous
textual criticism. This means that our New Testament is
99.5% textually pure. In the entire text of 20,000 lines, only
40 lines are in doubt (about 400 words), and none affects
any significant doctrine.
Geisler, Norman L., Nix, William E., A General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago: Moody
Press, 1986), 405

25. John Rylands MS 130 AD
u Fragment from Gospel of
John
u Found in Egypt
u Traditional location of
original writing Asia Minor
By Papyrologist Bernard Grenfell (1920), as preserved at the John Rylands Library. Photo: courtesy of JRUL. - Papyrus: preserved at
the John Rylands Library. Photo: courtesy of JRUL., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2955648

26. Bodmer Papyrus II 150-200 AD
u Most of Gospel of John
u Purchased from dealer in Egypt 1950’s
and 1960’s
P. Bodmer II, Papyrus 66 (Gregory-Aland), Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13296576

27. Chester Beatty Papyri
200 AD
u Collection includes 3 papyrus codices
with major portions of NT
u Purchased from dealer in Egypt 1930’s
Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland[1] [2], Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2155880

28. Codex Vaticanus
AD 325 - 350
u Located in Vatican Library
u Contains almost entire
Bible
u Considered one of the
most trustworthy
manuscripts
Codex Vaticanus, Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=
5603242

29. Codex Sinaiticus
AD 350
u Obtained from Mt Sinai
Monastery by Von
Tischendorf
u Contains almost all NT and
half the OT
Public Domain

30. Caiaphas Ossuary
• In 1990, Caiaphas name found
(dated A.D. 10-36).
• Ossuary – bone box
• Jewish High Priest who organized the
plot to have Jesus killed.
• Information for Caiaphas life from
New Testament and Josephus
By deror_avi - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22215161

31. Pontius Pilate Inscription
• In 1961, Pilate inscription found (dated
A.D. 26-37).
• prefect of the Roman province of
Judaea
• Found at Caesarea Maritima,
administrative capital of the province
By BRBurton - Own work, CC0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22817908

32. Yehohanan Crucifixion
• By Rubén Betanzo S. -
Hombre_de_"Giv'at_ha-Mivtar".jpg,
Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/in
dex.php?curid=10053493
• In 1968, building contractors
uncovered Jewish tomb with ossuary.
• Yehohanan, a victim of crucifixion
discovered.
• Dated between 7 – 70 AD
• Spike driven through the bone of the
heel.

33. Sir William Ramsay
Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact
trustworthy…this author should be placed along with the very greatest
historians.
- William M. Ramsay, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament,
1915, pg 222
I began with a mind unfavorable to it…but more recently I found
myself brought into contact with the Book of Acts as an authority for
the topography, antiquities, and society of Asia Minor. It was
gradually borne upon me that in various details the narrative showed
marvelous truth.
- William M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 1897

34. Archeology I
• Papyrus found in Egypt confirms it was common practice for
Rome to have people return to their ancestral homes for a
census.
• Luke uses the Greek name strategoi (chief magistrates ) for the
rulers of Philippi in Acts 16. Experts said he should have used
the term: “duumuir”. Archeology proved Luke right and the
experts wrong.
• Acts 14:6: Luke correct in description of Lystra and Derbe.

35. Archeology II
• Acts 17:6: civil magistrates of Thessalonica called politarchs.
Word “politarch” not found elsewhere in classical literature.
Inscription eventually found in Thessalonic with “politarch”.
• In Acts 18:4-7 synagogue mentioned in Corinth which has
been found.
• In Acts 18:12 critics called Luke wrong in naming Gallio
proconsul. Delphic inscription date AD 52 showed Luke to be
correct: “Lucius Junius Gallio, my friend, and the proconsul of
Achaia”.

36. Archeology III
• Acts 19 Luke describes a riot in Ephesus which ended up in a
theater (verses 29-31). The theater has been uncovered and
has room for 25,000 people. Also inscription mentioning silver
statues of Artemis (Diana).
• Acts 21:28 Inscription in Jerusalem temple in Greek and Latin
forbidding foreigners in the temple.
• Most of the ancient cities mentioned in Acts have been
identified via archaeology.

37. Archeology IV
• In Luke 3:1, Luke is correct in mentioning Lysanias, the Tetrarch
of Abilene.
• In 1929, Erastus (Romans 16:23), curator of public buildings,
name found in Corinth.
• In 1888, Pool of Bethesda discovered
• Court where Jesus tried by Pilate discovered recently.

38. Archeology V
• Sceptics once thought that the Gospels must be wrong about
synagogues existing in Judea and Galilee. It was thought, that
since the temple still existed, synagogues wouldn’t be
necessary.
• Quite a number of synagogues have been excavated (half in
the last 25 years)
• Capernaum, Gamala, The Herodium, Jericho, Magdala,
Masada, Modein, Qiryat Sefer, Shuafat, Jerusalem
• Coins

39. Non-Christian Witnesses I
• Tacitus (b 56 AD) – Roman Senator, historian “Nero substituted as culprits and punished with
the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men loathed for their vices whom the crowd
styled Christians. Christus, from whom they got their name, had been executed by sentence
of the procurator Pontius Pilate when Tiberius was emperor.” – Annals, Book 15.
• Josephus (b 37 AD) – Jewish historian “At this time there was a wise man who was called
Jesus. And his conduct was good and was known to be virtuous. Many people among the
Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to
die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported
that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive;
accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted
wonders.” – Antiquities 18.3.3

40. Non-Christian Witnesses II
• Lucian (b 125) – Greek critic “The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day – the
distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites and was crucified on that account…
these misguided creatures … deny the gods of Greece and worship the crucified sage and
live after his laws” – The Works of Lucian of Samosata.
• Celsus (2nd century) Greek writer - “Now if the Christians worshipped only one God they
might have reason on their side … But as a matter of fact they worship a man who appeared
only recently. And their worship of this Jesus is the more outrageous because they refuse to
listen to any talk about God, the father of all, unless it includes some reference to Jesus…
.And when they call him Son of God, they are not really paying homage to God, rather, they
are attempting to exalt Jesus to the heights.” – Contra Celsum.

41. Non-Christian Witnesses III
• Jewish Talmud - “On the eve of Passover Yeshua was hanged … since nothing was brought
forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!” – Sanhedrin 43a.
• Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, etc

42. Names in 1st Century Palestine
uName database from NT, Ossuaries, DSS, Josephus.
uMatthew 10:2-4 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The
first, Simon (1), who is called Peter, and Andrew(?) his brother;
and James(11) the son of Zebedee, and John(5) his brother; Philip(61)
and Bartholomew(50); Thomas(?) and Matthew(9) the tax
collector; James(11) the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus(39);
Simon(1) the Zealot, and Judas(4) Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.
uTotally different popularity of names in 1st century Egyptian Jewish
culture.
uCompare to non-Canonical Gospels: Thomas, Mary and Judas.
Youtube: Dr Peter Williams - New Evidences the Gospels were Based on Eyewitness Accounts
Tal Ilan, Lexicon of Jewish Names in Late Antiquity, Part 1 (Mohr Siebeck, 2002)
Richard Bauckman, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (Eerdmans, 2006)

43. Did Paul Make Up The Story Of Jesus To
Appeal To Gentiles?
u How would Gentiles view the founder of a new religion who was
crucified?
u Crucifixion totally degraded the sufferer.
u 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a
stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

44. Did Paul Make Up The Story Of Jesus To
Appeal To Jews?
u How would Jews view the story of a crucified messiah?
u Jews expect victorious ruler who would regain Jewish
independence and glory.
u Jews expected their messiah to be God’s special emissary.
u 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a
stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

45. Conclusion
u Bible alone got it right that the universe has a beginning.
u Bible accurately describes human psychology.
u The disciples were seriously flawed. (Who’s to be the greatest.
Didn’t understand Jesus teaching.)
u The founder was crucified.
u The disciples ran away at the crucifixion.
u The disciples and early Christians were willing to suffer.
u Enemies changed their minds: Paul, James (Jesus brother).
u There are multiple witnesses that agree on the important details.

46. Conclusion II
u The disciples weren’t motivated by money, lust, protection of loved
ones, fame or power.
u Women were 1st at the tomb. Compare to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
u Archeology, name studies, non-Christian writings indicate the New
Testament was written by 1st century Palestinian Jews that were
eyewitnesses to the events that they write about. Luke, Paul and Mark
obtained their information indirectly, but have proven reliable.
u The massive quantity and quality of manuscripts assures us that our
New Testament is extremely reliable.
u The survival and growth of Christianity and the church only make
sense if the New Testament is true.
u The resurrection is at the heart of this story. Stay tuned.

47. Death of James son of Zebedee
u In AD 41 Herod Agrippa consolidated power
u He wanted to endear himself to Jews
u He had James put to death by the sword
u When he saw that pleased the Jews, he imprisoned
Peter.
u Acts 12 (At end of chapter Herod is eaten by worms)
u Return to timeline 1st century.

48. Death of James (brother of Jesus)
u According to Josephus
uWhen Festus died (66 AD), there was temporary
power vacuum.
uAnnas II, the High Priest, attacked the Jerusalem
church.
uHe had James the brother of Jesus and head of the
Jerusalem church.
uReturn to timeline 1st century.

49. Death of Paul
u Conversion around 34 AD.
u Beginning of 1st missionary journey 47 AD.
u Goes to Jerusalem council with Barnabas 49 AD.
u 2nd missionary journey 49-50 AD.
u Galatians written ~49 – 51 AD.
u 1 Thessalonians 51 AD & 2 Thessalonians 52 AD.
u 3rd missionary journey 53 AD.
u 1 Corinthians 54 AD, 2 Corinthians & Romans 56 AD.
u Remaining epistles 60 – 64 AD.
u Return to timeline 1st century.

50. Claudius
u Expels Jews from Rome 49 AD.
u Acts 18:2 Aquila (native of Pontus) & Priscilla
u Return to timeline 1st century.

51. Nero
u Emperor from 64 – 68 AD.
u Suetonius reported Nero caused large fire in Rome.
u Tacitus says Nero blamed and tortured Christians for the fire.
u Paul beheaded in Rome
u Peter crucified in Rome
u Return to timeline 1st century.

52. Pliny the Younger
u Roman governor of Bithynia et Pontus
u “they meet on a certain day before light where they gather and
sing hymns to Christ as to a god…they pledge not to commit any
crimes such as fraud, theft, or adultery, and subsequently share a
meal of ordinary and innocent food“
u Tortured and killed Christians unwilling to renounce Christ.
u Return to timeline to 1st century.

53. Persecution in Lyon & Vienne
u Local persecution.
u Being Christian considered subversive.
u Christian forbidden to appear in public
uAllowed to be mocked, beaten and robbed.
u Accused of cannibalism and incest.
u Christians tortured.
u 48 Christians killed.
u Return to timeline 2nd century.

54. Imperial Edicts
u Emperor Decius required all sacrifice for emperor/gods
(AD 250).
u Some Christians died rather than sacrifice.
u Riots, persecution, massacres against Christians in
Carthage and Alexandria.
u Edict rescinded after a year; return to tolerance.
u Emperor Valerian renewed edict in 253 AD.
u Emperor Gallenius repealed edict in 260-261 AD.
u Return to timeline 3rd century.

55. Diocletian Persecution
u Purged army of Christians starting in 284 AD.
u 303 AD start of general persecution of Christians.
u Return to timeline 3rd century.