Questions about the Bible: 4. How can we believe an old book that was written by believers years after the event?
How can we believe an old book that was written by believers years after the event?
Luke begins his account of the life of Jesus with these words: ‘Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye witnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you’.
Despite the accusations to the contrary, the New Testament documents are historical, so much so that they are like historical gold dust. Let me explain: how do we know anything about history – for example, Julius Ceasar? The answer is, through documents as well as archaeological and circumstantial evidence. The Gospel accounts in the New Testament are a collection of historical documents.
First, the writers were conscious that they were recording history. See how they record descriptions of scenes, place names, time of day and year, officials in Rome, festivals and Jewish authorities. This is not make-believe. The New Testament documents agree with what we know from historical accounts of the world at the time.
Secondly, examine the time scale. The documents were written within living memory of the events – all before 90AD. One archaeologist, WF Bright, stated ‘the period is too slight to permit any appreciable corruption’. Remember too that the culture of that day included written memorisation which was the almost universal method of education. The incidents in the life of Jesus, as well as His teaching, could be remembered and recorded easily.
Thirdly, consider the writers. These were people who either knew Jesus or had based their gospel on the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. In the end some of them were killed for their beliefs about Jesus that were contained in their writings. Wouldn’t they have been quick to deny their stories upon threat of death? I wonder whether the real issue with people who do not accept the historical reliability of the New Testament is that if they do they have to deal with the claims of the authentic Jesus.
Go to: Where would you recommend me to start reading the Bible?
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