Saturday, 2 April 2016

In defence of the faith

While sharing my last post on Twitter my lovely wife was asked about her faith. Being the gentle kind woman that she is, she had a little difficulty in answering the questions posed to her.

So I stepped in and provided the answers. I soon found out that he was not interested in answers but quickly dismissed my evidence as hearsay and continued asking for more evidence.

I have no reservation in providing answers to people that are genuine seekers of truth, but for people who start by throwing up unsubstantiated arguments without doing a little fact checking I normally move past. I normally justify this course of action by following the words of Christ.

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." Mathew 7:6

Here Jesus encourages us not to waste our time debating with people who are only going to ignore or trample our prayerfully considered responses. However this is not the only way to treat this argument, so this time I am adopting of a more apologetics approach hoping that God will reward my diligence.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 1 Peter 3:15

I believe that Christians need to be prepared to defend against the arguments of this world and destroy anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. To do this we must study the word of God and understand the message of Love that God has given us.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4-5

So here goes.


1) Non or extra biblical evidence to support the gospel writers

They are extensive so I wont make a comprehensive list, for a comprehensive list, here and here
Cornelius Tacitus (55-120 AD), "the greatest historian" of ancient Rome
Flavius Josephus (37-97 AD), court historian for Emperor Vespasian:
Pliny the Younger, Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor around 112 AD:
The Jewish Talmud, compiled between 70 and 200 AD:

The bible is a collection of eyewitness accounts, these accounts have been proven to be accurate over and over again.
2) The disciples of Jesus themselves wrote all but one of the gospel accounts, they were eyewitness to the events. The gospel and new testament authors were there, they all claim to have met Jesus.

This is just bad history, the first book of the new testament was actually a letter written by Paul. The book of Galatians written in 49AD, click here and here for more information.

The book of Mark was not written till late 50's and early 60's and by then there were several other letters by Paul and there were two other gospels that came out at about the same time. The gospels of Mathew and Luke. The Gospels were written by those that were there. Here you can find evidence of when the manuscripts were written, these manuscripts are more reliable then any other historical manuscripts.
This is just plain wrong, all but one of the gospel writers were one of Jesus chosen disciples. We know who they were, there is only one new testament book that its author is unknown and that is the book of Hebrews, and many bible scholars and historians attribute the book to Paul, Apollos or Barnabas. The only gospel writer that wasn’t a member of the apostles, did a fact check and went out and sought after witnesses to compile his gospel.
While possible for Jesus to do this, these people were visited by Jesus after his death and resurrection before his ascension.
Paul states it as evidence

After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:6

Written in 54 AD these people were in fact witnesses to the events outlined in the gospels, they were all people that had seen Jesus first alive, then after his death and resurrection.
Furthermore, I would point out that because the gospel writers have differing accounts of the ministry of Jesus is not evidence against them it is in fact evidence to support that they were written by people who were there and wrote and remembered what they thought was important. I would point out to that the accounts were written by people many years after the events had taken place.

I will admit to not having the greatest memory even after a year things become a little foggy. My point is that they got so much the same they all might differ on the order of some events but they all agree that Jesus was a real man and that he was hung on a cross and died for our salvation. They all agree that he rose three days later and then ascended into the heavens.

What 'NooYawk Atheist' fails to realise is that the new testament is not a claim, it is in fact the evidence given for God. It is a collection of eyewitness accounts, and a record of what these fishermen and tax collectors did with the knowledge that God came and lived among us.  

Take into account the record of Saul of Tarsus, he had it all; wealth, privilege, and was on the cusp of gaining power. He hated the message of Jesus, he wanted to stamp it out. On the way to Damascus to stamp out the message of Christ, he meets Jesus. The men he was travelling were not able to corroborate his story, but now blind he proceeded to Damascus and he received his sight from a man that was a follower of Jesus. Saul then changes his life completely and starts preaching that Jesus is the risen son of God. A message up until then he had killed people for believing. He dedicates the rest of his life to this cause, he suffered from stoning, whipping, being beaten with rods, drowning and being shipwrecked. He would not have suffered all this and given up all that he had, if his meeting with Jesus was not real.
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 1 Corinthians 11:25

All but one of Jesus's original disciples died a horrible death. These men would not have gone to their deaths for a lie or a falsehood, they went knowing what they said was true.
Giving a defence for the hope that I have

I am still praying and believing that those who don't know Christ will come to know him.
Signing off
Peter

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