Test The Bible
by Joe
In document research, there’s a thing called the internal test. When researchers analyze documents, they use different criteria to determine of the documents are worthy or not.
Here are 6 questions to gauge the authenticity of the New Testament.
- Was the author in a position to know what they were writing about?
- Does the writing contain specific and sometimes irrelevant material?
- Some examples include :John ran faster than Peter to the Tomb, The cloth covering Jesus was folded up and placed by itself
- Does the writing contain anything that may cast a negative image on the writer or subject?
- Examples : Peter denied Jesus 3 times
Women were the first witnesses
The disciples were doubtful
- Is it reasonably self-consistent?
- Would the authors have a motive for fabrication?
- Are there alternate sources of confirmation?
That’s not all. From a historical view, there were only 3 categories of people living alongside Jesus.
- The Opposing Non-Jew
- The Opposing Jew
- The Biblical Witness
Let’s look at how they viewed the Savior:
Opposing Non-Jew
He was said to have been born of a virgin
(no comment on whether this was true)
He lived in Judea (Palestine)
He was wise and influential
He could accurately predict the future
He possessed unusual magical powers
(no comment on the source of this power)
He taught a high moral code
He claimed to be God
No mention of prophecies that predict Him
His followers thought He was God
No mention of how He rode into Jerusalem
No mention of who betrayed him
He was crucified under Pilate
No mention of a beating prior to the crucifixion
He was crucified
There was darkness and an earthquake at his crucifixion
(explained as a solar eclipse)
No mention of the resurrection, the ascension or the empty tomb
(therefore there is no explanation offered)
Opposing Jew
He was said to be born of a virgin
(but he was actually fathered by a soldier)
He lived in Palestine
He was a wise teacher
No mention of Jesus’ predictions
He had magical powers
(from a demonic source)
He taught about turning the other cheek
He claimed to be the Messiah
He said Isaiah had foretold of Him
He was worshiped by His followers
He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey
He was betrayed by Judah Iskarioto
He was crucified under Pilate
He was beaten with rods, given vinegar to drink and wore a crown of thorns
He was executed on the eve of Passover
No mention of the darkness or earthquake at the crucifixion
(therefore there is no explanation offered)
His followers said He resurrected & ascended, and the tomb was empty
(but He was later recovered from a grave)
The Biblical Witnesses
He was born of a virgin
(miraculously through the power of God)
He lived in Palestine
He was a wise teacher
He made accurate predictions of the future
He had supernatural powers
(due to the fact He was God himself)
Jesus taught the moral standard of God
He claimed to be God
He said Isaiah had foretold of Him
He was worshiped by His followers
He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey
He was betrayed by Judah Iskarioto
He was crucified under Pilate
He was beaten with rods, given vinegar to drink and wore a crown of thorns
He was crucified on the eve of Passover
There was darkness and an earthquake at the crucifixion
(explained supernaturally)
His followers saw Him resurrected & watched Him ascend; the tomb was empty
(he defeated death and rose again)
You can see, there is a great similarity to all three accounts and the details. No contradiction to the facts, just to their explanation and possibly the guarding of the details over the years.
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