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Christian Apologetics Study Apologetics Study EVIDENCES FOR THE CHRISTIAN FAITH Compiled by Richard Helsby Please send comments and suggestions to [email protected] This is an introductory small group study on Christian Apologetics. Please note that this is a compilation and selection of existing material, and that throughout this study I have referenced the original literature sources. It is highly recommended that you consult these sources if a more in-depth study is required. 1 Table of Contents STUDY ONE – APOLOGETICS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 5 WHY APOLOGETICS? .................................................................................................................................. 6 Obedience ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Removing Barriers ................................................................................................................................ 6 Strengthens Christians .......................................................................................................................... 6 INTELLECTUAL SUICIDE? ............................................................................................................................ 7 LOGICAL COURSE OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 7 STUDY TWO – DID JESUS EXIST? ....................................................................................................... 12 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 12 EVIDENCE FROM CHRISTIAN SOURCES FOR THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS ................................................... 12 EVIDENCE FROM SECULAR SOURCES FOR THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS ...................................................... 12 Cornelius Tacitus ................................................................................................................................ 13 Flavius Josephus ................................................................................................................................. 13 Thallus, The Samaritan-Born Historian.............................................................................................. 14 Pliny the Younger ................................................................................................................................ 15 Lucian of Samosata ............................................................................................................................. 15 Suetonius ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Mara Bar-Serpaion ............................................................................................................................. 16 The Rabbinic Writings ........................................................................................................................ 16 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................ 17 STUDY THREE – IS SCRIPTURE RELIABLE AS A HISTORICAL RECORD? ............................ 20 STUDY THREE – PART 1 – THE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TEST ......................................................... 21 HOW MANY COPIES OF NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS ARE AVAILABLE? .............................................. 21 WHAT LENGTH OF TIME PASSED BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL AND THE EARLIEST COPIES? ............................ 22 WHAT VARIANCES EXIST BETWEEN THE COPIES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ............................................... 23 COMMENTS ON COLLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 23 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TEST CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 24 STUDY THREE – PART 2 – THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST .................................................... 28 WHEN WAS THE NT WRITTEN? ................................................................................................................. 29 DOES THE NT CONTAIN “GOSPEL FICTIONS” OR LIES? ............................................................................. 31 DOES THE NT CONTAIN MYTHS? .............................................................................................................. 34 WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF ALL THE SUPERNATURAL EVENTS RECORDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS? ............................................................................................................................................ 43 DOES THE NT CONTAIN CONTRADICTIONS? .............................................................................................. 44 What constitutes a contradiction? ....................................................................................................... 44 The approach to apparent contradictions ........................................................................................... 45 Difference versus Contradiction ......................................................................................................... 46 Translation .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Use of Language ................................................................................................................................. 47 Context ................................................................................................................................................ 47 Which standards to use? ..................................................................................................................... 47 Descriptions of God ............................................................................................................................ 48 External Contradictions ...................................................................................................................... 49 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 49 INTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST CONCLUSION ................................................................................................. 49 STUDY THREE – PART 3 – THE EXTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST? ................................................. 50 THE EVIDENCE FROM EXTRA-BIBLICAL AUTHORS .................................................................................... 50 THE EVIDENCE FROM MARTYRS ................................................................................................................ 50 ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE .................................................................................................................... 50 HISTORICAL-GEOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCE .................................................................................................. 52 JEWISH CULTURAL EVIDENCE .................................................................................................................. 53 2 EXTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST CONCLUSION ................................................................................................ 54 STUDY THREE – CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 54 STUDY FOUR - DID JESUS CLAIM TO BE GOD? ............................................................................. 59 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE ............................................................................................................... 59 THE DIFFICULTY OF THIS ISSUE ................................................................................................................. 60 DID JESUS MAKE ANY CLAIMS TO DEITY? ................................................................................................. 60 WAS JESUS MISUNDERSTOOD? ................................................................................................................. 62 EVIDENCE FOR JESUS’ DEITY.................................................................................................................... 62 Jesus' use of divine titles / names ........................................................................................................ 63 YHWH - Lord ................................................................................................................................................ 63 Son of God ..................................................................................................................................................... 63 Son of Man ..................................................................................................................................................... 64 Abba - Father .................................................................................................................................................. 65 Jesus' claims to be God ....................................................................................................................... 65 Jesus' claims to pre-existence ........................................................................................................................
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