1 Can we be confident in the text of Scripture?SCRIPTURE’S INTEGRITY Can we be confident in the text of Scripture?

2 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy

3 What is meant by the integrity of Scripture?“the quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness” The wholeness of Scripture The wholeness of Scripture is judged in many ways: Logical wholeness Literary wholeness Moral wholeness Historical wholeness

4 The Integrity of Scripture is ImportantAuthors claim to be inspired – their claims must either be demonstrated or abandoned. The canon of Scripture – either we possess all the books of Scripture or the Bible lacks literary integrity. Scripture’s Integrity is Make-or-Break Either Scripture can demonstrate it flows forth from an almighty, all-knowing, all-present God or it cannot.

5 GOD The Integrity of Scripture Claims of inspiration by the authors2 Peter ; John 14-16 Note the degree of inspiration claimed by the authors: John 16.13ff; 1 Corinthians 2.12ff The authors were inspired to the very words they recorded: Note that Jesus argued from a single word in the OT – John Jesus argued from the specific tense of a word – Matthew 22.32 Paul argued regarding the singularity of a word – Galatians 3.16 GOD

6 The Integrity of Scripture – Evidence of InspirationConsistency in Scripture is key to establishing Scripture’s integrity. Scripture claims to be inspired by God; if it is, it will: Reflect internal accuracy Be historically reliable Demonstrate scientific consistency

7 Testing the Internal Accuracy of Scripture:Written over 1600 years by approximately 40 individuals No contradictions, even with the disparity of authors. Testing the Historical Reliability of Scripture: An accurate detail of world history, even before events occurred. Daniel’s accounts of then-impending world empires (Daniel 2,5,8). Testing the Scientific Consistency of Scripture: Hebrew circumcision practices; foolishness of bloodletting.

8 An honest, intensive, and extensive investigation of Scripture, from both high and low perspectives, demonstrates an integrity that is unknown in comparable literary works and serves to confirm the authors’ claims of inspiration by an almighty, all-knowing God.

9 3 Questions Christians Must Answer“I agree that the Bible is a good book with noble lessons—but why must I accept it as the inspired word of God?” God’s inspiration is claimed – 2 Timothy God’s inspiration is an all-or-nothing proposition. Scripture cannot be a good work while maintaining it is the product of an almighty, all-knowing God.

10 3 Questions Christians Must Answer“How can you be sure that what you’re reading is an accurate representation of what God inspired those men to write centuries ago?” Lacking the autographs is not a significant problem; it can actually be an unexpected blessing. The Bible is the most well-documented work of history.

11 Documentary Evidence New Testament Homer’s Iliad Plato’s TetraologiesWhen Written? AD 900BC BC Earliest Extant MSS? AD125 (25-85 years) 400BC (500 years) AD900 (1,247-1,327 years) Number of MSS Copies? 24,000+ 643 7 1 2 3

12 3 Questions Christians Must Answer“How can you be sure that what you’re reading is an accurate representation of what God inspired those men to write centuries ago?” Lacking the autographs is not a significant problem; it can actually be an unexpected blessing. The Bible is the most well-documented work of history. Archeology is instilling greater confidence in the Scriptures.

13 John Rylands Papyrus (P52)(University of Manchester Library) Fragment of John 18:31-33 Early AD 100s Acquired in 1920, translated in 1934. While notable mostly for its OT MSS, the Cairo Geniza yielded this fragment of John’s gospel account, merely decades after it was originally penned. Cairo Geniza “earliest known fragment of the NT”

14 Chester Beatty Papyri (P45,46,47)(University of Michigan, and other locations) Fragment of Acts 9.1ff (P45) AD The Chester Beatty Papyri were first introduced to the world by announcement on November 17, 1931 (http://www.bible-researcher.com/kenyon/sotb9.html) For example, this fragment from Acts is separated from its autograph by years. Perhaps from a Coptic graveyard near Atfih, Egypt Portions from all gospel accounts and Acts

15 Chester Beatty Papyri (P45,46,47)(University of Michigan, and other locations) Fragment of Galatians 1-6 (P46) AD P46 contains nearly the entirety of the Book of Galatians, this particular section of the CB Papyri being housed at the University of Michigan. Again, we are talking about less than 200 years between the autograph and this manuscript. Egyptian Discovery Galatians housed at University of Michigan

16 These variances are not always what scholars make them seem:Jeremiah 39.1 in KJV vs. more modern translations Simple spelling variations are counted as “textual variances”. Each instance of a textual variance in any manuscript counts towards the total of 200,000+ variances. The reality of the textual variances: “Only 400 or so… variants materially affect the sense [of the reading], and of these perhaps 50 are of real significance. But no essential teaching of the New Testament is greatly affect by them.” Quotation is Ira M. Price, The Ancestry of our English Bible, 222 “But what about those 200,000+ textual variances scholars keep talking about?”

17 Examples of significant textual variances:Matthew in the KJV vs. NASB, ESV, NIV The KJV, published in 1611, only had a few Greek MSS to work with. More recent discoveries of older MSS indicate this verse was probably a scribe’s mistake, unintentionally added to the body of Matthew 18. Quotation is Ira M. Price, The Ancestry of our English Bible, 222 “But what about those 200,000+ textual variances scholars keep talking about?”

18 Examples of significant textual variances:Mistakes in MSS were not uncommon. Greek was written in a style called uncial in and around NT times. Uncial style saw letters written at the same height and in all caps with no punctuation or spacing between words. Scribal fatigue easily explains many of these variances. Test yourself: LETSEATGRANDPA HEISNOWHERE HAVEYOUEVERSEENABUNDANCEONATABLE Quotation is Ira M. Price, The Ancestry of our English Bible, 222 “But what about those 200,000+ textual variances scholars keep talking about?”

19 These variances account for 95-99% of the 200,000+ variances.Can you resolve the following textual variances based upon the error of different scribes? MS 1 - ἐδάκ#υσενὁἸησοῦς MS 2 - ἐδάκρυσε#ὁἸησοῦς MS 3 - ἐδάκρυσενὁἸ#σοῦς How did the autograph read? ἐδάκρυσενὁἸησοῦς  “Wept Jesus” – John 11.35 These variances account for % of the 200,000+ variances. Quotation is Ira M. Price, The Ancestry of our English Bible, 222 “But what about those 200,000+ textual variances scholars keep talking about?”

20 What compromises the remaining 1-5% of textual variances?Majorly disputed texts of the New Testament. Only four seriously challenged NT texts: John ; 1 John 5.7; Mark ; Acts 8.37. Even if we threw out these passages, no NT doctrine changes. Thus, the textual variances are not only easily explained, but also easily resolved. Don’t let large numbers with no context fool you! Quotation is Ira M. Price, The Ancestry of our English Bible, 222 “But what about those 200,000+ textual variances scholars keep talking about?”

21 “But what about those missing books of the Bible?”3 Questions Christians Must Answer “But what about those missing books of the Bible?” The canon of Scripture is created by God, recognized by man. By AD202, every NT book (except 3 John) had been cited. By AD373, all NT books had been recognized as inspired. No evidence of a Catholic conspiracy to hinder the canon. There is a reason for certain books being excluded.

22 Excluded Books – 1 ClementThe author never claims to be inspired. The story of the phoenix is presented as being a real phenomenon. “There is a bird, which is named the phoenix. This, being the only one of its kind, liveth for five hundred years; and when it hath now reached the time of its dissolution that it should die, it maketh for itself a coffin… and so it dieth. But, as the flesh rotteth, a certain worm is engendered, which is nurtured from the moisture of the dead creature and putteth forth wings. Then, when it is grown lusty, it taketh up that coffin where are the bones of its parent, and carrying them journeyeth from the country of Arabia even unto Egypt, to the place called the City of the Sun; and in the daytime in the sight of all, flying to the altar of the Sun, it layeth them thereupon; and this done, it setteth forth to return. So the priests examine the registers of the times, and they find that it hath come when the five hundredth year is completed.” 1 Clement

23 Excluded Books – Shepherd of HermasThe teachings of the book contradict non-controverted Scriptures. “What then, Sir," say I, "shall the husband [innocent – TS] do, if the wife continue in this case [fornication – TS]?" "Let him divorce her," saith he, "and let the husband abide alone: but if after divorcing his wife he shall marry another, he likewise committeth adultery.” (Mandate 4, 29.6 – contradicts Jesus in Matthew 19.4ff) “… as concerning His elect; that if, now that this day has been set as a limit, sin shall hereafter be committed, they shall not find salvation; for repentance for the righteous hath an end; the days of repentance are accomplished for all the saints; whereas for the Gentiles there is repentance until the last day.” (Vision 2, 6.5 – contradicts 1 John 1) 1 Clement

24 3 Questions Sceptics Must ConfrontHow can the many instances of scientific foreknowledge be sufficiently explained, taking into account the prevailing scientific knowledge of those ancient communities?

25 3 Questions Sceptics Must ConfrontHow can the many instances of world history being foretold in great detail be explained naturally?

26 3 Questions Sceptics Must ConfrontWhat evidence exists that groups of individuals, Catholic or otherwise, banded together to thwart humanity’s recognition of the canon of Scripture?

27 APPLICATION AND CONCLUSIONThe integrity of Scripture is an all-or-nothing proposition: Either God has spoken, or He has not. Either God has inspired His word, or He has not. Either God has produced works consistent with His nature, or He has not. Either God has created a canon of Scripture for us, or He has not. The entire discussion of Scripture’s integrity centers around one person – God the Father. APPLICATION AND CONCLUSION

28 “All Scripture is inspired by God...”2 Timothy 3.16