This week’s class presentation will continue our focus on seeing Jesus in the Old Testament. Then, for the apologetics portion of the class, we will look at the evidence from eyewitness accounts, both friendly and hostile. We will look at documents outside the Bible that support the Biblical account, and we will wrap up the manuscript portion by summarizing what scholars do in textual criticism. We will end with our Bible study in the book of Judges chapters 9 through 12. This website will post basic answers for the Bible study the week following the class for your review.

As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done effectively if we know what God’s Word teaches, especially the big picture that always points to Jesus! All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, an “apologetics” presentation, and a Bible study section.

You will find the presentation notes and the Bible study survey format questions here, and basic answers to the Bible study will be posted during the week following each class for your review and as a leader’s guide.

Watch this week’s class presentation:

2025 A Case for the Bible, The Story Continues

Presentation Notes

Review and Discuss

Prayer Cards: Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have (exchange with your table group at the end of the evening).

1.  Where is Jesus in the Old Testament (Give the main tag line for the first eight books: Jesus is…)?

2.  Recite the Memory Verses:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”  Genesis 3:15 (NASB)

From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.  John 13:19 (NASB)

“The blood [of the lamb] shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13 (NASB)

“The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  John 1:29 (NASB)

SEEING JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Every book of the Bible points to Jesus! He is The Word

Jesus in the Old Testament…

Spend this next week studying the tag line for each of the Old Testament books from Genesis through the Wisdom books (stop at Song of Solomon), we will add in the major prophets next week. See Allan Parr’s presentation on “How Jesus Is Hidden In Every Book of The Old Testament”

A Christian Apologetic Tool
MAPS-S

Manuscript Evidence: Seven strong lines of researchable evidence

1. Exceptional historical and literary support
2. Excellent transmission over time
3. Accurate translations
4. Thorough canonization process – no inspired books are left out
5. Contains multiple eyewitness accounts
6. Authentication by both Christian and non-Christian sources
7. The science of textual criticism eliminates errors in the copies

5.  Contains multiple eyewitness accounts

• The Bible Authors were eyewitnesses of the events, or recorded eyewitness accounts of the events
• There are multiple, not singular, accounts of events, especially the Gospel record
• The accounts are historically accurate
• The witnesses are of good reputation
• Many of the witnesses died martyrs’ deaths for their beliefs
• Hostile witness accounts support the Biblical stories
  • Paul and James (the half brother of Jesus) are examples
  • Marcion the second century Gnostic heretic confirmed, by denying, the books of the New Testament

6.  Authentication by both Christian and non-Christian sources

• There are approximately 2135 cataloged lectionaries from early Church leaders
• There are over one-million quotations of the New Testament Scripture in the early Church leaders’ letters and documents

The Testimony of the Early Church Fathers
Citations of the New Testament

Writer	Gospels	Acts	Pauline Epistles	General Epistles	Revelation	Total Citations
Justin Martyr	268	10	43	6	3	330
Irenaeus	1038	194	499	23	65	2406
Clement	1017	44	1127	207	11	2406
Origen	9231	349	7778	399	165	17,922
Tertullian	3822	502	2609	120	205	1378
Hippolytus	734	42	387	27	188	1378
Eusebius	3258	211	1592	88	27	5176
Grand Total	19,368	1352	14,035	870	664	36,289

There are respected non-Christian Historians that record first century events pointing to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the development of the early Christian Church:

• Thallus, a Greek historian, writes of the crucifixion and mentions the day that suddenly turned dark – quoted by Julius Africanas.
• Tacitus, a Roman historian, echoes the Gospel account of the death of Christ including the mention of the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate.
• Josephus, a Jewish historian, writes about the death of Jesus, the martyrdom of James, the martyrdom of John the Baptist, the resurrection three days after the crucifixion, and early Christian communities.
• Suetonius, a Roman historian, mentions the expulsion of Christians from Rome which corresponds with the account in the book of Acts.
• Pliny the Younger, a Roman authority and administrator, writes of the early Christian community in Asia Minor.
• Mara Bar Serapion – Jewish philosopher.
• Phelgon – quoted by Origin.
• Marcion – the Gnostic heretic would be a hostile witness.

Recommended Resource: “Evidence that Demands A Verdict, by Josh and Sean McDowell.” This book is a must have for every Christian’s library as it give evidential answers to every question about the reliability, historicity and accuracy of transmission for the Bible.

Creedal Importance:

The early creeds give evidence to the fact that Christianity believed what it believes today very early on, and by studying the creeds we can take the foundational belief all the way back to within just a few years following Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The Nicene Creed (325)

We believe [1] in one God [2], the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven  and earth [3], of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father [4]; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation [5] he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary [6, 7] and became truly human [8] . For our sake he was crucified [9] under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again [10] in accordance with the Scriptures [11]; he ascended into heaven [12] and is seated at the right hand of the Father [13]. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead [14] , and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified [15], who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church [16]. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins [17]. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

“The first Creed”
1^st Corinthians 15:3-8 (ca 40 AD)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter), and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me…

Doctrinal Essentials of the Christian Faith

1. Human depravity

2. Mary’s virginity

3. Christ’s purity

4. Christ’s deity

5. Christ’s humanity

6. God’s unity

7. God’s tri-unity

8. The necessity of God’s grace 

9. The necessity of our Faith

10. Christ’s atoning death

11. Christ’s bodily resurrection

12. Christ’s bodily ascension

13. Christ’s priestly intercession 

14. Christ’s bodily return

15. Heaven and Hell

All major sections of Christendom affirm these from very early on… (Disagreements have always been about non-salvational governmental practices, and some secondary and tertiary issues)

7.  The science of textual criticism eliminates errors in the copies

“Textual criticism is a method used to determine what the original manuscripts of the Bible said.”

• There are over 25,000 early manuscripts to compare (New Testament) 2nd place goes to Homer’s Iliad with 1757
• These manuscripts can be found in various museums, libraries and churches around the world
• Error rate between manuscripts is only 2% – mainly in spelling, grammar, and word order (including a few deletions or additions) – all are rectified after comparison resulting in 98% for OT and 99.5% for NT

Overall:

• The Bible is 100% reliable in its vox (meaning)
• The Bible is 99.5% accurate in its verba (matching original wording of the autographs)

M = Manuscript Evidence: Summary

• Estimate of 17,000 ancient Old Testament manuscripts and over 25,000 early New Testament manuscripts with 5800 in the original Greek language – the scholarly field of textual criticism finds a 98% agreement for Old Testament and 99.5% agreement for New Testament – add in early lectionaries and quotations from the 1st – 3rd century leaders we can assert 100% accuracy.
• The Bible is a primary source document and contains multiple eyewitness accounts of events, including hostile witnesses, and the New Testament accounts of the first century (AD/CE) life of Jesus and the early Church were written within the lifetime of the people involved in the events (completed by the mid to late first century AD/CE).
• The transmission of the Bible is verifiable and referenced across multiple sources from the very beginning.
• Bibles today, like NASB, NIV or KJV, have only been translated once from the original language.
  • Old Testament = Hebrew (some parts of Daniel and Ezra are in Aramaic)
  • New Testament = Greek

Bible Study

Each week we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be posted during the week for your review. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Discuss anything in the presentation that you would like to address with comments, questions or concerns, then go over your homework from last week…

Read Judges chapters 9 through 12, then do one or more of the following:

Note: There are several ways to study a book of the Bible, you can choose the level you’re most comfortable with:

• Basic: Read the chapter, then write down a title for each chapter (you could include more than one depending on topics in that chapter or what your study Bible might have).
• Going Deeper: Take notes to summarize the chapter (no more than three to five sentences). However, you can add to your summaries if you glean something important from your study partners each week (leave some room).
• Advanced: Look for these things to put in your summary notes:
  • Look for Covenants: Abrahamic (unconditional promise of a Nation, Land and Blessing) or Mosaic (Conditional promise of protection for obedience; loss of protection for disobedience)
  • Look for Jesus? Is there anything in this chapter that foreshadows or pictures Jesus; or is there any prophecyin the chapter (Messianic or other types)?
  • The Shelf: Note any questions or a-ha’s you have about the chapter.
  • Answer the attached chapter questions to go along with your summaries.

Chapter 9:

1.  Who was Abimelech, what was his family history and what did he end up doing?

2.  What was Jotham’s curse and how did it come to pass?

3.  Going Deeper: What do we know about Shechem from Biblical history up to this point in time? (See the books of Genesis and Joshua)

Chapter 10:

1.  Who were Tola and Jair, and what can we know about them?

2.  Going Deeper: Who were Israel’s oppressors this time, and what can we know about these two groups from Biblical history?

3.  Discuss: Why do you think Israel keep going back to God at their lowest points, instead of the pagan gods they were worshipping?

Chapter 11:

1.  Who was Jephthah, and what can we know about him from this narrative?

2.  Why did Jephthah make such a rash vow and then follow through with it? (Note: You can discuss Scholar’s thoughts on what might have taken place here, though the Scripture is pretty clear)

3.  Going Deeper: How can we know that God did not command or condone this type of behavior and sacrifice? Site Scripture references.

Chapter 12:

1.  What happened between Gilead and Ephraim, and why?

2.  Who succeeded Jephthah and what can we know about them?

3.  Going Deeper: What is the backstory of Gilead (who are they in relation to the nation of Israel)?

HOMEWORK:

Choose from the above (basic, going deeper or advanced) to read and study Judges chapters 13 through chapter 16. Here are the guiding questions for a more advanced study in the chapters:

Chapter 13:

1.  To Whom did the LORD give the sons of Israel over this time, and what can we know about them?

2.  Who was Manoah and his wife, and what happened to them?

3.  Discuss: What does it mean to be a Nazarite? Do you know of any other men in the Bible who were Nazarites?

4.  Going Deeper: Who was this angel of the LORD, and how can we know?

Chapter 14:

1.  Why did Samson want a wife that was a Philistine since his people, Israel, were being oppressed by them?

2.  Why did Samson’s parents object to his marriage (go deeper and reference the Mosaic Law)?

3.  What was Samson’s riddle, and how did the Philistines figure it out? What happened to his wife?

Chapter 15:

1.  What did Samson do when he found out his wife had been given to another, and what was the consequence of his action?

2.  Discuss: What is the ultimate consequence of revenge and retaliation; and why is it a common response by most humans?

Chapter 16:

1.  What did Samson do when he went down to Gaza (verses 1-3)?

2.  Why, and how, did Delilah gain the truth about Samson and his strength? What was the result?

3.  Discuss: What do you think was the downfall of Samson and why?

4.  Going Deeper: Re-read verse 28. What was Samson doing here and how might this relate to repentance and salvation?

Continue to Practice your memorization of …