The Bible’s Authentication
Question: When you were in school (or if you still are) did the teachers or professors lecture from their own material? In other words, do teachers and professors only use their own work or do they lecture from sources that others have authored? With some exception (mainly at the university level), most teachers and professors use material that others have spent a lot of time researching and writing about, and then it is developed into a curriculum.
I have stacks of notebooks with notes from teachers’ lectures who are using curriculums developed by others. If the original work was ever lost we could go to the lectures of those teachers who directly took the information from the original authors, and even check their students’ notes, like mine! This is what we have with the Bible from very early on. Even though we have tens of thousands of early manuscripts, we also have additional authentication from the early Church teachers’ lectures and notes!
Even if we did not have any of the early manuscripts from the various text families and locations (see previous post on “Transmission”), could we reconstruct the autographs from other sources? YES!
Lectionaries
- We have 2,135 lectionaries from the early Church leaders that have readings from the New Testament
- These lectionaries have been catalogued and preserved over time
- This practice of reading passages of Scripture (lectionaries) from the New Testament books—began in the sixth century
- If there had been any forgeries or changes to the New Testament writings all of these would have had to been changed as well
Early Church Fathers’ Letters (Note: “Fathers” is the term used for the early leaders)
The greatest attestation for the authority of the New Testament is the masses of quotations taken from its early pages by the Church Fathers:
- There are 86,000 quotes from the early Church Fathers
- There are 36,000 quotations from the New Testament books found in writing before the council of Nicaea in A.D. 325
- Even the deniers of the faith quoted from the New Testament books never realizing they were helping to verify authenticity in the future!
- Overall there are estimated to be over one million quotes from early Christians directly from the New Testament—the same books we read today!
“Besides textual evidence derived from New Testament Greek manuscripts and from early versions, the textual critic has available the numerous scriptural quotations included in the commentaries, sermons, and other treatises written by the early Church fathers. Indeed, so extensive are these citations that if all other sources for our knowledge of the text of the New Testament were destroyed, they would be sufficient alone for the reconstruction of practically the entire New Testament.”
– Bruce Metzger, New Testament Scholar, “The Text of the New Testament,” 126
Creedal Importance
Additional support to the writings of the New Testament, and for what the earliest Christians believed, comes from creeds. The early creeds give evidence to the fact that Christianity believed what it believes today very early on. By studying the creeds we can take the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith all the way back to within just a few years of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Creeds were a way of proclaiming what a group of people believed to be true.
Skeptics claim the foundational beliefs of Christianity, such as the Virgin Birth, The Resurrection and the Deity of Christ, were added hundreds of years later and changed over time. This cannot be true based on the early writings and teachings of the Church Fathers and from what we find in the creeds. Let’s look at a few of the most prominent early creeds:
Pay careful attention to each of these creeds and you will see the basic tenants of foundational Christian beliefs in each one, demonstrating that they have never changed over time!
The Nicene Creed (AD/CE 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 Apostle’s Creed (c. AD/CE 300)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen
“The first Creed:” 1st Corinthians 15:3-8 (established c. AD/CE 35)
“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…”
The key in the 1 Corinthians passage is the first phrase: “For what I received I passed on to you…” This indicates that Paul had passed something he already had (that was already being taught) when he was there and he is reflecting on that in this letter. If Paul was passing something on that he had already received, then others were already teaching what he received. Paul’s conversion was somewhere between AD/CE 33-37 so this makes the time in which he received this creed very close to the year of the actual resurrection event, therefore making it impossible for anyone to have added to or changed these foundational beliefs over time.
Going Deeper
For additional information on the early dating of the 1 Corinthians 15 creed, with excellent references, go to this Christian Apologetics’ Website:
https://beliefmap.org/bible/1-corinthians/15-creed/date/
Reflection
- Why are the lectionaries, letters, and creeds from the early Church important in making a case for the Bible?
- PTRs: Prayer Focus—Write out your own “Creed” describing what you believe about Jesus and the Gospel Message:
Bible Study
Each week we do a Bible study to practice our Bible study skills. Read or re-read 2 Corinthians chapter 5, then answer the following questions:
- What is the hope that Paul shared with the Corinthians (who were facing suffering, persecution, and personal trials) that is still relevant for Christians today? How should that make us feel about our own trials, earthly bodies, infirmities, sorrow, etc.? (5:1-8)
- What should our priorities be in this life versus our eternal life and why? (5:9-16)
- Copy and read verses 5:17 and 5:20 (note: v. 20 is often used as a call to apologetics). If we put those two verses together can we see God’s purpose for us his children? How did He accomplish that purpose? (5:17-21)
Join us next week as we look at the question: Were there any books left out of the Bible?
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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