This is our fourth and final session for this class, and we are focusing on the importance of Gospel reliability, and the fact that the New Testament record has not been changed over time, and if fact is considered a primary witness document. We will see that Jesus was there in the beginning, and can be found all throughout the Old Testament, and history itself, fulfilling God’s Covenant Promise and showing us the reason for Gospel Message!

This study will help us understand the history and importance of not only the faithfulness of God through His Covenant Promise, but the love He has for His people as seen in His sovereignty over all things! We can take comfort in the fact that God never makes a mistake, and all things work together for good, for those who trust in Him! Defending our faith and developing a Biblical worldview based on our understanding of God’s Word takes time and practice, and must be part of a lifetime commitment we make to the LORD. It should form our purpose and identity in everyday life as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, modeling Him to our family, friends and neighbors.

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 if we know Jesus and what His Word teaches. All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, a presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation overview and Bible study questions below, with basic answers for your review and, or to use as a leader’s guide.

Watch this week’s presentation:

Presentation

Jesus Blueprint

Session Four: Who Is Jesus?

The Reliability of the Gospels 

Open

Prayer Cards: Write your name on the card. 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 and exchange with your table group at the end of the evening.

Review:

1. What did we learn, from last week, about the importance of the fuses leading up to Jesus, especially the prophetic fuse (what did you add to your list)?
2. Practice the memory verse, and discuss its importance to the Gospel Message.

Memory verse:
Genesis 3:15 – The first Gospel!
(begins the Scarlet Thread)

THE FIRST GOSPEL

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall [d]bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

Genesis 3:15 (NASB)

From Genesis through Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus!

Why is it important to know that the Gospels have not been changed over time?

Multiple lines of evidence give us confidence in the reliability…

1. God’s Inspiration (internal Biblical evidence)
2. Eyewitness accounts (in multiple, both friendly and hostile)
3. The Fuses (cultural, spiritual and prophetic)
4. Accurate transmission over time (via scribes, historical records and Church history)
5. Translation (translations and version today are taken from early sources and original languages)
6. Canonization (books were in use from early on, not added later, confirmed via…)
7. Textual Criticism (MAPS-S)

How can we be certain these are the right Gospel accounts and that there is no such thing as a “missing gospel”?

Definition of terms

Canon: An official rule, a recognized standard, or an approved collection of works (e.g. the Biblical Canon).

Apocrypha: Hidden; of doubtful authenticity

Deuterocanonical: Of, or constituting a second or subsequent canon; specif., designating certain Biblical books accepted as canonical in the Roman Catholic Church. The books of the Old Testament which are part of the canon of Scripture of a given church but which are not found in the Hebrew Bible.

Usage note: The term Deuterocanon implies to some that the works therein ought to be included in the Bible, whereas use of the term Apocrypha implies to some that the same works ought to be excluded from the Bible.

Pseudepigrapha: The term comes from the Greek pseudo, meaning “false,” and epigraphein, meaning “to inscribe,” thus, “to write falsely. These are falsely attributed works, texts whose claimed author is not the true author, or a work whose real author attributed it to a figure of the past.

Gnostic Gospels: The Gnostic gospels are writings by early “Christian” Gnostics. Gnosis means knowledge and Gnosticism fosters the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation (being set free) comes through special knowledge and runs contrary to almost every Christian Doctrine.

Why were these books left out?

• Classic Christianity is based on the teachings of the 66 books of the Christian Bible, as such there would be no inspired books left out, otherwise it would not be Christianity as passed down from the beginning.
• Other books that skeptics have said were “left out” teach something completely different than what we get in our Bible.
• The Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical books were never accepted by early Christianity nor included in the Hebrew Bible.
• The Gnostic gospels were written well into the second century and beyond, and are not considered primary sources.
• The Gnostic writings are inconsistent with Christian Gospels (e.g., do not cite first century names, people and places; and contain esoteric philosophies and doctrines)

The council of Nicaea has often been accused by skeptics, as being the council that “picked” the books of the Bible – NOT TRUE.

• In the first century AD/CE, as soon as the books were written, they were in use by the early Churches (Colossians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:15-16; 1 Timothy 5:18)
• In the first and second centuries the churches in Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus and Rome still possessed the autographs (the original writings) and many of the manuscripts (copies from the originals)
• By the second and third centuries these manuscripts had been widely dispersed and were being used in the early Churches—this is evidenced by the early Church leaders’ lectionaries and quotations (over 1 million) from the books of the New Testament, and we can still reference them today
• The first “canon” was the Muratorian Canon, AD/CE 170
• In AD/CE 325 the council of Nicaea was convened to combat Gnosticism by confirming the Deity of Jesus (not to canonize the Bible)
• In AD/CE 363 the Council of Laodicea confirmed the Old Testament and 26 books of the New Testament (everything but Revelation) were canonical
• Athanasius, in AD/CE 367, laid down the twenty-seven books of our New Testament (already in use) as canonical alone; Jerome and Augustine followed his example in the West
• At Hippo Regius in AD/CE 393, and Carthage in 397, the Christian communities codified the 27 books of the New Testament and we had the final canon of the New Testament

Key points:

1. The 27 books of the New Testament were the same ones already in use by Christians since the first century AD/CE—it was not simply a decision by a few people or a single council.
2. The “Gnostic gospels are all dated too late – well into the second century and beyond, and therefore do not qualify as primary sources (eyewitness accounts).

What standards were used to canonize the Bible?

1. Does it speak with God’s authority?

• Is it consistent with God’s teachings throughout history?
• Is there evidence of God’s Words and promises from Scripture?
• Does it contain the Prophetic principle? —“Thus says the LORD”

2.  Does it have the authentic stamp of God?

• Do the teachings relate to truth and the truths of the Old Testament?
• Are the teachings consistent with the teachings of Jesus, the Prophets and the Apostles?
• Does it follow the past truth principle of previous revelation found in Scripture?

3.  Does it impact us with the power of God?

• Were miracles evidenced based on these teachings?
• Did the eyewitnesses support the miracles reported?
• Was there evidence for changed lives in the life of the believers?

4.  Was it accepted by the people of God?

• The Patristic principle: Was it accepted by the early Church leaders?
• Did the believers in the early church live by it?
• Was the Scripture found in the early believers’ personal item such as quotations, inscriptions, testimonies, etc.? 

5.  Was it supported by the other authors of Scripture?

• Petrine principle: Did Peter support it?
• Pauline principle: Did Paul support it?
• Can it be referenced in other books of the Bible?

“It was specially important to determine which books might be used for the establishment of Christian doctrine, and which might most confidently be appealed to in disputes with heretics. In particular, when Marcion drew up his canon about AD 140, it was necessary for the orthodox churches to know exactly what the true canon was, and this helped to speed up a process which had already begun. It is wrong, however, to talk or write as if the Church first began to draw up a canon after Marcion had published his.” 

–F.F. Bruce, “The Canon of the New Testament”

Recommended Video

Wesly Huff
The Council of Nicaea and the gnostic gospels

The Importance of Bible Study
Practicing Hermeneutics

Homework Review

1. Reflect on the implications of the fuse and it relates to Jesus, and add some points to your “Gospel Message” List.
2. Read Luke chapter 3 through chapter 4:15 for context, and take a few notes, or copy sub-titles.
3. Answer a few questions to go deeper:
   • What do you notice about the detail in John the Baptist’s time, location and ministry?
   • What was John teaching and what were the people expecting?
   • Go deeper by cross-referencing Isaiah 40:1-5 and Malachi 4:5-6 and note how this relates to John.
   • Are there people you recognize in the genealogy list of Jesus? Discuss: why do you think the genealogy is important?
4. Discuss what happened in the wilderness temptation (4:1-15) and how it might reflect back to Genesis 3.
5. How do I use what I have learned? (for step 5 Application reflect on what you’ve learned, for example: Does this help me grow closer to Jesus; share my faith with others; encourage me or give me hope for the future; answer a question I have, etc.?)

Some Basic Answers:

Read Luke chapter 3 through chapter 4:15 for context, and take a few notes, or copy sub-titles.

• John the Baptist prepared the way for Messiah
• Jesus is baptized and John is locked up by Herod
• The genealogy of Jesus back to Adam (Mary’s line)
• The wilderness temptation of Jesus by the devil/Satan – Jesus conquers!
• At this point, in the Gospel of Luke (4:16), we begin to read about Jesus’ ministry…

Answer a few questions to go deeper:
a.  What do you notice about the detail in John the Baptist’s time, location and ministry?

• Luke chapter 3:1-4, gives such amazing detail (over 15 specific people, places and times) that can be verified historically outside the Bible.
• Scholars, both Christian and non-Christian, have put Luke amongst one of the greatest historians to ever write!

b. What was John teaching and what were the people expecting?

• John was teaching and preaching a baptism of repentance and preparation for the coming of Messiah.
• John denied that he is the Christ, as many were thinking, because they were in high anticipation of a coming Messiah.
• Important: Verses 16-17 quotes John saying “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
• We also read that John is arrested and put in jail by Herod for rebuking his relationship with Herodias, his brother’s wife.

c. Go deeper by cross-referencing Isaiah 40:1-5 and Malachi 4:5-6, and note how this relates to John.

• Luke quotes from Isaiah 40:1-5, which proclaims that the LORD Himself is coming to bring salvation to His people
• Luke also alludes to the fact that John fulfills Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6, as being the voice of the one crying in the wilderness “prepare the way” in the spirit of Elijah.

d. Are there people you recognize in the genealogy list of Jesus?
Discuss: why do you think the genealogy is important?

• Answers will vary in the people we might recognize, but might include David, Boaz, Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Shem, Noah and/or Adam.
• The genealogy is critical to the “Seed Promise” and the foundational Covenant of Genesis 3:15. 

Discuss what happened in the wilderness temptation (4:1-15),
and how it might reflect back to Genesis 3.

• In the “Fall” Adam and Eve gave in to the temptation of the Serpent which encompassed three things that still affect us today:

1. Lust of the flesh
2. Lust of the eyes
3. Pride of life

• Jesus overcame all three of those things in the wilderness temptation.
• The Apostle John also warns the early Church of these three things in 1 John 2:16.

How do I use what I have learned?

Answers will vary…

HOMEWORK

• Finish reading and studying the Gospel of Luke; then continue on with the book of Acts as it is Luke’s companion narrative that introduces the early Church, its teachings and struggles.
• Continue on in your studies; join another class or Bible study!
• Join us as we continue our study in the book of Genesis – next class!

Please continue to join us each week as we study about, and through, God’s Word!

———————————————————————

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