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Apologetics and Document Evaluation
Conclusion
F.F. Bruce summed up this evaluation regarding the historical reliability of the New Testament documentation by saying this,
"There is, I imagine, no body of literature in the world that has been exposed to the stringent analytical study that the four gospels have sustained for the past 200 years. This is not something to be regretted: it is something to be accepted with satisfaction. Scholars today who treat the gospels as credible historical documents do so in the full light of this analytical study, not by closing their minds to it." 3
Coupling our understanding of the accuracy and authenticity of the New Testament with the powerful evidence of Biblical prophecy provides a fresh and objective view of God's word. It provides us with the confidence to trust the Bible as God's divine wisdom and will.
As I was writing this article I had an interesting conversation with a coworker regarding Christianity. In brief, this person felt that in order to be a Christian one had to "feel spiritual." I challenged him with the idea that feelings are subjective, while God's word is objective truth. If one's feelings are considered guideposts for spirituality, how do we answer when feelings conflict? What do we say when my feelings are different than yours? Feelings are just that - feelings… emotions. They are not necessarily truth.
Being firmly rooted in the fact that God's word is accurate, reliable, and divine in origin provides me with a place to go for truth. When I have opinions or feelings about things I can measure them against an objective truth, rather than subjective human emotion. When we have conflict, we can settle it with authoritative truth rather than human opinion.
The wonderful conclusion is that we know this truth because God has so firmly preserved and displayed it. The Bible passes every test of textual integrity and of higher criticism with flying colors. It concludes the proof with divine prophecies that could only have come from an omniscient God. In addition to the detailed info available, a summary of this evidence can be found here, displayed in an easy to remember acronymic format.
| 3 | F. F. Bruce, "Foreword" in The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Craig Blomberg, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987) p. ix. |