Premise 1: The Bible exceeds the historical reliability test
Here are some of the rules or standards used to discern whether biographical or historical text are reliable.
| 1. Was the source created at the same time of the events it describes? If not how long is the historical time lag between the event and it’s documentation? |
| 2. Who furnished the information? Was the informant in a position to give correct facts? |
| 3. Was the informant a participant in the events he is documenting? |
| 4. Is their information in the record such as names, dates, places, events, and relationships that are verifiable ? |
| 5. Does more than one reliable source give the same information? |
What makes something historically reliable depends on the reliability of primary sources and secondary sources. Records created at the same time as an event, or as close as possible to it, usually have a greater chance of being accurate than records created later and by sources without firsthand knowledge of the events. Using this criteria the Bible is the most historically verifiable book from antiquity ever published.
How The Bible Stacks Up Against Reliability Standards
- The authors of all 27 New Testament books lived during the events they wrote about and had personal relationships or encounters with Jesus.
- The majority of the authors of the New Testament participated in the events they are writing about.
- Their are multiple reliable sources of the same events.
- Many of the events, places, and people can be historically verified.
Most other historical texts from the same period are far less verifiable. For instance the literary evidence for all of the Roman Caesars come mainly from only two sources Tacitus and Suetonius. Neither Tacitus who wrote “Annals of Imperial Rome” in 116 AD or Suetonius who wrote “Lives of The Caesars” lived during half of the reign of Caesars that they wrote about. Neither Tacitus or Suetonius had acquaintances or first hand knowledge pertaining to any of the Caesar’s they wrote about.
The primary sources used for biographies of Alexander the Great are mainly ancient Greek and Roman texts, with the most important being the works of Arrian, Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, Quintus Curtius Rufus, and Justin. These authors wrote their accounts hundreds of years after Alexander’s death—and relied on earlier, now lost contemporary sources and oral traditions.
The biographies of Alexander The Great, the Annals of Imperial Rome, and The Lives of Caesars are all used in college courses worldwide and no one questions their historical veracity.
How Ancient World History Accounts stack up against Historical Reliability Standards
| Ancient Text | Number of Primary Sources | Rules of Historical Reliability They Comply With |
| New Testament | 9 | All 5 rules |
| History of Roman Caesars | 2 | Only rules 4 and 5 |
| History of Alexander The Great | 8 | Only rule 5 |
The history of Ancient Greece, including the story of Alexander the Great is taught in World History classes at schools and universities as a very important part of Western Civilization history because of it’s massive influence on vast regions stretching across Europe, Asia, and Africa. These globally accepted sources are taught and accepted as historical fact— yet they have far fewer primary sources than the Bible. Also, unlike the New Testament’s authors the primary sources did not live during or participate in the events they document.
The primary sources of these historical accounts were not personally acquainted with their subjects and were historically removed from most if not all of the events they wrote about. In contrast , all 9 authors who wrote the New Testament books lived during, and participated in the events and with the people they wrote about.
Challenge Question: Which of the three ancient books meets the historical reliability criteria the best? The Bible, History of Roman Caesars, or The History of Alexander the Great?
Premise 2: The Authors of The New Testament were authentic and credible
There are two main kinds of historical sources— primary and secondary. A primary source is a doorway to the past because it is an artifact or document that comes directly from the time period to which it refers. Primary sources are considered more valuable to than any other sources because they are as close in time as you can get to the events being studied. The Bible is composed of 26 books and all of them are written by people who either participated , witnessed or lived during the events and the lives of the people they write about.
The four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John could be considered biographies of Jesus’s life and ministry. All four books are named after the eyewitness authors who wrote them and each was written shortly after the events they record.
While all four Gospels provide eyewitness accounts of Jesus’s life, ministry and the places or events he was involved with—each represents a distinct account written from the individual author’s personal perspective and personality.
Twelve of the twenty-six New Testament books were written by intimates of Jesus. The authors of these 12 books travelled, lodged, and ministered extensively with Jesus for almost four years straight.
These authors were actually rabbinical students (disciples) of Jesus that not only ate, traveled, and lodged with him— they were also intimates of Jesus’s mother Mary and other members of His family. The book of James was actually written by Jesus’s half brother, and Jude by His cousin.
The other 14 books of the New Testament were written by Paul who although he was not a disciple of Jesus, he was a close associate of every other New Testament author. Paul lived in the region during Jesus’s lifetime and during the events all of the other New Testament authors wrote about.
Luke who wrote both the book of Luke, and Acts was actually an historian and doctor. He not only was an intimate eyewitness, but he was a meticulous investigator, and documentarian whose writing reflects the same kind of professional commitment shared by the most accomplished modern biographers.
3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Luke 1:3-4
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
Acts 1:1
In the opening lines of both Luke’s Gospel, and Acts Luke makes it clear that what he is writing is being written from a historical and biographical perspective. He provides an opening disclaimer that what he has authored is truth that has been meticulously investigated.
Luke has often been recognized by modern historians for his trustworthiness as a documentarian of places, dates, people and events. Sir William Ramsay a British archaeologist and the foremost scholar on the ancient history of Asia Minor carefully examined Luke’s references to thirty-two countries, fifty-four cities, and nine islands—he did not find a single mistake.
I found myself often brought into contact with the Book of Acts as an authority for the topography, antiquities, and society of Asia Minor. It was gradually borne in upon me that in various details the narrative showed marvelous truth.
Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy—this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians. Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of it’s trustworthiness.
Sir William Ramsay; British Archeologist
Premise 3: Biblical text are too counterproductive in content to be legends
coun·ter·pro·duc·tive
/ˌkoun(t)ərprəˈdəktiv/
having the opposite of the desired effect.
One of the ways scholars can gauge the honesty of authors is to test what they say against the “principal of embarrassment.” This principle assumes that any details that show the author in an unfavorable light are probably true. Authors typically will leave out anything that makes them look bad.
How does the New Testament measure up to the principle of embarrassment? All four gospel writers include the story of their strongest leader Peter cowardly denying and abandoning Jesus just after He was captured. The New Testament writers include testimony describing their own weak faith, doubt, and egotism. Here are some examples of their self- documented humility and failure found in New Testament writings:
| Example of self proclaimed failures of Disciples | Associated Scriptures |
| Multiple criticisms of the disciples weak faith by Jesus in all 4 Gospels | “Jesus said, You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?” (Matthew 17:17) (Mark 9:19) |
| Abandonment of Jesus | “But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56) (Mark 14:50) (Luke 9:41) |
| Slow to understand | “Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?” (Mark 8:17 ) (Matthew 16:9) |
| Pride and Egotism | “Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest—Jesus said “Whoever is least among you is the greatest” (Luke 9:46-48) (Matthew 20:20-22) (Mark 9:33-34) |
| Lack of Commitment | “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)“ |
When you actually get into the New Testament and see the apostles, on every page the apostles look like jerks. They look like fools. They look slow of heart. They look like cowards. They look terrible. Why, if you were a leader of the early church, would you make up any of those accounts, any of those stories, any of those features? You wouldn’t!
Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
The ways Gospel Authors revealed their authenticity
| 1. New Testament writers included embarrassing details about themselves |
| 2. New Testament writers did not omit demanding sayings of Jesus that they found hard to follow themselves |
| 3. New Testament writers carefully distinguished Jesus’s words from their own |
| 4.The New Testament writers abandoned their heritage, sources of income, and at times family and relatives to follow Jesus who was murdered for what He said and stood for. To author and publish accounts of everything Jesus did or said that cause His crucifixion put their lives in immediate peril. |
A large percentage of recorded history was written by people who did not live during the events they wrote about, nor were they personally acquainted with the people involved in them. The New Testament authors were pivotal characters in the story they wrote about and included details and admissions that would never be included fictional accounts.
If the Bible were fiction why would it highlight the failures and misgivings of some of it’s greatest heroes
If your goal was to create a story that would captivate people and motivate them to abandon their security, prestige, and potentially their lives—would it make sense to include stories that where the greatest heroes fail demonstrably? Yet the Bible includes detailed narratives where great icons of the faith embarrassingly fail and are sometimes severely corrected by God.
| Name | Position in Bible | Incident | Passage |
| Abraham | Patriarch of Judaism and Christianity | Cowardly told ruler his wife was his sister to avoid being killed | Genesis 20:1-16 |
| Noah | Righteous man chosen to perpetuate the human race | Public Intoxication in front of his sons | Genesis 9:18-23 |
| Moses | Prophet and Leader who freed the Israelites from slavery. Wrote 5 books of old testament | Pridefully disobeyed God and was not allowed to go into promised land | Numbers 20:1-12 |
| Sampson | Judge in Israel | Disobedience to parents and God which led to his defeat and death. | Judges 14:1-3 |
| Jacob | Father of the 12 tribes of Israel | Deceived his father and stole brother’s birthright | Genesis 27:5-35 |
| Jonah | Jewish Prophet and Preacher | Lack of compassion and prioritizing his own feelings over God’s will | Jonah 1:1-3 |
| David | King of Israel and author of Psalms | Disobedience to God. Adultery and Murder | 2 Samuel 11:1-26 |
| Solomon | King of Israel and author of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes | Polygamy and Idolatry | 1 Kings 11:1-12 |
| Peter | Apostle and author of 1 Peter and 2 Peter | Gross Cowardice denying Jesus 3 times. | Matthew 26:69-74 |
The theory is the Bible doesn’t give you what actually happened. Instead, what you have here in the Gospels is what the church leaders wanted you to believe happened because this is the view of Jesus that helps them consolidate their power and build their movement.
Oh really? Okay. Well, if I’m a church leader living 70–80 years after Jesus and I’m concocting these stories, would I put in there that Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, asked the Father if he could get out of it? Would I put in there that Jesus Christ, in the garden of Gethsemane, says to the Father, “Can I get out of this salvation thing?” You know? “Can this cup pass from me?” Secondly, would I put Jesus on the cross saying, “You’ve forsaken me” to God?
Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
The Bible includes embarrassing details and the failures of it’s heroes and leaders because that is what what happened. The only possible explanation for them being in the text is if they happened! They don’t help any other way. They’re totally counterproductive for the power of the leaders of the early church.
Challenge Question: The New Testament which is the best selling book in history was written by eyewitness documentarians who wrote knew that writing and publicly publishing their accounts would put them under the penalty of death. Their writings contain detailed public admissions of their own failures, doubts, and even betrayals to their own cause. Does any of these things make sense if the things they wrote were fictional?
Premise 3: Why would all 9 of the New Testament authors be willing to die for a lie?
The New Testament writers had no motivation to lie in order to make up a story that would actually get them killed. Before they met Jesus they were devout Jews that firmly believed Judaism was the one true religion (not Christianity) and that they were God’s chosen people. They had every reason to deny New Testament events in order to preserve their social positions, livelihoods, safety and the security of their families.
Jesus not only warned the disciples about what lay instore for them if they followed him—he actually foretold that suffering, persecution, and even death were not only probable but certainties.
They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake—you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
Luke 21:12-17
This prophecy came true for all 9 of the New Testament Authors!
| Author | Books Written | Cause of Death |
| Matthew | Gospel of Matthew | Stabbed to death |
| Mark | Gospel of Mark | Dragged to death by the neck |
| Luke | Gospel of Luke, Acts | Hanged |
| John | Gospel of John, 1st John, 2nd John, 3rd John, Revelation | Exiled to Island of Patmos where he died of Old Age |
| Paul | 1st Corinthians, 2nd Corinthians, Galations, Ephesians, Phillipians, 1st Thessalonians, 2nd Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2nd Timothy | Beheaded |
| James | James | Stoned and Clubbed to death |
| Peter | 1st Peter, 2nd Peter | Crucified upside down |
| Jude | Jude | Beheaded |
The apostle Peter is considered the leader of the early church. But before he accepted this commission Jesus told him point blank that in doing so it would absolutely lead to his death.
“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[f] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
John 21:18-19
Jesus told every New Testament writer that their would definitely be grave and horrifying consequences if they followed or professed Him. The fact that Jesus predicted his followers would face persecution and even death adds validity to the New Testament accounts— it suggests that the authors had no motive to fabricate stories knowing they would likely face hardship and danger for doing so.
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
Chuck Colson; Attorney and Special Counsel to Richard Nixon. Imprisoned for Watergate Conspiracy
The persecution of Christians in the first century certainly doesn’t prove Christianity is true. But it does raise the question of why so many people believed when it cost them so dearly. In particular, as I demonstrate in The Fate of the Apostles, the apostles were all willing to suffer and die for their belief that Jesus had risen from the grave. They were not liars. They really believed it. They put their lives on the line to proclaim the risen Lord. What more could they have done to convince us of the depth of their sincerity?
Impact 360 Institute
The apostles’ truly believed Jesus was the Messiah and that he did rise from the dead. The fact that they were willing to pay the ultimate price for this conviction shows the depth of their sincerity.
Challenge Question: Jesus warned every author of the New Testament that if they decided to write and go public about what they saw, heard and believed concerning Him they were writing their own death sentence. Would any one do this for a myth or campfire stories?
ThinkCube Truth Veracity Grid
- Have I considered the issue carefully and honestly with an open mind?
- Does what I think conform to the rules of logic and avoid contradiction?
- Are my conclusions free from bias and presuppositions?
