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Proofs of Inspiration
Introduction:
An
acquaintance asks you, “Why do you believe the Bible?”
The
Bible claims that it is inspired; that it came from
God. (II
Timothy 3:16)
But what proofs exist that show the Bible is indeed the Word of God?
Theme:
Examine a number of evidences proving the Bible is God’s
communication to man.
Body:
I. Its
Indestructibility
(I
Peter 1:23-25)
The New
Testament is almost 2,000 years old and the Old Testament is 3,000
years old. Few books survive 100 years, let alone 2,000!
Throughout the ages men have tried to destroy it, burn, tear up, cut
in pieces . . . The Bible has survived every
attack. Bernard Romm said, “A
thousand times over the death knell of the Bible has been sounded,
the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tombstone,
and committal read. But somehow the corpse never stays put.”
-
Antiochus Epiphanes, a Syrian ruler, began in 175 B.C. to
destroy all copies of the Old Testament.
-
Diocletian, a Roman emperor in the fourth century A.D., burned
every copy of the Bible that he could find. He even claimed
that he had exterminated Christian writings from the face of the
earth.
-
Voltaire, an eighteenth century French atheist, declared that in
100 years from his time that the only Bibles to be found would
be those kept for curiosity sake.
-
Thomas
Paine, an eighteenth century prominent American, made a bold
statement that in five years, there would not be a Bible in
America.
“They burned Truth in the market place And thought their work complete; But next day, with a smiling face, They met it on the street. They threw it in a dungeon damp And thought it was no more; But lo, it walked with lighted lamp Among them as before.
They scorned and ostracized it.
And ordered it to depart; But still it dwelt in all the land And challenged every heart.”
Truly its
indestructibility is a proof of inspiration.
II. Its
Unity
How
possible is the following scenario: Take forty men (few of which
know each other) from widely differing backgrounds over a span of
1600 years and have them produce a volume of 66 books that exhibits
such unity of thought and purpose? There are countless instances of
agreement (and no contradictions) even on the smallest details
between the Bible writers. Listen to
the following:
“The
beginning student may feel that the Bible is a confusing collection
of disconnected parts. Whether, or how, each part is related to
other parts is not immediately obvious and many never appreciate how
wonderfully the pieces are related. The careful and persistent
student discovers, however, that every section of Scripture
contributes meaning to the overall theme. When we understand that
every part has its place and that adds to the message of the whole,
we appreciate that it is no longer a ‘puzzle’ but a marvelous
portrait of redemption, a mural of salvation through Christ.”
David Pharr
Yes,
the Bible’s unity is further proof that it is the Word of God.
III.
Its Scientific Accuracy
·
Medicine
The
first five books contain several health laws practiced 3,000 years
before “modern” man discovered them.
1.
Quarantine
of people with leprosy (Leviticus
13)
2.
Covering the
mouth of the sick person (Leviticus
13)
3.
Burning
contaminated clothing (Leviticus
13)
4.
Shaving and
washing of those who had been sick (Leviticus
14)
5.
Eating of
blood prohibited (Leviticus
17)
6.
Burying
waste (Deuteronomy 23) Also many common medical practices of
nations around Israel were not employed because they were unsafe or
just didn’t work.
·
Oceanography
The
Bible tells of the “paths” or currents in the sea. (Psalms
8:8)
It was at least 3,000 years before man discovered them.
·
Meteorology
Three
separate writers in the Old Testament refer to the water cycle. (Ecclesiastes
1:7,
Job 36:27-28,
Amos 9:6b)
Their purpose in writing was not to explain this phenomenon;
but they used this aspect of nature to teach spiritual principles.
The modern mind didn’t come to understand this cycle until the early
seventeenth century. Yes, the Bible’s scientific accuracy confirms it is
indeed inspired.
IV. Its
Historical Accuracy
-
The
Hittites
The
Bible mentions these people dozens of times in the Scripture.
Up until about a century ago, critics of the Bible ridiculed it
for mentioning the Hittites because no evidence of their
existence had ever been found. But excavations uncovered
records of their existence showing they were a great nation in
the ancient world.
-
Tower of
Babel
From the ruins of the city of Babylon, records tell of an
ancient race of men who attempted to reach heaven by building a
great tower. (Genesis
11)
-
The Book
of Acts
In
the late 1800’s, Sir William Ramsey set out on an archeological
expedition in Asia Minor with the intention of disproving the
historical accuracy of this book. The writer, Luke, mentions 32
countries, 54 cities, and 9 Mediterranean islands. He also
mentions 95 persons, 62 of which are not named anywhere else in
the New Testament. After years of research and digging, Ramsey
did an about face. Where these references could be checked, the
Bible was totally accurate, down to the smallest detail.
Conclusion:
The
evidence is overwhelming. I have just mentioned a small percentage
of what could be presented. Certainly this is enough to convince
the most hardened skeptic that the Bible is God’s communication to
man. Should we not do as
Psalms
119:59
instructs, “I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your
testimonies.”
Bobby
Stafford
September
30, 2012
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