Lecture Notes: Why Believe the Bible

Introduction

• Speaker's background:
  • Raised by a single teenage mother, a Buddhist, in South Central Los Angeles.
  • First heard the gospel in college.
  • Importance of intellectual engagement with faith.

Key Thesis

• Addressing the anti-intellectualism and mysticism in contemporary Christianity.
• Emphasis on the need to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength.
• Answering the most important question: Why believe the Bible?

Objective

1. Answer the key question.
2. Make an observation related to the answer.
3. Issue a challenge.

Key Question

• "Why do you choose to believe the Bible?"
• Inadequate answers: "I was raised that way" or "It works for me."

Answer

• Reliable Collection of Historical Documents:
  • Not myths or fairy tales.
  • Written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses.
• Eyewitness Accounts:
  • Corroborating testimonies (e.g., Peter, John, Paul's accounts).
• Supernatural Events:
  • Events like the resurrection, transfiguration, healings.
• Fulfillment of Specific Prophecies:
  • Example: Psalm 22 prophecy about Jesus' crucifixion.

Evidence Support

• Manuscript Evidence:
  • Over 6000 manuscripts of the New Testament.
  • More manuscripts than other ancient texts (e.g., Caesar's writings).
• Translations:
  • Early translations into Syriac, Coptic, and Latin.
• Writings of Early Church Fathers:
  • Quotations could reproduce 95% of the New Testament.

Claims of Divine Origin

• Scriptures claim to be God's words (e.g., "Thus says the Lord").
• Internal consistency and corroboration across languages and continents.

Scientific Method Argument

• Historical events cannot be proven using the scientific method.
• Use of the evidentiary method: eyewitnesses, consistency, fulfillment.

Observation

• Importance of expository preaching.
• Biblical sufficiency in addressing cultural questions.
• Relevance and effectiveness of scriptural exposition.

Challenge

• Teach believers that the Bible answers all relevant questions.
• Encourage biblical literacy and ability to communicate faith rationally.
• Equip believers with the tools to confidently defend their faith.

Conclusion

• Encouragement for believers to confidently articulate their faith using historical and scriptural evidence.
• Call to action for spreading this understanding and defending the faith intellectually.