1. JESUS CHRIST: Because our Lord Jesus Christ said so! Over and over we find Him asking those who questioned Him, "Have you never read?", "It is written" and "Search the Scriptures". He believed in:
1.1 Jesus believed in the Verbal (every word) Inspiration of the Scriptures [Matthew 5:18]
1.1.1 In His Private Life [Mt 4 quotes Deut] He uses it in His struggle with Satan
1.1.2 In His Public Ministry [Mt 5-7 quotes Isaiah 61.2] He uses it to teach multitudes by the Sea.
1.1.3 In His Personal world [Mt 24 quotes Dan & prophets] He uses it to explain the future to His disciples.
1.2 Jesus believed in the Inerrancy of the Scriptures [John 10:35; 17:17]
So much so that one out of every ten recorded words of Jesus are Old Testament quotes! (1)
1.3 Historical Reliability of Scripture as in
1.3.1 Adam and Eve (Mt. 19:4-5);
1.3.2 Abel [Mat 23.35]
1.3.3 Noah and flood (Mt. 24:37-38)
1.3.4 Abraham (John 8:56)
1.3.5 Moses and the Bush {Mk 12.26]
1.3.6 David [Mt 12.3]
1.3.7 Elijah [Lk 4.25]
1.3.8 Daniel [Mt 4.17]
1.3.9 Jonah (Mt. 12:40-41)
2. APOSTLES & PROPHETS: Because all the writers said so thousands of times. They were totally convinced that they were sharing words that were not originating with them.
3. SURVIVAL: Because of its endurance through the ages despite being the target of Empires, armies and infidels the Bible stands like a rock undaunted through the raging storms of time. Its pages burn with the truth eternal and they glow with a light divine. The Bible stands though the hills may tumble it will firmly stand though the Earth may crumble. I will take my stand on its firm foundation for the Bible stands!
4. ABSOLUTE UNITY: Because of its incredible unity demonstrated in the fact that from 40 plus men on 3 continents over 1,600 years and 60 generations comes one unmistakable fabric woven from prison to palace, desert to dungeon, hillside to holy places. There is one common denominator, one shared theme and one united message. There is but one system of doctrine, one system of ethics, one plan of salvation and one rule of faith.
5. PROPHETIC ACCURACY: Because of its fulfilled prophecy (illustration - Logos Esch.)
6. SCIENTIFIC ACCURACY: Because of its scientific accuracy (Mac)
7. HISTORICAL ACCURACY: Because of its archaeological verification (Criswell)
1. Scroggie says that the Gospels total 3,779 verses. The words of Christ total 1,934 of them. Jesus quotes the Old Testament 180x so just under 10% of His recorded words are Old Testament quotes!
2. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11/5/93.
3. MacArthur, John F., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary , (Chicago: Moody Press) 1983.
4. Faith for the Family, 11/77, p.29.
5. Focus on Family Citizen, 1/20/92, pp. 13-15.
6. How old is the Universe, USN&WR, 5/20/96, pp.60-61.
7. 11/21/80, pp883-87.
8. 2/78, pp. 19-30.
9. MacArthur, John F., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary , (Chicago: Moody Press) 1983.
10. World that Perished, foreword.
11. MacArthur, John F., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary , (Chicago: Moody Press) 1983.
