GO TO PART D: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3lTeaA0VoU • GREETING • PURPOSE -- This series is directed at ministers and teachers, as well as people seeking to challenge their understanding of scripture. We will be dealing with false and/or questionable teachings, beliefs and practices in the Christian church regarding the supposed "inerrancy" of "The Bible". • POPULAR NOTIONS -- Inspired: The Bible is inspired by God, who through the human authors is the divine author of the Bible. This is expressed in the following Bible passage (2 Timothy 3:16) -- Inerrant: a) God is perfect, the Bible (namely the KJV), as the word of God, must also be perfect, thus, free from error, OR b) In its original form, the Bible is totally without error, and free from all contradiction (to include scientific, geographic, and historic details) -- Infallible: What the scriptures say regarding matters of faith and Christian practice are wholly useful and true. Some denominations that teach infallibility hold that the historical or scientific details, which may be irrelevant to matters of faith and Christian practice, may contain errors. • DISCUSSION -- Discussion should begin with 'What is "The Bible'; Christians should be familiar with history of the Bible (canon); KJV complete with leather binding, red lettering and chapter/verse divisions, did not drop out of the sky -- Discuss various versions, first English Translation, the "Textus Receptus", KJV, and the role of scribes (excerpts from Erdman book). -- Christians should be prepared to acknowledge and address apparent errors and inconsistencies (give examples: adulterous woman in John 7:53-8:11, Jesus vs. Joshua in Heb 4:8, Phoebe in Rom 16:1 and Junia in Rom 16:7; "study" in 2 Tim 2:15 ); evidence shows that some changes accidental, some intentional (language or bias); -- About Early Copyists (excerpt from Misquoting Jesus by Ehrman), http://nytnegro.angelfire.com/misquotingjesus_pg46.pdf -- About Erasmus, the 'Textus Receptus' and the KJV (excerpt from Misquoting Jesus by Ehrman), http://nytnegro.angelfire.com/misquotingjesus_pg78.pdf -- ABout Textual Alterations Involving Women (excerpt from Misquoting Jesus by Ehrman), http://nytnegro.angelfire.com/misquotingjesus_pg178.pdf -- While manuscripts present problems, they are at same time compelling in making the case for authenticity of the biblical writings: • Hank Hanegraaff - President of Christian Research Institute. Explains that scripture is "historic and evidential'. Developed M.A.P.S. methodology to evaluate reliability of the Bible: -- Manuscripts Archaeology Prophecy Statistics • Simon Greenleaf - One of the principle founders of the Harvard Law School, originally set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is distinguished as one who applied the canons of the ancient document rule to establish the authenticity of the gospel accounts, as well as cross-examination principles in assessing the testimony of those who bore witness to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Greenleaf -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimony_of_the_Evangelist • Joslin "Josh" McDowell - According to McDowell, he was as an agnostic at college when he decided to prepare a paper that would examine the historical evidence of the Christian faith in order to disprove it. However, he converted to Christianity, after, as he says, he found evidence for it, not against it. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_McDowell • CONCLUSION -- Bible reveals God as One you can know for yourself; Abraham knew God when there was no Bible or Torah. You can have confidence in the Bible, but you are not saved by the Bible. The "FINAL AUTHORITY" is not the Bible, but Jesus Christ. Your ultimate confidence should be in God (Jesus Christ).