

Historical Accuracy of the Bible
by Dave Miller
At one time, skeptics insisted that the nation of the Hittites, mentioned so frequently in the OT (nearly 60 occurences of the term, e.g., Gen 23:10; 26:34; Josh 1:4), never existed. No known evidence was available to verify their historicity. This circumstance provided fodder for those who dismissed the divine authenticity of the Bible. As Wright explained in his 1884 volume The Empire of the Hittites:
Now, although the Bible is not a mere compendium of history, its veracity is deeply involved in the historic accuracy of its statements; but the Hittites had no place in classic history, and therefore it was supposed by some that the Bible references to them could not be true. There was a strong presumption that an important people could scarcely have dropped completely out of history, but the strong presumption did not warrant the unsceentific comclusion that the Bible narrative was untrue. It was just possible that classic history might be defective regarding a people of whom sacred history had much to say… The argumlents against the historic accuracy of the Bible, based on its references to the Hittites, are never likely to appear again in English literature. The increasing light from Egypt and Assyria reveals to us, in broad outline and in incidental detail, a series of facts, with reference to the Hittites, in perfect harmony with the narratives of the Bible.
THE JEWISH OLD TESTAMENT CANON

(Thoughts from Michael Garrison)
It is easy for people to think there must be some Old Testament prophecies that have not been fulfilled. However, Jesus said that “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5: 17-18). That is very plain to understand. But, did Jesus fulfill ALL the law and prophets?

Let us throw some light on the above quote: Abel is accounted a prophet because his form of sacrifice prefigured that of Christ. His murder is described in Gen. IV. 1-8;, the first historical book of the Bible, while that of Zachariah is described in II Chron. XXIV. 20-22 , the last historical book of the Old Testament. (Most of the books of the Apocrypha came during this time.) From the record of one…to the record of the other embraces the entire catalog of the Old Testament martyrs.” McGarvey/Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel, page 315.

When we turn to Matthew 23:33-35, we have the answer: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city; That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias … whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.”

Then, in the last few moments before Jesus died, he said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30). All the prophecies of the Old Testament would soon be fulfilled just as Jesus said they would. We may have difficulty understanding some of the prophecies, nonetheless, we can have assurance of this fact – since Jesus said He would fulfill ALL the Old Testament prophecies.


Truth About Mary - Mother of Jesus

(by Michael Garrison)

Jesus had a great reason to acknowledge His mother’s greatness when a “…woman in the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.” Luke continues with these words of Jesus, “Yea rather, are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28) No elevation of Mary seen here.
How could Mary in any way be a mediator between people and God? It is clearly written in 1 Timothy 2:5, that “…there is ONE God, and ONE
mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus.” I trust we all know the meaning of “ONE.” Also, it is written in Isaiah 42:8: “I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” How much more clear clear could any statement be made? We are to serve the Creator, not the created. (see Romans 1:23)
When we read about Jesus and His earthly family, we see He had 4 brothers and at least 2 sisters. (Matthew 12:46-49; 13:55-56) See also Mark 3:31-35. Paul asks in I Corinthians 9:5, “Have we (apostles) not power to lead about… a wife, as well as other apostles and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas.?”
This coodinates well with Matthew 1:25, “And (Joseph) knew her not TILL she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” Why think it was wrong for Joseph and his WIFE to have sexual relations after Jesus was born? “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled…” (Hebrews 13:4).
It is no wonder why the Roman Catholic Church, at times, prohibited people to read the Bible in the vernacular language – the readers would learn the Truth shown above!

Are there two gospels?
It is taught by some sincere Bible students that Peter and Paul had different gospels given to them. Is this true? Let us see:
In Galatians 2:7-8, we read this in the King James Version “…when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter… (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” The KJV translators of the New Testament added the words in italics which are not in the original text. When the italicized words are removed – those that were added to the text – we see the truth of the matter; “…when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as …of the circumcision unto Peter…” It is easy to see that there are not two different gospels taught here or any where else in the New Testament.
Let us seek truth not speculation. (Michael Garrison)

~ Marvelous Unity of the Bible ~
By Mike Riley
Anyone who is a student of the Bible can readily see the great unity and harmony that exists within the pages of God’s inspired word. Today, it would be virtually impossible to find forty uninspired men separated by centuries and from all walks of life to have the ability to write sixty-six books void of contradictions and united in harmony and purpose. This thought causes us to ask this question:
HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN THE AMAZING UNITY OF THE BIBLE?
God’s word answers our question in 2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV by stating:
“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Many historical events documented by inspired Old Testament writers can be validated as being true by the inspired writers of the New Testament. We can plainly see the authenticity of these events verified in the following list:
- Genesis 1;
- John 1:3 ;
- Colossians 1:16
Genesis 1:27 ; 1 Tim.2:13-14
Genesis 2:24-25 ; Matthew 19:5
Genesis 3:1-6 ; 2 Corinthians 11:3
Genesis 3:6 ; Romans 5:12
Genesis 4:4-5 ; Hebrews 11:4
Genesis 4:4,8 ; 1 John 3:12
Genesis 5:22-24 ; Hebrews 11:5
Genesis 6:3-5 ; Matthew 24:38 ; Luke 17:27
Genesis 7 ; Matthew 24:39
Genesis 7:1 ; Genesis 8 ; Genesis 9 ; 2 Peter 2:5
Genesis 12:1 ; Hebrews 11:8
Genesis 14:18-20 ; Hebrews 7:1-3
Genesis 15:6 ; Romans 4:3 ; Gal. 3:6 ; James 2:23
Genesis 16:15 ; Gal. 4:22
Genesis 21:1-4 ; Acts 7:8 ; cf. Genesis 17:19-21
Genesis 19:16, 24 ; Luke 17:28, 29
Genesis 22:1-14 ; Hebrews 11:17-18
Exodus 3:2 ; Luke 20:37
Exodus 14:22 ; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Exodus 16:4, 15 ; Exodus 17:6 ; 1 Corinthians 10:3-5
Numbers 21:9 ; John 3:14
Joshua 6: 20 ; Hebrews 11:30
1 Kings 17:1 ; 1 Kings 18:1 ; James 5:17
Jonah 1:17 ; Matthew 12:40
Daniel 3:27 ; Hebrews 11:34
Daniel 6:23 ; Hebrews 11:33
2 Chronicles 24:20-22 ; Matthew 23:35
What greater evidence could be provided for the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures than we see in the perfect harmony between Old and New Testament writers (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16 ; 2 Peter 1:20).