The Historical Reliability of the Life and Work of Jesus

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However, such criticism has little ground to stand on. Biblical scholarship has shown us that the New Testament is the most accurate and trustworthy historical document of its period. Now we must go a step further. We must be assured that the main contents of the New Testament, concerning the life and work of Jesus Christ, are accurate.</div> <bR> <div> The story of Jesus' life is marvelous. Unfortunately to some people it is too marvelous. God becoming a man? This man working miracles? The blind receive sight? The sick are healed? The dead are raised? Crucified and resurrected? Impossible! Unbelievable! Surely the record of Jesus' work has compelled many critics to assert that the accounts in the Gospels have been exaggerated or falsified.</div> <bR> <div> The critics, however, have neglected the obvious. The Gospels, which record the bulk of Jesus'</div> <div> life, were written by eyewitnesses or were taken from first-hand information. These eyewitnesses were not far removed in time from the events. Nor did they view the events of Jesus' life in secrecy. They were eyewitnesses among other eyewitnesses. This is a very important fact. It illustrates God's wisdom, because He preserved accuracy and integrity through the record of eyewitnesses.</div> <bR> <div> Imagine all the doubt that would arise if the account of Jesus' work came from a spiritual prophet who received visions while alone in the desert. Or what if the account came from Jesus' words only.</div> <div> Everything He said would be called into question. There would be no one to corroborate his story. A person would need to conjure up quite a bit of faith to believe his account. Talk about blind faith.</div> <bR> <div> Or what if the history of Christ's work was written by individuals living 100 years after the events. </div> <div> Anyone would have a difficult time staking their faith upon possible myths.</div> <bR> <div> But the account of Jesus* life and work was compiled through either eyewitnesses of historical events or through first-hand information. The writers emphasized the fact that they were eyewitnesses to the life of Christ, thereby insuring and assuring its accuracy.</div> <bR> <div> “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made know to you the power and coming of</div> <div> our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (2 Peter 1:16) "We were witnesses of these things as you yourselves know." (Acts 2:22)</div> <bR> <div> Why was it important that eyewitnesses recorded the life and work of Jesus? The integrity of the record was preserved. How so? First, there were other disciples who were eyewitnesses to the events. Should the Biblical writers change the facts, the other eyewitnesses would immediately protest. The very fact that the early church accepted the record of Jesus' work as it was passed down indicates the other eyewitnesses must have corroborated the record. Eyewitness accounts stood to strengthen the faith of the believers.</div> <bR> <div> But even more, eyewitness accounts had the power to shut the mouth of those who were hoping to stamp out early Christianity. The Biblical writers did riot stand upon their own trustworthiness. In effect, the eyewitnesses were saying: “You were all there. You all saw what happened. Please speak out if our record is incorrect.” Had the writers twisted the facts, the opposition could have easily confirmed to everyone that the writers lied. But history shows us no such opposition existed. The early critics could not denounce that which many people saw with their own eyes.</div> <bR> <div> To accuse the Bible of containing distortions or exaggerations or mythical events is simply unfair,</div> <div> and it indicates the critic has not done his research. The Bible is the most accurate historical document of its era, and the contents of Christ's life are established upon eyewitnesses.</div> <bR> <div> There is no reason to believe that accounts of Jesus' life are exaggerated or distorted. They are not</div> <div> a compilation of folklore and myth. We can trust the records concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ as they have been handed down to us.</div> <bR> <div> Our faith as Christians is not based upon cleverly devised tales. Our faith is based upon the unshakable facts recorded in the most reliable historical document. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Algerian" >C Debelak</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Return to:</div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Harvest"><U><B>The Harvest</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Testimonies"><U><B>Testimonies</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gospel Tracts"><U><B>Gospel Tracts</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id633.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gospel Tracts by CTR"><U><B>Gospel Tracts by CTR</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id765.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Streams In The Desert"><U><B>Streams In The Desert</B></U></A></div> <div> see also:  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gospelgreeting.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gospelgreeting.com"><U>www.gospelgreeting.com</U></A></FONT></div> </td> </tr></table></body>