Equipped For Every Good Work

Lesson 3

AUTHENTICITY OF THE BIBLE

Jehovah continues to bring forth to his covenant people corroborative proof that the Bible is His authentic Word of truth, and not the word of man. In order to become better equipped for good works in Jehovah's service, his witnesses do well to be familiar with the evidence of the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, because it will enable them to firmly establish the faith of others. Limited space will necessarily limit the proofs; even so, ample proofs can be supplied to convince the reasonable and meek, and fools will never believe until cut off in death. —Ps. 14:1; Isa. 53:1.

From the earliest times the canonical books have been received by the Jews as inspired and as wholly trustworthy documents. The truth of the Scriptural narrative has been attested to by the unanimous testimony of that nation, though a great portion of it is a record of their own repeated disobedience, unfaithfulness, and falling away to idolatry or religion and into the hands of their enemies. The writers speak with all candor and humility about their own shortcomings; they spare no creature. They were faithful witnesses of Jehovah; they suffered and even died for his truth. Seeming inconsistencies may perplex the superficial reader; but they vanish before a reverential and accurate investigation. The contemporary Israelites of the writers, both of the Hebrew and of the Greek Scriptures, always accepted each book as a true record of events.

Profane history confirms the Bible record where names and biographies of historical characters are given, and the same is true relative to the names and locations of historical places. For example, there is an abundance of profane testimony corroborating the story of the Gospels, and some of the testimony comes from anti-Christian historians. Among such historians and writers of the first and second centuries are Flavius Josephus, Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny the younger, Lucian, Phlegon Trallianus, Celsus and Numenius. All

these testify to the facts that in the reign of Emperor Tiberius Caesar there lived one called Jesus Christ; that he was an extraordinary man who did great miracles; that he was put to death at the command of Pontius Pilate; that there was a phenomenal darkness and earthquake at his execution; that his teachings spread rapidly; and that they attracted many followers, who suffered persecution.

These facts lend further support: Palestine was at that time under a peculiar system of double government, partly Jewish and partly Roman. The narrative of the Greek Scriptures remarkably shows that dual form of administration, a Roman and a Jewish, involving a twofold form of taxation, two modes of capital punishment, two methods of marking time, two military forces, and so on. Also, one finds occurring side by side in the Greek text Latin and Hebrews words, a natural circumstance during this period.

Repeatedly archeological discoveries have proved the Bible record true and have closed the blaspheming mouths of "higher critics" and atheists. Ancient secular records, by monumental inscriptions, coins, remains of cities, and numerous other antiquities unearthed, all unite to verify the Bible. It is noteworthy that plants, animals, birds, fishes and insects mentioned in the Bible have been found in precise keeping with the plant and animal life of the particular regions mentioned. Furthermore, even the order of creation as given in the first chapter of Genesis is corroborated by geology. Certain forms of plant and animal life are found in certain strata or layers of rock, to which layers geologists assign a certain period of time. The order in time to which scientists assign the appearance of certain forms of life is in the same order of appearance as the Genesis account of creation sets it forth. Of course, scientists, vying one with the other for attention, set fantastic figures of time upon their findings; but the important thing is that the record of creation found in the rocks of the earth agrees with the record in ink in Genesis. And why not? The Creator of the one is the Author of the other. Both records are

true, even if misinterpreted by scientists and clergymen.

All the foregoing facts are strong and convincing proof of the authenticity of the Bible. But there is evidence many times stronger: the thousandfold and accurate minor and major fulfillments of Biblical prophecies irrefutably proving the Scriptures as inspired history written in advance. Men cannot foretell events, not even one day ahead: "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." (Prov. 27:1) But, "known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." Through this foreknowledge of his Jehovah has blessed man by "declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done". He has inspired men to record these prophecies in his Word, such men themselves not knowing whereof they wrote. (Acts 15:18; Isa. 46:10; 2 Pet. 1: 20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16,17; Dan. 12: 4, 8,10; 1 Pet. 1:10-12) All men are fallible; despite their possible sincerity their words are not always authentic. The foregoing texts show, however, that men were not the authors of the Bible, but merely employed as secretaries to the Author, Jehovah God. And He is infallible!

If physical facts have come to pass in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, then they constitute the strongest kind of circumstantial evidence of the Bible's authenticity, and the reasonable mind is satisfied and faith is firmly established. (John 14:29) Unnumbered Bible prophecies are now fulfilled. Many prophetic dramas are in course of striking fulfillment today. But space rules that we cannot here consider them in detail. Hence the matter will be narrowed down in scope to meet the limiting conditions of space. Prophecies recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, which were written centuries prior to Jesus' life, will be cited and shown to have been fulfilled in Jesus, hence proving him as Messiah Christ. His words of prophecy will then be cited, and modern events, nineteen centuries later, referred to as fulfillments. This will establish Jesus as the Messiah and his word as true and reliable. Then all should be will-

ing to acknowledge him as a credible witness and should accept his testimony concerning the Bible's authenticity.

The following table shows some of the main events foretold relative to the Messiah. Remember as you study the evidence that the prophecy was written centuries before the fulfillment, and that the events in fulfillment are often corroborated by profane history and other writings.

All these things were fulfilled in the case of Christ Jesus. Undoubtedly, he was the Messiah. (Luke 24:27,44) Furthermore, he was the great Prophet Moses foretold. (Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22,23) He prophesied of the "last days"; the fulfillments are visible to all. He foretold World War I, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, difficulties within the ranks of his followers, the appearance of an "evil servant" and a "faithful and wise servant", the intense persecution of Jehovah's witnesses, the world-wide gospel-preaching work now going on, and the unsettled conditions among men and their fears and perplexities for the future. (See Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21.) He also foretold man's failure in world government following World War I and styled such Kingdom makeshift an "abomination of desolation", and pointed out the final end.

These irrefutable facts stamp Christ Jesus as a true prophet. His word is reliable. And what is his reliable word concerning the authenticity of the Bible? His direct testimony is, "THY WORD is TRUTH!" (John 17: 17) And when one considers that Christ Jesus' words were not his own, but his heavenly Father's, then Jehovah stands supreme as the Voucher for the genuineness of His Word, the Bible. (John 3: 34; 7:16) Thus by one authoritative reference the question is settled with finality. The promised and foretold spirit of God came upon the writers of the Greek Scriptures and caused them to finish off the Bible canon authentically. The entire Bible is God's Word of Truth. —Joel 2:28,29; John 14:17; Acts 2:16-18; Rev. 1:1-3; 21:5.