DID THE BIBLICAL WRITERS HAVE AN INADEQUATE CONCERN FOR TRUTH?

The skeptic invents many ways to dismiss the Biblical accounts. He either insists they have been translated wrongly or they have been transmitted with many errors. Since these haven’t sufficed, they also allege that these accounts were never intended to be taken factually or historically. Consequently, they cannot be trusted. For example, Brian McLaren claims that the writers of Scripture were far more concerned about the spiritual than the factual:

·       “I would argue writers of the Bible didn’t have the same modern sensibilities that we do. They were (interested) first and foremost about what those stories meant and how they affected how you live. I’ve seen enough things myself that don’t fit into any normal categories of explainability. So I’m open to all those sorts of things. But I don’t actually think those (details) are the main point of the story.”

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article161227883.html#storylink=cpy

McLaren believes that since the writers were “first and foremost” concerned about the spiritual element, they were less than concerned about the factual or historical. However, there is no evidence for this charge. Instead, we find that the writers themselves insist that they are writing factually and historically, rather than in a vague spiritual way. For example, John wrote:

·       Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these [miraculous facts] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31; ESV)

John had argued that the historicity and factuality of Jesus’ miracles constituted evidence of His Personhood and teachings. Elsewhere, John claimed that the evidences were highly concrete:

·       That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3)

John and the other Apostles never argued, “Just believe because it feels good spiritually,” but offered concrete evidences as would any witness in a court of law.

Jesus argued that He shouldn’t be believed in the absence of factual evidences, miracles:

·       If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (John 10:37-38; 5:31-38)

Peter argued that his testimony should be accepted because it was factually based upon eyewitness accounts:

·       For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. (2 Peter 1:16-20)

Peter provided two lines of objective evidences – eyewitness testimonies and Scripture:

·       “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22)

For Peter, as also for us, eyewitness testimony constituted proof (Acts 1:3). From these instances alone, we are left to wonder how McLaren and others can make such a baseless charge that the writers didn’t really care about the facts.

In favor of the Resurrection, Paul had reminded his readers about the abundance of evidence:

·       Then he [Jesus] appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive [just in case you need confirmation], though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:6-8)

Paul consistently insisted on the truth and warned against myths, as they would “turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:4) in the end. Evidently, he too was highly concerned about the truth of what he was teaching.

The NT writers understood that the historical facts were the foundation for their spiritual teachings. If the facts were questionable, so too the spiritual teachings based upon these “facts.” Luke also seemed to place a lot of emphasis on the facts:

·       Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4)

Luke was so careful about the facts and evidences that it prompted the New Testament scholar F.F.Bruce to write:

·       “A man whose accuracy can be demonstrated in matters where we are able to test it is likely to be accurate even where means of testing aren’t available. Accuracy is a habit of mind…Luke’s record entitles him to be regarded as a writer of habitual accuracy.”

The Hebrew Scriptures are no less emphatic about the value and necessity of evidences (Deuteronomy 19:15). Moses argued that the Israelites were accountable because of the abundance of the evidence that they had seen:

·       “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him. Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. (Deuteronomy 4:32-36)

The extent of the Biblical evidence in favor of facts and historical accuracy is really overwhelming. Nevertheless, the facts seldom stop the enemies of the Gospel from making outlandish charges.