Can I Trust the Bible - Episode 1: The Right Books | @WesHuff

Summary

In this insightful exploration, Wes Huff and Andy Steiger delve into the origins and credibility of the Bible. They examine the ancient history of the Bible, its formation over 1,600 years, and its connection to key figures like Jesus. The journey takes them to Egypt, where they explore crucial archaeological findings, including the Gospel of Thomas and other Gnostic texts. They discuss how these books were not included in the Bible, exploring the reasons behind their exclusion and what makes the biblical Gospels historically credible. The video also addresses common misconceptions about the Bible’s authenticity, offering evidence to support its trustworthiness.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Bible is a collection of books written over 1,600 years by around 40 different authors across three continents and in three languages.
• 😀 The New Testament books were not voted on but recognized by early Christians as authentic, closely connected to Jesus' teachings and the Apostolic Fathers.
• 😀 Egypt plays a significant role in the preservation of early biblical manuscripts, especially due to its dry climate and papyrus production.
• 😀 The Gospel of Thomas and other Gnostic texts, found in Nag Hammadi, offer alternative portrayals of Jesus but were not included in the Bible.
• 😀 The Gospel of Thomas consists of 114 sayings of Jesus, lacking the narrative structure that defines other Gospels, leading to doubts about its authenticity.
• 😀 Many Gnostic gospels, such as the Gospel of Judas, used the names of prominent early Christian figures to lend credibility to their ideas, though these texts were written long after those figures' deaths.
• 😀 Early Christian texts were often forged by attaching well-known names, like Peter or Mary, to their content to gain acceptance.
• 😀 The discovery of ancient texts like the Gospel of Thomas raises questions about the authenticity and historical reliability of non-canonical gospels.
• 😀 Scholars use the study of names in ancient texts, like the Gospels, to confirm their historical accuracy, with proper names matching the time and place they claim to depict.
• 😀 Comparing names and cultural contexts between canonical and non-canonical gospels reveals discrepancies that challenge the credibility of books like the Gospel of Thomas.
• 😀 Despite the discovery of alternative texts, the canonical books of the Bible are supported by solid historical evidence, making them trustworthy as the authentic record of Jesus' life and teachings.

Q & A

What led Wes to become interested in the reliability of the Bible?

Wes became interested in the reliability of the Bible after engaging with various groups, including Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and skeptics. They all questioned the trustworthiness of the Bible, arguing that it was based on unreliable translations and potentially inaccurate texts. Wes realized that if the Bible was not trustworthy, there would be no reason to place faith in Jesus, whom he believed in deeply.

What is the significance of Egypt in the context of biblical manuscripts?

Egypt plays a crucial role in the history of biblical manuscripts because it is where many of the earliest surviving copies of biblical texts were discovered. The dry climate of Egypt and the use of papyrus as a writing material helped preserve these ancient manuscripts. Egypt also hosts significant archaeological sites related to early Christianity and the Bible.

How was the Bible put together over time?

The Bible was compiled over a period of 1,600 years, spanning three continents and written by approximately 40 authors in three languages. The Old Testament was inherited from the Jewish scriptures, while the New Testament books were recognized by early Christian communities as being closest to the teachings and life of Jesus.

Why weren't the New Testament books chosen by vote?

The New Testament books were not chosen or voted on. Instead, they were recognized by early Christian communities based on their connection to the teachings and life of Jesus. The books that were included in the New Testament had a direct relationship with the apostles and their disciples.

What role did the Nag Hammadi discovery play in understanding early Christianity?

The discovery of the Nag Hammadi texts in 1945, including the Gospel of Thomas, was significant because it confirmed the diversity of early Christian beliefs and the existence of other Gospels that were not included in the Bible. These texts highlighted the theological debates and different portrayals of Jesus that existed in early Christianity.

Why were books like the Gospel of Thomas not included in the Bible?

Books like the Gospel of Thomas were not included in the Bible because they were written much later than the canonical Gospels, and their content often did not align with the authentic teachings of Jesus. Additionally, many of these texts were written by sects with differing theological views, such as the Gnostics, and they did not pass the historical and theological criteria set by early Christian communities.

What is the Gospel of Thomas, and why is it different from the canonical Gospels?

The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus, rather than a narrative of his life, death, and resurrection like the canonical Gospels. The text contains teachings that are often ambiguous and puzzling, which makes it very different from the traditional Gospels in terms of structure and content.

How does the dating of names in the Gospel of Judas help determine its authenticity?

The names in the Gospel of Judas, and other non-canonical texts, do not match the naming conventions and popular names from 1st century Judea and Galilee. Instead, they reflect names that were common in Egypt in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. This discrepancy suggests that these texts were written later, making them less likely to be authentic portrayals of the historical Jesus.

What evidence supports the authenticity of the four canonical Gospels?

The four canonical Gospels pass the test of historical and geographical accuracy, particularly in their use of names that were common in 1st century Judea and Galilee. The names and places mentioned in the canonical Gospels align with what would be expected for the time and location in which they were written, whereas non-canonical texts, like the Gospel of Judas, fail to meet these criteria.

What challenges do scholars face when trying to forge ancient texts, and how does this relate to the Gospels?

Scholars face significant challenges in forging ancient texts because they need to accurately replicate the names, places, and cultural details of the time in which the text is supposed to be from. For example, it would be difficult to forge a 17th century French document with the correct names and details. Similarly, the canonical Gospels get these details right, providing evidence for their authenticity, whereas non-canonical Gospels fail in this regard.