The Reliability of the Gospels
Evidence for the life of Jesus of Nazareth is presented in the Gospels: the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. How reliable are these written records? When we read them, are we getting an accurate account of what Jesus actually said and did?
These questions are important because the gospels are the main source of information about the earthly life of Jesus Christ. If they are unreliable or undependable, then our knowledge of Him is greatly limited. If they are precise historical records, then they serve a valuable purpose in educating us about the most incredible person in history.
It should be noted that historical evidence is sufficient in itself to prove something as fact. Empirical evidence (evidence based on experimentation) is only rarely available to those studying ancient historical facts. To illustrate, the life of Genghis Khan cannot be established in the laboratory.
Historians collect data on people and events based on eyewitness accounts, written documents, public records, or archaeological finds. Using the material available, one could determine the facts about persons such as George Washington or Julius Caesar, or find out what happened at the Battle of Waterloo. Public records are commonly used to prove when a person lived or died, or to verify that he graduated from a certain school, or to show that he was married. Some historical events are known only by eyewitness account, such as in courtroom cases when a person testifies to what he has personally seen in the past. Written testimony is admissible in a court of law.
“...they serve a valuable purpose in educating us about the most incredible person in history.”
The gospels present us with the written testimony of at least four eyewitnesses to Jesus Christ. These men claim to have lived in the same generation as Jesus with the opportunity to observe Him very closely:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you... (1 John 1:1-3)
These men understood that their historical record serves an important purpose in revealing to mankind the miraculous deeds of Jesus:
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)
If their testimony is true, we have more information about Jesus Christ than any other person in ancient history. That evidence tells us Jesus was more than just a man; He is the Son of God.
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
Who raised Jesus from the dead? Did He raise himself (John 2:19-21) or did God raise Him from the dead (Acts 2:24, 32; 4:10; 13:30; Galatians 1:1; Colossians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:10)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
The Skeptic's Annotated Bible thanks the Watchtower for pointing out this contradiction (Reasoning From The Scriptures, p. 313, 342-3).
The trouble here is not a matter of contradictory verses, but a lack of understanding of who Jesus is. The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society reject what the Bible says about Jesus Christ. He is identified as God several times (ie. John 1:1-3; 20:28). Subsequent to making the statement recorded in John 2:19-21, the Lord would say,
Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have receved from My Father. (John 10:17-18)
Jesus clearly declared that He had the power to raise from the dead Himself. And yet there are numerous verses in the Bible that say the Father was responsible for His resurrection. How can both of these be sure?
The process of Christ's resurrection and all that would be involved in it are beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend. Our experience is that we live for a time, and then are eventually the body dies. Resurrection is a divine work..
Jesus, being God, declared that He had the power to take up His own life. No one else could make such a claim, for all others who are in the flesh have a single nature - human. However, Jesus was both human and divine. Resurrection is a work of God, and Jesus is God.
Unaware of the exact process, but given the fact that both the Father and Son claim the work of resurrection, we are left with the conclusion that it was a work which was accomplished by both. How? We do not know. Who did what? We do not know. What we do know is that both Jesus and the Father are reported to be responsible for the resurrection. Neither claims exclusivity with regard to the resurrection of Christ.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible