Scriptural Phenomena worth considering
Three fourths of What God has to say to us is found in the first thirty-nine books of
the Bible
The prophets of the OT alone comprise a larger literary work than the NT
There are 295 separate quotations of the OT in the NT (4.5% of the entire NT or 352
verses)
1/22.5 verses in the NT incorporates an Old Testament quote
1000s of allusions in the NT to the OT (see Hebrews and Revelation especially)
Matt. 5:17
Luke 16:29
So is it reliable
I. How did we get it?
A. Preliminary thoughts
1. 1000yr composition(1400 BC- 400 BC)
2. Hebrews 1:1-2
B. Various means of communication
1. Inspired lyrics (see the Psalms)
2. Observation of creation and social behavior (Proverb 24:30-
34)
3. Dreams, visions, and words from on high (see the prophets
Isiah 6)
4. Hand-written (Daniel 5:24-25)
5. Corporate revelation (Deut. 5:22)
II. Diachronic Studies
A. The Old Testament is a single story spread out over space and time.
Therefore, it is impossible to separate or even to denigrate the role of
history in the interpretive process.
B. Contours of historical study of the Old Testament
1. "Minimalist" Approach- much of what the Old Testament
describes has little or no factual basis.
i. Claims of Minimalists
a. Miraculous claims removes the Bible
from the category of history and reality
as we know and practice it today.
b. The events of Scripture took place so
long ago that we are unable to get an
objective account of the events it
records.
c. The nature of the evidence is so
fragmentary that we cannot be certain
of any statement about the past
d. History involves ethic, factual, and
aesthetic consideration that call for a
strong "subjective" element in
reconstructing the past.
2. "Maximalist" approach-less skeptical of the historical claims of
the Old Testament
III. Evidence for Historical Accuracy of the OT
A. Concerning the Pentateuch/Torah
1. Case for the first five books is dependent on both historical
verification of people, places, and things AND continuity and
internal coherence.
2. Corroborating evidence exists for Balaam from 800-700BC (see
Numbers 22:1-24:25). He was an active prophet when the
Israelites entered Canaan.
3. Ketef Hinnom Silver Scrolls-contain the oldest attestation of
YHWH 95-6th century BC)
4. Cultural arguments
i. Price of slaves (see Joseph in Gen. 37:28)
ii. "Tale of Two Brothers" bs Joseph and Potiphar's
wife saga
iii. Shape and scope of Deuteronomy and the Hittite
suzerainty treaties (1400-1200BC) share same
organization
B. Concerning the Early Prophets
1. Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings (also referred to as
Historical books0
2. Basalt Stele form the city of Dan confirms king David and his
kingdom
3. Mesha stone from Moab also confirmed "House of David."
(see 2 Kings 3) and uses OT language
4. Amarna Tablets contain correspondences with Amenhotep IV
concerning the "Habiru" (Hebrews)
5. Merneptah Stele (found in Pharaoh Merneptah's mortuary
temple) contains the earliest reference to Israel
6. Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser II depicts king Jehu of Israel (2
Kings 10:34) bowing before Assyrian king.
7. Pool of Gibeon (2 Sam. 2:13; Jer. 41:12) was found in 1833
C. Concerning the Later Prophets
1. Four major (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) and the
twelve minor prophets
2. Multiple Jeremiah references have been confirmed in many
excavated seals (bullae-sealed impressions stamped on lump
of clay or other pliable material that was then hardened to
seal the contents of a manuscript)
3. 21 storage jar garments (inscribed in Lachish letters) date from
590 BC confirm Jeremiah as well.
4. Tomb excavation confirms Isaiah 22:15-26.
5. Excavations in Nineveh confirm contents in Ezekiel.
6. Daniel 5's depiction of Belshazzar was recently confirmed by
discovered Babylonian text.
7. Cyrus Cylinder matches Ezra 1:2-4, 1 Chron. 36:22-23, Isaiah
44:24-28.
D. Concerning the Wisdom Writings
1. Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and many
Psalms.
2. Akkadian text from 1000BC called "The Babylonian Theodicy"
is very similar to Job
3. Proverbs is analogous to copious examples of wisdom
literature in the ancient world.
E. Conclusions
1. Archaeology has been on of the strongest allies for making the
case for the historical accuracy of the Old Testament.
2. The 20th Century will go down in history as one of the greatest
centuries for the discovery of artifacts and written material
related to the background of the Bible.
3. When the facts are fully known, they have repeatedly provided
an almost uncanny confirmation of the accuracy of the history
of the Old Testament.
4. The Scriptures of the first testament are a word that exhibits
over and over again its close connections with the world of its
day.
