Evidence That Demands a Verdict - The Story of …

1 Evidence that Demands a Verdict - IntroductionMy Redeemer > Books > Evidence that Demands a VerdictBookmark this siteby Josh McDowellINDEXI ntroductionSECTION I. THE BIBLE-I TRUST ITChapter 1: The Uniqueness of the BibleAn intelligent person who is seeking truth would certainly read and consider a book that has the historical qualifications of the Bible. These unique qualifications separate the Scriptures from any book that has ever been 2: How Was the Bible Prepared?What materials were used? When did chapter and verse divisions come about? Why is the Bible divided the way it is?Chapter 3: The CanonWhy do we have just 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books?

2 What about the Apocrypha? Why are the other books not included in the Bible? (1 of 10) [23/08/2003 09:50:07 ] Evidence that Demands a Verdict - IntroductionChapter 4: The Reliability of the BiblePart 1 - Confirmation of the Historical TextThe accusation that the Old and New Testaments are not reliable is dealt with here. Several tests for the reliability and accuracy of a piece of literature are outlined; these tests are applied to the Scriptures and then a comparison is made between the historicity of the Bible and classical literature. The logical conclusion based upon Evidence is that if one rejects the Bible as being reliable, then, if he is consistent and uses the same tests, he must throw out all classical literature and disregard their historical 2 - Confirmation by ArchaeologyThe trustworthiness of Scripture is confirmed by specific, documented, archaeological discoveries.

3 Testimonies are given of skeptics who have had their attitudes toward the Bible radically changed as a result of archaeological II. THE ACADEMY AWARDS-IF JESUS WAS NOT GOD, THEN HE DESERVED AN OSCARC hapter 5: Jesus-A Man of HistoryDocumented sources of the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth apart from the 6: Jesus-GOD's SonAn explanation of the character of Christ and His claims to deity, with an emphasis on secular and Jewish 7: The Trilemma-LORD, Liar or Lunatic?This section deals with who Jesus was and rules out the possible conclusion that He was just a good man or great 8: The Great PropositionThe use of the " " argument is applied to Christ.

4 In other words, "If GOD became man, then what would He be like?" or "Did Jesus possess the characteristics of GOD?" Incorporates many quotations and observations of great men, Christians and non-Christians, about the person, character, life and death of Jesus of Nazareth and His impact on the world for 2,000 9: The Messianic Prophecies of the Old Testament Fulfilled in Jesus ChristThis section contains several illustrations of the probabilities that all these prophecies could be fulfilled in one man to answer the critic who says, "It is all just a coincidence." There is a great emphasis on Jewish sources confirming these predictions as being Messianic to answer the accusation, " that 's the way you Christians look at them, but what about the Jews?

5 "Chapter 10: The Resurrection - Hoax or History?This heavily documented section treats the proper historical approach to the resurrection, the positive Evidence for it and a refutation of each theory set forth to explain away the miracle of the historical event of the resurrection of (2 of 10) [23/08/2003 09:50:07 ] Evidence that Demands a Verdict - IntroductionSECTION III. GOD AT WORK IN HISTORY AND HUMAN LIVESC hapter 11: Prophecy Fulfilled in HistoryThis unique section deals with one of the great proofs that there is a living GOD behind the Bible and history. Twelve prophecies are dealt with in detail. There is a listing of the prophecies, their dating, historical background, and an outlining of the historical fulfillment of each 12: The Uniqueness of the Christian ExperienceSo often the Christian negates the authority of a transformed life as Evidence of Christ's reality because it is a subjective experience or argument.

6 This section shows that it is supported by an objective reality - the resurrection of Jesus CHANGED MY LIFEThe testimony of how a relationship with Jesus Christ transformed the author's HISTORICAL SOURCES OF CHRISTIANITYE vidence that Demands a VerdictIntroductionLET'S HAVE AN UNDERSTANDINGUse of Apologetics"But sanctify Christ as LORD in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and " (I Peter 3:15).The word "defense" (GK. apologia) indicates "a defense of conduct and procedure". Wilbur Smith puts it this way: "..a verbal defense, a speech in defense of what one has done or of truth which one " 19/481"Apologia" (basic English translation is apology) was used predominantly in early times "but it did not convey the idea of excuse, palliation or making amends for some injury done".

7 2/48"apologia" translated by the English word "defense" is used eight times (including I Peter 3:15 above) in the New Testament:n Acts 22:1"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you."n Acts 25:16"And I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to make his (3 of 10) [23/08/2003 09:50:07 ] Evidence that Demands a Verdict - Introductiondefense against the charges".n I Corinthians 9:3"My defense to those who examine me is "n II Corinthians 7:11"For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you, what vindication of yourselves [defense], what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong!

8 In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter". n Philippians 1:7"..since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me".n Philippians 1:16"..the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the "n II Timothy 4:16"At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them".The manner in which the word "defense" is used in I Peter 3:15 denotes the kind of defense one would make to a police inquiry, "Why are you a Christian?" A believer is responsible to give an adequate answer to that Little quotes John Stott saying, "We cannot pander to a man's intellectual arrogance, but we must cater to his intellectual integrity" [And, I add, questions of honest inquiry must be answered].

9 10/28 Beatty concludes that :"Christianity is either EVERYTHING for mankind, or NOTHING. It is either the highest certainty or the greatest if Christianity be EVERYTHING for mankind, it is important for every man to be able to give a good reason for the hope that is in him in regard to the eternal verities of the Christian faith. To accept these verities in an unthinking way, or to receive them simply on authority, is not enough for an intelligent and stable faith". 2/37,38 The basic "apologetic" these of these notes is:"There is an infinite, all-wise, all-powerful, all-loving GOD who has revealed Himself by means natural and supernatural in creation, in the nature of man, in the history of Israel and the Church, in the pages of Holy Scripture, in the incarnation of GOD in Christ, and in the heart of the believer by the gospel".

10 15/33 Christianity is a FACTual (4 of 10) [23/08/2003 09:50:07 ] Evidence that Demands a Verdict - IntroductionChristianity appeals to history, the facts of history, which P. Carnegie Simpson calls, "the most patent and accessible of data". Simpson continues that "He [Jesus] is a fact of history cognizable as any other". Anderson records Jenkins' remark, "Christianity is based on indisputable " 1/10 Clark Pinnock defines this type of facts:"The facts backing the Christian claim are not a special kind of religious fact. They are the cognitive, informational facts upon which all historical, legal, and ordinary decisions are based".