Bible Talk Session 2: Defending the Reliability of the New Testament

Bible Talk Session 2: Defending the Reliability of the New Testament 
2025-03-21 
Dr. Ben Shaw 

Summary:

This lesson explores common objections to Christianity, particularly the reliability of the New Testament. It emphasizes that believers don’t need to know every objection but should be prepared to share the reason for their hope. The discussion covers key arguments for the trustworthiness of the New Testament, including textual evidence, historical criteria, and manuscript comparisons.

Key points include:

• Common Objections to Christianity: The problem of evil, Christian hypocrisy, other religions, and biblical reliability.

• The Importance of Scripture: Regular engagement with the Bible renews and aligns believers’ minds.

• Textual Reliability of the New Testament:

• Compared to other ancient texts (Plato, Homer, Tacitus), the New Testament has far more manuscripts (5,000+ Greek copies, 25,000 total).

• The time gap between the originals and earliest copies is significantly shorter than other historical works.

• Variants exist but are mostly spelling errors or minor differences that do not affect core Christian doctrines.

The lesson concludes that the overwhelming manuscript evidence supports the credibility of the New Testament, reinforcing its reliability for faith and historical study.

Outline:

I. Introduction 

• A. Importance of defending faith

• B. The role of the New Testament in Christianity

• C. Purpose: Addressing objections to its reliability

II. Common Objections to Christianity

• A. Problem of evil

• B. Christian hypocrisy

• C. Other religions

• D. Reliability of the Bible

III. The Importance of Scripture

• A. Regular engagement with the Bible

• B. Impact on the believer’s mind and faith

• C. Renewing and aligning with God’s truth

IV. Textual Reliability of the New Testament

• A. Comparison with other ancient texts

1. Plato, Homer, Tacitus

2. Manuscript evidence (5,000+ Greek copies, 25,000 total)

• B. Time gap between original writings and earliest manuscripts

• C. Manuscript variations

1. Types of variations (spelling, minor differences)

2. No significant impact on core Christian doctrines

V. Key Evidence Supporting the New Testament’s Reliability

• A. Overwhelming manuscript evidence

• B. Historical consistency

• C. Verification by non-Christian sources (e.g., Josephus, Tacitus)