Pastor Frank DeFusco
Let me highlight 10 reasons that I believe the New Testament authors were documenting historical truth.
1) The authors included embarrassing details about themselves, which is one of the determinants used by historians to verify whether claims are true or false.
2) The New Testament writers included embarrassing details and difficult sayings of Jesus. For example, John 7:5 states that his own brothers did not believe in him. He was called a drunkard, demon possessed, and a madman by the religious leaders.
3) The writers included demanding sayings of Jesus. If they were making up stories, wouldn’t they have made life easier for themselves, instead of having to “turn the other cheek, or also give someone your cloak when they take your tunic?” And my favorite, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
4) The authors carefully distinguished Jesus’ words from their own. I cite this as evidence, because it would have been easier for them to solve first century theology disputes such as circumcision and a woman’s place in the church, by simply putting words into Jesus’ mouth. Paul, who wrote at least 13 of the 27 New Testament books, and dealt with many of the most controversial subjects, explicitly went out of his way to make that distinction.
5) They included events concerning Jesus’ resurrection that they would not have invented. For example, Jesus was cited for blasphemy by the religious leaders yet was buried in the grave of a member of the Sanhedrin. The first witnesses to his resurrection were women led by Mary Magdalene, who Luke admits had once been demon-possessed. And in Acts 6:7, Luke writes that many priests came to faith in Christ, which if it was false, everyone would have known that Luke was a fraud. Also, Matthew penned the Jews’ explanation for the empty tomb was conjured up and spread by bribing the soldiers who guarded the grave to lie. If he lied about it, he too would have been accused of bearing false witness.
6) The writers included more than 30 historically confirmed people in their writings, which shows that their intent was not to invent a myth, but to record the truth of what they had witnessed.
7) The authors of the New Testament offer divergent details that the skeptics claim are contradictions. Such as Matthew saying there was one angel at the tomb, while John mentions two. But the skeptic adds the word “only” to Matthew’s account to make it look like a contradiction. But divergency is also proof that they didn’t get together to invent the story.
8) The writers challenged their readers to verify their facts. Such as Peter’s claim that they weren’t following clever tales but were eyewitnesses of Christ.
9) The authors describe miracles without embellishing them. Example, them giving matter of fact, almost bland descriptions of Christ’s Resurrection.
10) What would motivate their lying? Surely, rejection, persecution, torture, and martyrdom cannot be considered perks. That’s the truth!
Pastor Frank teaches two Bible Studies each week (Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m.) in the Sports Club. Please call 610-428-7244 if you have questions.