Does the Bible Show Evidence of Supernatural Influence?

Introduction. Christians stake their eternal destiny on a belief in the reliability of the biblical record. Is there evidence to support this belief?

I. The Bible Itself.

A.    The Bible is unlike any other religious text.

1.      It dates to earliest stage of written history.

2.      It claims to be the revelation of Deity’s plan for the salvation of man spanning ages (Eph. 3:8-11).

B.     It expresses a uniformity of thought, in spite of the fact that…

1.      Its composition spans1500 years, being written by about 40 different writers, from different backgrounds, nations, educational training—

2.      It contains a uniformity of thought and purpose (1 Pet. 1:10-11).  

C.     Preservation through opposition.

1.      There have been many times in history when man has opposed the Bible and sought to destroy it—

2.      Yet, it has survived with more manuscript attestation than virtually any other ancient text (1 Pet. 1:23-25).

II. Historical Accuracy.

A.    The Bible story is set in real places and historical settings.

1.      It is not in a fairy tale land with imaginary people.

2.      It is connected with historical places and figures (Luke 3:1-2).

B.     It is a witness to historically confirmed facts.

1.      The Bible is one of our best sources of some elements of history.

2.      Artifacts such as the Cyrus Cylinder, the Annals of Sennacherib, and the Mesha Inscription echo biblical accounts of people and events in Scripture.

III. Scientific Accuracy.

A.    Round Earth (Isa. 40:22).

1.         Hanging on nothing (Job 26:7).

B.     Paths of the Sea (Ps. 8:8).

1.      Mountains of the Ocean (Jonah 2:5-6)..

C.     Microbiology and disease (Exod. 22:31; Lev. 22:8).

1.      Quarantine (Lev. 13:45-46; Num. 5:1-4).

2.      Cleanliness (Lev. 11:28).

IV. Prophetic Foreknowledge of Historical Events.

A.    Persia, Greece, and Rome.

1.      During Babylonian kingdom, three others predicted (Dan. 2:36-44).

2.      Timing of Christ’s coming (Dan. 9:25-26).

B.     The Persian king Cyrus (Isa. 44:24, 27, 28; 45:1-4).

1.      Hundreds of years beforehand.

C.     The Destruction of Jerusalem (Matt. 24:1-2).

1.      Only recently completed when Jesus said this.

2.      Herod was a friend of Rome.

V. The Life and Impact of Christ.

A.    Messianic prophecy. Dozens of fulfillments, including…

1.      Place of birth (Micah 5:2).

2.      Tribal ancestry (Gen. 49:10), and…

3.      Circumstances of death (Isa. 53).

B.     Historical witnesses.

1.      Pagan writers confirm his life (Suetonius, Tacitus, Lucian) .

C.     Witnesses of the Resurrection.

1.      Over 500 people saw Him alive (1 Cor. 15:1-6).

Conclusion.  How can we explain these things? Is this just an accident? Is this just the cleaver creation of man?—I submit that it is no accident, but evidence of the guidance of the One who revealed these things to mankind—God the maker of all things, who has given to us in His word the way to know Him and attain eternal life when this life comes to an end (2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).