The NT Documents
Bible Based Book Reviews
With all of the evidence today, can
we say that the NT documents are reliable in their transmission of the
biblical message?
The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
by F.F.
Bruce
William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI: reprinted
1988. 127 Pages, Paperback
The Christian Gospel is not primarily a code of ethics
or a metaphysical system; rather, it is the good news of the world's redemption
through the only Savior Jesus Christ. At a particular time in history,
Jesus Christ intruded into the world in his unique incarnation,
crucifixion and resurrection. Christianity is then distinguished
from all other religions as it stands upon the testimony of Jesus Christ
as the one and only Son of God - the only Savior. Thus, the
reliability of the New Testament witness is of crucial importance.
F.F. Bruce takes up the task of presenting a study which demonstrates
the reliability of the New Testament documents, and thus, the
reliability of the witness of Jesus Christ and the truth of his
claims. Herein lies one treatment of the reliability of the New Testament
canon and whether Christians are standing upon the the true Word of God.
These questions matter greatly, thus Bruce begins his book by asking that
very question "Does it matter?" It does matter immensely. Without a credible witness, the claims of Christ are
nothing. Without a credible witness, the Word of God is not the
Word of God but words of men's imaginations.
Bruce covers such topics as "The Cannon of the
New Testament," "The gospel Miracles" (which is extremely
important when dealing with the credibility of the New Testament),
"The Evidence of Early Jewish writings" and "The Evidence
of Early Gentile Writers."
Some Quotes:
"This historical "once-for-all-ness" of Christianity,
which distinguishes it from those religious and philosophical systems
which are not specifically related to any particular time, makes the
reliability of the writings which purport to record this revelation a
question of first rate importance."
"If, however, it can be shown with reasonable
probability that these records themselves depend in whole or in part on
still earlier documents, then the case for the trustworthiness of the
Gospel narrative is all the stronger."
"Anyone who attempts to answer the question which
forms the title of this book must recognize that for many readers it is
precisely these miracle stories which are the chief difficulty in the
way of accepting the New Testament documents are reliable."
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