Introduction

In Parts One and Two we examined three areas of evidence to support our contention that the Bible is inspired. (Scriptures claim to be inspired, the influence of the Bible, and the unusual style of the scriptures.) In this lesson we will examine the remaining three areas of evidence.

The Unity of the Scriptures

The Bible:

• contains 66 books;
• written independently by 40 men;
• using three languages;
• over a period of 1600 years.

The degree of unity found among the books of the Bible could not have been achieved by uninspired writers. How does the structure of the Bible compare to other religions' scriptures, such as Moslem or Buddhist writings? James Orr in his book, The Bible Under Trial made these comments:

It is the simple fact that there is nothing that can be properly called history in these other sacred books of the world. They are, as every student of them knows, for the most part jumbles of heterogeneous material, loosely placed together, without order, continuity, or unity of any kind. There is no order, progress or real connection of parts... The Bible, on the other hand, is a history with a beginning, a middle and an end; a history of revelation; the history of a developing purpose of God, working up to a goal in the full-orbed discovery of the will of god for man's salvation in His Son Jesus Christ. There is nothing like this, nothing even approaching it, in any other collection of sacred books in the world.

Fulfilled Prophecies

The definition of prophecy involves two ideas: 1) foretelling and 2) forth-telling.

Foretelling is predicting the future, while forth-telling is stating information that could not have been known without inspiration. A prophecy is more than an educated guess.

Real prophecy is only found in the Bible, it is God's means to an end. It is not incidental or accidentals but has a reason behind it similar to the purpose of spiritual gifts in the New Testament: to prove that the speaker was from God!

In Deut. 18:9-22, Moses calls for a new prophet similar to himself. In Isa. 41:22,23, Isaiah calls for the idols to prophesy to prove they are gods.

Biblical prophecy is often minute in detail, such as Daniel e (Nebuchadnezzur's dream). Sometimes prophecy contradicts human wisdom's prediction as to the destruction of such mighty cities as Babylon and Jerusalem.

Critics of the Bible make four charges against prophecy:

1- vague language,
2- artificially fulfilled,
3- prophecies written after the event,
4- other religions have similar fulfilled prophecies.

Our answer to the critics' first three complaints is for them to carefully examine this list of 60 prophecies concerning Christ or any similar list of Biblical prophecies. [Adapted from D.R. Dungan's, Hermeneutics]

• He was to be the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15; 4:2; Matt. 1:18).
• He would be the Son of God (Ps. 2:7; Luke 1:32-35).
• He would overcome the serpent (Gen. 3:15; Heb. 2:14).
• The seed of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 17:7; 22:18; Gal. 3:16).
• The seed of Isaac (Gen. 21:12; Heb. 11:18).
• The seed of Judah (Gen. 49:10; Heb. 7:14).
• The seed of David (Ps. 132:11; Jer. 23:5; Acts 13:23; Rom. 1:3).
• The time of His coming and death (Dan. 9:24-27; Luke 2:1).
• Born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14;Matt. 1;18; Luke 2:7).
• He was called Immanuel (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22, 23).
• Born in Bethlehem of Judea (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4-6).
• Great men shall come and bow down to Him (Ps.72:10-15; Matt. 2:1-11).
• Children slaughtered, that He might be killed (Jer. 31:15; Matt. 2:16-18).
• Introduced by John the Baptist (Isa. 40:3; Ma]. 3:l; Matt. 3:1-3; Luke 1:17).
• Was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Ps. 45:7; Isa. 11:2; 61:1; Matt. 3:16, 17; John 3:34; Acts 10:38).
• He was a prophet like unto Moses (Deut. 18:15-18; Acts 3:20-22).
• He was sent as a deliverer to the people (Isa. 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-21, 43).
• He is the light to Zebulun and Naphtali (Isa. 9:1-3; Matt. 4:12-16).
• He comes to the temple and cleanses it (Hag. 2:7-9; Mal. 3: 1; Luke 19:45; John 2:13-16).
• His poverty (Isa. 53:2; Mark 6:3; Luke 9:58).
• He was meek, and without ostentation (Isa. 42:1-2; Phil. 2: 7-9).
• His compassion (Isa. 40:11; 42:3; Matt. 12:15-20; Heb. 4:15).
• Was without guile (Isa. 53:9; I Pet. 2:22).
• Great zeal for the house of God (Ps. 69:9; John 2:17).
• He taught by the use of parables (Ps. 78:2; Matt. 13:34-35)
• He wrought miracles (Isa. 35:5, 6; Luke 7:18.23).
• Reacted by His brethren (Ps. 69:8; Isa. 53:3; John l:11; 7:5).
• Hated by the Jews (Ps; 6:9:4; Isa. 49:7; John 15:24.25).
• Rejected by their rulers (Ps. 118:22;John 7:48; Mats. 21:42).
• A stone of stumbling and rock of offense (Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:32; I Pet. 2:8).
• Betrayed by a friend (Ps. 41:9; 55:12.14; John 13:18-21).
• Forsaken by His disciples (Zech. 13:7; Matt. 26:31-56).
• Was sold for thirty Pieces of silver (Zech, 11:12; Matt. 26:15).
• This money was given to buy the potter's field (Zech. 11:13; Matt. 27:7).
• He was patient and silent in all His sufferings (Isa. 53:7; Matt. 26:63; 27:12-14).
• Smitten on the cheek (Mic. 5:l; Matt. 27:30).
• His sufferings were intense (Ps. 22:14,15; Lk. 22:42-44).
• Was scourged and spit upon (Ps. 35:15; Isa. 50:6; Mk.14:65 ; Jn.19:1).
• His visage was greatly marred (Isa. 52:14; 53:3; John 19:1-5).
• He suffered that He might bear away our sins (Isa. 53:4-6; Dan. 9:26; Matt. 20:28; 26:28).
• The rulers, Jews and Gentiles, combine against Him to put Him to death (Ps. 2:1-4; Lk. 23:12; Acts 4:27-28).
• He was extended upon the cross, and His hands and His feet were nailed to the wood (Isa. 25:10,11; Ps. 22:16; John 19:18; 20:25).
• This agony was increased by being numbered among thieves (Isa. 53:12; Mark 15:28 [sic. 271 ).
• They gave him gall and vinegar (Ps. 69:21; Matt.27:34).
• He was cruelly mocked (Ps. 22:7:8; 35:15-21; Matt. 27:39-44).
• He suffered alone; even the Father's presence was withdrawn (Isa. 63:1-3; Ps. 22:1; Matt. 27:46).
• They parted His garments among them, and cast lots for His vesture (Ps. 22:18; Matt. 27:35).
• He thus became a curse for us, and bore our reproach (Ps. 22:6; 79:7; 9:20; Rom. 15:3; Heb. 13:13; Gal. 3:13).
• He made intercession for the murderers (Isa. 53:12; Luke 23:34).
• After His death they pierced Him (Zech. 12:10; John 19:34-37).
• But did not break a bone of His body (Ex. 12:46; Ps. 34:20; John 19:33-36).
• He was buried with the rich (Isa. 53:9; Matt. 27:57-60).
• His flesh did not see corruption (Ps. 16:8-10; Acts 2:31).
• He rose from death the third day, according to the Scriptures (Ps. 16:8-10; 30:3; Luke 24:6, 31,34).
• He ascended into the heavens (Ps. 68:18; 24:7-9; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9).
• He became a priest after the order of Melchizedek, who was king and .priest at the same time (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:5,6; Zech. 6:12,13).
• He received for Himself a kingdom that embraces the whole world (Ps. 2:6; Luke 1:32; Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14; John 18:33-37; Matt. 28:18, 19; Phil. 2:9,10).
• His law went forth from .Zion and His Word from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1-3; Mic. 4:12; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 2:1-40).
• The Gentiles should be admitted into His service (Isa. 11:10; 42:1; Ps. 2:8; John 10:16; Acts 10:44-48; Rom. 15:9-12).
• The righteousness of His reign (Isa. 9:6, 7; Ps. 45:6, 7; John 5:30; Rev. 19:11).

As for criticism number four, we quote from Randolph S. Foster's book; Evidences of Christianity, the Supernatural Book:

No well accredited prophecy is found in any other book or even oral tradition now extant, or that has ever been extant in the world. The oracles of heathenism are not to be classed as an exception, there is not a single one of them that meets the tests required to prove supernatural agency, which every scripture prophecy evinces.

What is the probability that pure chance would have a man named Jesus fulfill even 25 prophecies. A 1 out 5 chance would be a very low estimate of the probability of any of the 25 prophecies. At that rate, the odds of fulfillment for all 25 is 1 chance out of a thousand trillion! In other words, NO WAY, without divine intervention.

Scientific Foreknowledge of the Scriptures (Dates confirmed are approximate)

EVENT	BIBLE	MAN
Earth Spherical	700 BC - Solomon and Isaiah	384 BC - Aristotle
Earth Revolves Daily	2000 BC - Job	384 BC - Aristotle
Earth Not Supported	2000 BC - Job	1687 AD - Sir Isaac Newton
Universe Spreading	1475 BC - Moses and Jeremiah	1924 AD - not confirmed until 1950 AD
Stars Innumerable	600 BC - Jeremiah, Hebrew writer	1608 AD - Galileo
Stars Emit Sounds	2000 BC - Job	1963 AD - radio-telescope
Earth Has Been Submerged	1475 BC - Noah (Gen. 1:2,6,9)	1924 AD - postulated by Edward Suess, 1885
Ocean Currents	1000 BC - David (Psa. 8:8)	1855 AD - Matthew F. Maury
Lightening Causes Rain	2000 BC - Job	1930 AD - confirmed 1965
Universe is Decaying	700 BC - Isa. 51:6, (Ps., Heb.)	1850 AD - 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Mankind is of One Origin	63 AD - Paul (Acts 17:26)	1775 AD - confirmed 1900

(Chart adapted from A.O. Schnabel's book: Has God Spoken? )

Conclusion