The Man from Galilee
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The Man from Galilee (A Work in Progress)
Introduction
Around 4 B.C. was born the most remarkable man ever to have lived. Not much is known of his childhood and early years, but from age 30 to 33 he said and did things that changed the world forever. What he said and did were so phenomenal that people have either changed radically for him or they have been violently opposed to him and to those who have stood with him. There hasnt been room for much middle ground with regard to him.
So what does the historical record say about him? Can the record be trusted? What did he actually claim? What is the evidence for his claims? What is the evidence against? Who was he?
Historical Documents
We know about this man, his claims, and his life through the historical record that has been handed down to us. This includes the biographies that have been incorporated into the New Testament, the writings of the early Christian church leaders, and references in extra-biblical documents.
New Testament Documents
Although most of the New Testament contains useful content about him, the New Testament documents most relevant to a study of what he said and did are the Gospels. Matthew and John were two of the apostles who were with him all three years of his active work. Mark was a follower who was present for much of the three years and is presumed to be the young man who ran away naked from the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested. Luke is the only one who was not an eyewitness but he was also a very careful and accurate historian. Sir William Ramsey, one of the greatest archeologists concluded after 30 years of study that “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy Ð this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.” [footnote reference to Ramsay 1, page 222], and “Lukes history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.” [footnote reference to Ramsay 2, page 81] [also footnote quote from McDowell, page 63] At the beginning of his biography Luke states, “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” [Luke 1:1-4 NIV]
Reliability
There are some 5686 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament documents from the second through the fifteenth centuries, when copies were produced by hand and therefore somewhat rare, and over 25,000 manuscripts all together when one considers all translations. The oldest complete Greek manuscript is dated about 325. There are nearly complete manuscripts from as early as 250, complete books from 200 and fragments as early as 114 to 130. Since these documents were originally written between 40 and 90, the time span between their writing and the earliest copies we have is very short. Also the shear number of them allows scholars to compare and essentially eliminate any copying errors that have occurred. So the conclusion is, according to Sir Frederic Kenyon, former curator of the British Museum and renowned expert on ancient documents, “No other ancient book has anything like such early and plentiful testimony to its text, and no unbiased scholar would deny that the text that has come down to us is substantially sound.” [Kenyon 2, page 20] And, “Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.” [Kenyon 1, page 288]
For comparison consider that there are 10 copies of Caesars Gallic Wars, the oldest 1000 years after it was written, 7 copies of Platos writings, the oldest 1300 years after it was written, 8 copies of the History of Theucydides, the oldest 1300 years after it was written, and 20 copies of the Annuals of Tacitus, the oldest 1000 years after it was written. [McDowell, page 38] Clearly the contrast of this record with that of the New Testament documents underscores the force of Sir Kenyons statement.
Authenticity
The reliability of the documents we have being consistent with their original authorship in part affirms their authenticity. In addition, the documents claim to be eyewitness accounts and are consistent among themselves and with the external references available (see below.) The Gospel narratives read like documentaries. Since they were written during the lifetimes of many eyewitnesses, the absence of any contradictory writing confirms the authenticity of their reports. There are internal tests for authenticity that have been performed and will not be described here. But here are three categories: benefit of the doubt, free of known contradictions, and did the writer use primary sources.
Benefit of the doubt is that literary critics still follow Aristotles dictum that “the benefit of the doubt is to be given to the document itself, not arrogated by the critic to himself.” Therefore, “one must listen to the claims of the document under analysis, and not assume fraud or error unless the author disqualifies himself by contradictions