The Strongest Evidence
Apologetics does not mean we apologize for our Bible. It means a formal defense, as when Socrates defended himself at trial. The Bible is self authenticating. It presents the simplest and most powerful kinds of evidence. For example, the Bible claims to predict the future. The ancient scroll of Isaiah, held as the highest treasure in Israel, contains prophesies about the Messiah. Many ancient biblical texts and Greek translations, certify that the prophesies predate their fulfillment in the person of Christ. How could specific events that happened to Jesus have been predicted centuries before their fulfillment? This is simple and powerful evidence that supports the Devine origin of the Scriptures.
The Bible also has supportive evidence. The books of the New Testament include personal letters to individuals and churches. These letters use the language of that era, and contain references to events, people and places. Other letters, such as the Acts from Luke, other historical accounts and ancient inscriptions confirm the authenticity of the letters. Such letters are almost impossible to forge at some later date. Yet it is common for people to claim that a monk forged the New Testament centuries later.
Many skeptics of the Bible point to scientific evidence for the age of rocks and starlight. They use this to mock the Biblical accounts of creation and the flood. Yet scientific evidence is the weakest form of evidence. Scientific attempts to understand earth-history are based on unquestioned assumptions. They use these assumptions to construct mathematical models. Mathematics is a philosophical system, not evidence. Historically, mathematical explanations are very weak, since they are continuously being overthrown by new evidence. A scientist could respond that science is an approach to truth, and each new theory is getting closer to the truth. Scientists, however, treat their most elementary assumptions as self-evident and never permit them to be questioned. I believe these elementary assumptions are clearly contradicted in the Bible.
Theories such as the “big bang” use complex mathematical constructions to substitute for simple clear evidence. For example they claim that empty space-time is stretching and this somehow stretches the light passing through it. No one has ever detected such a thing in the laboratory, so these theories are highly suspect. Their theories are often constructed in such a way that they cannot be contradicted. For example, cosmologists use black holes, dark matter and dark energy in their mathematical models. Such things are not only invisible, their supposed nature would not allow them to be seen even if they really existed. Scientific theories of beginnings are the weakest kinds of evidence - yet many people use them to argue against the Biblical accounts of creation.
The Bible says, although God is invisible, his eternal power is clearly seen in the things that are made, so that they are without excuse. Think about the tiny insects. There are more kinds of insects than all the other animal forms combined. There are millions of insects for every human. Many insects go through complete metamorphosis. They start off as tiny eggs that hatch into larvae. Flies, bees, mosquitos, wasps, fleas, moths, butterflies and beetles all go through complete metamorphosis. The larvae, such as caterpillars and maggots, eat continually. During the pupa stage their organs turn into a pulp like mass and rearrange themselves. If you examined the pupa during the initial stages of metamorphosis, you could easily be convinced that the animal has died because its organs are jumbled up. Complete metamorphosis means the final insect looks nothing like the original larva. It usually feeds on different foods and flies instead of crawls. Amazingly, it instinctively knows how to fly and may even migrate to a place it has never seen, like the Monarch butterfly. Complete metamorphosis is amazing evidence for the power and wisdom of a Creator. Every one of us is surrounded by countless examples of simple evidence that speaks of the power and wisdom of the Creator.
Do not be misled by scientific evidence based on assumptions and mathematical theories. Even a child can see the simplest kinds of evidence for a Creator. The Bible authenticates itself. It claims to be the all powerful, everlasting Word of God. Think about it!
Written by Victor McAllister March 4, 20043