TrueU

In This introductory lesson, Dr. Stephen Meyer begins to lay a historical foundation for the accuracy of the biblical text by looking into the lives of the early Patriarchs. In so doing, he starts to build the case for the historicity of Scripture. Is the Bible true? You decide.

The Exodus story is one of the longest continuous narratives in the entire Bible, and it has significant historical and theological implications for both Christians and non-Christians. The story starts with Joseph's being sold into slavery in Egypt and imprisoned, then rising to prominence under Pharaoh and saving his family from a great famine. Once Joseph dies, his descendants (the Israelites) are forced into bondage by the Egyptians. After four hundred years, the Lord rescues them by having Moses lead them out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, and into the wilderness to wander for another 40 years before conquering the Promised Land. It is a tale of epic proportions, but did it really happen? Can we prove that the Israelites were even in Egypt, or that they later escaped Pharaoh's grasp and fled into the desert?

After the Israelites fled Egypt, God commanded them to settle in the "Promised Land." But in order to do so, they first had to conquer Jericho, Ai, and Hazor. The biblical texts document this fiery conquest at length, including a strange and miraculous story of the fall of Jericho. Small details mentioned in these ancient writings can now be scrutinized in light of archaeological finds. Did Joshua really fight the battle of Jericho? Did the walls come tumbling down? If so, when? Let's allow the evidence to lead us to the most logical conclusion.

The Old Testament reads like an epic - one grand story after another that portrays the might, sovereignty, grace and salvation of the one true God who revealed Himself in the life of Israel. After establishing His people in the land of Canaan, God appointed His servant David to the throne. David was more than just a warrior-poet turned king; he was God's instrument in delivering the Israelites from oppression, defending the defenseless, crushing the wicked, and establishing a royal line through which the Messiah would eventually come. King David built a palace in the great city of Jerusalem. His son Solomon vastly expanded the kingdom and established the temple as the earthly throne of God. However, this story too has been much maligned by the biblical minimalists, claiming that David either never existed or was simply a small tribal leader with little or no political power. We see once again that if one can discount the historicity of the Bible, its theological implications and message can also be dismissed. But if these stories prove to be true, then the message and meaning of the accounts must be taken seriously as well.

The Davidic monarchy lasted more than four hundred years and saw God's people become major players in the history of the Middle East. But the Bible describes their unfaithfulness to the Lord, which led to their punishment when both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah were attacked by the Assyrian Empire. This lesson examines the archaeological record of Sennacherib's assault on Judah. We learn how the evidence backs up the Bible's account of the defense of Jerusalem, God intervened in that siege when Judah's king, Hezekiah, turned to Him for help. So again, we have actual historical events and a God who intervenes in human affairs. Let's look at the evidence for this amazing story.

The Christian worldview attests not only to the existence of God, but also to His sovereignty over history. It is in fact His story, not ours. He started the story with His creative work, He continues to acts providentially within history, and one day He will bring the story to its ultimate climax through His return. History is simply the outworking of the divine plan to bring all of creation back under His rule and establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. This particular lesson describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, thereby ending the Davidic monarchy. Due to Israel's rebellion against Him, God handed them over to their enemies to be taken into exile. Once again, through historical events we can see the love, patience, mercy, and judgement of the creator God on and for His people. These stories aren't myths, they weave together a delicate and beautiful tapestry of events that not only demonstrate God's existence but also show His unfailing love for His people and His control over history.

The last two hundred years of biblical scholarship have produced a hostile and critical view of the New Testament writings. Critics claim transmission errors, dating problems, authorship concerns, and a lack of extra-biblical sources verifying what really happened. Recent archaeological finds, however, have unearthed mounds of evidence that are slowly bringing the age of skepticism to its end. The apostle Paul encouraged the believer to "test everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) to determine truth. That is exactly what we are doing in this series. By looking at the evidence, studying the recent findings and corroborating the stories, we realize there really is no good reason to doubt the accuracy of the New Testament.

The Gospel of Luke is the prequel to the book of Acts, and Luke, a fellow worker with Paul, wrote both. From the outset, Luke informs his reader that he is writing history. In fact, Luke states that he is simply writing down eyewitness accounts, and writing very close to the date when these events took place. Luke is not writing propaganda, fiction, or myth. And yet scholars are troubled by the message of both books because in Luke's historical record, he presents Jesus as both Messiah and Lord, proclaiming the historical truth of Jesus' bodily resurrection. As you move into academia and culture, you will find professors and peers who attack Scripture based not so much on historical facts but on their presuppositions or worldview. Understanding why someone believes what he believes is half the battle. Take the time to understand the worldviews that drive so many to reject the historicity and claims of Scripture; in so doing, you may earn enough credibility to explain the what and why of your own beliefs.

The people and places of the New Testament have been externally corroborated by archaeology and primary source material, such as the writings of the historian Flavius Josephus. Whether studying the major political figures of the day like Herod the Great or average people like Erastus, we know these individuals lived during the time of Jesus, providing further evidence for the historical truth of Scripture. As the evidence continues to build, it is becoming harder and harder to doubt the historicity of the New Testament. Stories, places, individuals, and events continue to be verified, bolstering our confidence in the reliability of the early Christian writings.

Jesus is the most important person in human history - assuming that He really lived and that He died and rose again according to the scriptural accounts. In the final lesson of TrueU's "Is the Bible reliable?" Dr. Meyer culminates his defense of Scripture by studying the trial of Jesus. Specifically, he examines extra-biblical sources that attest to the historicity of several individuals who played a key role in the events of that momentous week. In conclusion, go forth with courage and strength, knowing that what you believe really is real, that it rests on solid historical facts and can be trusted with your very life.