Thumbnail Sketch of Some Evidences
for Integrity of Biblical Texts
By Dr. Knofel Staton
A. The Bible shares information centuries before science discovered the corresponding truth.
Leviticus 17:11 Blood is essential for life Harvey, 1628
Hebrews 11:13 Materials we see are made from materials we Atoms
can’t see
Job 28:25 Air has weight Galileo,
17th century
Ecclesiastes 1:6 Winds function in circuits Galileo,
17th century
B. Evidence from Archeology
Isaiah 20:1-This century’s discovery of the palace and library of King Sargon at
Kharsabad, 12 miles north of
Discovery of the pyramid of the Pharaoh during the exodus with a room of his first
born son who had died at that time.
William Albright, internationally noted archeologist, has stated that there has been no archeological
discoveries that contradict biblical statements concerning locations, people, customs, etc.
Nelson L. Glueck, nationally known archeologist, has stated, “It may be stated categorically that no
archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference…” and he added, that the Bible has an
“almost incredibly accurate historical memory…particularly so when it is fortified by archeological fact.”
C. The relationship of mind, tongue, and attitudes to physical health
Proverbs 17:22 Laughter is good medicine. Catecholamine, Norman Cousins
which strengthens the immunity system.
Philippians 4:8-10 Positive thinking effects well being. Dr. Carl Simonton, Dr. Bernie Siegel,
and others
Proverbs 23:7 As a person thinks within himself, so he is. Dr. Carl Simonton, Dr. Bernie Siegel,
and others
16:24; 17:22; physical health. and others 18:14
Proverbs 13:12 Deferred makes the heart (person) sick.
tivism weakens the level of sortisol and troslac- and others
tin which weakens the immunity system.
Meditation and Increases white blood cells which fight intrud- Dr. Carl Simonton, Dr. Bernie Siegel,
Prayer ers to the physical system. and others
Friendship and Those with positive social relationships are less Dr. Carl Simonton, Dr. Bernie Siegel,
Fellowship susceptible to contagious diseases and have a and others
lower death rate.
Love Karl Menninger of the Menninger Foundation in
stated, “Love is the medicine for sickness.” Their research found
that there is a relationship between love and people having lower
levels of lactic acid in the blood making them less tired, higher levels
of endorphins which increases tolerance for pain, increase in white
cells which respond faster to infection, and higher levels of
immunoglobulin which is the first line of defense against colds.
Forgiveness Hostility triggers an excess amount of norepinephrine which
and letting go damages the lining of the arteries resulting in a faster build-up of
of anger blockages and higher blood pressure.
D. Prophecy
The number of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus would not have been invented by the early church;
too many eye witnesses that could refute it. For instance, Roman soldiers who did not tear His garments (a
prophecy of the Old Testament) surely did not know the Old Testament and said among themselves, “Let’s not
tear His garment in order to fulfill that prophecy concerning the Messiah.” Many prophecies of that nature were
fulfilled by the enemies of Jesus. Are we to suppose that Pilate ordered two thieves to be crucified with Jesus in
order to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy which probably would not have been known to him? Are we to suppose
that those who shook their heads at Jesus and mocked Him on the cross were doing that in order to fulfill
messianic prophecies when they had declared earlier, “We have no king but Cesar”?
Old Testament Messianic Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus:
Old Testament Text Prophecy Fulfilled
Micah 5:2 To be born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1
Isaiah 7:14 Conceived by a virgin (young maiden) Matthew 1:23
Isaiah 11:1 Would go to
Jeremiah 31:15 Mothers crying for their children Matthew 2:18
Isaiah 4:3 An advance person announcing His adult Matthew 3:3
ministries
Deuteronomy 18:18 Shall be called a prophet Matthew 21:11
Isaiah 61:1-2 Ministry of compassion to hurting and left Luke 4:18
out people
Isaiah 42:1-2 Be a servant to people’s needs Matthew 12:18
(seen as a servant throughout life)
Isaiah 53:5 He was pierced crucifixion event
Isaiah 53:8 Cut off from land of the living for crucifixion event
transcends of people
Psalm 78:2 He will speak in parables Matthew 13:35
Zechariah 9:9 Riding into
donkey
Psalm 118:22-23 Rejection of Jesus by those who later Matthew 21:42
affirm Him as Lord
Zechariah 13:7 His disciples will scatter and leave when Matthew 26:31
He is arrested
Isaiah 29:14 Will frustrate the intelligent ones 1 Corinthians 1:19
Isaiah 64:4, 65:17 Will do what no one has seen or heard 1 Corinthians 2:9
before
Psalm 112:9 He will give to the poor 11Corinthians 9:9
Isaiah 54:1 New Covenant Galatians 4:27
Jeremiah 31:31-34 New Covenant Acts 11:27,
Hebrew 8:8-12
Psalm 9:11 Appear in body form and be preached 1 Timothy 3:16
among nations
Deuteronomy 32:43, Angels will worship Him Hebrews 1:6
Psalm 97:7
Psalm 118:22 Will be rejected Acts 4:4
Psalm 2:1-2 Nations against Him Acts 4:25-26
Isaiah 53:7-8 His life slaughtered as sacrifice Acts 8:32-33
Psalm 2:7 God calling Him “Son” Matthew 3:7,
Acts 13:33,
Hebrews 5:5
Isaiah 55:3 Received David’s kingdom Acts 13:34
Psalm 16:8-11 Will not decay in grave Acts 2:25-28, 13:35
Habakkuk 1:5 Will not be believed Acts 13:41
Isaiah 49:6, 65:1 Will be for Gentiles also Acts 13:47, 10:20
Isaiah 45:21 The integrated church will be the new Acts 15:16-18
temple
Hosea 2:23, 1:10 A non-Jewish people will also be God’s Romans 9:25
Isaiah 10:22-23 A remnant will be saved Romans 9:27
Deuteronomy 29:4 Some Jews will not accept Jesus Acts 11:8-10
Isaiah 45:23 Every knee will bow and tongue Acts 14:4,
confess Him Philip 2:10-11
Deuteronomy 2:43, Gentiles will rejoice Acts 15:10
Isaiah 66:10, Psalm 117:1
Isaiah 11:10 Will be root of Jesse Acts 15:12
Isaiah 52:15 People will believe who were Acts 15:21
Psalm 110:4 A priest forever Hebrews 5:6
Psalm 40:6-8 Will do God’s will Hebrews 10:9,
John 5:19,
Matthew 26:39
Psalm 110:1 He is Lord Matthew 22:44,
Acts 2:37
Isaiah 28:16 Jesus as the cornerstone Ephesians 2:20,
1 Peter 2:6
Isaiah 53:9 He will not commit a sin Hebrews 22:2,
11 Corinthians 5:17,
Matthew 26:59-60
Daniel 7:13, Zechariah 12:10 He will return Revelation 1:7
There are probably more references to the coming of the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled beyond what is listed. They
include such minute details that Jesus would suffer thirst, give a forsaken cry, bones will not be broken, buried in a rich
man’s tomb, the price given to His betrayer, one of the disciples will betray Him, etc.
Peter Stoner in Science Speaks said the probability one man could fulfill all sixty in one in 100,000,000,000,000,000.
Harold Hatzler of the American Scientific Affiliation noted that Stoner’s book was carefully reviewed by the American
Scientific Affiliation and that the mathematical analysis used was based upon the principles of probability which are
thoroughly sound.
Jewish rabbis have identified over 450 Old Testament passages as messianic prophecies. The list is in appendix IX of
Edersheim’s, The Life and Times of the Messiah.
Some Christian scholars have equated typology with prophecy, but that is quite problematic (example: the lamb sub-
stituted for the sacrifice if Isaac is a probable “type of Jesus” but not a prophecy.
Note of caution: While many fine scholars identify some passages as messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, 1) we must be
careful in insisting passages are definitely messianic if they are not recorded in the New Testament as being fulfilled by Jesus,
and 2) we need to be careful in insisting they are definitely not messianic, as if all the apostles reported in their years of teaching
are recorded in the New Testament.
E. Available manuscript evidence of biblical writings compared to other ancient writings.
The evidence from manuscripts is far more numerous and with a much shorter time span between the writing of the manuscripts
and our first extant copies than in other ancient writings—the integrity of which is not challenged but assumed to be accurate.
The integrity of the New Testament text seems more credible by the following.
1. There are over 6,000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament; some are fragmented and some
are complete copies of the New Testament books.
2. There are over 10,000 manuscripts of the New Testament in other languages that date as early as
the mid-second century.
3. There are over 40,000 patristic quotations from the New Testament some of which date as early as
A.D. 100 and most of which date between A.D. 100 to 200. That means that copies of the New
Testament were in circulation early and many children of the eye witnesses were still alive.
4. Fragment of Matthew has been discovered that seems to date as early as A.D. 70. There are
quotes of the New Testament from early scholars that date as early as thirty years following the
writing of New Testament passages. Papyri fragments of New Testament manuscripts date as early
as 130 years after the writing of passages. See the following comparison chart of other ancient
writings.
Comparison Chart of Ancient Writings
Author
When Written
Earliest Copy
Time span between writing and the Earliest extant copy
Number of extant copies
Caesar, Gallic War
100-44 B.C.
A.D. 900
1000 years
10
Livy (Roman History)
59 B.C.- A.D. 17
4th Century
400 years
20
Plato (Tetralogies)
427-347 B.C.
A.D. 900
1200 years
7
Tacitus (Annals)
A.D. 100
A.D. 1100
1000 years
20
Pliny (History)
A.D. 61-113
A.D. 850
750 years
7
Suetonius (De Vita Gaesarun)
A.D. 75-160
A.D. 950
800 years
8
Herodotus (History)
480-425 B.C.
A.D. 900
1300 years
8
Aristotle
384-322 B.C.
A.D. 1100
1400 years
5
Author
Gospels
Acts
Rest of New Testatment
Total
2nd Century-Justin Martyr
268
10
52
330
Irenaeus "Gospels"
1,038
194
587
1,819
Clement of Alex
1,017
44
1,345
2,406
3rd Century-Origen
9,231
349
8,342
17,922
Tertullian
3,822
502
2,934
7,258
Hippolytus
734
42
602
1,378
4th Century-Eusebius
3,258
211
1,707
5,176
Grand Totals
19,368
1,352
15,569
36,289
The above does not include two additional scholars from the first century, nine additional
scholars from the second century, three additional scholars from the third century, and nine
additional scholars from the fourth century.
There is no other ancient literature that has such a pervasive evidence of extant, manuscripts,
fragments, quotations, translations, etc., in such a short time span from the date of writing as
the New Testament.
F. Non-biblical sources for the historicity of Jesus.
Jewish: Talmud, Josephus. Roman: Tacitus, Pliny, Suetonius. Other: Apocryphal Gospels.
G. Complete translations of the New Testament in other languages – dates as early as the
middle of the second century some of which would have then been translated approximately 50-60
years after the writing of the later New Testament books.