Historical reliability of the Gospels-External Criterion #1
EXTERNAL EVIDENCE:
1.) Would the authors of the document have a motive for fabricating what they wrote? Obviously, if a motive can be established for the author fabricating an account, the trustworthiness of the document is diminished. On the other hand, if the author had nothing to gain, or even something to lose, by writing the account, the document's
trustworthiness is increased.
What possible motive would the early disciples have had for fabricating stories about Jesus? They claimed to believe in Jesus because of His miracles and His resurrection, combined with the kind of life He lived and teachings he gave. And far from gaining anything from this, they suffered great persecution for it. Why would they lie? And is there anything about their characters which would lead us to think that they were the kind of people who deceived others? Look carefully at their opponents then and now! Look carefully at Nihil's comments! Do they sound like honest and rational arguments, or do they sound like wild accusations by someone with a hidden agenda? Think about this carefully! The opponents of Christ and his Church have had two thousand years to hone their myths and fables, but the simple dignity and truthfulness of the Gospels always outshines their dazzling words and sanctimonious twaddle. |
