Biblical truths are supported even by enemies of the Bible.
While many enemies of Christ and the Bible delight in the stupid and defamatory story of Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code”, a perusal of written and archaeological information can easily belie such make-believe bunch of stupidity.
Physical evidences are most welcome among people who judge by what they see; while logical and circumstantial evidences are more appreciated by a thinking mind. (Isaiah 11:3)
“And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:”
A wise judge considers other things than what he see and hear as the saying goes “…more than meets the eye.” Logic and human promptings was used by Solomon in judging a very delicate case brought to his court.
(I Kings 3:16-28)
“Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spoke the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.”
All evidences regarding the authenticity of the story of the true Christ and the Bible will easily be admitted by a fair and intelligent court of law.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
The history of the very empire who put Jesus Christ to death testifies that in the reign of Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, under Ceasar Tiberius, Christ was nailed on the cross and died.
Roman History (Annals 15:44)
The Roman historian Tacitus wrote concerning the Great Fire of Rome, in book 15, chapter 44 of his Annals (c. 116):
Sed non ope humana, non largitionibus principis aut deum placamentis decedebat infamia, quin iussum incendium crederetur. Ergo abolendo rumori Nero subdidit reos et quaesitissimis poenis adfecit, quos per flagitia invisos vulgus Christianos appellabat. Auctor nominis eius Christus Tibero imperitante per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio adfectus erat;
The following is a translation of the above Latin text:
But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius:
TANGIBLE AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Before his death, Jesus Christ taught the unbelieving Pharisees upon presenting to Him a
Roman coin with the inscription of the picture of Ceasar to “give unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s and unto God the things that are God’s”. (Matthew 22:17-21)
“Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Octavian who became “Augustus” meaning “exalted” in 27 BC. took Egypt as his personal estate which was ruled by a prefect. The Republic was replaced by imperial rule. This was the Caesar under whom Jesus was born (Luke 2:1). Caesar Augustus brought an age of Peace called “Pax Romana” meaning “Roman Peace.” This was the golden age of literature and architecture. (left)
Jesus’ ministry takes place under Tiberius Caesar. When Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar” he was referring to Tiberius. Pilate is appointed and Jesus is crucified. (right)
A clay tablet dedicated by Pontius to his ‘boss’ Tiberius Ceasar affirms further the authenticity of the story regarding Christ death on the cross. Jesus Christ died and was buried by two well-known figures in the Jewish community — one of whom is a Pharisee, the group that is bitterly against Christ. (John 19:38-42)
“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus (a former Pharisee), which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand.”
His enemies even asked Pontius Pilate to guard the tomb to be sure that His corpse will not be stolen by His disciples. (Matthew 27:62-66)
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
Had there been anomaly regarding His body, and if His resurrection did not come true, there must be circumstantial evidences (bones, tomb, etc.) to prove that He did not resurrect. (I Corinthians 15:3-8)
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
After His resurrection, He showed himself not to all, but to more than 500 people, with whom He stayed for another forty days before He ascended into heaven. The people that testify to His death and resurrection are more credible than the ‘incredible’ Dan Brown, and a host of his cohorts, who, if not ignorant, are blatant liars — among them are lawyers, tax collectors, fishermen of moral integrity, and many others. (Acts 1:1-3; 10:38-42)
“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
Money deposited and withdrawn from a bank existing under definite laws, have their paper-trail. The Christian faith started in the first century of our common era. There is a traceable historical trail that proves the authenticity of Christ’s death and resurrection. A declaration of the apostle Paul will spark doubts and frustration among the first-century Christian community if the resurrection did not really happen. (I Corinthians 15:14)
“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
The fact that the Christians continued to embrace their faith even unto the start of the next century of our common era, circumstantially proves that the issue regarding the resurrection has been moot and academic.
The apostasy that happened later as predicted by the apostle Paul was not able to erase the truth among the knowledge of Christians and in the Bible. (II Timothy 4:3-4)
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
There are fragments of the Gospel of John existing now, which dates back to as early as the year one hundred twenty AD, that tells us the story of the death of the only religious leader and founder who came back to life to prove that the religion He teaches is the Truth; and to prove further that there is a judgment day which all men will inevitably face! (Matthew 12:38-40)
“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
(Acts 17:31)
KING JAMES VERSION
Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
(Hebrews 9:27)
KING JAMES VERSION
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
From all admissible evidences, a fair and honest court of law will admit all evidences hereby being offered by this representation.
I REST MY CASE.
