Bible Authenticity

Evidence of Early New Testament Canon by Circa 100 CE

September 28, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Although it is popular to do so, we should not measure the existence of the New Testament (NT) canon (authoritative, or inspired, books) just by the existence of lists, which came into being somewhat later than the NT canon’s coming into existence. When we examine the way the NT books were viewed and used in the very early days of Christianity, we can determine the de facto existence of a functioning canon by about 100 CE.

The views expressed here are admittedly a little different than the traditional, or orthodox, view of how the New Testament canon, in particular, and the Bible as a whole, came into acceptance. The views presented here actually stand in stark contrast to modern-day populist scholars, like the agnostic Bart Ehrman. read more

Are God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit a Trinity in 2 Thessalonians?

September 27, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

In the Bible book of 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul speaks of God, Jesus Christ, and the holy Spirit. If Paul and/or the early Christians believed Jesus is God or part of a Trinity, we should be able to find evidence of this in the New Testament letters. But is this the case in 2 Thessalonians? Is the Trinity in 2 Thessalonians? Let’s examine some of the pertinent verses to find out.

“To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:1). In this very first verse, God is distinguished here from Jesus and there is no mention of the holy Spirit. read more

What Sincere Beliefs Must a Person Hold To Be a Christian?

September 27, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Many people in the world today call themselves “Christian,” but there are so many conflicting beliefs and doctrines taught among these people. So what beliefs must a person hold in order to be a true Christian? In order to answer this question, we need to look to God’s Word. Let’s see what the Bible has to say.

Christian belief — Christians view the Bible as God’s revelation to humanity

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) So the first point is that one must believe that God exists, and becomes the rewarder of those sincerely seeking him. read more

The Bible Completely Equips Us & Doesn’t Need Supplements

September 26, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Many people professing to be Christians today believe the Bible is useful but incomplete and needs to be supplemented by their own teachings and writings. But is this the case? Is it possible that the Bible completely equips us?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17) The Bible completely equips Christians because it is the only divinely inspired writing. read more

Is the Trinity in the Letter of 2 John?

September 25, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Is the Bible reliable? — Is the Trinity doctrine in 2 John?

We’re going to take a look at the relationship between God and Jesus in this short article about the Bible book of 2 John. Is there any indication that Jesus is God, or is equal to God? What about the holy Spirit? Is it mentioned in this letter? Are God and Jesus the same person, or are they two separate and distinct individuals? Is the Trinity in the letter of 2 John? Let’s find out.

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son.” (2 John 1:3) Notice the conjunction “and” separates “God the Father” and “the Father’s Son”. Obviously, they are separate and distinct, with Jesus identified, not as “God the Son,” an expression that occurs nowhere in the Bible, but as “the Father’s Son.” read more

Is the Trinity in 1 Thessalonians?

August 25, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Is the Trinity in 1 Thessalonians? In the Bible book of 1 Thessalonians, are God and Jesus and spoken of as separate and distinct? Is the holy Spirit a person? Let’s examine these questions in some of the verses in 1 Thessalonians.

“In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Here, God and Jesus are referred to as two separate and distinct individuals. Why are they not “in” the holy Spirit, if it is a person?

“Before our God and Father… inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3) God, the Father, is one person, and the Lord Jesus Christ is another person. read more

Is the Trinity in Philippians? Is Jesus Christ Almighty God?

August 21, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

This article is part of our series about what is stated concerning God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and whether they together comprise a Trinity, in the various books of the New Testament. We will examine the four chapter book of Philippians. Notice the distinctive relationship between God and Jesus throughout this book of Philippians, especially the superior role of God compared to Jesus. What does it say about the holy Spirit? Is the Trinity in Philippians?

“To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” (Philippians 1:1) God is always the one in control, and is using Christ to gather his people. read more

Is the Holy Spirit a Person in John’s Gospel?

August 16, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Trinitarians focus on a few scriptures in which the holy spirit is personified, which, when taken literally, make it appear to be an actual spirit person. Let’s examine the uses in John of the word spirit, wherever it means the holy spirit.

holy spirit person — Is the holy spirit a person in the Gospel of John?

“John bore witness, ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and it remained on him'” (John 1:32 ESV)

The holy spirit is not personified, but said to be “as a dove,” the figure of speech called simile, being used here, involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. The holy Spirit is referred to by the pronoun “it.” “It” is not a person. There is no indication of personhood being applied to the holy spirit. read more

Holy Spirit & Trinity – Greetings & Praises From/To In Bible Letters?

August 14, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

In the Bible, particularly the New Testament letters, greetings are given from God and Jesus in 20 of the 21 New Testament canonical letters. We know that God the Father and Jesus Christ are both persons, so we should expect to see their greetings, and we do in these 20 letters. (Third John does not have such a greeting or praises.) But what about the Holy Spirit and the Trinity? If the holy Spirit is a person, or if the Trinity is a real entity, we should expect to see some type of greetings from the holy Spirit, and/or the Trinity, and/or praises to the holy spirit, or Trinity, as well. But is this the case? Let’s examine the greetings in the letters to find out. read more

Is Jesus Christ Almighty God, or Part of a Trinity? – Ephesians

August 11, 2017 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

This article is one of a series about what is stated concerning Jesus in the various books of the New Testament, the book of Ephesians. Almighty God and the holy Spirit are also discussed to see if there is any evidence of a Trinity doctrine in this Biblical letter, which is all about doctrine. A key component of the Trinity doctrine is that the holy Spirit is a person. In this article, we’ll see what Ephesians indicates about that.

Ephesians 1:1,2 – “…apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God . . . from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” God are Jesus are separate individuals. “To God’s holy people… in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice how many times in this letter God and Jesus are both mentioned, but as separate and distinct, with God being superior and Jesus as inferior. Why is Paul not also an apostle of the holy Spirit or the Trinity? Why is the letter not also from the holy Spirit or the Trinity? It’s because the holy Spirit is not a person, and the Trinity does not exist! read more