Bible Authenticity

When Was the Gospel of Matthew Written?

July 10, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 19 comments

The Gospel of Matthew was written anonymously, but was universally attributed to Jesus apostle Matthew, until the 1800’s. Today, most scholars, and skeptics and critics no longer believe this. Instead, they claim the Gospel of Matthew is based largely on the Gospel of Mark, which they assert was written first, and also on the totally speculative “Q” source. They claim, therefore, that Matthew is unlikely to have been written by one of Jesus closest followers, namely the former tax collector, and apostle of Jesus, Matthew Levi, but instead was written in the 80’s or 90’s CE by one or more second generation disciples. What does the evidence actually show as to when the Gospel of Matthew was written? read more

Nontrinitarianism

June 29, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 7 comments

The Book of Ephesians provides some clues as to Nontinitarianism.

Most Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. But what is Nontrinitarianism?

“The trinity of God is defined by the church as the belief that in God are three persons who subsist in one nature”—Dictionary of the Bible, page 800, by John L McKenzie, S. J.

Something “defined by the church” influences many people in the world. But, more importantly, is “the trinity of God” found in the scriptures?

“The brief as so defined by the church was reached only in the 4th and 5th centuries AD and hence is not explicitly and formally a biblical belief”—Dictionary of the Bible, page 800, by John L McKenzie, S. J. read more

Can Order Exist Without Design?

June 22, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

Universe

Skeptics, critics, and atheists insist that order can exist without design. Can there be order without design?

The Bible, however, raises a logical question, and then provides a brief, but profound, answer:

“Look up at the sky! Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great–not one of them is ever missing!”—Isaiah 40:26 Good News Translation

However, skeptics, critics, and atheists say: “Believers in God are confusing design and order, which are not the same thing. If there is design, then there is order, but if there is order, there is not necessarily design. For example, there is order in the way the planets orbit the Sun, but there is no good evidence that anybody designed it that way. And there is evidence that this order is just part of the inherent fabric of the universe. Gravity is a fact.” read more

Is God Only One, or 3-in-1?

June 21, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 7 comments

Is God only one, or is he 3-in-1?

“The Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. ‘triad’, from trinus ‘threefold’)^[1] is the Christian doctrineconcerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons:^[2]^[3] God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons (hypostases) sharing one essence/substance/nature (homoousion)”—Wikipedia

The important thing is, “What does the Bible say?” Let’s see, by examining the scriptures. read more

When Was Galatians Written & Why Is It Important?

June 18, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

The end of Ephesians, continuing on to Galatians 1:1–8 on Papyrus 46(*recto*; c. AD 200)^[1]

When was Galatians written?

“The original of the letter (autograph) is not known to survive. Papyrus 46, the earliest reasonably complete version available to scholars today, dates to approximately AD 200, around 150 years after the original was drafted. Biblical scholars agree that Galatians is a true example of Paul’s writing. The main arguments in favor of the authenticity of Galatians include its style and themes, which are common to the core letters of the Pauline corpus. George S. Duncan described its authenticity as “unquestioned. In every line it betrays its origin as a genuine letter of Paul. A majority of scholars agree that Galatians was written between the late 40s and early 50s, although some date the original composition to c. 50–60.”—Wikipedia read more

Who Wrote Colossians?

June 18, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 4 comments

Who wrote Colossians? Google AI says this about Colossians: “According to Bart Ehrman, the book of Colossians claims to be written by Paul the Apostle, but he argues that it is not genuinely Pauline; meaning he believes Paul did not actually write it. Ehrman, along with many other critical scholars, suggests that the letter was written by someone else, possibly a later follower of Paul, using Paul’s name.”

Let’s examine the relevant facts, to find out who wrote Colossians. Critics, such as Ehrman and others, have only their own speculative ideas from which they postulate. Compelling grounds for questioning the letter’s authenticity are lacking. Colossians contains autobiographical statements from Paul, and even opens with a salutation from Paul. read more

Is the “Rich Man and Lazarus” Literal or a Parable?

June 14, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 2 comments

There are many who believe and teach that the Rich Man and Lazarus is literal and Jesus uses the story to warn us about Hell Fire. Others firmly believe the story is a parable and the characters and events described are fictional, but Jesus warns about something else. What does the Bible indicate. Is the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus literal, or is it a parable/

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”—Luke 16:19-31 NIV read more

What does “Only Begotten” mean in Jesus’ case?

June 8, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 26 comments

What does “only begotten” mean in Jesus case? “Monogenēs may be used as an adjective. For example, monogenēs pais means only child, only legitimate child or special child. Monogenēs may also be used on its own as a noun. For example, o monogenēs means “the only one”, or “the only legitimate child” . . . Some interpretations of the word “unique” attempt to preclude birth, yet the full Greek meaning is always in the context of a child (genes). A unique child is also a born child, hence the full meaning of the word “begotten” as found in John 3:16 (KJV), for example”—Wikipedia read more

Red Sky – Accurate Bible Weather

May 29, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 0 Comment

The Bible accurately reports how a red sky in the evening means fair weather, but in the morning it means rainy weather. Does this weather phenomenon also tell us something else? Could it perhaps even tell us something much more important than the weather forecast?

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, ‘When evening comes, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,” and in the morning, “Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.” You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah'”—Matthew 16:1-4 NIV read more

Contradiction About When Jesus Went To Paradise?

May 27, 2025 BibleAuthenticity Comments 1 comment

One of the alleged “contradictions” in the Bible is that there is a contradiction about when Jesus went to “Paradise”. Here is the claimed contradiction:

Did Jesus ascend to Paradise the same day of the crucifixion?
(a) Yes. He said to the thief who defended him, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)
(b) No. He said to Mary Magdelene two days later, “I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20:17)

The seeming problem here comes from the punctuation of Luke 23:43 in most translations, which makes it appear as though Jesus went to “paradise” the day he died. “He [Jesus] said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). read more