Internal Evidence for Early Existence of the New Testament

New Testament

According to the Evidence for the early existence of the New Testament

1. The abrupt ending of the Book of Acts

   The book ends with Paul in prison, awaiting trial - Ac 28:30-31 - What are the implications? A plausible explanation is that Luke wrote Acts during this time, before Paul finally appeared before Nero. This would be about 62-63 A.D., meaning that Acts and Luke (which came first - cf. Ac 1:1 with Lk 1:1-4) were written within thirty years of the ministry and death of Jesus.

2. No mention of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
   
   Matthew, Mark and Luke record Jesus’ prophecy that the temple and city would be destroyed within that generation. See Mark 13:1-4,14,30; Luke 21:5-9,20-24,32.
   
   History records that in 70 A.D., Jerusalem was destroyed along with its temple exactly as Jesus foretold, yet not a single book of the New Testament refers to this event as having happened. It seems unlikely that any writer after 70 A.D. would not make mention of the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy.
   
   This has prompted some scholars to conclude that ALL of the books of the New Testament were written prior to 70 A.D., e.g., John A.T. Robinson, in his book Redating The New Testament.
   
   
3. Messianic Prophecies
   
   Jesus Himself claimed to be the fulfillment of many Biblical prophecies (Matt 5:17), for example:
   
   "Stone which builders rejected…" (Matt. 21:42, Mark. 12:10 ref. to Ps. 118:22)
   
   "Son of Man coming in clouds" (Mark 13:26 ref. to Dan 7:13)
   
   There are well over 100 messianic prophesies listed in the Bible Prophesy section of the NASB Master Study Bible…

The heel bone of a first century man found at Giv'at ha-Mivtar among other remains, showing evidence of crucifixion. The picture shows a seven-inch long nail embedded in the bone. Several fragments of olive wood were found still attached to the nail.

Archaeological Evidence - New Testament Examples

Were New Testament authors accurate in their depiction of events that took place? This is where the science of archaeology can be very helpful in determining the historical reliability of the New Testament. If archaeologists can show that the New Testament is filled with errors concerning people, places, and events, then the New Testament could not be trusted as an accurate record of the life of Jesus and the early church.

Not too long ago, skeptics discounted the Biblical record because it frequently referred to things not mentioned by any known source outside the Bible. However, some recent discoveries by archaeologists have vindicated the New Testament:

1. Archaeological discoveries have revealed facts about the census, and the reference to Quirinius as governor at the time of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-3)

We now know that the Romans had a regular enrollment of taxpayers, and held censuses every 14 years (begun by Augustus Caesar).

An inscription found in Antioch tells of Quirinius being governor of Syria around 7 B.C. (evidently he was governor twice!)

A papyrus found in Egypt says concerning the conducting of a census:

"Because of the approaching census it is necessary that all those residing for any cause away from their home should at once prepare to return to their own governments in order that they may complete the family registration of the enrollment..."

2. Lysanias - Luke 3:1

The only Lysanias known to ancient historians was one who was killed in 36 B.C. This caused some to question Luke’s reliability.

An inscription found near Damascus dated between 14 and 29 A.D. speaks of "Freedman of Lysanias the Tetrarch."

3. "The Pavement" (Gabbatha) - John 19:13

According to William F. Albright in "The Archaeology Of Palestine," this court was the court of the Tower of Antonia. The court was destroyed in 66-70 A.D. during the siege of Jerusalem, and was left buried when the city was rebuilt in the time of Hadrian.

For centuries there was no record of a court called "The Pavement" or "Gabbatha."

In 1925, a French archeologist named Vincent uncovered a pavement stone underneath the buildings that presently occupy the north side of the temple mount in Jerusalem that bears markings of an ancient game called "The Game of the King." Rather like the game tick-tack-toe, it is believed that this is the game that the Roman soldiers were playing when they were mocking Jesus at the Fortress of Antonia.

Thus it is inferred that this is the actual pavement of the judgment seat of the Roman governors, the spot on which Jesus stood as he was condemned to death by Pilate.

After eighteen centuries of finding no historical references to Pilate, in 1961 Italian archeologists discovered his name and his function "Prefectus" engraved on a stone tablet in the ruins of Caesarea Maritima.

4. Iconium, a City of Phyrigia - Acts 14:6

Archaeologists at first believed Luke’s implication to be wrong, that Lystra and Derbe were in Lycaonia, and Iconium was not. They based their belief on the writings of Romans such as Cicero who indicated that Iconium was in Lycaonia. Thus, archaeologists said the book of Acts was unreliable

In 1910, Sir William Ramsay found a monument that showed that Iconium was indeed a Phrygian city. This has been confirmed by later discoveries.

5. Pilate Inscription
   
   Found in 1961, this stone plaque bears the name of Pontius Pilate. The stone was a commemoration of Pilate's erection and dedication of the Tiberium, a temple for the worship of Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperer when Pilate was governor of Judea.
   
   
6. Giv'at ha-Mitvar Remains
   
   Until 1968, no remains of a crucified victim had ever been found in Palestine, despite many references to crucifixion in contemporary writings. That year, the remains of a man were found in an ossuary (bone box) containing an ankle bone driven through with a seven-inch long nail (see photo in sidebar). The iron nail was still embedded in the bone, and also attached was a piece of olive wood from the cross. There is also evidence that the victim's leg bones were broken.
   
   Until this extremely rare find, many historians believed that if men were crucified, their limbs would have been tied to a cross rather than nailed, because it was thought that nails could not have supported the weight of the body.
   
   
7. "Politarchs" - Acts 17:6
   
   For a long time the term "Politarchs" (Greek) which means "Rulers of the City" was not found in the classical literature of the Greeks, so it was assumed that Luke was wrong to refer to such an office.
   
   Some 19 inscriptions have now been found that make use of this title, and five of these are in reference to Thessalonica.

Stone plaque bearing an inscription containing the name of Pontius Pilate

Detail of stone above, reading "Tiberium" and "Pilate"

photo Randall Pierce, The Stones Cry Out, Harvest House 1997