Shaken: Part 2 – Infallible Proofs
Peter preached in Acts 3 the resurrected Messiah and salvation through Him. What was the result? “But many of those who heard the Word
[Greek logos] believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). Their message was convincing. Why? Because of the infallible proofs!
I have often said I can provide better, more reliable evidence in support of the historical account of the Gospels and of Jesus’ life than I can of Julius Caesar. This is not to draw into doubt the existence of Caesar, but rather to illustrate the incredible dependability and accuracy of the Bible.
For Caesar, there are his personal works and the works of Roman historians. For his personal records, there are around 12 manuscripts, the copy closest to the time of actual writing dating to some 900 years after authorship. For the Roman historians, there are a handful to 20 manuscripts depending on the author, the closest copies dating some 500 to over 1,000 years after authorship, with the historians themselves living 100 or more years after Caesar.¹ And Caesar is not the only one; this is how it is for much of ancient history.² Indeed, one of my history professors was convinced that Confucius never existed.³
In stark contrast, the reliability of the New Testament text is overwhelming, with thousands of ancient manuscripts, translations, and quotations, with some dating to within decades of authorship, the authors themselves being the actual eyewitnesses!⁴ Additionally, so many extra-Biblical accounts of Jesus have survived that even secular sources often admit there was a real, historical Jesus.⁵
But more than all that, there seems to be one proof, one event that surpasses all – something that changed the world, inspiring people to endure torture and unimaginable death for the sake of Truth:
“…He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).
For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to, fellowshipped with, and taught many disciples. Luke records that they were convinced by
“many infallible proofs”. The Greek word
tekmérion
appears only this one time in all the New Testament, being translated as “infallible” or “convincing proofs”. It is not an ordinary sign or piece of evidence, but one that is “sure, fixed, certain, indisputable, unmistakable, irrefutable”.⁶
Seeing a dead man now standing, speaking, and eating with you would most certainly be an infallible proof, and the number of people who were blessed with that opportunity during those 40 days would be anywhere from 475 to 620 people!⁷ After Jesus’ ascension, over 5,000 people in Acts 2-4 quickly became believers, and that’s just counting the men! After all, they could personally go to the tomb and see that it was empty even after being guarded and sealed (Matthew 27:66)! In fact, the news of not just Jesus but of other people rising from the dead⁸ would lead to government action by the Romans, resulting in capital punishment for grave-robbing and even moving “sepulcher-sealing stones”, as recorded in an edict by a Caesar (most likely Claudius).⁹
As we will see next time, having been with Jesus, seeing the resurrected Messiah with their own eyes, Peter and John
“cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). So if you're ever thinking about the proofs for the Bible and your faith, remember,
“God raised up His Servant for you… and sent Him to bless you” (Acts 3:26).
- Darrell Bock, “Sources for Caesar and Jesus Compared: Examining the Manuscript Evidence”,
The Gospel Coalition, 11 June 2015,
<https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article /bugs-features-and-atheism/>, accessed 1/31/23.
Jona Lendering, ed., “Gaius Julius Caesar: Writings”, Livius.org, 14 March 2019, <https://www.livius.org/articles/person/caesar/caesar-11/>, accessed 1/31/23.
_____, “Gaius Julius Caesar: Sources”, Livius.org, 21 April 2020, <https://www.livius.org/articles/person/caesar/caesar-12/>, accessed 1/31/23. - Matt Slick, “Manuscript evidence for superior New Testament reliability”,
Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, 6 December 2008,
<https://carm.org/about-the-bible/manuscript-evidence-for-superior-new-testament-reliability/>, accessed 1/31/23.
Abhishikth Aleti, “The Historical Authenticity of Jesus and the Early Church”, Medium, 27 December 2018, <https://medium.com/nutsandboltsofbible/historicity-of-jesus-2660ef595673>, accessed 1/31/23. - Eric Meisfjord (not my professor), “Confucius May Never Have Actually Existed. Here’s Why”,
Static Media, 8 July 2020,
<https://www.grunge.com/224624/confucius-may-never-have-actually-existed-heres-why/>, accessed 1/31/23.
James Bishop (also not my professor), “Jesus Vs Confucius: Historical Evidence Comparison”, Reasons for Jesus, 11 August 2019, <https://reasonsforjesus.com/jesus-vs-confucius-historical-evidence-comparison/>, accessed 1/31/23. - See our article “Divinely Dependable” at
https://www.creationtruth.com/divinely-dependable
See also: Sean McDowell, “What is the Most Recent Manuscript Count for the New Testament?”, SeanMcDowell.org, 13 March 2018, <https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/what-is-the-most-recent-manuscript-count-for-the-new-testament>, accessed 1/31/23. - Christopher Klein, “The Bible Says Jesus Was Real. What Other Proof Exists?”,
A&E Television Networks, 24 March 2021,
<https://www.history.com/news/was-jesus-real-historical-evidence>, accessed 1/31/23.
“Sources for the historicity of Jesus”, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, 28 January 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sources_for_the_historicity_of_Jesus>, accessed 1/31/23.
See also: Lawrence Mykytiuk, “Did Jesus Exist? Searching for Evidence Beyond the Bible”, Biblical Archaeology Society, 25 December 2022, <https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/did-jesus-exist/>, accessed 1/31/23. - Strong's Concordance 5039. tekmérion <https://biblehub.com/greek/5039.htm>, accessed 1/31/23.
- If those specifically listed were part of the 500 of I Cor. 15:6, it would be 475. If they are not included, it would be 525. If the 120 of Acts 1:15 are not part of the 500, it would be 620.
- Jeffrey Kranz, “Everyone who rose from the dead in the Bible”, OverviewBible, 2007, <https://overviewbible.com/bible-resurrections/>, accessed 2/9/23.
- Tim Chaffey, “Nazareth Inscription Study Debunks Evidence for Christ’s Resurrection?”, Answers in Genesis, 30 April 2020, <https://answersingenesis.org/jesus/nazareth-inscription-study-debunks-evidence-for-christs-resurrection/>, accessed 2/9/23. Part of the edict reads, “But if anyone legally charges that another person has destroyed, or has in any manner extracted those who have been buried, or has moved with wicked intent those who have been buried to other places, committing a crime against them, or has moved sepulcher-sealing stones, against such a person, I order that a judicial tribunal be created”.
