Study of the LDS Church - 7.3 How to Know/Defend the Bible is True - Part 2

For the final lesson in this study, we're going to examine sources that further prove the inerrancy of the currently studied Bible of Christianity in order to further support its validity and dependability.


Unlike the Book of Mormon, there is much verification of the Bible that can be found in archaeology by Christian and non-Christian scientists. The customs, places, names, and events mentioned in the Bible have been validated over and over again. In fact, there is no archaeological discovery that has ever refuted a Biblical reference, according to Nelson Glueck in his work Rivers in the Desert (p.31). As noted earlier in this study, no site mentioned in the Book of Mormon has ever been convincingly located by archaeologists, although this is not due to lack of effort on their part.

As mentioned yesterday, there are many early Christians that have been found quoting scriptures, as we still know them today, as far back as the first and second century after Christ's life on earth. Clement, a leading elder in the first Christian churches in Rome, cites portions of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Justin Martyr, the "foremost apologist of the second century" considered all four Gospels to be Scripture. Polycarp, a disciple of John the Beloved quotes portions of the other three Gospels and refers to them as Jesus' very words. Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp, quoted from all but four of the New Testament books (excluding only Philemon, James, 2 Peter, and 3 John).

However, to further support the accuracy of the Bible, there are many non-Christian sources that refer to events and people that are featured in the scriptures. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (born A.D. 37) made reference to "Jesus, the so-called Christ." Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus (born A.D. 52) wrote of "Christus" who was "put to death by Pontius Pilate." Pliny the Younger (A.D. 112) spoke of the "troublesome sect of Christians." Suetonius (A.D. 120) spoke of disturbances over "Chrestus." These men obviously had no agenda in perpetrating tales that were untrue, but only speaking about events and people who were contemporaries of their own.

Lastly, I will observe what is further support from within the Bible that unifies it as the absolute and infallible account of God's plea to mankind...the fulfillment of ancient prophecies within the life of Jesus Christ himself. For this, I will point you directly to a list of 365 prophecies in Jewish scripture fulfilled by Jesus himself. This is full support of the correlation between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and thus further supports their validity.


No further questions or thoughts today. I just wanted to give you more information that would help support your stance of your faith. I pray that throughout this study, you have come to a better understanding not only of the LDS faith and its inaccuracies, but have grown in your own faith. My hope is that through this study you were able to grow closer to God and more dependent on Him for your peace and in the assurance that He truly He who He tells us He is in the Bible.

If you have any questions regarding any part of this study, please feel free to comment anywhere throughout on this blog or email me at mrsnespy @ hotmail.