Hermeneutic - a theory or method of interpretation

John 5:39-40 (ESV)
"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

Luke 24:27 (ESV)
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Three Primary Methods of finding Christ in the Old Testament:
1. Types or shadow
    a. Types - in 1 Corinthians 10:11 the word’s example is "typos". Also a “model or pattern”.
    b. Shadows - in Colossians 2:16-17 uses the word "shadow" as temporary.

Both refer to a person, thing, or action in the Old Testament that point to a New Testament reality centered in Christ and his Kingdom.

2. Prophecies - direct predictive information about Jesus and his kingdom

3. Appearances - Pre-Incarnation appearances of Jesus as "THE Angel of the Lord" and "Word of the Lord Appeared"

Labtime Workshop:
1) Psalm 22 & Isaiah 9:6,7
2) Genesis 18, 1 Samuel 3:21, Genesis 15:1
3) Genesis 14:17-20

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Trust the Scriptures

Why trust the scriptures?
I have two primary reasons that I believe this ancient document called the scriptures.

1. Logical Reason: The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most well-proven and documented event in ancient history.
2. Heart Reason: My inmost heart tells me that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest truth on planet earth.

Quick lesson in how we prove that ancient history actually happened:
1. Number of corroborating extra-Biblical resources
  - Josephus
  - Tacitus
  - Suetonius
  - Julius Africanus
  - Origen
  - Pliny the Younger

2. Archeology has overwhelmingly confirmed Bible history
  - Jericho
  - the ark
  - life of Jesus details

3. Manuscripts: number and age
  - Plato; 427-347BC
     * Two ancient copies which were written 1,200 years after Plato’s time
  - Julius Caesar; 100-44BC
     * Ten ancient copies of his Gallic Wars dating around 1000 years after he lived
  - Homers Iliad; 900BC
     * 643 copies dating around 500 years after Homer’s time.
     * The 643 copies have a 95% accuracy rate with each other.
  - Jesus Christ; 0-33AD
     * 5,600 copies dating as early 50-100 years after his death.
     * The 5,600 copies have a 99% accuracy rate compared to each other.

4. Fulfilled prophecies:
   - Hundreds of prophecies that were given centuries before were accurately fulfilled in lives of nations and Jesus.

The reality is that the Bible is the best-attested-to historical document in ancient history. None come close.

As one author said: If the Bible was about secular information and not “religion” it would be affirmed by every major learning institution in America.

So I agree with Josh McDowell when asked why he believed in Jesus and his resurrection: “Because I cannot deny history!”