Most Important Notes from PHIL 240 {x words}
I. Lesson One - The Scripture and Evidences
A. Christian evidences should answer doubts and be practical. There is a biblical basis for evidences.
B. Old Testament references that show a good basis for evidences (Numbers 14:11 (miracles enhance faith), I Kings 18:24 (true God will show it), Psalm 32:8-9 (do not be like a dumb animal), and Isaiah 41:21-23 and Isaiah 45:21 (fulfilled prophesy))
C. Old Testament references that show a good basis for evidences (Matthew 11:21 (great works should bring repentance), and John 5:36 and John 10:38 (works bear testimony)).
D. Compare Matthew 12: (He gave a sign anyway), Luke 7:19-23 (evidence with a compliment), and John 20:24-29 (evidence with a mild rebuke). Thomas may not have been a Christian until He saw the wounds because of his unwillingness to accept the gospel without evidence.
E. Paul went to the synagogues and to the market places. In each case, he gave evidences.
F. Paul witnessed on Mars Hills to the Epicureans and the Stoics. They were professional philosophers. He told them that they were worshipping the unknown god. He presented four major doctrines to them: (1) God the Father, (2) a man Jesus, (3) the need to repent, and (4) judgment.
G. Acts 19:8-10 - Paul reasoned for three months, and it was right for him to do. It is not always right or always wrong to debate.
H. Romans 1:3-4 - Paul argued Jesus by presenting evidences. Discussion of signs and the resurrection means evidences. In Romans 1:20, he used evidences of nature to show the sinner without excuse. God makes Himself known in nature and in one's heart.
I. I Corinthians 15:12-18 - Paul argued the significance of the resurrection. The resurrection is an evidence. There is no Christianity apart from the resurrection.
J. II Corinthians 5:11 - Paul's purpose was to persuade people. In Titus 1:9, Colossians 4:6, Philippians 1:7 and Philippians 1:16, Paul spoke about defending and convincing about the gospel.
K. I Peter 3:15 - Peter also commanded people to be able to know what and why they believe as they do.
L. John 20:30 was also about the importance of evidences.
II. Lesson Two - Evidences and Methodologies
A. Types of evidences
1. Natural theology (Romans 1:20 and Romans 2:14-15).
2. Miracles - the resurrection (John 10:37-38 and Acts 2:22)
3. Fulfilled prophecy (II Peter 1:21)
4. Spiritual gifts (Hebrews 2:3-4 and I Corinthians 14:22)
5. Direct Intervention by God - the Ten Commandments, Jesus' baptism, or the Transfiguration (II Peter 1:21)
B. Reasons for Apologetics
1. To strengthen the faith of believers
2. To help to witness by the power of the Holy Spirit (Paul used apologetics to lead others to Christ). But it is the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. To defend the Faith even when it appears that no one is listening
C. Type of Apologetists
1. Evidentialists - their chief interest is usually history. God has revealed Himself through those evidences (fulfilled prophecies).
2. Rationalists - the emphasis is on philosophical evidences (natural theology, arguments for God's existence, pain and evil, and so forth).
3. Presuppositionalists - their chief belief is that no one can begin their analysis from a totally neutral position. All people have some kinds of beliefs (some people believe that the Bible is the Word of God because it says so.). Most of these are Calvinists.
4. Fidiism - "Faith only." It is the opposite of the above three. It opposes evidences. This is an anti-Apologetic.
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XX. Lesson Twenty - The Resurrection of Jesus, part 1
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XXI. Lesson Twenty-one - The Resurrection of Jesus, part 2
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XXII. Lesson Twenty-two - The Resurrection of Jesus, part 3
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XXIII. Lesson Twenty-three - The Resurrection of Jesus, part 4
A. The core facts argument is stronger than the Shroud of Turin.
B. Scripture can be shown to be true by the Bible but also by secular data. That is in essence showing the truth when playing by their rules.
C. The Shroud of Turin
1. The age of the shroud is the weakest link of the argument. Carbon dating is trustworthy for a couple thousand years. Coins over the eyes appear to be coins minted by Pilate from 29AD to 32AD. The linen weave is consistent with first century cloth. The pollen on the cloth tells where the shroud has been. There is some from Turkey and Pallestine, and that could have only happened at the time of Christ. The shroud has been preserved since then.
2. With New Testament burial customs, wrapping His body could have been horizontal or vertical. The Greek does not distinguish. The face cloth was rolled up and around the head like someone with a toothache, basically tying up the jaw. The Shroud of Turin is not definitely the only burial cloth used on Jesus.
3. The man in the shroud has the same characteristics as Jesus. He has been beaten over essentially every inch of his body. His face, forearms, legs, and feet resemble a beating with the cat of ninetails. Muscles, skin, and nerves were cut. He had a crown of thorn put on his head and wound in his right chest.
4. The shroud may have some resurrection evidences, but this is not necessary to believe the resurrection. The shroud has been debated since the fourteenth century.
XXIV. Lesson Twenty-four - The Resurrection of Jesus, part 5
A. More on the Shroud of Turin
1. The dating problem is serious. He had rubs on his shoulder blades which could have been from being on the cross or from carrying it. The right shoulder is worse. His knees are inflamed to suggest that he fell several times. Both of these could have been from carrying his cross.
2. The body is unwashed which could mean post-mortem bleeding. What are the chances that two Christians could have been so identical? The ankles also were not broken, and that is consistent, too.
3. The multiple beatings, the stab wounds, the nail prints, the unbroken ankles, the crown of thorns are very significant.
4. The body was definitely dead because the man in the shroud showed symptoms of rigor mortis. Faking the shroud would not be easy. Such things as rigor mortis are difficult to fake. The theory is laborious. See the book, "The Verdict on the Shroud."
5. The cloth does not show evidence of body decomposition, meaning that the body probably left the cloth, and the position of the blood stains indicate that the cloth was not unwrapped. These are evidences of resurrection.
6. The shroud appears to be one of the burial cloths of Jesus. If the shroud turns out to be a fake, the resurrection of Jesus is no less certain, and it does not hurt Christianity, at all. The shroud should not be an object of worship.
B. Naturalistic arguments against the resurrection fail
C. Positive evidences for the resurrection exist
1. Jesus' appearances, backed by eyewitness testimony (with no viable naturalistic theory)
2. Change in disciples, willing to die.
3. Early proclamation of message of resurrection
4. Empty tomb
5. Response of Jewish leaders
6. Existence of the Church
7. Worship changed to Sunday
8. Conversion of James
9. Conversion of Paul
10. Jesus' predictions of His resurrection
D. The "Core Historical Facts" support the resurrection
1. Jesus' death by crucifixion
2. Disciples' experience, believed to be appearances of risen Jesus
3. Transformation of the disciples, even willing to die for their faith.
4. Paul's conversion, believed to be due to appearance of risen Jesus.
E. The evidence from the Shroud of Turin supports the resurrection, but it is the weakest evidence
XXV. Lesson Twenty-five - Christian Theism
A. Key Principle: God placed His stamp of approval on Jesus' entire message concerning both His Person and His other teachings because God would not raise a heretic from the dead, and other options are improbable.
B. God approved Christ's Person, and Christ claimed deity.
C. God approved Christ's teachings on His deity, the Kingdom of God, the way of salvation, eternal life, and the inspiration of Scriptures.
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XXVII. Lesson Twenty-seven - The Inspiration of Scripture
A. The Old Testament
1. Jesus said that the whole Old Testament is inspired (John 10:35 and Luke 24:44).
2. He said that different sections are inspired.
a. The Law (Matthew 5:18, Matthew 22:31-32 (compare Exodus 3:6))
b. The Writings (Mark 12:36)
c. The Prophets (Luke 24:44 and other prophesies)
3. The words of the Old Testament are inspired (Luke 16:17 and Matthew 5:18).
B. The New Testament
1. Christ's words are from God and therefore inspired, as demonstrated by His resurrection (Matthew 24:35, John 8:47, John 12:49-50, John 14:10, and John 17:8).
2. Jesus made a two-fold promise to His disciples.
a. His disciples were His chosen witnesses to explain the truth (Matthew 10:14, Matthew 10:40, Luke 24:48, Acts 1:8, John 13:18, John 13:20, and John 15:27).
b. His disciples would be inspired by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26 and John 16:12-16).
3. The New Testament writers personally claimed those promises (II Peter 3:2, Hebrews 2:3-4, I Corinthians 2:13, and Ephesians 2:20).
4. These promises were claimed for other New Testament authors (I Timothy 5:18, I Peter 3:15, and II Timothy 3:16).
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
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