How Do We Know?
* How do we know anything about Jesus of Nazareth? The authoritative source of information is the Bible, which provides a historical record of Jesus' life. Of course, there is much about Jesus' life that is not recorded in the Bible (John 20:30; 21:25). But his life, actions, and words are adequately revealed through the Bible.

* Jesus' words are found primarily in the four "Gospels" (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

* How do we know that the Bible accurately records Jesus' words? Before answering this question, other questions could be asked. Then see The Reliability of the New Testament.

Are Verbatim Quotations Necessary for Accuracy?
* The simple answer to this question is "no." In fact, considering the nature and characteristics of the New Testament, we would not necessarily expect verbatim quotations. Why?

> Jesus usually spoke in Aramaic. The Gospels were written in Greek. Thus translation was necessary, providing opportunity for the writers to use various Greek words.
> Many Bible scholars "distinguish between ipsissima verba ("the exact words" [of Jesus]) and ipsissima vox ("the exact voice" [of Jesus]). One can present history accurately whether one quotes or summarizes teaching, or even mixes the two together. To have accurate summaries of Jesus' teaching is just as historical as to have his actual words; they are just two different perspectives to give us the same thing."
> Ultimately, whatever words were used by the writers of Scripture, they were "carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16). Thus it is "God's word"

Are Speech Recordings Necessary for Accuracy?
* In the modern U.S., we are accustomed to videotaping or audio taping speakers to record what they say. At the very least, we take careful notes. Otherwise, we might misquote them. Without this type of recording in Jesus' day, how could his words be accurately transmitted?
* Memorization skills were highly valued in the Greco-Roman world of Jesus' day (even more so in Jewish culture). Jesus' sayings were transmitted in a Jewish environment "where considerable importance was attached to the accurate memorization and transmission" of important traditions.

> In Jewish culture, the "transmission of important traditions not written down in sacred Scripture often involved a substantial amount of flexibility in retelling those stories, in the inclusion or omission of incidental details, in the arrangement and sequence of episodes, and in paraphrasing and interpreting a person's teaching, so long as the major events of the narrative and their significance were not altered."

> Though oral transmission was primary, it is likely that written accounts of various portions of the Gospel record predated the appearance of the final form of the Gospels. Jesus' disciples may have used a kind of shorthand to record important private information (as the rabbis and their followers did).

Is "Objective" Perspective Necessary for Accuracy?
* Some people believe that the Gospel writers (or at least later editors) distorted or changed what Jesus said to fit their own ideas, desires or delusions. Is there sound basis for this? No.

> First, no one is purely "objective." In any case, "simply because a writer is passionately committed to promoting a particular cause does not at all mean he or she will falsify the facts. Often, such a person will work all the harder to tell the story straight."

> The "four Gospels are a combination of history and commentary" written from a "post-resurrection perspective, which adds interpretation to the events in light of a fuller understanding of them from a later period of time." Such perspective and understanding does not necessarily distort the reporting of historical events, but rather can enlighten it.

> Concerning the charge of later revisions, there is strong evidence that the Greek texts we have today are essentially "authentic" (the same as the original writings).

Must Parallel Quotations be Identical for Accuracy?
* Some people question the accuracy of the Bible because different Gospel writers sometimes use different words to record the same saying. Is this really a problem? No.

> Sometimes, similar sayings may differ because they occur at different times (or even at different moments within a single conversation). However, it is obvious that single statements are reported using different words. For example, see Matthew 16:13, Mark 8:27 and Luke 9:18. Though different words are used, the meaning is the same.

> The different Gospel writers had their own backgrounds, audiences, perspectives, themes and emphases. Thus the details they record and the words they use may be different, but accuracy is not sacrificed. Christians have long accepted and understood that having four Gospels provides us a more complete picture of Jesus' life and teaching.

Why Does it Matter?
† Read Matthew 7:24-29.

How do you answer this question?