The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.
Interpretation
The authenticity of the New Testament writings is more supported by evidence than many classical texts that are widely accepted.
F. F. Bruce emphasizes the substantial evidence supporting the authenticity of the New Testament compared to that of many classical authors. He argues that if the New Testament were treated like other secular texts, their authenticity would not be questioned, highlighting a bias in how ancient writings are assessed based on their content and context.
In practice
In a discussion on the reliability of ancient texts, this quote can be used to emphasize the evidence supporting religious writings.
Some writers may toy with the fancy of a ‘Christ-myth,’ but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the ‘Christ-myth’ theories.
The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him.
The laws of nature are the rules according to which the effects are produced; but there must be a cause which operates according to these rules. The laws of navigation never navigated a ship. The rules of architecture never built a house.
What is laid down, ordered, factual is never enough to embrace the whole truth: life always spills over the rim of every cup.
When lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest winner
Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be.
To die for an idea is to set a rather high price upon conjecture.
I thought if war did not include killing, I'd like to see one every year.
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