The Reliability of the Bible

Saturday School of Theology

- Module V; jan - june 09

Why does the Bible have spiritual authority over us? How did the Bible come to be a book? In this module the Saturday School of Theology will examine the inspired process which ultimately produced the Bible. The course will consider the morality and historicity of the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we will look at the varying structures and theological emphases of the four Gospels, as well as the Jesus tradition from Acts - Revelations. If you want to know more about the miracle of the Bible, this is the course for you.

The 9 May session will be held at the CATS Sixth Form College across from the Round Church.

The Old Testament

January 10: Led by Peter Williams

o The Old Testament and morality
o The Old Testament and history

February 14: Led by Peter Williams

o How did the canon come to be? (two lectures)

The New Testament

March 14: Led by Dirk Jongkind

o Traditional Approaches to the Reliability of the Gospels
o More Recent Approaches

April 4: Led by John Musselman

o The Synoptic Problem: contradictions, use of sources and theological differences?
o John's Gospel: how is it different?

For Saturday School Students only: click here to access the pdf version of John Musselman's powerpoint.

May 9: Led by Peter Williams

o Gospel Miracles (scientific, historical and philosophical objections)
o The Reliability of Acts to Revelation

June 13: Dirk Jongkind

o Alternative Voices? Apocryphal gospels
o The testimony of non-Christian writers and sources

Contributors:

Peter Williams is the Warden of Tyndale and an honorary lecturer in Biblical Studies at the University of Aberdeen. His current research interests include: the use of the early versions of the New Testament, the structure of the opening of John’s Gospel and the Rephaim in the Old Testament. Recent books include Early Syriac Translation Technique and the Textual Criticism of the Greek Gospels and Studies in the Syntax of the Peshitta of 1 Kings.

Dirk Jongkind is the John W. Laing Research Fellow in New Testament Studies at Tyndale House and a fellow of St Edmund's College. Before going into academia he and his wife ran a flower business. Dirk is interested in the historical and social context of the New Testament. His current research examines how the language of the courts in the Graeco-Roman world is reflected in the New Testament.

John Musselman is the president and founder of the Jackson Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. He has his DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary and has served in numerous churches. John is the author of Youth Evangelism Explosion, Classic Discipleship, and The Holy Spirit and His Gifts. He has also edited three classic Christian works, including The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, The Training of the Twelve by A.B. Bruce, and Man's Chief End by Thomas Watson.

Practical Details:

The course costs £18 per morning, or £90 per module.

The Saturday School takes place on the second Saturday of every month from 9:00 - 12:30pm.

The Cambridge Saturday School of Theology is a programme with a two fold purpose:

• To offer an opportunity for evangelical Christians in the Cambridge area to receive first-rate theological and apologetic teaching that encourages sustained reflection and integration into everyday life and witness.
• To offer a place for Christians in Cambridge to meet, interact, and begin thinking through the bases of their convictions together.

Teaching Level

This is open to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the faith but the teaching level will assume basic knowledge of and grounding in Christian truth. This course is ideally suited for someone who is involved in or is considering lay leadership within a local church.
Through the Cambridge Saturday School of Theology we hope to foster thoughtful engagement with Christian doctrine, and history as well as with contemporary secular culture. Those taking part in the programme should come away with a deeper understanding of the truth of Christianity, its power as a comprehensive worldview, and its capacity for addressing the difficult questions posed by contemporary culture. The desire is that this will result in a deeper commitment in following our Lord Jesus Christ in all areas of life, an increased confidence in witness, and the further strengthening of local churches.