Reliability of New Testament Historical Accounts
The New Testament's historical accounts are generally considered reliable by various theological traditions, which often point to internal and external evidence supporting their veracity. The early history of the apostolic writings, as far as it can be traced, mirrors that of other contemporary books, with authors like Paul sometimes using an amanuensis for dictation, similar to Cicero or Pliny [2].
A significant aspect of the New Testament's historical grounding lies in its connection to Old Testament prophecy and historical records. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, argues that the prophetic word of the Old Testament provides a "more strong and convincing" proof of the Gospel's truth than even eyewitness testimony, asserting that the doctrine of Christ's coming is not a "fable or cunning contrivance of men" but divinely foretold [6]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, also discusses the "word of prophecy," primarily referring to Old Testament writings concerning Christ, though he distinguishes its certainty from "cunningly devised fables" [8].
The meticulous record-keeping practices of the Jewish people also contribute to the perceived reliability of biblical accounts, particularly genealogies. Public registers were maintained, recording individuals' names, tribes, and families from the beginning of the Hebrew nation [7]. These genealogies were crucial, for instance, in proving Christ's descent from Judah [4]. The accuracy of such records was rarely challenged, even for names not explicitly found in the Old Testament, as they were drawn from public or family registers [9]. Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, also noted the importance of ancient writers in documenting historical affairs, suggesting a value placed on historical accuracy in that era [3].
While the New Testament itself is the primary source for its historical accounts, the Old Testament provides a foundational historical context. The text of the Old Testament was preserved on skins, rolled into volumes, and its original character is largely preserved today [1]. However, it is acknowledged that some numerical discrepancies exist in the historical books of the Old Testament, which scholars like Adam Clarke (Methodist/Wesleyan) attribute to potential corruptions in the numbers rather than fundamental historical inaccuracies [5]. Despite such minor textual variations, the overall historical framework and the fulfillment of prophecy are emphasized as strong indicators of reliability [6, 10].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Old Testament — I. TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.-- + History of the text. -A history of the text of the Old Testament should properly commence from the date of the completion of the canon. As regards the form in which the sacred writings were little doubt that the text was ordinarily were preserved, there can be written on skins, rolled up into volumes, like the modern synagogue rolls. (Psalms 40:7; Jeremiah 36:14; Ezekiel 2:9; Zechariah 5:1) The original character in which the text was expressed is that still preserved to us, with the exception of four letters, on the M”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — It is proposed in this article to consider the text of the New Testament. The subject naturally divides itself into-- I. The history of the written text; II. The history of the printed text. I. THE HISTORY OF THE WRITTEN TEXT.-- + The early history of the apostolic writings externally, as far as it can be traced, is the same as that of other contemporary books. St. Paul, like Cicero or Pliny often employed the services of an amanuensis, to whom he dictated his letters, affixing the salutation "with his own hand." (1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Thessalonians 3”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, Introduction, section 4: which, upon the comparison, quite eclipse the old wars, do yet sit as judges of those affairs, and pass bitter censures upon the labors of the best writers of antiquity; which moderns, although they may be superior to the old writers in eloquence, yet are they inferior to them in the execution of what they intended to do. While these also write new histories about the Assyrians and Medes, as if the ancient writers had not described their affairs as they ought to have done; although these be as far inferior to them in abilities as”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Genealogies — The Jews reckoned by -- 1Ch 9:1; 2Ch 31:19. Public registers kept of -- 2Ch 12:15; Ne 7:5. Of Christ Given. -- Mt 1:1-17; Lu 3:23-38. Prove his descent from Judah. -- Heb 7:14. Priests who could not prove their own, excluded from the priesthood -- Ezr 2:62; Ne 7:64. Subject of, to be avoided -- 1Ti 1:4; Tit 3:9. Illustrative of the record of saints in the book of life -- Lu 10:20; Heb 12:23; Re 3:5.”
- 2 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Samuel 24:9: In Israel eight hundred thousand - the men of Judah were five hundred thousand - In the parallel place, Ch1 21:5, the sums are widely different: in Israel one million one hundred thousand, in Judah four hundred and seventy thousand. Neither of these sums is too great, but they cannot be both correct; and which is the true number is difficult to say. The former seems the most likely; but more corruptions have taken place in the numbers of the historical books of the Old Testament, than in any other part of the sacred records. To attempt to reconcile them in every p”
- 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 1:19: In these words the apostle lays down another argument to prove the truth and reality of the gospel, and intimates that this second proof is more strong and convincing than the former, and more unanswerably makes out that the doctrine of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is not a mere fable or cunning contrivance of men, but the wise and wonderful counsel of the holy and gracious God. For this is foretold by the prophets and penmen of the Old Testament, who spoke and wrote under the influence and according to the direction of the Spirit of God. Here no”
- 1 Chronicles (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Chronicles 9 (introduction): ORIGINAL REGISTERS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH'S GENEALOGIES. (1Ch. 9:1-26) all Israel were reckoned by genealogies--From the beginning of the Hebrew nation, public records were kept, containing a registration of the name of every individual, as well as the tribe and family to which he belonged. "The book of the kings of Israel and Judah" does not refer to the two canonical books that are known in Scripture by that name, but to authenticated copies of those registers, placed under the official care of the sovereigns; and as a great number of”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:19: Though this word of prophecy is generally understood of the writings and prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, yet different ways are taken to fix the comparison: some think the sense is, that they are more sure than the cunningly devised fables, Pe2 1:16 but as these have no certainty nor authority in them, but are entirely to be rejected, the apostle would never put the sacred writings in comparison with them: and it is most clear, that the comparison lies between this word of prophecy, and the testimony of the apostles, who were eye and ear witnesses ”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 1:13: And Zorobabel begat Abiud, &c.--None of these names are found in the Old Testament; but they were doubtless taken from the public or family registers, which the Jews carefully kept, and their accuracy was never challenged.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:47: If ye believe not--(See Luk 16:31). his writings . . . my words--a remarkable contrast, not absolutely exalting Old Testament Scripture above His own words, but pointing to the office of those venerable documents to prepare Christ's way, to the necessity universally felt for documentary testimony in revealed religion, and perhaps (as STIER adds) to the relation which the comparative "letter" of the Old Testament holds to the more flowing "words" of "spirit and life" which characterize the New Testament. Next: John Chapter 6”