The Unwavering Honesty of the New Testament Writers
When it comes to evaluating the credibility of historical accounts, one crucial factor to consider is the presence of embarrassing details. If an author includes information that reflects poorly on themselves or their associates, it’s likely that they are telling the truth. The New Testament writers pass this test with flying colors.
A Case Study in Embarrassment
Imagine if you and your friends were concocting a story that you wanted to pass off as true. Would you make yourselves look like cowards, doubters, and fools? Of course not! Yet, that’s exactly what we find in the New Testament. The writers depict themselves as uncertain, bumbling, and sometimes even faithless. They also include unflattering details about their leader, Jesus, which would have been counterproductive if they were trying to create a mythical narrative.
The Principle of Embarrassment
Historians use the principle of embarrassment to gauge the reliability of ancient texts. This principle states that any details that are embarrassing to the author are likely to be true, since they would not have been included intentionally. The New Testament writers’ willingness to include embarrassing details about themselves and Jesus demonstrates their commitment to honesty and accuracy.
Difficult Sayings and Events
In addition to embarrassing details, the New Testament writers also record difficult sayings and events that would have been challenging for their audience to accept. For example, Jesus’ teachings on divorce, his rejection by his own family, and his crucifixion as a common criminal would have been hard to swallow for many of his followers. The inclusion of these details suggests that the writers were more concerned with conveying the truth than with presenting a sanitized version of events.
Theological Restraint
One notable feature of the New Testament accounts is their theological restraint. Unlike later Christian writings, the Gospels do not contain elaborate theological explanations or defenses of Jesus’ divinity. Instead, they present a straightforward narrative of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This restraint suggests that the writers were primarily concerned with conveying historical facts rather than promoting a particular theological agenda.
Persecution and Martyrdom
The New Testament writers’ commitment to honesty and accuracy was not without cost. Many of them suffered persecution and martyrdom for their faith, which would have been avoidable if they had simply recanted or modified their testimony. Their refusal to do so underscores the sincerity of their convictions and the reliability of their accounts.
Conclusion
The unwavering honesty of the New Testament writers is a powerful testament to the credibility of their accounts. Despite the challenges and risks involved, they remained committed to conveying the truth about Jesus and his teachings. As we evaluate the historical evidence for Christianity, their integrity and accuracy provide a solid foundation for our inquiry.
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