The Reliability of the New Testament

In this engaging session four, Dean Meadows, Campus Minister at Blacksburg Church of Christ, tackles the question of whether the New Testament is a reliable historical document or merely a distorted "telephone game" passed down over 2,000 years. Drawing on comparisons with ancient texts, manuscript evidence, and scholarly insights—including agnostic Bart Ehrman's admission that textual variants don't affect core Christian beliefs. Dean demonstrates the New Testament's superior preservation, early dating, eyewitness testimony, embarrassing details (like the apostles' failures), and archaeological corroboration. Supported by non-Christian sources and historical facts, he argues that the text is not only accurately transmitted but factually true, providing a strong foundation for faith amid modern skepticism. The talk concludes with Q&A, emphasizing practical apologetics and reasonable confidence over absolute certainty.