Lectures

• 

  1. Old Testament Canon

  In our introductory lecture, Wesley Huff explores the development of the biblical canon, outlining how the Protestant Bible, Roman Catholic Bible, and other canonical traditions emerged through three key periods: ancient Judaism, early Christianity, and the Reformation. He traces evidence from ancient Jewish sources like Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Philo through early Christian writers such as Jerome, Augustine, and Martin Luther. The lecture concludes that while disagreements exist, a core canon of scriptures has been consistently recognized across Jewish and Christian traditions, and that understanding this complex history should inspire greater confidence in and engagement with the Bible rather than doubt.
• 

  2. New Testament Canon

  In lecture two, we study the formation of the New Testament canon, examining how the early church recognized the 27 books through the criteria of apostolicity, orthodoxy, and catholicity. We investigate Gnostic writings such as the Gospels of Thomas, Peter, Mary, and Judas, demonstrating why they were rejected due to their late composition, lack of apostolic connection, and theological distortions. The lecture concludes that the church recognized rather than created Scripture, and that the earliest eyewitness sources remain the most historically reliable accounts of Jesus.
• 

  3. Textual History of the Old Testament

  In lecture three, we learn about the textual history of the Old Testament through key manuscript traditions, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Masoretic Text, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Septuagint, and the Latin Vulgate. Examining well-known textual variants such as Goliath's height, Moses's "horns," and Isaiah 53:11, Huff explains how scribal practices and manuscript evidence reveal both meaningful variation and remarkable preservation. The discussion concludes that while textual differences exist, none affect core Christian doctrine, giving us confidence in the reliability of the Old Testament text.
• 

  4. Textual History of the New Testament

  In lecture four, we turn to the textual history of the New Testament, examining its vast tradition of nearly 6,000 Greek manuscripts, the significance of textual variants, and why the abundance of evidence strengthens confidence in the reliability of the transmitted text. Huff explains how textual criticism evaluates competing readings and examines the distinction between earlier and later manuscripts, showing why neither is inherently superior. The discussion also addresses the role of early church writers in preserving and verifying the text, and how the multiple lines of textual transmission serve as checks and balances against corruption, making the New Testament the most richly attested work of antiquity.
• 

  5. The Archeological Data

  In lecture five, Wesley Huff examines archaeological evidence supporting the New Testament’s historical reliability, focusing on discoveries such as the P52 papyrus fragment, the Pilate Stone, Jewish ossuaries, and the Alexamenos graffito. He explores how archaeological findings, name frequency analysis, and external references from writers like Josephus and Tacitus corroborate the historical context of the New Testament while cautioning against overstating what archaeology can prove. The lecture concludes that, while archaeology cannot establish theological claims, it strengthens the cumulative case for the historical trustworthiness of the New Testament.
• 

  6. Internal Evidence for the Bible

  In lecture six, we consider the internal evidence for the Bible’s trustworthiness, exploring the truthfulness, credibility, and character of the biblical authors. We discuss how the gospel writers followed ancient biographical standards, included verifiable historical details, and preserved undesigned coincidences between independent accounts as evidence of careful eyewitness transmission rather than invention. The discussion also addresses manuscript reliability, the challenges of widespread textual corruption, and the Bible’s unusual honesty in portraying flawed heroes as evidence of authentic testimony.
• 

  7. The English Bible

  In lecture seven, we trace the history of the English Bible from early 14th-century translations through the King James Version to modern times. We examine key figures like William Tyndale and Martin Luther, who risked their lives to make Scripture accessible to ordinary people, and explore how the printing press transformed Bible distribution. The lecture addresses why numerous English translations exist today, including translation philosophy, manuscript discoveries, and evolving language, while offering guidance on evaluating translation quality. Huff emphasizes that the abundance of reliable English Bibles available today is a blessing built upon centuries of sacrifice and scholarly effort.
• 

  8. The Historical Jesus

  In our eighth and final lecture, Wesley Huff examines the historical person of Jesus, exploring the development of historical Jesus studies from the Enlightenment-era “quest for the historical Jesus” to the Jesus Seminar. Evaluating their methods and conclusions, he draws on ancient sources, manuscript evidence, and comparative historical analysis to argue that the Gospels provide reliable, early, eyewitness-based accounts of Jesus. Huff concludes by examining Jesus’s claims to divinity within a Jewish context, and affirming the historical evidence for the Bible’s portrayal of Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic expectation.