EYEWITNESSES
(2 Peter 1:16-18) For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”– 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
(Luke 1:1-4) Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
(Hebrews 2:3-4) …how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
NOTE: To learn more about how the New Testament was carefully copied and passed down to us from the first century see: “How We Got the Bible“; Neil R. Lightfoot; Baker Book House; Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2003.
For the reliability of the Gospels / New Testament see: “Can We Trust the Gospels”; Peter J. Williams; Crossway; Wheaton, Illinois. 2018; and, “Is The New Testament Reliable?”; Paul Barnett; InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois. 2003
Historical documents (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_document) are original documents that contain important historical information about a person, place, or event and can thus serve as primary sources as important ingredients of the historical methodology.
Note: We use the term “historical documents” realizing the NT documents we have today are not the originals, but based on the massive manuscript evidence available they are believed to be very close to and essentially the same as the originals.
