Why I Trust the Bible

Introduction

1. Why do Christians trust the Bible as the word of God?

    a. Why believe the Bible instead of the Koran or other religious writings?

    b. How can an unbeliever, who does not take the Bible’s accuracy for granted, be convinced of its validity?

2. These are questions that we will explore in this lesson as we examine evidences of the Bible’s reliability.

    a. The Bible is what it is, and our acknowledgment or rejection of it cannot change it.

    b. Some think that if a person doesn’t acknowledge the Bible as scripture that they can’t be taught!

    c. As we will see, however, there are persuasive arguments for trusting the Bible as the word of God.

I.      The Uniqueness of the Bible

A.          Unique in its Unity

1.   The Bible was produced over a span of many years by many different authors.

a)       Written over 1,500-1,600 years

b)       Approximately 40 different authors

c)       Tremendous diversity in background and circumstance of the authors

d)       Portions written on three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe)

e)       Written in three different languages (OT-Hebrew, portions in Aramaic; NT-Koine Greek)

2.   The Bible addresses nearly every controversial question known to man.

a)       Its authors and adherents were maligned, mistreated, imprisoned and put to death.

b)       There was no editor to bring each piece into harmony; each of the books stood alone.

3.   Yet in spite of the incredible circumstances in which it was written, the Bible shows great unity.

a)       No allegation of inherent contradiction can be substantiated.

b)       There is a unity of purpose within the Bible, it all points to one central theme.

c)       The Bible possesses organic unity, i.e. every part is necessary to support the whole.

4.   The Bible also possesses a conciseness unlike other human documents.

a)       It describes events of great import in the briefest of terms. (E.g. death of heroes, creation)

b)       The Bible states facts without moral discourses by the narrator. (E.g. Judas, sin of Abraham)

5.   Given the circumstances of its writing one would expect the Bible to actually be an anthology.

a)        An anthology is a collection of selected writings independent of one another. (e.g. Amer. lit.)

b)       But the Bible is not an anthology; it possesses a perfect unity no other book can boast.

B.          Unique in its Circulation

“The Bible has been read by more people and published in more languages than any other book in history. More copies of its entirety and more portions and selections have been produced than any other book. Some people will argue that in a designated month or year more of a certain other book was sold. However, overall, the circulation of absolutely no other book even begins to compare with that of the Scriptures. In fact, the first major book printed was the Latin Vulgate. It was printed on Gutenberg’s press.”[i]

C.          Unique in its Translation

1.   The Bible was one of the first major books to be translated. (LXX, ~250 B.C.)

2.   Translations of the NT were produced within several decades of its completion.

3.   Other books are translated into other languages, but none can even begin to compare to the Bible.

4.   No other book has been translated, re-translated, paraphrased and printed in more languages.

D.          Unique in its Survival

1.   The Bible has endured as the most popular book in the history of the world.

2.   This, in spite of the fact that:

a)       It is over 1,900 years old, the OT even older

b)       It has suffered intense persecution, being criticized, denounced, banned and burned

c)       It has been scoffed at by society’s elite for hundreds of years

3.   Even in Communist countries, where the practice of Christianity is illegal…

4.   Men and women risk their lives, smuggling, hiding and studying the words of the Bible.

E.          Unique in the Accuracy of its Content

1.   The Bible is not a history book or scientific manual.

a)       Yet its references to historic, geographic and scientific facts have never proven inaccurate.

b)       The Bible’s references to these facts have often predated their discoveries by the scholars!

2.   No other book can be found that:

a)       Is so abundantly attested to by a great diversity of evidence

b)       Is so accurate in its details and peripheral contextual elements

c)       Has such precise prophecies and whose fulfillment is proven beyond doubt

d)       Offers such a consistent and logical argument for the origin of life and this earth

F.          Unique in its Influence

1.   The Bible has influenced the lives of billions of people.

a)       The Bible is the most significant piece of literature in all of human history.

b)       It has reformed addicts, shaped lives, comforted the grieving and given guide to the great.

2.   No other book has inspired so many additional writings, schools of thought and speeches.

a)       E.g. Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances, atlases, lexicons, guidebooks

b)       E.g. Creeds, commentaries, study guides, inspirational literature, allegories, articles

c)       Compare this with other popular books that produced companion literature. (E.g. Tolkien)

G.          The Bible is Truly Unique!

1.   These facts do not prove the Bible is what it claims to be, the holy word of the Creator.

2.   But it does prove indisputably that the Bible is unlike any other and is worthy of our attention.

II.    Bibliographical Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible

A.          The Bibliographical Problem

1.   Many people assume we have original copies of the books of the Bible.

2.   The truth is there are no surviving autographs (original manuscripts) of the books of the Bible.

3.   The same is true for virtually every work of ancient literature.

4.   How then can we be confident that the Bibles we have accurately reflect the original text?

B.          Bibliographical Test for the Old Testament

1.     There aren’t as many surviving manuscripts for the OT as there are for the NT.

2.     Nevertheless, the bibliographical evidence for the reliability of the OT is still strong.

3.     The Copyists

a.      It must be understood that the smaller number of surviving manuscripts may be directly attributed to the exacting methods of Hebrew scribes whose job it was to copy the Old Testament scriptures.

b.     The regulations for copying the law were very exact, not even the smallest portion was to be copied from memory and great care was taken to ensure that the new copy accurately reflected the original manuscript from which it was taken.

c.      When a copy was flawed and not made according to the regulations it was burned, buried or banished to the schools to be used as reading books.

d.     Because of the precise standards of the Hebrew scribes, when a new copy was finished it was given the full confidence afforded to the original manuscript.

e.      In fact newer manuscripts were better in the eyes of the scribes than old ones because the older copies were more liable to wear out or become damaged in some way, thus making them unsuitable for use.

4.     The Dead Sea Scrolls

a.      Prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 the oldest complete manuscripts of the Old Testament were dated around A.D. 900 and on.

b.     But the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls gave us access to much older manuscripts that enabled scholars to examine how accurately the text had been preserved.

c.      One example can be found in a complete manuscript of Isaiah that was discovered. Previously the earliest complete manuscript of Isaiah that we possessed was dated around A.D. 916. But the Isaiah manuscript found among the Dead Sea Scrolls was dated around 125 B.C.! Not only was the Dead Sea manuscript over 1,000 years older, it confirmed the incredible accuracy of the later manuscripts that we already possessed!

5.     The Septuagint

a.      The Septuagint (LXX) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures translated around 280-250 B.C.

b.     This translation of the Hebrew Scriptures also helps us to confirm the accuracy of our Old Testament text today.

C.          Bibliographical Test for the New Testament

1.     “There are now more than 5,300 known Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. Add over 10,000 Latin Vulgate and at least 9,300 other early versions (MSS) and we have more than 24,000 manuscript copies of portions of the New Testament in existence today.

No other document of antiquity even begins to approach such numbers and attestation. In comparison, the Iliad by Homer is second with only 643 manuscripts that still survive. The first complete preserved text of Homer dates from the 13^th century.”[ii]

[iii]

2.     Ancient translations of the New Testament also provide strong evidence for the accuracy of ancient New Testament manuscripts.

a.      Ancient works of literature were rarely translated into other languages.

b.     But the New Testament began to be translated almost immediately because of the evangelistic nature of its message.

c.      “Syriac and Latin versions (translations) of the New Testament were made around A.D. 150. This brings us back very near to the time of the originals.

There are more than 15,000 existing copies of various versions.” [iv]

3.     The writings of the second and third century Christians also provide strong evidence for the reliability of our New Testaments today.

a.      If the New Testament were somehow lost it is maintained by scholars that it could be recovered in its entirety except for 11 verses from the writings of these Christians!

b.     This bibliographical evidence should give us a great deal of confidence in the Bible that we hold in our hands.

III.  Internal Evidences for the Reliability of the Bible

A.          Internal Claims

1.   As we examine the reliability of the Bible it is important to notice:

a)       Its own claim to inspiration 2Ti. 3:16-17

b)       Its claim to providing credible evidence

2.   Claims made by the Bible should be given the benefit of the doubt until proven false.

a)       This is an appropriate and fair method of evaluation applied to other pieces of literature.

b)       If we begin with an assumption of error our conclusions are likely to be tainted.

3.   Notice these claims to the Bible’s reliability:

a.      Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. –Luke 1:1-4

b.      For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. –2Peter 1:16

c.      …that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. –1John 1:3

d.      And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. –John 19:35

e.      For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. –1Corinthians 15:3-8

f.       Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, --Luke 3:1

B.          Important Questions

1.     Was the writer in a position to know what he was talking about? Is eyewitness testimony offered?

Not only were the authors of the Bible in a position to know what they were talking about, many of them were eyewitnesses of the events they reported. Not only that, they confirmed their accuracy by the additional details they provided of a historical nature.

2.     Would the author have a motive for fabricating what he wrote?

What did the apostles gain by preaching the message of the New Testament? How much money did the Old and New Testament writers make for their work, or how much fame did they enjoy in their lifetimes? They received torture and death instead of riches or fame. These men were certainly convinced of their cause since they had opportunity to recant when tortured but refused.

3.     Could those at the time of writing have refuted the document? Was there a motive for doing so?

“If there were those who could have shown that the account given was made up, and if they had a motive for doing it but did not, then the document’s trustworthiness is increased. We must remember that the Gospel was born in a hostile situation. There were plenty of people who would have refuted the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus if they could have. Many would have loved to have been able to do so (e.g., produce the body of Jesus). But no one could. To the contrary, the message of Christ spread and grew tremendously. Even enemies of Jesus could not deny the miracles that were done in His name (Acts 4:16). When Peter preached on Pentecost, he appealed to what the people knew, because Jesus had not worked in a corner somewhere (Acts 2:22).[v]

4.     Does the document contain specific and apparently irrelevant material?

Firsthand accounts of actual events often contain additional information that, while accurate, is not relevant to the central story. In contrast, false accounts are often generalized or vague. The Bible contains details that give its story a ring of truth. What does it matter that another disciple beat Peter in a foot race to Jesus’ tomb but didn’t go in? What is the significance of the face cloth being folded rather than wadded up and thrown into the corner? Why include these facts unless it is an actual record of events that really happened?

5.     Does the document contain potentially self-damaging material?

The Bible shows the weaknesses of its heroes, their flaws and their failures. In addition to that the Bible records some events in a potentially self-damaging way. One example is the tomb of Jesus being first found empty by women. In the society and culture in which the Bible was written the testimony of women would not have been respected or regarded very highly. If the Bible were a book of lies and myths would its author have concocted a story that could damage the believability of it as a whole? In contrast, if the Bible were true and was accurately recording the events you would expect such details as these.

6.     Is there evidence of addition and exaggeration?

Myths grow over time. But the evidence for such exaggeration in the Bible simply isn’t there.

IV.  External Evidences for the Reliability of the Bible

A.          Scientific and Historical References

1.   The Bible is not a science or history book.

a)       It records God’s dealings with man related to the development of His scheme of redemption.

b)       The Bible is not intended to stand as a comprehensive record of man’s history.

2.   If, however, the Bible is from God then references to historic or scientific facts must be accurate.

a)       The Bible contains many references to history, geography and science.

b)       As these pieces of evidence are examined a remarkable level of accuracy is discovered.

B.          Scientific Evidences

1.   Spherical Earth

a)       For centuries man believed the earth was flat.

b)       But the Bible already recorded the earth’s spherical form. Pr. 8:27; Isa. 40:22

2.   Unsupported Earth

a)       For centuries man believed that the earth was rigid and supported.

b)       Scientists of the ancient world believed that all movement occurred in the heavens.

c)       But the Bible has always revealed the truth. Job 26:7

3.   Ocean Recesses

a)       Ancient man had no idea that the ocean floor is full of mountains, valleys and canyons!

b)       But the Bible contained that information. Job 38:16; 2Sam. 22:16

4.   Ocean Currents

a)       A naval officer named Matthew Maury became famous for his oceanographic research.

b)       He is credited with being the first to undertake serious oceanographic research.

c)       He also was responsible for charting the continental ocean currents.

d)       But the Bible already knew about these “paths of the sea”. Psa. 8:8

5.   Life is in the Blood

a)       While ancient man believed that a person should be bled to free his body of disease…

b)       The Bible recorded that the key to life was in the blood. Lev. 17:11

C.          Historical Evidences

1.   The Hittites

a)       For years skeptics of the Bible regarded the Hittites as a myth.

b)       No archeological evidence was discovered to confirm their existence until the 1960’s.

c)       Once again the Bible was proven true and the critics were proven wrong.

·       Hittite, n. 1. a member of a people of central Anatolia who were a significant power in Anatolia and Syria from c1900 to c1200 B.C.[vi]

2.   David’s Conquest of Jerusalem

a)       David captured Jerusalem by sending Joab into the city by way of a water shaft.

                   (cf. 2Sam. 5:6-9; 1Chr. 11:4-9)

b)       Excavations have revealed that Jerusalem did have an underground water shaft.

c)       It design was to permit water to be gathered during time of siege.

d)       Ironically, a shaft built to help secure the city led to its defeat.

3.   Cyrus’ Decree

a)       The Bible both foretold and recorded events concerning Cyrus king of Persia.

b)       Cyrus permitted the captive Hebrews to return and rebuild the temple. (cf. Ezr. 1:1-4)

c)       Archeologists have discovered a clay cylinder, referred to as the Cyrus cylinder.

d)       It confirms that Cyrus permitted captives to return to their homes and to worship.

4.   Pontius Pilate

a)       For a long time scholars rejected the only available evidence that Pontius Pilate ever lived.

b)       The only evidence, apart from the Bible, was considered connected to the Bible.

c)       In 1961 two Italian archaeologists uncovered a Latin inscription confirming his existence.

d)       Inscription: Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea, has presented the Tiberium to the Caesareans.

5.   Erastus Treasurer of Corinth

a)       Paul’s letter to the Romans is believed to have been written in the city of Corinth.

b)       In that letter Paul mentions the city treasurer, a man named Erastus. (cf. Rm. 16:23)

c)       In 1929 during excavations of Corinth an inscription was found referring to Erastus.

d)       Inscription: Erastus, curator of public buildings, laid this pavement at his own expense.

V.    Prophetic Evidences for the Reliability of the Bible

A.          Prophecy is a valuable evidence for the Bible’s inspiration

1.   A book produced by divine intelligence would be completely accurate in its predictions.

2.   Unlike modern psychics, or even ancients like Nostradamus, Bible prophecies never miss.

3.   The precision and infallibility of Biblical prophecy is impressive evidence of its divine origin.

B.          The greatest display of Biblical prophecy

1.   No prophecies of the Bible are more stunning than those surrounding Jesus Christ.

2.   Specific prophecies were made concerning Jesus’ birth, life, enemies, death and resurrection.

3.   All of these prophecies were completed and recorded 400 years before Jesus’ birth.

4.   In fact, the Septuagint translation was completed at least 250 years before His birth.

5.   No legitimate allegation can be made that these prophecies were written after Jesus died.

Conclusion

1.     The Bible is unquestionably unique as a piece of literature.

2.     The evidence supporting its claims to be the work of God is strong and compelling.

3.     Honesty demands that we carefully and objectively examine these claims.

4.     If God has indeed spoken to us, we would do well to heed what He says.

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