Can I trust God’s Word?

by | Apr 9, 2020 | Faith Builders

IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT I CAN TRUST THE BIBLE?

(How can I know the Bible is from God and true?)

THE CRISIS:

Many of us learned the song JESUS LOVES ME written by Anna Warner in 1860.

Jesus loves me! This I know, 
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong; 
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

The crisis comes when too few know WHY we should believe what the Bible tells us.

QUESTION – “IS THE BIBLE REALLY GOD’S WORD?”

INSIGHT– To move our faith from being “blind faith” to a “substantiated faith” there are many questions we need to find answers for:

  • What is the Bible?
  • Did the Bible writers claim to be inspired and guided directly by God?
  • Do the Scriptures claim Divine inspiration?
  • Do they claim to be the infallible, inerrant, verbal revelation of God’s will?
  • Did God guide inspired men in the very words they wrote?
  • Could the Scriptures contain errors or mistakes in history, science, or doctrine?
  • Is the Bible a true and accurate revelation of the will of God for man?
  • How does a person test the reliability of a historical document?
  • Why is it important that the New Testament be a reliable historical document?
  • In the Bibliographical test, how do we establish that we have accurate copies of the original documents?
  • How many copies of the New Testament manuscripts are available? How does this compare to other ancient literature?
  • What length of time passed between the original and earliest copies? How does this compare to other ancient literature?
  • What variances exist between the copies of the New Testament? How does this compare to other ancient literature?
  • Why is it important that no core belief of Christianity is dependent on any textual variant?
  • What is the Bibliographical test of ancient documents and how and why the New Testament documents pass it so well?
  • What does the internal evidence test aim to achieve?
  • When was the New Testament written?
  • Why is it so significant that eyewitnesses were alive when the New Testament was written?
  • If you had to lie, how much punishment would you be able to endure before confessing?
  • How do the miraculous accounts of Jesus differ to the accounts of other religious leaders such as Buddha and Muhammad?

INSIGHT – INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIBLE: (gotquestions.org)

  • The word “Bible” comes from the Latin and Greek words meaning “book,” a fitting name, since the Bible is the book for all people, for all time. It’s a book like no other, in a class by itself.
  • Sixty-six different books comprise the Bible. They include books of law, such as Leviticus and Deuteronomy; historical books, such as Ezra and Acts; books of poetry, such as Psalms and Ecclesiastes; books of prophecy, such as Isaiah and Revelation; biographies, such as Matthew and John; and epistles (formal letters) such as Titus and Hebrews.
  • About 40 different human authors contributed to the Bible, which was written over a period of about 1500 years. The authors were kings, fishermen, priests, government officials, farmers, shepherds, and doctors. From all this diversity comes an incredible unity, with common themes woven throughout.
  • The Bible’s unity is due to the fact that, ultimately, it has one Author—God Himself. The Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The human authors wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, and the result was the perfect and holy Word of God (Psalm 12:6; 2 Peter 1:21).
  • The Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. In short, the Old Testament is the story of a nation, and the New Testament is the story of a Man. The nation was God’s way of bringing the Man—Jesus Christ—into the world.
  • The Old Testament describes the founding and preservation of the nation of Israel. God promised to use Israel to bless the whole world (Genesis 12:2-3). Once Israel was established as a nation, God raised up a family within that nation through whom the blessing would come: the family of David (Psalm 89:3-4). Then, from the family of David was promised one Man who would bring the promised blessing (Isaiah 11:1-10).
  • The New Testament details the coming of that promised Man. His name was Jesus, and He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament as He lived a perfect life, died to become the Savior, and rose from the dead.

INSIGHT – WHO IS THE CENTRAL CHARACTER IN THE BIBLE: (gotquestions.org)

  • Jesus is the central character in the Bible—the whole book is really about Him. The Old Testament predicts His coming and sets the stage for His entrance into the world. The New Testament describes His coming and His work to bring salvation to our sinful world.
  • Jesus is more than a historical figure; in fact, He is more than a man. He is God in the flesh, and His coming was the most important event in the history of the world. God Himself became a man in order to give us a clear, understandable picture of who He is. What is God like? He is like Jesus; Jesus is God in human form (John 1:14, 14:9).

INSIGHT – A TESTIMONY OF Dr. Gregory A. Boyd and his dad Edward in a great book LETTERS FROM A SKEPTIC”. Page 133.

QUESTION – HOW HAS THE BIBLE AND its ACCURACY BEEN TESTED: knowwhatyoubelieve.com.

INSIGHT -The reliability of the Scriptures should be measured the same way we would all other historical documents

  1. Bibliographical Test. (This examines the textual transmission of the documents).
    • Question: Do we have accurate copies of what was originally recorded?
    • Question: How many copies of the document are available, and what variances exist ​ between the copies?
    • Evidence: We have more than 24,000 manuscript copies in multiple languages ​ translations. Located over a wide geographical area (Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, ​ Greece, Italy)
    • Question: Are there copyist errors or corruptions?
    • Evidence: There are only minor variations (spelling, phraseology, etc.) We are able to state that we can be 99% sure that we have accurate copies of the originals. What’s more, no ​ core belief of Christianity is dependent on any textual variant.
    • Question: What length of time is there between the original and our earliest existing copy?
    • Evidence: Several fragments have been dated within 50-150 years of the original documents. Several nearly complete NT manuscripts dating within 300-400 years of the original. In fact, there are 500 different copies of the NT that are earlier than 500 AD.
    • Other classical manuscripts considered trustworthy: Iliad – earliest copy 500 years & 642 current copies. Pliny – 750 years & 7 copies. Plato – 1200 years and 7 copies. Livy – 350 years and 20 copies.
    • Additional evidence against the claim that there were purposeful changes: practically impossible, all copies and language versions agree in content, NT can be reconstructed from the early Church Fathers writings (quotes), no time for the falsifications to occur & no evidence to support this claim.
  2. Internal Evidence Test
    • Question: Is what was written credible / true?
    • Evidence: The New Testament writers claimed to be eyewitnesses or to have interviewed.
    • Evidence: The dating of the New Testament – The Gospels were written between 40 and 100 AD (conservative / liberal scholars). But, after closer examination of the liberal scholar’s dating, we find that there is no good reason to date them later than 70 AD. (Within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses).
    • Evidence: Paul’s letters (which contain all the main claims of the Gospels) were written between 49 and 65 AD.
    • Evidence: The writers display intimate knowledge of Jerusalem prior to its destruction in AD 70 (Proper names, dates, cultural details, historical events, customs and opinions of the time).
    • Evidence: The New Testament doesn’t contain any anachronisms (i.e. it does not place any person, or event in a time where it does not belong; there are no errors in dates of events, circumstances or customs).
    • Question: Are there any contradictions?
    • Evidence: The New Testament does not contain any contradictions (to remember when examining difference versus contradiction, translation, use of language, context, 20th century standards, and descriptions of God). Not a single supposed contradiction has ever been proved!
  3. External Evidence Test
    • Question: Does other historical material confirm or deny the internal testimony of the Documents i.e. other sources of evidence apart from the NT itself.
    • Evidence: – Extra-Biblical authors. Friends of John confirm the internal evidence.
    • Evidence: -Martyrs. Numerous people, who were in a position to know the truth, were prepared to die for their faith.
    • Archeological Evidence has shown that the writers (especially Luke) were excellent historians and accurate in all their details.
    • Historical-Geographical Evidence. Jesus seems to have done and said certain things in relationship to His surroundings.
    • Jewish Cultural Evidence. The NT accounts are confirmed by historical knowledge of first-century Jewish culture.
    Reliability Conclusion

    INSIGHT- ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE FOR THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE:(Inspiration and Authority of the Bible by Benjamin Warfield)

      • 2 Timothy 3:16
      1. Fulfilled prophecy.
        • The unity of Scripture.
          • The Bible presents its heroes truthfully with all of their faults and weaknesses. It does not glorify men as other religions do about their heroes.
            1. Archaeological findings support the history recorded in Scripture.
              1. The Bible’s claims of being from God should not be understood as arguing in a circle or by circular reasoning.
                    Exodus 14:1; 20:1;Leviticus 4:1; Numbers 4:1;Deuteronomy 4:2; 32:48;Isaiah 1:10, 24;Jeremiah 1:11;Jeremiah 11:1–3;Ezekiel 1:3;1 Corinthians 14:37;1 Thessalonians 2:13;2 Peter 1:16–21;1 John 4:6.
                    1. 2 Timothy 3:16).

                    QUESTION – WHY SHOULD WE TRUST THE BIBLE? (gotquestions.org)

                    INSIGHT – The Bible makes claims about the creation of the universe, the nature of the God who created the universe and reigns supremely over it, and the fate of mankind.

                    • If these claims are true, then the Bible is the most important book in the history of mankind. If the Bible is true, then it holds the answers to life’s biggest questions: “From where did I come?” “Why am I here?” and “What happens to me when I die?”
                    • The importance of the Bible’s message demands it receive fair consideration, and the truthfulness of its message is observable, testable, and able to withstand scrutiny.

                    INSIGHT – The writers of the Bible claim that the Bible is God’s very Word.

                    • The apostle Paul writes that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). That is to say, all the words recorded in the original writing of Scripture originated from the mouth of God before ever reaching the minds and pens of the biblical writers.
                    • The apostle Peter also writes that “prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The phrase “carried along” is indicative of a sail being propelled by the wind. That is, the writing of Scripture was directed by the Holy Spirit. The Bible does not originate with man and is, then, a product of God and carries the authority of God.
                    • The unity of the biblical message is further reason for why one should believe the Bible. The Bible was written over a period of approximately 1,550 years, with at least 40 human writers, most of whom did not know each other and were from varying backgrounds (king, fisherman, tax collector, shepherd, etc.).
                    • The Bible was written in various environments (desert, prison, royal court, etc.). Three different languages were used to write the Bible, and, despite covering controversial subjects, it carries one harmonious message. The circumstances surrounding the writing of the Bible would seem to guarantee its fallibility, and, yet, the message from Genesis to Revelation is uncannily consistent.
                    • Another reason why one should believe the Bible is its accuracy. The Bible should not be confused with a science textbook, but that does not mean that the Bible does not speak to issues that are scientific in nature.

                    INSIGHT – The Bible’s truth claims concerning world history have also been substantiated.

                    • The scientific and historical accuracy of the Bible is important evidence of the Bible’s trustworthiness, but the Bible also contains fulfilled prophecies.
                    • Some of the biblical writers made claims about future events centuries in advance. If any one of the events predicted had occurred, it would be astounding. But the Bible contains many, many prophecies. The 300 messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus could not have reasonably been fulfilled by one person unless some greater power was involved. Specific prophecies like Jesus’ birthplace, activities, manner of death, and resurrection demonstrate the preternatural accuracy of Scripture.

                    QUESTION – WHAT DID JESUS BELIEVE ABOUT SCRIPTURE:

                    INSIGHT – Jesus had much to say about God’s Word.

                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the Genesis account of creation. Matthew 19:4-6
                    • Some of the biblical writers made claims about future events centuries in advance. If any one of the events predicted had occurred, it would be astounding. But the Bible contains many, many prophecies. The 300 messianic prophecies fulfilled by Jesus could not have reasonably been fulfilled by one person unless some greater power was involved. Specific prophecies like Jesus’ birthplace, activities, manner of death, and resurrection demonstrate the preternatural accuracy of Scripture.
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch. Matthew 8:4
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the historicity and universality of the Noahic Flood. Matthew 24:37-39
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the historicity of Abraham. John 8:56
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the historicity of Sodom and Gomorrah. Matthew 10:15 ; Matthew 11:23
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt. Luke 17:32
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed God gave manna from heaven to Israel. John 6:31-32; John 6:49; John 6:58
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the Davidic authorship of the Psalms. Matthew 22:43-44
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the historicity of Jonah and the big fish.. Matthew 12:39-41
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the Danielic authorship of Daniel. Matthew 24:15
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed in the unity of the book of Isaiah. Matthew 13:14-15 ; Mark 7:6; John 12:38-41
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ believed the Jews had a history of rejecting God’s Word. Luke 11:47-51
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ accepted the Old Testament Jewish canon, but rejected the Apocrypha Luke 24:44
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ scolded the Sadducees for their ignorance of Scripture. Matthew 22:29
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ taught that every word of Scripture proceeded from God. Matthew 4:4
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ taught the doctrine of the preservation of Scripture. Matthew 5:17-18; Matthew 24:35
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ taught that the Old Testament Scriptures pointed to Him. Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ taught that man will be judged by God’s Word. John 12:47-48
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ taught the absolute authority of Scripture John 10:34-36
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ pre-authenticated the New Testament writings as Scripture. John 14:26; John 16:12-13.
                    • The Lord Jesus Christ never corrected or criticized Scripture, even though He did not possess the original autographs.

                    QUESTION – WHERE I CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION?Click here