Can I Really Trust The Bible

CAN I REALLY
TRUST THE
BIBLE?

C
CONTENTS an I find good reason
to accept its ancient
Objections To perspectives? It’s an old
The Bible’s Reliability . . . 2 book in a world where age is no
This Book Is Different . . 4 longer considered a virtue. If I’m
going to trust it, I have to have
You Can Trust
The Bible! . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 good reason to do so. At stake
are issues as timely as my
Its Personal Claims . . . . . 7
approach to sexuality, marriage,
Its Protected Text . . . . . 12 work, and worship.
Its Proven Accuracy . . . . 17 If such thoughts go through
Its Profound Impact . . . 24 your mind from time to time,
then we would like to offer some
How We Got
Our Bible . . . . . . . . . . . 28 help. This booklet has been
written by our staff to show the
“We Tried To Prove
It Wrong” . . . . . . . . . . . 30 ongoing reliability of the Bible.
We hope that it will give you a
Thinking It Over . . . . . . 32
new appreciation for this book,
which countless generations
have found to be more than
worthy of their trust.
Martin R. De Haan II

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo:Terry Bidgood
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.
© 1986,200,2003 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIONS A person who thinks this
TO THE BIBLE’S way feels that the Bible is
full of scientific errors and
RELIABILITY therefore cannot be trusted

M
ore than 55,000 in spiritual matters either.
different books Because of their
are published in naturalistic assumptions,
the United States each many scientists take issue
year. They cover every with the miracles in the
subject imaginable, from Bible. They question the
artichokes to zucchini, scientific validity of the
from anthropology to accounts of the sun
zoology, from Afghanistan standing still, the Israelites
to Zimbabwe. But people being fed with quail, or
who trust the Bible say it Jonah surviving in the belly
is different from any other of a huge fish for 3 days.
book ever published. They “The Bible is
say it is the only book historically inaccurate.”
authored by God and thus People who believe the
the only book that shows Bible insist that it comes
us how to know Him, how from God and is error-free.
to live, and how to receive That’s why those who do
eternal life. not agree often point out
Many people don’t what they feel to be
agree. They think the Bible historical inaccuracies.
is flawed and unreliable, Whenever they find
and obviously not written something in archaeology
by God. Here’s what some or ancient records that
of them are saying: seems to contradict a
“The Bible is not biblical statement, they
scientifically reliable.” jump to the conclusion that
2

the Bible is wrong. Unless as sexuality, marriage,
every biblical name is ethics, and business.
authenticated through “The Bible is the work
research and every fact of man.” The people who
verified by historical study, say this think that the Bible
they assume that the Bible is the product of man’s
is in error. fertile imaginations and
ancient mythological
traditions. They place it in
Many people think the same category as the
the Bible is flawed Greek stories of the gods on
Olympus or the writings of
and unreliable. Confucius or Muhammad.
To them, the Bible is just
“The Bible is outdated.” another religious book.
Not too many books are still So, many people reject
being printed today that the claim that the Bible is
were finished 2,000 years God’s Word. And they
ago. But that very mark object to the idea that it
of the Bible’s greatness is is a book we can trust with
interpreted by some as a our life and destiny. But to
point of weakness and reject the Bible, as we will
disinterest. Modern-day see in the pages to follow,
thinkers who have is to close one’s eyes to an
developed new philosophies overwhelming amount of
and theories about life claim evidence in its favor. And
that no book written so more important, it is to
many centuries ago could ignore the reality of
have anything relevant to mankind’s own spiritual
say to our modern world— need—and the rescue
especially on such specifics offered in its message.
3

THIS BOOK IS for example, teaches that
DIFFERENT there are many gods, that
God Himself was once

T
he Bible is not man, and that man has the
different just because potential of becoming God.
it claims to have come By contrast, the Bible
from God. The Koran was claims that the one true
supposed to have been God became a man in the
revealed to Muhammad incomparable Person of
by the archangel Gabriel. Jesus Christ. A British expert
Similarly, Joseph Smith, on comparative religions,
the founder of Mormonism, J. N. D. Anderson, wrote:
claimed to have been given Other religions may
a special revelation from indeed include the belief
God engraved on golden that God, or one of the
plates. Other religions also gods, manifested himself
maintain that their sacred once, or many times, in
writings were revealed by human form. . . . But
God. Christianity alone has
The Bible is totally dared to claim that
different, however, in its “the one, omnipresent,
view of God, its view of omniscient ground of
man, its view of salvation, all existence” has
and its view of truth. uniquely intervened
1. Its View Of God. in His creation, not by
The Bible presents God as assuming the mere form
Sovereign Lord of all (1 Chr. or appearance of a man,
29:11); as a God of mercy, but by actually becoming
love, and goodness (Ps. incarnate (Christianity
145:9); and as one God (Dt. And Religion, p.51).
6:4). But Mormon doctrine, 2. Its View Of Man.
4

While the holy books of cruel and inhumane views
many other religions either of the world’s religions.
exalt man or debase him, Hindus, for example,
the Bible gives a more often involve themselves in
balanced and realistic agonizing acts to merit God’s
picture. First, it does not favor. Buddhists follow an
make man out to be more eightfold discipline of self-
than he is, as did the denial. Muslims engage in
ancient Greek Heraclitus a strict regimen of fasting
who said, “The gods are and prayer to earn God’s
immortal men, and men approval.
are mortal gods.” Second, The Bible, however,
it does not make man less offers man salvation in the
than he is, as psychologist God-man, Jesus Christ. It is
B. F. Skinner did by saying not a salvation by works,
man is nothing more than a but by grace through faith.
complex organism controlled 4. Its View Of Truth.
by his environment. While other religious books
By contrast, the Bible are filled with unconfirmed
alone does justice to both claims and philosophies,
the high and the low sides the Bible supports its
of human nature. It tells of claims with historical and
man’s creation in the image geographical facts. This
of God, is realistic about his is why the first-century
sin, upholds his personal Christians gave so much
responsibility, and gives emphasis to the good news
him hope for the future. of the resurrected Christ.
3. Its View Of Their message was to be
Salvation. The salvation accepted not merely on the
of man as presented in the authority of their words but
Bible differs vastly from the on verifiable evidence.
5

YOU CAN TRUST hope beyond the grave?
THE BIBLE! Once again, if we can
show that we have good

I
f the Bible can give us reason to believe that the
good evidence that it Bible has come to us from
has come to us from God, then we also have a
God, then we can see why book we can trust—a book
it makes so much sense to like no other book this
trust its authority. This is world has ever known.
the pattern we follow in In the following pages,
other areas of life. When we will organize this
we are sick, we don’t ask a evidence for the reliability
painter for a diagnosis and of the Bible into four basic
a prescription. Instead, we categories: its personal
look for someone qualified claims, its protected text,
to give us reliable medical its proven accuracy, and
treatment. its profound impact.
And what about More specifically, these
the deeper, most basic categories can be broken
decisions of life? Where down into the following 10
do we go when we want lines of evidence: (1) the
to know what’s right and Bible’s claims for itself,
what’s wrong? Who do we (2) Christ’s claims for it,
ask about the origin and (3) the writers’ claims for it,
meaning of life? Where (4) its textual unity,
do we turn when we are (5) its textual preservation,
overwhelmed with a sense (6) its historical accuracy,
of sin and our terrible (7) its scientific accuracy,
weakness? How can we (8) its prophetic accuracy,
find rescue, information (9) its social impact, and
about the future, and (10) its personal impact.
6

As we look at these 10 the writers of this book
lines of evidence, which were convinced that it was
support our conviction that uniquely God-given. We
the Bible is the Word of will look at three claims in
God, our sincere hope is this section: (1) the Bible’s
that you too will be claims for itself, (2) Christ’s
convinced that the Bible is claims for it, and (3) the
a book you can trust. writers’ claims for it.
1.The Bible’s
ITS PERSONAL Claims For Itself. The
CLAIMS Bible claims, first of all, to
be the Word of God to man
MAN’S TRUST (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-
10. 21). That may not seem to
9. be a very strong reason for
8. us to trust it. But it is a
7. good place to start. If the
6.
Bible didn’t make that claim
5.
4.
for itself, we would have to
3. Writers’ Claims take it upon ourselves to do
2. Christ’s Claims so. In this regard, the Bible
1. Bible’s Self Claims claims that even though it
was written by human
GOD’S WORD authors, it was inspired by
The evidence for the God. And if it truly is what
reliability of the Bible it claims to be—a God-
begins with the unusual inspired book—then it is
claims surrounding it. As absolutely trustworthy.
you spend time reading the When we say the Bible
Bible, you will soon find is inspired, what do we
overwhelming evidence that mean? For one thing, we
7

do not mean the kind of and is profitable for
inspiration that comes to doctrine, for reproof, for
an author trying to write a correction, for instruction
book or a mechanic trying in righteousness
to find out what’s wrong (2 Tim. 3:16).
with a car. As they struggle The word translated
with a problem, they may “inspiration” means “God-
suddenly see a solution and breathed.” This tells us that
say they were hit with a the Bible originated in the
bolt of inspiration. mind of God. The Holy
This is not what we Spirit influenced the
mean when we say that the individual Bible writers to
Bible writers were inspired. put down the message God
Rather, we mean that their wanted mankind to have.
writing was initiated and A second important
controlled by God Himself. passage that expresses
In a supernatural way, the Bible’s claim to be the
the Holy Spirit led Moses, Word of God is in one of
Isaiah, Matthew, Paul, and the apostle Peter’s letters:
the other Bible authors to Knowing this first,
write the message of God that no prophecy of
to man. Scripture is of any private
The Bible’s unusual interpretation [origin], for
claim to be the inspired prophecy never came by
Word of God is made clear the will of man, but holy
in several key passages. men of God spoke as they
Let’s look at three of them. were moved by the Holy
The first is in Paul’s second Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
letter to Timothy: These verses make a
All Scripture is given tremendous claim! They say
by inspiration of God, that the Bible prophets did
8

not originate what they In both the Old and New
wrote. Rather, they recorded Testaments, it is the message
what was given to them by of God to people of all
God. They were moved ages—a book you can trust!
(literally “borne along”)
by the Holy Spirit. Now,
that doesn’t mean that That Christ relied
their individual personality on the Scriptures
or style of writing was
overpowered. It means that
may be our
they were kept from having greatest reason
any error creep into what to do so.
they wrote. They were
moved by the Holy Spirit
to record only what God 2. Christ’s Claims
wanted man to know. For The Bible. While
The Bible’s claim, then, Jesus Christ was on earth,
is that it was written by He affirmed the Bible’s
God. It is not man’s book, claims for itself. In what He
it is God’s book. Paul said about it and in the way
informed us that the He used it, the Son of God
spiritual truth he gave showed the Bible to be the
was “not in words which Word of God. Consider the
man’s wisdom teaches following:
but which the Holy Spirit a. He used titles for
teaches” (1 Cor. 2:13). the Bible that showed
Yes, the Bible claims its authenticity:
to be the inspired Word of • “The Word of God”
God—powerful, living, and (Mk. 7:13; Jn. 10:35).
indestructible (1 Jn. 1:1-3; • “Scripture” (Lk. 4:21;
Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23-25). Jn. 5:39; 10:35).
9

• “The commandment f. He used the
of God” (Mk. 7:8). authority of Scripture to
b. He accepted refute the temptations of
the persons and Satan in the wilderness
events mentioned (Mt. 4:4,7,10).
in the Old Testament In the way Jesus Christ
as historical: quoted and used the
• Adam and Eve Scriptures, He made it clear
(Mt. 19:4-5). that He accepted its claims
• Noah and the flood for itself to be true. While
(Mt. 24:37-39). He was on earth, the living
• Lot, Lot’s wife, and Word affirmed the written
Sodom (Lk. 17:28-32). Word.
• Jonah (Mt. 12:38-41). 3.The Writers’
c. He saw His own Claims For The Bible.
words as Scripture and The individual writers
therefore to be believed affirmed the Bible’s claims
(Jn. 12:48-49). for itself by accepting the
d. He held people other parts of the Bible as
responsible for what was the Word of God. They also
written in the Scriptures affirmed it by the way they
(Mt. 12:3). saw themselves as part of
e. He used Scripture God’s plan for making
as conclusive evidence in Himself known to man.
answering His critics: First, let’s look at how
• John 10:35, quoting the Bible authors viewed
Psalm 82:6. the Scriptures:
• Matthew 22:32, quoting • When Daniel read
Exodus 3:6,15. Jeremiah’s prophecy that
• Matthew 22:42-44, the Babylonian captivity
quoting Psalm 110:1. would last 70 years, he
10

accepted it as true and Lord came to me” (1:4).
began to pray and plan • God commissioned
accordingly (Dan. 9:2). Ezekiel to go to his
• Peter accepted the people and tell them,
supernatural origin of “Thus says the Lord
the writings of the Old God” (3:11).
Testament prophets • Paul claimed that the
(2 Pet. 1:21). words he spoke were
• Peter also accepted the directly from God (Gal.
supernatural origin of 1:11-12; 1 Th. 2:13).
the writings of Paul,
even though he found
them hard to understand If the evidence is
(2 Pet. 3:15-16). what it seems to
• John said that the writings
of the apostles, along with be, then the Bible is
his own writings, were not just a book—
inspired by God and it is the book.
authoritative (1 Jn. 4:6).
Second, the Bible
writers saw themselves as Let’s sum up what we
communicating the Word of have said. The Bible claims
God. Look at the following to be the book of God.
passages: Christ affirmed this claim.
• The prophet Isaiah And the Bible writers
began his book by themselves affirmed it by
proclaiming, “For the accepting as Scripture the
Lord has spoken” (1:2). writings of their fellow
• Jeremiah opened his biblical authors and by
prophecy by saying, seeing themselves as
“Then the word of the writing the words of God.
11

ITS PROTECTED author often contain glaring
TEXT discrepancies in philosophy,
facts, style, or ideas. Even
MAN’S TRUST those written by one author
10. may contain contradictions
9. in fact or logic. Those who
8. have given their lives to a
7.
study of the Scriptures,
6.
however, are continually
5. Textual Preservation
4. Textual Unity amazed at its unity and
3. Writers’ Claims consistency of doctrine.
2. Christ’s Claims Josh McDowell, a well-
1. Bible’s Self Claims known apologist for
Christianity, was approached
GOD’S WORD by a salesman for the Great
The supernatural protection Books Of The Western World
of the text of the Bible is series. This set includes the
another reason for trusting writings of the leading
it. This protection occurred thinkers throughout the
in two forms: (a) its unity history of Western man.
amid great diversity, and (b) McDowell challenged the
the miraculous preservation representative to take 10 of
of the text itself. Let’s look the authors from the same
at the two ways God has walk of life, the same time
protected the text of His period, the same country,
Word. and the same language and
4. Its Unity In ask them about one basic
Diversity. The writings of subject. “Would they agree?”
man are marked by disunity Josh asked. The man said,
and contradiction. Books “Are you kidding? You would
written by more than one have a conglomeration!”
12

The amazing unity of the shepherd (Amos),
Bible, therefore, merits our king (David), servant
trust. From Genesis to (Nehemiah), doctor
Revelation, the Bible tells a (Luke), tax collector
single story: the rescue of (Matthew), and
mankind from sin through Pharisee (Paul).
the death of Jesus Christ. • It was written on three
The Old Testament presents continents: Asia, Africa,
Him as the hope of and Europe.
mankind; the New • A gap of more than
Testament shows Him to be 400 years separated
the fulfillment of that hope. the writing of the Old
Now, if the Bible had Testament from the New
been written by one person Testament—equivalent
at one time, one could to the timespan from the
understand how it would be days of Sir Francis Drake
unified in general thoughts to today.
and specific details. But In spite of this wide
consider these diversities diversity, the Bible is one
in its origin: book. As branches, roots,
• It was written by 40 trunk, and leaves are part
different authors. of one tree, so the parts of
• It was written over a the Bible make up a single
period of 1,600 years. unit. It agrees in doctrine,
• It was written in three details of prophecy, what it
languages: Hebrew, says about Jesus Christ,
Greek, and Aramaic. and its offer of rescue to
• Its writers came from mankind. It is a unified
many walks of life: book made up of many
prophet (Jeremiah), books. It is a book you
priest (Zechariah), can trust!
13

5. Its Textual The Old Testament.
Preservation. The Bible The Old Testament books
is also a book to be trusted were written primarily in
because its text has been Hebrew. They were recorded
miraculously preserved. either on papyrus (a grassy
None of the original reed whose inner bark was
manuscripts written by the dried and glued together to
biblical authors are still in form a paperlike substance)
existence. All of them were or parchment (the scraped
either lost or destroyed and dried skins of animals).
centuries ago. This has When a copy wore out, a
new copy was made and
the old one destroyed.
“The grass withers, But that was not an easy
the flower fades, task. They did not have
copy machines like we do
but the Word today, so it had to be done
of our God by hand. Stringent rules
stands forever.” were followed by the scribes
Isaiah 40:8 to keep errors from creeping
in. The methods used by
the Masoretes had been
caused some critics of the followed for centuries,
Bible to question the purity from AD 500-900. These
of the texts we now have. dedicated Hebrew scholars
But we can be confident had an elaborate counting
that the Bibles we hold in system for assuring
our hands were translated accuracy. First, they
from texts that for all would count all the letters
practical purposes are the on a page. Then, when they
same as the originals. finished copying the page,
14

they would count the letters pocket the cliffs
on the copy to see if the surrounding the Dead Sea.
numbers agreed. This would To his surprise, he heard
keep them from copying a something shatter. When he
word twice, omitting a word, crawled in to investigate, he
skipping a line, or copying found a broken pottery jar
the same line twice. If the and some old manuscripts,
counts did not agree, they including one of the book of
would destroy the copy they Isaiah. This was the first of
had just worked over so the collection of what came
laboriously and start again. to be known as the Dead
Because of this system, Sea Scrolls.
the Hebrew texts since AD Word of the
900 are virtually free from discovery spread, and
error. But what about the soon archaeologists were
years before 900? Most of excavating caves throughout
the Old Testament was the area. They found
written centuries earlier, and fragments of every Old
the last book, Malachi, was Testament book and some
finished nearly 400 years complete manuscripts.
before Christ was born. But how did these
Couldn’t a lot of errors have compare with the Masoretic
crept in during that time? text? The careful work of
That question could textual comparison began,
not have been answered and soon it was found that
with certainty before the there was no difference
discovery of the Dead Sea between the text of the
Scrolls. One hot, dusty day Dead Sea Scrolls and those
in 1947, an Arab boy threw of the Masoretes. Even
a stone into one of the though these scrolls were
hundreds of caves that copied almost 1,000 years
15

earlier, they were almost Testament writers. There are
identical to the Masoretic some minor variations, but
text! On the basis of this none of them change the
astounding evidence, we meaning of the passage in
can be assured that the Old which they are found. Most
Testament text has been of these differences are
accurately preserved and variations in spelling, like
that we can read it as the the British “labour” and the
reliable Word of God. American “labor.” A huge
The New Testament. number of manuscripts or
What has been said of the fragments of the New
Old Testament can also be Testament have been
said of the New. It also has discovered and compared.
been kept from error over the It is by far the most well-
centuries. Although its books attested document of its era.
were copied thousands of Consider these comparisons:
times and distributed widely • Caesar’s Gallic Wars
among the early churches, it 10 Manuscripts
too has been protected from Earliest Date: AD 900
error. • Livy’s History Of Rome
New Testament scholars 20 Manuscripts
and textual experts have Earliest Date: AD 400
studied with painstaking • Thucydides’ History
care the thousands of 8 Manuscripts
manuscripts that have been Earliest Date: AD 900
discovered. They assure us • Herodotus’ History
that the texts from which 8 Manuscripts
our Bibles were translated Earliest Date: AD 900
are virtually identical to • The New Testament
those written by Matthew, 14,000 Manuscripts
Paul, and the other New Earliest Date: AD 125
16

Two important finds have preservation, is another
been made in recent years reason we can trust the
that have added significant Bible.
evidence for the authenticity
of the New Testament text. ITS PROVEN
The first, the Rylands ACCURACY
Library Papyri, contains a
fragment from John 18 that MAN’S TRUST
has been dated at AD 125. 10.
The second, the Chester 9.
Beatty collection of papyri, 8. Prophetic Accuracy
7. Scientific Accuracy
contains almost all of
6. Historical Accuracy
the New Testament and 5. Textual Preservation
dates between AD 200 4. Textual Unity
and AD 275. 3. Writers’ Claims
The meticulous work 2. Christ’s Claims
being done in textual 1. Bible’s Self Claims
studies of both Testaments
by brilliant scholars, most
GOD’S WORD
of them non-Christians, When the Bible mentions
has given us every reason historical facts, alludes to
to be confident that we science, or predicts the
know what the original future, its accuracy gives
manuscripts said—even evidence that it is a book
though we do not have any you can trust. What
of them. True, there are would you expect from a
variants, but they are very cookbook? You certainly
minor in importance and would not want a collection
affect no essential teaching. of original recipes written
The protection of the text, by a chef whose greatest
both in unity and in culinary achievement was
17

pouring milk on a bowl of right to doubt what it says
breakfast cereal. You would about God. If part of the
expect the author to have Bible were to be proven
proven cooking skills and wrong, then the rest of it
be able to give accurate would be suspect. However,
measurements and exact the Bible has proven itself
cooking times. You would to be reliable in history,
also expect the ingredients science, and fulfilled
to be tasty and nutritious. prophecy. Its record is
What, then, should we accurate and trustworthy.
expect from a book that
claims to be the written
record of the word and If part of the Bible
works of God and His were to be proven
relationship with
mankind? We have
wrong, then the
every right to expect this rest of it would
book to meet the highest be suspect.
standards of accuracy.
Did the Bible writers
know what they were talking 6. Its Accuracy In
about? Can the history, History. The Bible claims
science, and prophecy to present an accurate
of the Bible be trusted? record of the real history
In a book where the of man. The Old and New
history of man and the Testaments are filled with
revelation of God are so references to specific
intertwined, if we have people, places, and events.
doubts concerning what it The biblical world is not a
says about man and his world of make-believe. The
world, we will also have a events of the Bible took
18

place in our world with no archaeological discovery
people like you and me. has ever controverted a
The serious challenges to biblical reference” (Rivers
the historical accuracy of the In The Desert: History Of
Bible are being answered by Neteg, p.31).
the work of archaeologists. The discoveries not long
They are uncovering more ago of tablets in the ancient
and more evidence to verify city of Ebla in northern Syria
the historical record of the has brought to light a wealth
Bible. of historical material that
For example, the Old supports the biblical record.
Testament mentioned a An article in Time magazine
people known as the Hittites reported, “Their discovery
nearly 50 times. But for does more than provide
centuries, those who studied documentary evidence of a
the ancient world questioned little known kingdom that
the Bible because they had existed between 2400 and
discovered no evidence of 2250 BC; it also provides
such a people. In 1906, the best evidence to date
however, the Hittite capital that some of the people
was uncovered about 90 described in the Old
miles east of Ankara, the Testament actually existed”
capital of Turkey. (October 18, 1976, p.63).
As time goes on, the The New Testament
questions of the critics are record is also supported by
being answered by reliable research and discovery. The
scholarship and the findings gospel of Luke and the
of the archaeologist’s spade. book of Acts (both written
Nelson Glueck, a Jewish by Luke) have gained the
archaeologist, said, “It may respect of scholars who
be stated categorically that have investigated their
19

numerous references to literary maneuvering”
people and places in the (History And Christianity,
Jewish and Roman worlds. p.40).
Concerning Luke, F. F. 7. Its Accuracy In
Bruce has written, “A man Science. Do the Bible and
whose accuracy can be science conflict? Do we have
demonstrated in matters to make a choice whether
where we are able to test it we are going to live by either
is likely to be accurate even religious faith or scientific
when means of testing him data? From the way some
are not available” (The New people talk you might think
Testament Documents: Are there is a legitimate choice.
They Reliable? p.90). But there is not. The
So the believability of the apparent conflicts result
New Testament in matters from unjustified conclusions
of our physical world lends made on both sides—either
credibility to what it says by those who go beyond the
about the spiritual world. limits of proper Bible
John Warwick Montgomery interpretation or by those
has written, “What, then, who go beyond the limits of
does a historian know about science to equate theory
Jesus Christ? He knows, first with fact.
and foremost, that the New Debate arose in Galileo’s
Testament documents can time because some religious
be relied upon to give an leaders foolishly spoke out
accurate portrait of Him. on a matter of science and
And he knows that this said that the earth was the
portrait cannot be center of the solar system.
rationalized away by wishful And conflict still exists today
thinking, philosophical on matters of science. One
presuppositionalism, or group uses scientific data to
20

conclude dogmatically that figures of speech to describe
all of life is the result of an facets of life that science
evolutionary process that would explain in different
began with the most terms. For example, it speaks
elemental forms of life. of the sun setting and of the
Others interpret the data four corners of the earth.
differently to say that the Scientists, of course, would
complexity of life as we see not accept these statements
it today could only have as accurate. But they were
been the result of divine never meant to be taken
creation. Those who deny literally. When the Bible
miracles are at odds with does speak directly about
those who say that the matters of science, however,
miracles recorded in the it speaks correctly.
Bible actually happened.
This is because people who
deny God reject the view of The God who
those who believe in a created the
supernatural God who at
times intervened in the
universe and set
affairs of men. in motion the laws
The heart of the apparent that govern our
conflict between science and
the Bible is not the actual
world is the same
data; it is in the underlying God who inspired
beliefs of the two sides and the Bible.
their conclusions. The
information is the same for
both. In the final analysis,
The Bible is not a science the Bible and science are in
textbook. It often uses perfect agreement. The God
21

who created the universe proven that it can be trusted.
and set in motion the laws It has never been wrong in
that govern our world is the its diagnosis of man’s ills.
same God who inspired the It has never made false
Bible. He is the God of truth promises. It has never given
and does not contradict man reason to think it is a
Himself. Therefore, when the collection of fables and lies.
Bible is interpreted correctly One clear confirmation of
and science arrives at proven its reliability is the accuracy
conclusions, they will be in of its prophecy. The Bible
perfect agreement. itself offers the standards
8. Its Accuracy In by which to test those
Prophecy. What would who claim to speak
you think of a doctor who authoritatively about
had told you that you would the future. It says in
never have any heart Deuteronomy 18:20-22
problems, and then you that the test of a prophet’s
suffered a heart attack as authority is the accuracy of
you walked out of his office? his predictions. The Bible
What would be your opinion contains hundreds of
of a politician who promised prophecies, so we can
economic prosperity, but measure it by its own test.
whose policies actually led Some of the most
to a serious depression? dramatic examples of fulfilled
You would have a legitimate Bible prophecy are those
reason to doubt what they concerning Jesus Christ.
said about the future. You Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12
might wonder whom you and Psalm 22, for instance,
could believe. record specific details
The Bible is not like about death by crucifixion
that. The Word of God has hundreds of years before this
22

terrible form of execution (Ezek. 26). It happened
was ever practiced. exactly as predicted. First,
Note these specific Nebuchadnezzar destroyed
prophecies about Jesus the city, then Alexander had
Christ that were literally his men use the ruins to
fulfilled: build a causeway out to
PROPHECY FULFILLMENT
Isa. 7:14 Born of a virgin Lk. 1:26-35
Mic. 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Mt. 2:1
Isa. 7:14 Called Immanuel Mt. 1:23
Isa. 9:1-2 Ministry in Galilee Mt. 4:12-16
Zech. 9:9 Triumphal entry Mt. 21:1-11
Ps. 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mt. 26:20-25
Ps. 35:11 Falsely accused Mt. 26:59-68
Isa. 53:7 Silent before accusers Mt. 27:12-14
Ps. 22:16 Hands and feet pierced Jn. 20:25
Isa. 53:12 Crucified with robbers Mt. 27:38
Ps. 22:18 Lots cast for clothes Jn. 19:23-24
Ps. 34:20 Bones not broken Jn. 19:33
Ps. 22:15 Thirsted on the cross Jn. 19:28
Isa. 53:9 Buried in tomb of rich Mt. 27:57-60
Another example of an offshore island where
fulfilled prophecy was the the people had fled. That
destruction of the city of causeway may still be seen
Tyre. Hundreds of years today as a silent witness to
before, Ezekiel had the accuracy of Bible
predicted that the city would prophecy.
be destroyed and the ruins Daniel accurately
scraped off and dumped into predicted the succession
the sea, never to be rebuilt of four great world powers:
23

Babylonia, Medo-Persia, of life” (Phil. 2:16). Its
Greece, and Rome (Dan. message is the gospel, which
2,7). it calls “the power of God to
The predictions of the salvation” (Rom. 1:16). And
judgment of God against it refers to itself as the
Nineveh (Nah. 1–3), “living and powerful” Word
Ammon and Moab (Jer. of God (Heb. 4:12). It’s one
48–49), Babylon (Isa. 13–14; thing to claim to be living
Jer. 51), and Edom (Isa. 34; and powerful; it’s quite
Jer. 49; Ezek. 25,35) were all another to live up to it.
fulfilled as prophesied.
Whenever the Bible MAN’S TRUST
speaks prophetically, 10. Personal Impact
therefore, it is accurate. 9. Social Impact
Hundreds of prophecies 8. Prophetic Accuracy
have been literally fulfilled. 7. Scientific Accuracy
6. Historical Accuracy
On this basis, we can also
5. Textual Preservation
believe what the Bible has 4. Textual Unity
to say about things to come. 3. Writers’ Claims
It has already proven itself! 2. Christ’s Claims
1. Bible’s Self Claims
ITS PROFOUND
IMPACT GOD’S WORD
The Bible has also proven 9. Its Impact On
itself trustworthy in its Society. Wherever the
impact on societies and on Bible has been taken and its
individuals. Its power to message accepted, it has
change lives is seen profoundly affected the
wherever it has been taken culture into which it was
by messengers of the gospel. brought. When an honest
The Bible is called the “word investigation is made, it
24

becomes evident that the and the spirits of men are
Bible has been instrumental lifted. Try to imagine what
in bringing about higher would have happened to
morality, social change, mankind without the high
improved living conditions, view of the Bible. Take away
and a better life. In lands its teaching about human
where slavery was practiced, dignity and individual
the power of the Word of worth, and see what is left.
God brought conviction of Eliminate the moral impact
the wrong and emancipation of the great preachers and
for those in bondage. In Christian reformers, and
places where women were consider the plight the world
treated little better than would be in. Remove from
animals, the preaching of our art galleries the
the gospel brought them paintings inspired by Jesus
new respect and freedom Christ. Take down from our
from tyranny and library shelves the books
debasement. In areas that find their inspiration
where cruelty and severe and theme in the Scriptures.
oppression were common, Empty the world of the lofty
the coming of the Bible oratorios and uplifting music
brought kindness, toleration, of the church. Eliminate
and humane treatment. The from the cities and villages
plight of children and the of the earth the magnificent
handicapped, who were cathedrals and little white-
sometimes shamefully frame church buildings that
mistreated, improved have been centers of hope
greatly when the Bible came and peace for troubled lives
and its truth was accepted. down through the ages. Take
When the Bible is it all away, and what is left?
received, the aspirations A Milton without a poem; a
25

Michelangelo without a in hearing and believing the
theme; a Dante without a message of the Bible. It has
vision; a Handel without provided new hope to the
inspiration; a Whitefield despondent. It has brought
without a sermon. quiet peace to the restless.
Or take from mankind It has led lowly people to
the high moral code of the greatness. It has raised
Bible. What happens to our morality to its highest
laws, our police, and our levels. It has worked
judges? What happens to amazing deliverance and
the weak, the defenseless, change for millions.
the downtrodden, the Think of Augustine,
lonely, and the despairing? brilliant scholar of the
One shudders to think of fourth and fifth centuries.
the tribulation that would Although his godly mother
fall upon our world. prayed for him, he used his
One trembles at the intellect and energies to live
heartlessness, the cruelty, in wicked indulgence. But
the deprivation of an he could not find peace. So
unrestrained mankind. he began a long period of
Yes, the Bible has made a searching and intense self-
profound impact on society. examination. Tortured and
That is undeniable. driven, he continued his
10. Its Impact On quest until he read these
Individuals. Not only has words in the Bible: “Let
the Bible had an impact on us walk properly, as in the
society, it has also changed day, not in revelry and
individuals. Despairing, drunkenness, not in
helpless, wicked men and licentiousness and
women on the brink of lewdness, not in strife and
madness have found rescue envy. But put on the Lord
26

Jesus Christ, and make no Martin Luther found
provision for the flesh, to deliverance for his sin and
fulfill its lusts” (Rom. 13:13- the spark that ignited the
14). Augustine later wrote Protestant Reformation
about his response to this when he read these words:
passage: “No further would “The just shall live by his
I read; nor needed I. For faith” (Hab. 2:4).
instantly at the end of this Chuck Colson, convicted
sentence, by a light as it Watergate conspirator, came
were of serenity infused into to the truth through the
my heart, all the darkness of faithful witness and clear
doubt vanished away.” This teaching of the Bible by
former drunkard eventually some of his friends. He
became the bishop of Hippo now directs Prison
in northern Africa, founded Fellowship, a ministry for
the first monastery in that prisoners. His book Born
region, and influenced Again has influenced many
much of Christian thought who were trapped by the
by his brilliant writing. consequences of their
Charles Haddon own behavior.
Spurgeon vainly searched These stories could
for peace until he heard this be repeated hundreds
verse quoted by a country of thousands of times by
preacher: “Look to Me, and people of all ages and from
be saved, all you ends of all walks of life who have
the earth! For I am God, had the deepest needs of
and there is no other” their lives met by the power
(Isa. 45:22). He became of the Bible. And it can do
a popular and influential the same for you if you
London pastor of the mid will open your heart to its
to late 1800s. message and believe.
27

HOW WE GOT immediately accepted as
OUR BIBLE Scripture (Ex. 24:3; Josh.
24:26). The remaining

W
hat determined books were tested by the
which books following principles:
belong in the 1. Authorship by a
Bible? How did we end up recognized prophet of
with 39 books in the Old God or leader in Israel.
Testament and 27 books in 2. Internal evidence
the New Testament? These of its inspiration and
questions are answered in authority. The reader
a discussion of the “canon was able to recognize it as
of Scripture.” The word unique in communicating
canon means “a measuring the revelation of God.
device” or “a standard.” 3. Writings containing
Out of the many religious obvious doctrinal and
writings that have been factual errors were
circulated, only 66 books eliminated. Books accepted
were accepted as inspired by the community that
by God. While some were received them were given
recognized immediately as priority consideration.
authentic, it took some time 4. Further validation
for others to be endorsed was given to certain Old
as Scripture. Throughout Testament books when they
the process, however, the were quoted from by Christ
canon of Scripture was or the New Testament
being determined by God, writers and referred to
not by man. as Scripture.
The Old Testament. The 12 books of the
The writings of Moses and Apocrypha were not
the book of Joshua were accepted as part of the
28

biblical canon for these and carefully identified and
reasons: eliminated questionable
• They appeared in no works. The Councils of
Hebrew canon. Hippo (AD 393) and
• None were quoted in Carthage (AD 397)
the New Testament. accepted the 27 books
• They were not included that now appear in the
in any early lists. New Testament.
• Their content was too
mythological.
The New Testament. “The church
The acceptance of the New no more gave us
Testament books was based
on the test of apostleship.
the New Testament
They were received if they canon than Sir
were written by an apostle, Isaac Newton gave
such as Peter or John, or by
someone close to an apostle,
us the force of
such as Luke or Mark, who gravity. God gave us
had apostolic authorization. gravity by His work
We know that some false
accounts of Christ’s life were
of creation, and
being distributed (Lk. 1:1-4), similarly He gave us
as well as some false epistles the New Testament
(2 Th. 2:2). Therefore,
positive identification of the
canon by inspiring
New Testament books was the original books
necessary. that make it up.”
The church fathers J. I. Packer
supported the inspiration of
the New Testament canon
29

“WE TRIED scientific mistakes in the
TO PROVE IT Bible. These mistakes will
prove it to be the word of
WRONG” men, not the Word of
Joan Olsen’s parents were some infallible Creator.”
Christians, but she and her The Olsens began their
physician husband were quest. The first question
agnostic. This led to many they confronted was, “Is
long discussions about the there a God who created the
Bible between these couples. universe?” An intense study
Finally, the young doctor led them to conclude that
and his wife agreed to study God does exist. But that still
Christianity. Here is Dr. left them agnostic, for they
Viggo Olsen’s account: weren’t convinced that God
I implied that our study could be known. They could
would be honest and not see the mark of the
objective, a sincere supernatural in the Bible.
search for truth. But our “Is it even reasonable to
agnostic bias made us consider that God might
begin the search in a reveal Himself to our
diabolically clever way. race?” I asked one day
We would prove that the at dinner. “Well,” Joan
Bible is not the Word of replied, “I just read
God . . . . something on that
“First,” I said [to question. It made the
Joan], “we will review all point that we human
the agnostic arguments beings are here, the
we heard during only rational creatures
university and medical in God’s creation. It is
college years. Second, we unlikely that God created
will pick out and list the us whimsically, for no
30

reason at all. And having Then there is the
made us, it is logical that remarkable scientific
God should reveal to us accuracy of the Bible.
His reason for creating Here was the exact target
us. Also, if God loves us, of the attack Joan and I
He would want to tell had launched to disprove
us—love is like that.” Christianity and Christ.
When the Olsens . . . We encountered great
looked carefully, they found difficulty, however, in
that the Bible does claim to finding scientific mistakes
be “God’s book for revealing in the Bible. Again and
Himself.” Here is what they again we were forced to
discovered: cancel out seeming
The Bible . . . represents mistakes because of
God, motivated by an more up-to-date
eternal love, reaching evidence or information.
down to tell us about After months of serious
Himself and His plan for questioning, Dr. and Mrs.
us. . . . We also noted the Olsen concluded that the
remarkable unity and Bible is indeed God’s
consistency evident in the message to mankind. Based
Christian Scriptures. . . . on this belief, they both
Contrary to our accepted Jesus Christ as
previous understanding, their Savior. Later, they
we found the Bible to journeyed to East Pakistan
be historically accurate. (now Bangladesh), where
To the science of they have served as
archaeology the Bible missionaries since 1962.
owes its vindication in
From Daktar: Diplomat In Bangladesh.
the matter of historical Used by permission.
accuracy.
31

THINKING important questions. First,
IT OVER if you are a Christian, do
you trust the Bible enough

W
e have to put it into practice? Are
presented 10 you as willing to obey its
reasons, 10 lines commands as you are to
of evidence, for answering claim its promises?
yes to the question, “Can I Second, if you are not a
really trust the Bible?” On believer, what are you going
the basis of what we have to do about the Bible? You
pointed out, we believe the cannot be neutral about its
Bible is the one book you claims. You must either
can trust. Take a moment to accept what it says about
fill in the following graphic God, Jesus Christ, and
as a way of reviewing the salvation, or you must
evidence we have presented. reject it. We therefore urge
you to believe what it says
MAN’S TRUST about your need to trust in
10. Jesus Christ as your Savior.
9. Acknowledging your sin
8. and believing that He died
7. to pay its penalty, ask Him
6.
to save you. The Bible says,
5.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus
4.
3. Christ, and you will be
2. saved” (Acts 16:31). Then
1. you will know by firsthand
experience the benefit of
GOD’S WORD believing the Bible—the
This topic leads to a book you can trust!
consideration of two very
32

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