How do I Know the Bible is True? What a great question and we are glad you asked! We believe the Bible is true, and this article will help you understand why we do,
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Is the Bible Inspired by God?
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).”
The Scripture above claims it’s God-breathed. It claims to come from the source of truth: “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth (John 17:17).” So, the Bible is God’s message given through human authors, using their writing style and personality. It’s not dictation, and it’s not just inspired humans writing it. It’s a cooperation. It’s God’s Word, message, given through men inspired by the Holy Spirit.
There were times when the human author had to ask what their prophecy meant:
“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:20-21).”
These prophets understood their words but didn’t always know who their prophecy was about or when it would take place:
“Seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow (1 Peter 1:11).”
The Bible contains detailed prophecies about future events, and all fulfilled prophecies are historically accurate
- Some scholars have even dated the Bible books later than when the author lived. They dated them after the predictions historically came true, justifying their date by saying that predictive prophecy couldn’t come true in such detail (Daniel). The fulfilled prophecies in Daniel 11 are one example of a detailed predictive prophecy. Daniel 11:1-4 describe Alexander the Great, and the fulfillments continue chronologically in the following verses.
- The Bible writers wrote about cities and people that historians previously insisted never existed. But new archaeological evidence has repeatedly confirmed the Bible’s account (example: The Rosetta Stone).
- The Bible was written over about 1500 years, from Moses’ writings through the Apostle John’s book of Revelation. About forty human authors wrote Bible books, and every author except Luke was Jewish. During this time, the message was consistent.
- The Bible, like all ancient literature, is based on manuscript copies. There are more copies, and they’re dated closer to their time of writing than any other ancient literature. Archaeologists discovered The Dead Sea scrolls caves in the Middle East, and they’re dated from the second to third century BC. Scholars compared these scrolls with the translators’ existing manuscripts and it showed the Bible translations are accurate copies.,
- The Bible contains genealogical records that trace the human line from Jesus’ back to Adam, whom the Bible teaches was the first human, created directly by God. These genealogies give names (Luke 3:23-38). That means the record is falsifiable. Researchers have verified many of the names, and none have proven untrue.
It Rings True
Alongside objective reasons for believing the Bible are subjective reasons. It has the ring of truth. When it’s read, a person can tell it’s Scripture.
Jesus Taught Using Old Testament Scripture
For believers, (and for those who aren’t but respect Jesus as a good man and moral teacher), Jesus taught using the Old Testament Scripture to make an argument based on the literal creation account:
“But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE (Mark 10:6).”
Jesus also named other Old Testament persons as historical, including Jonah, Abraham, Moses, and Elijah.
- The human authors wrote God’s Word using their personality yet leaving it God’s Word.
- Its fulfilled detailed prophecies have proven historically accurate.
- Archaeological finds regularly confirm the Bible’s information that previously wasn’t known to humanity.
- It’s based on numerous manuscripts proving we have accurate copies of its original text.
- It gives genealogical records–with names–traced from Jesus’ back to Adam, the first man.
- It also is subjectively true to many, and Jesus taught based on the Old Testament record.
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You (Psalm 119:11).”