Is the Bible God’s Word?
We live in a time where the very words we speak are being recorded in videos, emails, texts, tweets, posts, blogs, letters, court documents, et cetera, et cetera. Public personalities are defending things they said years ago – trying to apply modern reasoning to past behavior. Many are being judged without the context of bygone conditions or circumstances. It is one of the difficulties mankind experiences when acceptable behavior is shaped by popular culture – it becomes ‘fluid’ and there is no definitive standard. This is the pitfall of cherry-picking a fragment of history and using a contemporary view to judge its worth. It’s only when using a constant that a transgression can truly be evaluated.
As expected, the Bible comes under scrutiny when popular culture and its effect on modern conduct undergoes a shift. It has always been lauded for the teachings on kindness, gentleness and doing unto others. It’s the directions about what NOT to do that provokes the resistance. Any time the Bible does not line up with whatever it is that society is trying to push as OKAY the question comes up, “Is the Bible REALLY God’s Word?”
The divine inspiration of the Bible lies at the core of the Christian faith. Is it any wonder satan has concentrated so much of his energy at seeking to discredit the Bible? In fact, this is a continuation of his original strategy in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3:1, we discover that satan’s temptation began with: “Did God really say …?”
The internal witness of the Bible does not provide adequate proof to the unbeliever. It appears to be circular reasoning – to prove something based on the assumption that the thing you are trying to prove is already true – ‘begging the question.’ It is technically impossible to prove without question that the Bible is God’s Word. But by using internal (reasonable and internally consistent) and external evidence (determination of fact outside the Bible), it is possible to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it is. Thus, in determining whether the Bible is ‘God-breathed,’ each person must weigh the evidence and decide for themselves.
The Holy Bible or Canon refers to the total body of inspired Scripture collected by various councils. For Christians it consists of, and is limited to, the 66 books of the Old Testament and the New Testament. It was not a matter of authority of the councils to choose among all the writings used by the churches – all that was needed for God’s people to be satisfied with the chosen books was their historical authenticity and practical effectiveness. The introduction of other books (collectively called the Apocrypha) and histories (Book of Mormon) were not accepted as canonical because they were of dubious origin and/or could not be verified by archaeology or independent source.
Jesus confirmed the existing canonical Old Testament books - “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Luke 24:44. We also have His promise concerning the New Testament books before they came to be recorded “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26. It is a fact that if God is all powerful, surely, He is able to preserve His Word for the benefit of all mankind. Here is a sidebar fact – Christian and Jew alike us the same Old Testament. According to the Protestant there are 39 books, but the Jew has only 24. The difference is in the way they are divided…
There is an astounding integrity with respect to the accuracy of the Bible. Even though manuscripts were copied and recopied over thousands of years, scholarly research has shown that the Bible you read today is substantially the same as penned by the original writers (save for English translation). Disputes relate to the interpretation of the words not doubt of the words themselves.
But there are issues that arise about seeming discrepancies. Take for example Proverbs 26:4-5:
4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
This is not a command to act in two completely opposite manners, it is the use of a literary device to expose dealings with a fool (which in this context means: without morality): damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Read Psalm 137:8-9:
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
A sane person can’t help but be horrified if they just read these two verses. But when you examine it in context this is NOT an expression of glee, ascribing blessedness on those who kill babies, but outrage at what the Babylonians had done and prophecy of coming retribution. You cannot sow violence and not reap retribution from God, according to the Old Testament.
Throughout, there is an almost unbelievable consistency for such a large document composed by so many over so long. The Bible must be considered as a whole, not just targeted pieces of select teachings.
There is a principle here of ‘gradual revelation.’ Genesis to Revelation shows that we will not see the fullest understanding of a scriptural truth as clearly in the beginning as we will at the end. In Genesis 2:16 man wasn’t to eat meat, but God told Noah in Genesis 9:3 that everything that moved would be food. Later, God would disallow ‘unclean’ animals. Different covenants at different times.
There is also a principle of ‘selective narration.’ Biblical writers excluded material that was factual but irrelevant for the narrative. In John 21:25, the writer noted “Jesus did many other things as well.” Sometimes the grouping of events was more important than the precise chronology.
Lastly, there is a principle of ‘unspoken occurrence.’ 2 Samuel 14:27 says Absalom had three sons but 2 Samuel 18:18 says he doesn’t. There is no discrepancy if their deaths were just unrecorded events.
Overall, variations and seeming discrepancies supply strong incidental proof that there was no collusion among the sacred writers and establish credibility of the writers and the text.
Let me give you five rational reasons to believe that the bible is God’s Word:
Because of the remarkable accuracy of its history – there are numerous examples of archaeological collaboration of biblical history
Because of the remarkable accuracy of its prophecies – numerous examples of fulfilled predictive prophecy about Jesus and His people
Because of the remarkable insight it gives on man’s condition – the stark contrast of the human condition and the unchanging, holy nature of God
Because of the remarkable impact of its words – No other book has been quoted more often or translated into so many languages
Because of the remarkable endurance of its existence – contrary to the endless predictions that Christianity would die and the Bible sink into obscurity, it only grows in readership and the demand for translations continues to this day as you would expect from a document inspired by God.
Nothing definitively proves that the Bible is the inspired, God-breathed Word of God. Remember always that the carnal mind cannot discern the things of God. The conscious decision to believe is in each person to take a step of faith and begin to read, put the teachings into practice and draw closer to the Author, Father God.
Next up in the Hard Questions series is Do Science and Scripture Agree?Until then, have a blessed week, beloved.
