“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17
Series Big Idea: To share God’s word on common questions about spiritual realities so that we can better understand the Christian Faith.
Big Idea: I can trust the Bible.
Can I Trust The Bible?
1. Are the documents we have (upon which our Bible is based) true to the Originals or have the Originals been lost or corrupted so badly that we can’t be sure of their accuracy?
Short Answer: The documents upon which your Bible is based are astonishingly faithful to the originals – better than anything else in all
antiquity!
“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” —Matthew 5:18
Concerning the Old Testament:
- “The original Bible manuscripts (called autographs) were written on material such as papyrus, which deteriorated quickly. Consequently, scribes were needed to copy and recopy the Old Testament books, letter by letter. These copyists knew they were duplicating God’s Word, so they went to incredible lengths to prevent errors from creeping into their work. …scribes carefully counted every line, word, syllable, and letter to ensure accuracy. …As a result of their diligence, the Old Testament in our Bible today is virtually identical to the autographs. Bible scholars have demonstrated this by comparing ancient copies of the Bible with more recent copies. For example, prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, the oldest existing OT manuscript, was the Massoretic Text, dated around 900 A.D. But with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, fragments of almost every book of the OT were found, many dating back to 150 B.C., over a thousand years earlier. One of the most important manuscript discoveries was two copies of Isaiah. …What did critics discover when they compared the Dead Sea manuscripts of Isaiah with the Isaiah preserved in the Massoretic Text, dated a thousand years later? Scholar [Dr] Gleason Archer provides the answer: ‘Even though the two copies of Isaiah discovered in Qumran Cave 1 near the Dead Sea in 1947, were a thousand years earlier than the oldest dated manuscript previously known (A.D. 980) they proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more than 95% of the text. The other 5% of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations of spelling.’ From manuscript discoveries …Christians have undeniable evidence that today’s Old Testament Scriptures, for all practical purposes, is exactly the same as it was when originally inspired by God and recorded in the Bible.” – Defending Your Faith; pg 35, by Day Story
Concerning the New Testament:
“In 1994, Dr. Carsten Peter Thiede, Director of the Institute of Basic Epistemological Research in Paderborn, Germany, used a scanning laser microscope to more carefully examine these fragments, “P.Magdalen Greek 17/P64,” as they are formally designated. A scanning laser microscope can now differentiate between the twenty micrometer (millionth of a meter) layers of papyrus, measuring the height and depth of the ink, and can even determine the angle of the stylus used by the scribe. Dr. Thiede compared the fragments with four other known references: a manuscript from Qumran, dated to 58 A.D.; one from the Herculaneum, dated prior to 79 A.D.; one from Masada, dated between 73-74 A.D.; and one from the Egyptian town of Oxyrynchus, dated 65-66 A.D. He astounded the scholastic world by concluding that the Magdalen fragments were either an original from Matthew’s Gospel, or an immediate copy, written while Matthew and the other disciples and other eye witnesses were still alive! Matthew’s skills in shorthand (an essential requirement for a customs official in a society devoid of printing, copiers, and the like) are evident in his inclusion of the extensive discourses, which he apparently was able to record verbatim!” The Magdalen papyrus discovery is distinctive in that it was dated on the basis of physical evidence rather than a literary theory or historical suppositions. This is just an example of how advanced technology can reveal discoveries in existing artifacts.” – Magdalen Papyrus, P64, 2001
“On 1 February 2012, I debated Bart Ehrman at UNC Chapel Hill on whether we have the wording of the original New Testament today. This was our third such debate, and it was before a crowd of more than 1000 people. I mentioned that seven New Testament papyri had recently been discovered—six of them probably from the second century and one of them probably from the first. These fragments will be published in about a year. These fragments now increase our holdings as follows: we have as many as eighteen New Testament manuscripts from the second century and one from the first. Altogether, more than 43% of all New Testament verses are found in these manuscripts. But the most interesting thing is the first-century fragment. It was dated by one of the world’s leading paleographers. He said he was ‘certain’ that it was from the first century. How do these manuscripts change what we believe the original New Testament to say? The papyri have confirmed various readings as authentic in the past 116 years, but have not introduced new authentic readings. The original New Testament text is found somewhere in the manuscripts that have been known for quite some time. These new papyri will no doubt continue that trend. But, if this Mark fragment is confirmed as from the first century, what a thrill it will be to have a manuscript that is dated within the lifetime of many of the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection!” – Dr Daniel Wallace, Dallas Theo. Seminary (1st century Mark’s Gospel fragment)
Point: If the New Testament writers were lying, exaggerating or just plain wrong they would have been exposed by those who were eyewitness.
Skeptic Dr. A.T. Robertson examined “Redating the New Testament” (Phil., Pa. Westminster Press, 1976) in which he argued that all the New Testament books were written before 70 A.D. within 35 years of Jesus.
We have over 26,000 copies of portions of the NT from 4 families to cross compare (Eastern Ch; Western Ch; Southern Ch; Coptic Ch. Egyptian; Northern CH; Byzantine,).
Bottom Line: “The final area of evidence concerns that lack of textual corruption in the New Testament period. Textual critics estimate that only ½ of 1% (99.44% pure) of the New Testament is in doubt. And of this ½ percent, no doctrinal or historical truth is left in question……experts in the field of textual criticism (the science of establishing the accuracy of ancient texts) agree that the New Testament that we have today is unquestionably a near perfect offspring of the [original] autographs. Sir Fredrick Kenyon past director and principle librarian of the British Museum and probably the greatest textual critic of the 20th century, states “the interval between the dates of original composition and the earliest existing evidence becomes so small as to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation of any doubt that the scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as firmly established.” – Sir Fredrick Kenyon, The Bible And Archeology, DYF, pg 41
2. Is The Bible factually correct? Or are there errors of science, history, archeology or other kinds which would undermine its authority and authenticity?
Short Answer: The Bible is factually correct without significant errors of any kind.
History has verified the Bible’s accuracy.
“The historical accuracy of the Scriptures is likewise in a class by itself, far superior to the written records of Egypt, Assyria, and other early nations. Archeological confirmations of the Biblical record have been almost innumerable in the last century.” – Dr. Henry Morris and Martin Clark, The Bible Has the Answer, 1987.
Science has verified the Bible’s accuracy.
“Another striking evidence of divine inspiration is found in the fact that many of the principles of modern science were recorded as facts of nature in the Bible long before scientist confirmed them experimentally.” – Dr. Henry Morris and Martin Clark, The Bible Has The Answers, 1987.
A sampling of these would include:
- Roundness of the earth (Isaiah 40:22)
- Almost infinite extent of the sidereal universe (Isaiah 55:9)
- Law of conservation of mass and energy (II Peter 3:7)
- Hydrologic cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:7)
- Vast number of stars (Jeremiah 33:22)
- Law of increasing entropy (Psalm 102:25-27)
- Paramount importance of blood in life processes (Leviticus 17:11)
- Atmospheric circulation (Ecclesiastes 1:6)
- Gravitational field (Job 26:7)
- and many others….
“These are not stated in the technical jargon of modern science, of course, but in terms of the basic world of man’s everyday experience; nevertheless, they are completely in accord with the most modern scientific facts. It is significant also that no real mistake has ever been demonstrated in the Bible, in science, in history, or in any other subject. Many have been claimed, of course, but conservative Bible scholars have always been able to work out reasonable solutions to all such problems.” – Dr. Henry Morris and Martin Clark, The Bible Has The Answers, 1987.
Archeology has verified the Bible’s accuracy.
“No archeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.” – Dr. Henry Morris and Martin Clark, The Bible Has The Answers, 1987.
“In 2 Kings 15:29 there’s a reference to King of Assyria named Tiglath-Pileser. He is spoken of as having conquered the Israelites of the northern kingdom and as having taken many of them into captivity. A generation ago scholars were saying – and their books are still in our libraries – that this king never exsisted and that the account of the fall of Israel to Assyria is something a kin to mythology. Now, however, archeologist have excavated Tiglath-Pileser’s capital city and can give his history. They have even found his name pressed into bricks which read “I, Tiglath-Pileser, king of the Westland’s…..”. About the same time, some scholars deny that Moses could have written the first five books of the Bible on the grounds, which seemed irrefutable enough, that writing hadn’t been invented in his day. Since that time, archeologists have unearthed thousands of tablets and inscriptions written many hundreds of years before Moses and even before Abraham. In fact, they now know of six different written languages from or before Moses’ period ….the result of scholarship far from discrediting the bible, actually increasingly validate its claims”. – James M. Boice, The Sovereign God, pg 77
Bottom Line: “Time magazine writes “The breadth, sophistication, and diversity of all this Biblical investigation are impressive, but it begs a question; has it made the Bible more credible or less? … Believers may well conclude that its [the Bible’s] credibility has been enhanced. After more than two centuries of facing the heaviest scientific guns that could be brought to bear, the Bible has survived – and is perhaps the better for the siege. Even on the critics’ own terms – historical fact – the Scriptures seem more acceptable now than they did when the rationalists began the attack.” – James M. Boice, The Sovereign God, pg 77-78
3. Is The Bible internally consistent? Or is it so hopelessly riddled with contradictions that it is really useless or of marginal value?
Short Answer: No. The Bible is not so hopelessly riddled with contradictions that it is really useless or of marginal value.
“But He (Jesus) answered and said, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” —Matthew 4:4
“…and Scripture cannot be broken”. —John 10:35b
“After 40 years of continual and careful study of the Bible, I can only conclude that those who have “discovered a mistake” in the Bible do not know too much about the Bible – they know too little about it. This does not mean, of course, that we understand all the difficulties in the scriptures. But we have seen enough problems resolved to know these also admit answers. Not one error that extends to the original text of the Bible has ever been demonstrated”. – Alleged Errors In The Bible, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Dr. Norman L. Geisler, pg 74-80
Bottom Line: In my 33 years of pastoring, no one has ever been able to show me a contradiction in the Bible I have not been able to resolve. And the vast majority of “the problems” that people have presented me with – were practically meaningless anyway.
4. How do we know that the Bible we have is of a supernatural Origin? Or is it just the culturally skewed opinions of “Religious Zealots” of the religious establishment of their Day?
Short Answer: The Bible is God’s Word, not the word of man.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” —2 Timothy 3:16
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” —2 Peter 1:16-21
The Bible claims supernatual authorship (only 3 books do)
“The study of comparative religions has for almost a century stimulated interest in the variety of “sacred writings” connected with different world religions. The Bible however, holds its place through its persuasive claim to the distinctive divine inspiration of its writers and their teachings. Although devotees of other than Biblical religions regard as sacred certain literary traditions associated with their faiths, the express claim of religious writers to be vehicles of divine disclosure is not nearly as common as often presupposed. Spokesman for non-christian religions have themselves [denied the claim] that there is divine revelation in all religions. Buddhists protest that this theory too generously bestows on Buddhism what would be unacceptably destructive of Buddhist tenets-i.e., the Christian insistence that God is personal – since Hinayana Buddhism is atheistic. The sacred Chinese books claim no supernatural inspiration or authority, Confucianism being less a religion than a venerable moral tradition. Among the great religions of the world, the living God significantly appears as the speaking God only in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – and the Koran’s considerable borrowing from the Judeo-Christian Scriptures is indisputable. The Koran is really the product of one man, Muhammad, whos fragmented writings were gathered after his death into a single book exasperatingly lacking in arrangement. Since Muslims consider the Koran an earthly copy of a heavenly original and view its every letter as uncreated and eternal, the words of the Koran preempt features that the NT reserves for the personal logos of God (see John 1:1-3). The Zoroastrian Zend-Avesta reflects not only a composite character, but a variety of religious conceptions as well.The so called sacred books of other religions, including the book of Mormon, assume much less the character of a unified book, than does the Bible, and their mythic logical features, questionable historical particulars, and inconsistencies of religious perspective should put us on guard against speaking of “the bibles of mankind”. – Dr. Carl F. Henry, Expositors Bible Commentary Vol. 1, pg 34Since the Bible is correct concerning the things we can test, wouldn’t it be reasonable to believe it is most likely correct concerning things we can’t test (such as it’s claim to be the Word of God; a claim that has never been disproved)?
The Bible has detailed supernatural prophetic content that has proven accurate to such a high degree that it is impossible to account for it by chance.
“All biblical prophecies concerning events up to this point in history have come to pass. Numerous Old Testament prophecies have been confirmed by archeology, including not only those pertaining to the Jewish nation and the Messiah, but also those dealing with other nations and peoples. Even if we ignored all the Bible’s prophecies except for those more than 300 concerning the Messiah and recorded in the Old Testament, we would be as assured as possible that God had spoken to us through His chosen prophets. Why? Because the possibility of these prophecies being fulfilled in one person by sheer chance is a tiny fraction of 1% - namely, 1 over 84 and 123 zeros.” – Dr. John H. Gerstner, Reasons for Faith, pg 115; DYF pg 65
“There are sixty-one major prophecies concerning the life of Jesus Christ, written many hundreds of years before His birth. Even unbelieving scientists applying the measurement of statistical probability tell us that the chances of just eight of those prophecies being fulfilled is one in 1017 (one hundred thousand trillion). This wasn’t luck. Do you want to know what kind of a coincidence all of this would be? Take the whole state of Texas and cover it all with silver dollars two feet deep. Take a blindfolded person, tell him to wade out into the money, and pick up the silver dollar that has the red dot on it. That is the likelihood of all of the prophecies in the Old Testament regarding Christ coming true by way of coincidence.” – Dr Peter Stoner, Science Speaks, pg 102-106)
Bottom Line: Since the Bible has been proven to be reliable in the fields of History, Science, Archeology, Probability Statistics and in every other field where it’s voracity can be tested, it would be more reasonable than not, to believe its claim to be the Word of God – especially since it has demonstrated to have substantiated supernatural predictive prophetic content.
5. What does this mean practically?
Short Answer:
1. It means I now have an objective, trustworthy, final authority for my life
2. It means God’s word gives me a solid foundation upon which to build a successful life
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” —Joshua 1:8-9
“But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does.” —1 John 1:25
“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” —1 John 5:11-14
Bottom Line: We can trust God’s Word.
Resources:
- Evidence That Demands A Verdict, 2017, McDowell & McDowell
- Case For Christ & Case For Faith; 2014, Lee Stroble
- Big Book Of Christian Apologetics; 2012, Norman Geisler
- Mere Christianity; 2015, (Original 1943) C. S. Lewis