Question:
How can we be sure the bible is telling the truth? How can we trust it?
Answer:
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT states that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
This highlights the importance of God’s Word in a believer’s life, equipping, training, and preparing them.
However, the question arises: how do we know it’s true?
I was thinking about a few different things that I would want to share with you guys. Obviously, there’s a lot more that we could say on this topic, but I think a couple of points really prove why the Bible is true and why we can trust it.
The first one is prophecy.
The Bible is filled with prophecy throughout the Old and New Testaments. About 27 % of the Bible is this predictive prophecy, speaking of things written and inspired by the Holy Spirit that thousands or hundreds of years in the future would come true.
We’ve even seen that with the writings in the Old Testament, specifically speaking about the coming of Jesus – the first coming of Jesus. His birth to a virgin in the town of Bethlehem. Think about his triumphal entry, coming in on a donkey into Jerusalem and even to the cross and the resurrection. The Old Testament speaks of these things, what the Messiah would do in the time, place, and specific details. We’ve seen this prophecy being fulfilled, and there’s more to come.
As I think about this, it suggests that God has orchestrated the inspired writing of the Old and New Testaments. This prophecy would show that God’s hand is on it because who else could predict the future in such a detailed way?
And so I believe that that’s great evidence of why the Bible is true.
Another thing I was thinking about is archaeology.
I’m just thinking about the discoveries that have been made over the years. Specifically, back in the 30s, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, an early manuscript of the Old Testament. I don’t know everything about it, but I think it was about the third century BC. It is a really specific, detailed manuscript that is accurate to what we have today.
The translation, even in our English Bible, is not just a translation of a translation of a translation, but it’s a specific translation of the original manuscripts. It’s not just a translation or thing that’s passed down from generation to language, but instead, it’s been discovered that archaeology has proven that the things that the Bible speaks of are true and accurate, dating way back, so you can look more into that, but there’s great evidence in that.
Also, I’m thinking about the Bible’s internal consistency.
The Bible is a collection of 66 books that span over 15,000 years, 60 different generations, and three different languages. Within all of these books are authors, time periods, and generations with no discrepancy. It’s a very cohesive story about who God is and his gospel plan for us. Despite all of these factors that would seemingly lead to contradictions, the Bible is perfectly harmonious, and that’s pretty powerful.
I think about the Quran, the book of the Islamic faith, which was written only by one author and one language. And so, with the Bible, with all these different authors, it’s clear that the Holy Spirit’s hand was upon its writing.
The last thing I’m thinking about is the transforming power of God’s word.
I am thinking about the transforming power that God’s Word has had in my and millions of other believers’ lives. Just like I read in 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT, God inspires all Scripture as He is useful to teach, correct, and train us. God’s Word has really shaped my life. I’ve seen it come alive, and it’s given me wisdom and an understanding of who God is. The truth of God’s Word, and the person of Jesus Christ, has changed me from a very self-centered and self-seeking person into someone who desires to love others and serve others.
I attribute that transformation back to the work of the Holy Spirit, who taught me what is true, what is right, and what is noble through his word. Millions of believers who’ve come before us testify that God’s word has truly changed, transformed, and renewed their minds.
I hope that gives you a little bit of confidence in the Word and that there’s a lot of evidence out there of why the Bible is true. But just remember that fulfilled prophecy, archaeology, the Bible’s internal consistency, and even your own testimony of what the Bible has done—I believe those things can give us assurance and confidence that the Bible is true and accurate.
source https://calvaryyouth.org/biblical-answers/ensuring-truth-trustworthiness-of-the-bible-and-how-to-rely-on-it/
