It is essential to understand that the Bible is real because Christianity is primarily founded on it. Several pertinent issues need to be explored in order to provide an answer to this question.
1. Is the Bible internally consistent?
The books of the Bible were authored over several centuries by a multitude of authors. They yet form a cohesive whole. Theological ideas are evolving in light of God’s continuous revelation. For instance, compared to the Old Testament, the New Testament has far greater information on Jesus’ atoning death. However, the later Scriptures do not contradict the older ones; rather, they just record the historical progression of [God’s rescue plan] and provide us with further information. The Old Testament predicts future events, while New Testament texts frequently quote and interpret passages from the Old Testament. The message of the entire Bible is logical and consistent.
The Bible does exhort us to determine if the message of the Gospels is consistent with the previous Old Testament scriptures on our own. After seeing Paul preach, the Jews in Berea “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so,” according to the book of Acts. Acts 17:11 This curious mindset is regarded as “noble”!
2. Does the Bible satisfy its own requirements of truth and trustworthiness?
In Deuteronomy 18:22, the subject of how to determine if a specific word sent by prophets is authentic comes up. This question also pertains to the reliability of the Bible as a whole, since written prophecy makes up a large portion of the Bible. “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken,” the Almighty states in a clear and concise manner. Thus, it would be wise for us to search for prophecies and determine whether they have come to pass.
Promises and cautions about future events abound, especially in the Old Testament. While some are rather generic, others offer comprehensive details. The majority of these forecasts have already materialized. Allow me to list a few:
- The prophet Micah prophesied that a ruler who would lead the people of Israel would be born in the small village of Bethlehem circa 700 BC (Micah 5:2-4). According to Matthew 2:1, there is where Jesus Christ was born. For both Israel and other countries, Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:14–16). Please read this article for more fulfilled predictions around the birth of Jesus.
- The Israelites were told they would go into exile if they disobeyed God when they arrived in Canaan, circa 1400 BC. Even so, the Lord predicted they would. (Deuteronomy 4:15-26, 28:63–64, and 3:19–21) They [were transported to Babylon] in 600 BC (2 Kings 25:21). However, God had additionally pledged to restore them. (Leviticus 30:1–5) According to the prophet Jeremiah, they would be exiled for seventy years. (Jeremiah 29:10) God also fulfilled his word; read 2 Chronicles 36:22–23.
- The prophet Isaiah predicted that the Lord’s Servant would be greatly honored (Isaiah 52:13) as well as hated and rejected (Isaiah 53:3). He lived approximately 700 BC. He would bear the wounds of our sins and declare many to be justified (Isaiah 53:5; 53:11). All of this is realized in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who underwent suffering and death in order to deliver people from the grip of sin and death. “God has highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him the name that is above every name,” after He had finished His mission. (2 Corinthians 2:5–9) and Romans 4:25
Numerous such instances of prophesies coming true exist, however enumerating them would be outside the purview of this piece.
3. Do Biblical records coincide with other historical sources?
The Bible contains many accounts of real-life incidents that happened in Israel’s or the neighboring nations’ histories. So, is there any proof from archaeology that these records are accurate? Indeed, there is. As an illustration:
- One of the most well-known monarchs in Israel, King David, is documented historically in the Tel Dan Stela, an inscription from the ninth century BC.
- The Hittite people group is mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 23:3; 1 Kings 10:29). The lack of reference of these in other ancient texts led modern researchers to believe that they had never truly existed. However, fresh archeological evidence was uncovered in the second part of the 1800s, and in 1906, the capital city was rediscovered, complete with a royal archive of ten thousand tablets. Please refer to this Wikipedia article for further details
- The authenticity of Jesus’ crucifixion is bolstered not just by eyewitnesses and later biblical letters, but also by extra-biblical sources such as the Annals of the Roman historian Tacitus and Flavius Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews.
Therefore, the authenticity of the biblical accounts is supported by extrabiblical evidence.
4. Is the Bible a reliable record of Jesus’ original words?
The gospels record not only historical incidents but also Jesus’ teachings. Since a large portion of Christian doctrine is predicated on the sayings and deeds of Jesus, it is crucial to determine whether these are trustworthy as well. The reasons why the Bible’s account of Jesus is reliable are explained in great depth in this article. A few decades after the events, eyewitness testimonies or perhaps the narratives of the eyewitnesses themselves were used to write the gospels. They accurately chronicle Jesus’ time on earth.
Furthermore, the hundreds of manuscripts that exist from the Old and New Testaments attest to the accuracy with which these texts have been translated and transmitted over the ages. This historical evidence readily refutes the skeptics’ [claims that they have been modified] and controlled by generations of believers.
5. Does the Bible fulfill its own claims?
The Bible makes the claim to be more than just a chronicle of events. “The sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” is how the apostle Paul puts it. (2 Timothy 3:15) Thus, the Bible makes the claim that it imparts wisdom, understanding, and insight in order to persuade readers of the veracity of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the Bible is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work,” because it has been “breathed out by God.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17)
The effect of the gospel is outlined in the book of Acts: “As many as were appointed to eternal life believed when they heard this, and the Gentiles began to rejoice and magnify the word of the Lord.” And across the entire area, the word of the Lord was being shared. Acts 13:48–49 Millions of people have since been touched by the transformative power of the gospel as it is presented to them in the Bible.
So, is the Bible true?
There is ample evidence to support the Bible’s dependability and credibility. Ultimately, though, individuals are not persuaded by a text’s analysis or by historical facts alone. We must personally encounter the veracity of the Bible. Consequently, I would want to exhort you to beg the all-powerful, holy God who is the ultimate Author of the Bible to persuade you of the veracity of His Word.
“O Lord, show me Your pathways and make me aware of Your ways. You are the God of my salvation, therefore guide and instruct me in Your truth. (Psalm 25:4-5)
