Many Christians, theologians included, when asked why they believe the Bible is true answer with something like, “It’s the Word of God.” That’s a correct answer to what the Bible is, but it is not a good answer to why the Bible should be believed. Most people who would ask the question in the first place do not relate to “It’s the Word of God,” thus do not relate to the answer.
There are some really compelling reasons to believe the Bible is true. Here are some of them:
10. It was written over a period of 1600 years, yet consistently presents the same principles.
9. Forty different authors of varying ages who lived on 3 different continents using 3 different languages wrote the Bible! Yet it is absolutely cohesive and consistent!
8. The authors were from different eras, cultures, races and levels of education. There were doctors, tax collectors, sheepherders, farmers, fishermen and even kings. These men lived their lives in Asia, Africa and what is now Europe and they spoke in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and the common man’s language of the New Testament, Greek.
7. It includes parables, poetry, and eyewitness accounts of events, visions, laws, genealogy, history, and prophecies, yet agrees with itself all the way through. What other book can make that claim?
6. Men wrote the Bible. Who else would God have chosen to write it, a duck? The Pythagorean Theorem written was by men. Both are consistent with the one who created all that is.
5. Most of its writers had little or no contact with the each other yet managed to relate the same historical events to illustrate the same themes.
4. The theme of every book is the same: God’s character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
3. Every topic the human mind is capable of is addressed in the pages of the Bible in the form of eternal principles.
2. There are over 5000 manuscripts of the New Testament which are complete or nearly complete! The earliest copy dates back to approximately 150 AD, which is only 120 years after the crucifixion of Jesus and within 50-60 years of death of the last surviving apostle. What other 1st century copy of any other writing is there that was preserved within this time frame. There are only 10 manuscripts of The Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar. The earliest dates back to 900-1000 years AFTER the death of Julius Caesar! Virtually no one questions or debates the truthfulness of these writings.
1. The number one reason to believe the Bible is true is the effect it has had on tens of millions of its readers. It has changed their lives. It has given them the absolute key to eternal life with their creator. The key's name is Jesus.
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