Can We Prove The Bible Is True
Can We Prove the Bible Is True?
Continual attacks on God's Word can cause even Christians to question the Bible. Are you prepared to answer the attacks, or more important, questions from those who honestly want to learn how we know God's Word is true? This burrow down to the heart of the matter, highlighting seven reasons we know the Bible is true!
If you actively share your faith, you'll be asked, "How do you know the Bible is true?"
That's a fair question and worthy of a thoughtful answer. Do you know your Bible well enough to give a satisfying response? The good news is that God's Word provides a simple but profound answer-an "ultimate proof"-that nobody can logically deny. And supporting this truth is a wealth of astounding evidences. Let's look at seven of the most compelling and easy-to-learn ones.
Continual attacks on God's Word can cause even Christians to question the Bible.
Are you prepared to answer the attacks, or more important, questions from those who honestly want to learn how we know God's Word is true?
This issue ofAnswers will burrow down to the heart of the matter, highlighting seven reasons we know the Bible is true!
Jesus Christ and His followers were fearless when it came to proclaiming God's Word. What gave them such boldness and self-assuredness? They knew without a shadow of doubt the eternal power and absolute trustworthiness of each word in scripture. They also knew that the Holy Spirit went before them, impressing hearers with the truth of His Word.
The Bible is true because it is from the author of truth. But how can we know? Usethese resources to discover why the Bible is true word of God!
You're sharing the gospel and out of the blue you're asked,
"How do you know the Bible is true?"
How would you answer?
If you've read much on the subject, you've probably come across long lists of "proofs"-amazing prophecies, archaeological discoveries, and the like.
Yet this emphasis can get some important points backward, if the Bible is to be our guide.
Jesus Christ's own conversations shed light on the correct approach. Through His often-surprising responses, we see that Christ's goal was to honor God's Word and expose His listeners' pride and their failure to submit to the Father's unquestionable authority.
While the Bible doesn't give a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all formula for defending itself, it does give us all the guidelines we need.
After all, God gave us the Scripture so we could be "thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:1717 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
This next insert comes from a study called theSeven Compelling Evidences Confirm the Bible Is True
(We can do the complete study some other time)
With all the knowledge and resources readily available today,
God's children have no excuse for not being prepared to give aanswer or defence the Bible to everyone who asks you
1 Peter 3:1515 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of
your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
First and foremost, we can know what the Bible says about
itself for there are "internal evidences"And then we can learn the most compelling supporting
evidences that confirm its claims they are called
"external evidences".
This is o.3 from Seven compelling evidences confirming that the Bible Is True It deals with the Unity of the BibleThe Bible is unlike any other religious book. Despite forty authors writing from three continents over nearly two thousand years, it maintains a perfect consistency of message.
Its words point accurately to Jesus Christ, whose work on the cross was ordained by God-the true author of the Bible-before the world began.
Among all the books ever written, the Bible is absolutely unique.
Actually, it is not just a book-it's 66 books. And one of its most remarkable qualities is the complete unity of the overall message despite having so many different authors writing over many centuries on hundreds of controversial subjects.
Natural explanations fail to account for the supernatural character and origin of Scripture.
The Bible was written over a period of roughly 2,000 years by 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages.
These facts alone make the Bible one of a kind, but there are many more amazing details that defy natural explanation.
Shepherds, kings, scholars, fishermen, prophets, a military general, a cupbearer, and a priest all penned portions of Scripture.
They had different immediate purposes for writing, whether recording history, giving spiritual and moral instruction, or pronouncing judgment.
They composed their works from palaces, prisons, the wilderness, and places of exile while writing history, laws, poetry, prophecy, and proverbs.
In the process they laid bare their personal emotions, expressing anger, frustration, joy, and love.
Yet despite this marvelous range of topics and goals, the Bible displays a flawless internal consistency.
It never contradicts itself or its common theme.
From Genesis to Revelation, we see man's repeated rebellion against his holy Creator.
God made a perfect world, but mankind has continually rejected His authority and sought to decide truth for himself.
Nevertheless, God promised to extend His love, grace, and mercy to unworthy people who deserved to be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity.
Early in Genesis after Adam and Eve sinned, God made known His plan of redemption, which He repeatedly promised and expanded upon throughout the Old Testament.
The promises were fulfilled in a surprising but predicted wayby the Savior's sacrificial death and later resurrection, as recorded in the New Testament.
The Bible then announced the future conclusion of Jesus' redemptive work in Revelation.
Both the Bible and history weave together in seamless harmony, as though the Creator ordained this plan and recorded it in Scripture even before it unfolded in history.
And that's exactly what the Bible claims took place!
God says that He alone can declare the future
Isaiah 42:9
9 Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again.I will tell you the future before it happens."
and hundreds of His prophetic predictions have been fulfilled with absolute precision, while others await fulfillment.
The unity of Scripture demonstrates its supernatural inspiration.
Only the one true, holy God could provide us with such a flawless Bible that reveals such a matchless message:
The Bible is God's staggering love for His creation.
66 Books . . . 1 Message
Despite writing in radically different times and contexts, the Bible's many authors all told the same message about God's eternal plan, from Creation and the Flood to Jesus' work on the Cross and the fulfillment of God's plan. You can find the same truths stated by Moses and the Old Testament prophets, Jesus Himself, and His apostles.
The First Creation
Moses wrote in Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."The apostle Johnwrote Revelation 4:11
"For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased."Jesus said in Matthew 19:4
"Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning God made them male and female."
Noah's FloodMoses also wroteinGenesis 5:32-10:1
"Noah went into the ark, and the waters increased greatly, and all flesh died that moved upon the earth."The apostle Peter2 Peter 2:5
"So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.."
Jesus Christ said to Pharisees in Luke 17:27"27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.."
Resurrection of Christ
King Davidsaid Psalm 16:10"For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.."the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:4
"Christ was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the thirdday, just as the Scriptures said.."Jesus Christ said John 2:19
"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." –
The New CreationThe prophet Isaiah prophesied Isaiah 56:17
"Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and
no one will even think about the old ones anymore., says the Lord."The apostle John wrote inRevelation 21:1"Then I saw a new heaven and a newearth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.And the sea was also gone.."Jesus Christ said in John 14:2There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
FirstUnderstand the Root Problem: Unbelief, Not Ignorance
See study on:Seven Compelling Evidences Confirm the Bible Is True
God tells us in bold terms the root problem. It's not the nonbelievers' view of the Book; it's their view of the Author.
All people should already know God because He is clearly seen in His creation, and His moral law is also written on their heartsRomans 1:2020 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.Romans 2:1515 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.But they "suppress," or hold down, the truth in unrighteousness because their proud hearts are rebellious and they do not want to submit to the truth Romans 1:18,1:2123, 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.( Or who, by their wickedness, prevent the truth from being known.)21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.Romans 2:141514 Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.When people reject the Bible's historical accounts of Creation and a global Flood, for example, Peter says they are "willfully" ignorant
2 Peter 3:5
5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.It's not a matter of evidence; they just don't want to be convinced.
So it is a mistake to carry on as though the main problem is a lack of knowledge.
Your hearers have a heart problem. They have rejected the God of the Bible even before they begin to consider whether His Word "The Bible"could be true.
SecondlyRely on God's Spirit and God's Word to Convincethose people
Modern intellectuals are no different from the proud Greeks of Paul's day, who lived "in the uselessness of their thinking."
They were "darkened in their understanding . . . because of the blindness of their heart"Ephesians 4:17ÔÇô1817 With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
How do you break through the darkness? It's not enough to break down their wrong beliefs by cold, hard logic. Blind men cannot see the truth except with new sight given by the Holy Spirit1 Corinthians 2:1414 But people who aren't spiritual(Or who don't have the Spirit; or who have only physical life.) can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
Thankfully, God's Spirit is already at work convicting sinners of their unbelief, using His Word as His primary tool. By relying on the Scripture's own claims, rather than your wisdom or clever arguments, God empowers His words to convict hearts and point them to ChristJohn 16:12ÔÇô1512 "There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'Hebrews 4:1212 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.Knowing this, the apostle Paul did not rely on "convincing words of human wisdom" to overwhelm his listeners with intellectual arguments, which they might not even grasp 1 Corinthians 2:44 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.Instead, Paul spoke plainly to sinners "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that their faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" 1 Corinthians 2:5
5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
Yet God does not demand blind faith.
Our faith is reasonable.
In fact, it is the only logical and reasonable choice available to mankind. And explaining that simple fact is the secret to a biblical defense of the Bible.
Third
The Bible Is-and Must Be-Its Own Ultimate Proof
Jesus indicated that the bible gives enough information so that everyone can know the truth.
No other resource is better. Jesus told His Jewish listeners,
Luke 16:31
31 "But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Even though Jesus was not addressing Gentiles (Unbelievers), His words are based on a universal truth:
The Bible is-and should be-our most persuasive tool.
How Do We Know Anything Is True?
Even though lots of other evidences confirm the Bible (and we can and should discuss them at another time), your conversations aren't likely to get very far unless you address the deeper question:
"How do you know anything is true?"
When debating ultimate questions, everyone must eventually appeal to an ultimate standard.
We can't keep appealing to a higher and higher standard because the stairs must end somewhere.
Even secular people would use logic to recognize this problem.
Every philosophical system must start with assumptions or starting points – that cannot be proven from anything more basic, but are accepted up├ö├ç├┤front as the foundation for all reasoninglater on.The Bible claims to be this ultimate standard of truth, the "Word" given by the Almighty Creator God (I have other books that explains it in depth"Claims of Divine Authorship," Study on Seven Compelling Evidences Confirm the Bible Is True.)Most people point to one of three standards: Their own personal opinion, Public consensus or agreement, Great moral literature. But that is not an option if the Bible is true.
An appeal to any other standard, such as the opinions of people, automatically means you must reject the Bible as your ultimate standard. Don't miss this point; it's worth repeating! (Once you point this out, most people will recognize the problem.)
How Do We Choose the Correct "Ultimate Standard"?
Since we must appeal to some ultimate standard, the next question is how to determine the right one.
One-and only one-logical solution is available. The standard itself must be "self-attesting" and "self-authenticating." Self Attested I looked it up in the dictionary means when you write the following words somewhere on adocument :“This is a true copy of the original” and underneath these words, you sign your name. That’s it. This process is called “Self- Attestation” whereby you don’t need a notary to attest your documents.In other words, it must speak for itself and defend itself in such a way that it (1) passes all its own standards of truth and (2) gives a foundation for successfully interpreting all other claims to be true.
Even before modern thinkers and academics recognized this limitation to every logical argument, God's Word had already acknowledged and solved it.
Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, said, "I am the truth"John 14:66 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."God's word is truth" John 17:17
17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.Jesus claimed to define what truth is, God's Word is the ultimate judge of truthJohn 12:4848 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.No truth exists apart from Him. The Bible explains it asin Him is hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledgeColossians 2:33 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.So the Bible clearly claims an exalted position as the ultimate authority.
Moreover, God's Word concludes that all other standards outside of Christ must be "empty" because they depend on "the tradition of men" Colossians 2:88 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers(Or the spiritual principles) of this world, rather than from Christ.For the Bible to appeal to any other authority would be to deny its own place as the ultimate standard. We don't need to bash people with this truth, but the rightness of our position should encourage us.
As it turns out, the only ultimate standard that can be logically self-authenticating is one that exactly matches the unique God of Scripture, who is true, holy, just, eternal, unchanging, and "does not lie" Titus 1:22 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God-who does not lie-promised them before the world began.He alone provides a solid foundation for knowledge and provides proof to His own truthfulness.
Your hearers won't find an alternative that comes close to matching the biblical God, no matter how hard they try. But you don't have to belabor this point. (They could spend many lifetimes searching!) A positive proclamation of the reasonableness of the Christian faith is enough to highlight the shortcomings of alternative worldviews.
God Appeals to Himself as the Ultimate Standard
God consistently appeals to His own word as the final authority. A good example is His promise to bless all nations through Abraham. How did He reassure Abraham that His words were true? He appealed to Himself as the highest court of appeal-"By Myself I have sworn" Genesis 22:1616 "This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name thatI will certainly bless you.
Logically God can appeal to nothing higher than to Himself. This same statement is refered to in the new Testament in
Hebrews 6:13 13 For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own nameLater, Christ made a similar claim. When the Roman governor Pilate questioned His authority, Christ appealed to His own authority:
John 18:37
37 Pilate said, "So you are a king?"Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true."
Nobody recognizes His authority except those who are "of the truth"-those who first listen to Him! Christ didn't even try to convince Pilate. Instead, He stated the truth as it really was and left Pilate to consider the weight of His words.
Pilate responded cynically, "What is truth?" but then, apparently moved by Christ's words, he went out to tell the waiting crowd that he found no fault in Christ. The Son of God's words had effectively spoken on His behalf.
An Appeal to the Bible Is Not is not something you do by chance
The Bible repeatedly claims to be God's Word, the ultimate source of all truth, and it rejects all other statements.
The Bible offers no neutral ground, which is the only reasonable demand from a source that claims to be the truth above all others.
The Scripture also says it was inspired by a God who sees everything, knows everything, communicates perfectly, and always tells the truth. In fact, He strongly desires to share the truth (see1. God's Character," ).
So choosing such an ultimate standard is not arbitrary or by chance!
The Bible is also consistent with itself, as any correct standard must be (see 3. Unity of the Bible).Furthermore, it provides a robust foundation for correctly interpreting the world around us (see5. Scientific Accuracy). Despite centuries of merciless attacks upon its accuracy, the Bible has consistently proven to be true (see 6. Archaeological Finds).
FourthlyYou should explain Other Evidences
Although God's own affirmation is the ultimate proof of the Bible, it is proper and biblical to seek additional evidence.
God encourages us to back up His testimony. Jesus did not expect His hearers to accept His testimony merely because He said so.
Jesus gave several other witnesses to the truth of His claims. For one, he mentioned John the Baptist, who was considered a prophet of the highest integrity among the Jews.
This is what Jesus said in:John 5:31ÔÇô3231 "If I were to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid. 32 But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true.33 In fact, you sent investigators to listen to John the Baptist, and his testimony about me was true.
According to Jewish law, two or three witnesses were required to establish the truth of a matter in court Deuteronomy 19:1515 "You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
That is why we have the synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
It is proper and biblical to seek additional evidence.
But Jesus said He had a higher testimony than John's: John 5:34ÔÇô3634 Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36 But I have a greater witness than John-my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.Jesus quoted these primary evidences to support His claims:
His many miracles and other works John 5:3636 But I have a greater witness than John-my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.
The testimony of His Father, who spoke audibly from heaven at His baptism John 5:36ÔÇô3737 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face,
The witness of the Scriptures John 5:3939 "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
His pending bodily Resurrection John 2:22
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
The witness of the Holy Spirit, which continues to this dayJohn 15:2626 "But I will send you the Advocate(Or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor. Greek reads Paraclete) -the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.We weren't present to hear John's testimony, or to hear the Father speak from heaven, or to see Christ's miracles and His resurrected body. Yet God gives us "a more sure word" 2 Peter 1:18ÔÇô1918 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place-until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines[a] in your hearts.(pointthree above) and the ongoing witness of the Spirit (point five).God understands our spiritual blindness, especially with regard to heavenly things, which we can't see.
Lots of other amazing evidences confirm Scripture.
For example, any book inspired by a holy, righteous God should be error free. And that's just what we find.
God talks about earthly things, which we can see Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.John 3:10ÔÇô1310 Jesus replied, "You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don't understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen,and yet you won't believe our testimony. 12 But if you don't believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man(Some manuscripts add who lives in heaven. "Son of Man" is a title Jesus used for himself.) has come down from heaven.The Bible is filled with specific claims about history, human nature, science, and prophecy. After centuries of trying to find errors, skeptics have only succeeded in reaffirming the Bible's perfect beauty, as the other articles in this special series attest.
Yet be careful not to rely on external evidences. Since all people are blinded sinners, they resist the truth and refuse to believe even the most obvious evidences, assuming they just don't have enough information to prove you wrong.
You will end up talking in circles.
Based on the Bible's own example, unbelievers should be pointed to the only true ultimate standard, the Bible's own claims about itself. Ultimately we trust the Bible, not because we can prove it from other sources but because we trust the One who made us and then gave us His Word.