can we trust the bible? how can we know it really is the word of god?

Can We Trust the Bible?

How can we know it really is the Word of God?

Various Books/Documents Claimed to be Inspired by God or some deity:

BibleKoran

3 Books of the Latter Day Saints (Including the Book of Mormon)

Book of the Dead (Egyptian)Book of the Dead (Tibetan)

CabalaTalmud


1. Christians accept the 66 books of the Bible (39 OT, 27 NT) as "inspired" of God

2. The Bible claims such inspiration.. Literally, "God-breathed“…Scriptures were given by the Holy Spirit, and are not simply the words of men.

a. It speaks of scripture as being inspired of God - 2 Ti 3:16-17


b. It tells of men speaking as they were moved by the Holy Spirit - 2 Peter 1:20-21.

c. It contains claims by the writers that their words were commandments of God - 1 Corinthians 14:37.

4. But what evidence is there that Bible is actually inspired of God?

5. What distinguishes the Bible from other books that are claimed to be inspired of God?


Uniformity and Consistency of its message

Fulfilled Prophecy

Scientific Foreknowledge

Historical Accuracy


1. The 66 Books of the Bible were written…..a. Over a Period of 1600 Yearsb. Over 40 Generations


c. By approximately 40 different people from different walks of life. e.g.

(1) Moses, political leader trained in Egypt

(2) Joshua, Military General(3) Nehemiah, cup bearer to a king(4) Amos, herdsman(5) Daniel, government official(6) Solomon, king(7) Peter, fisherman(8) Matthew, tax collector(9) Paul, tentmaker(10) Luke, physician


d. In different circumstances.(1) Moses, in the wilderness(2) Jeremiah in a dungeon(3) Daniel in a palace and on a hillside(4) Paul inside prison walls(5) Luke while traveling(6) John in exile on Patmos(7) Others in military campaigns


e. In different continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe.

f. In different languages: Hebrew, Arabic, and Greek.

e. Dealing with controversial subject matter:(1) Origin of Man and the Universe(2) The existence and nature of God(3) Nature of sin and man’s redemption


2. Yet there is Harmony, Continuity and Consistency.

a. The Bible tells one complete story!b. No irresolvable contradictions!c. What would be the result if the various writers had not been directed by God?

3. The only reasonable explanation is that the writers were guided by a being with all power and foreknowledge.

Fulfilled Prophecy

1. God’s ability to foretell the future shows his superiority over false gods. Isaiah 41:21-23, 42:8-9; 46:8-11

2. Examples:a. The fall of Tyre, with it becoming a place for the spreading of nests - Ezek 26; Isaiah 23b. Destruction of Jerusalem- Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21: Fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Rome destroyed Jerusalem

Fulfilled Prophecy

c. Prophecies Concerning Christ - It has been said that there over 300 different prophecies concerning Christ. A few examples:(1). Genealogy (Son of David, of Judah)(2). Birthplace (Bethlehem) Micah 5:2(3). Time of his kingdom Daniel 9:25(4). Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14(5). Flees to Egypt Hosea 11:1(6). Triumphal Entry Zechariah 9:9(7). Numerous details concerning his death

and burial.

Fulfilled Prophecy

(8). The odds of one person being able to fulfill all of the prophecies has been calculated to be 1 in 84 X 10123 power.

1 chance in 84,0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.

Historical Accuracy

1. Historical records and archeology do not by themselves prove the Bible is the word of God. It merely verifies the accuracy of the Bible.

2. Daniel 5: Belshazzar and the Handwriting on the wall.

a. Citing a lack of corroboration from other historical sources, critics charged that Belshazzar and Daniels’s account was a myth.

b. In 1854, an archeologist found several clay cylinders in a site in southern Iraq.

c. The cylinders included writings referring to Nabonidus as king and his son Belshazzar.

Historical Accuracy

d. Records go on to note that Nabonidus chose not to live in Babylon and entrusted the kingship to his son, Belshazzar.

e. This is consistent with the offer of Belshazzar to Daniel 5:16 to be 3rd in the kingdom if he were to translate the handwriting on the wall.

Historical Accuracy

3. The Hittites: Mentioned in the Bible as early as Abraham and as late as Solomon. They were a powerful nation in the middle east.

a. Until the late 1800’s, there were no other sources that mentioned them. As a result, critics charged that they were fictional.

b. In 1876, a British researcher found inscriptions in Turkey referring to the Hittites.

c. Others found additional records, indicating the power of the nation.

d. The Bible was right all along!

Historical Accuracy

4. Exodus 1 records the Israelites being enslaved to the Egyptians. They built store cities of Pithom and Raamses.

Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of these cities.

5. The writings of Luke (Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts) have been proven to be accurate and reliable. Luke names 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands, numerous political leaders.

Historical Accuracy

a. A few examples:

(1) Luke 3:1 cites Lysanias the “Tetrarch” of Abilene (during the reign of Tiberius)

(2) Critics charged this as an error, since other sources listed Lysanius as the ruler of Chalcis, a half a century earlier.

(3) An inscription dating to the time of Tiberius refers to Lysanius of Abilene.

Historical Accuracy

b. The term “Politarchs” used by Luke to describe Roman city officials. Ancient Roman documents did not use this term, thus critics charged Luke with error.

(1) Inscription on a first century arch includes the term “politarchs”. It is on display in the British Museum today.

(2) 35 additional inscriptions have since been found.


1. Though not a book about science, the Bible includes scientific truths not known to men at the time of writing. Bible uses figurative and descriptive language that is not intended to be taken literal.

2. A few examples:a. Earth is round- Isaiah 40:22.b. Valley’s exist on the bottom of the sea.

2 Samuel 22:16.c. Consider that the instructions given in

the Law concerning uncleanness stood in stark contrast to the practices of the Egyptians.


(1) Egyptian medical remedies often included: lizards' blood, putrid meat, stinking fat, moisture from pigs' ears, dung from humans, donkeys, antelopes, dogs, cats, and flies.

(2) Though the intent of the law was to convey instructions concerning

ceremonial uncleanness, the instructions dealing with things such as infected person, dead body, animal carcasses, etc. would fit in well with modern medical practices.


e. God directed that circumcision be performed on the 8th Day.

(1) Role of Vitamin K and prothrombin in blood clotting:

(a) Vitamin K doesn’t reach normal amount until 5th to 7th day of life.(b) Prothrombin skyrockets to 110% of normal level on 8th day of life.

(2) 8th day is perfect day to perform circumcision.



Fulfilled Prophecy


Historical Accuracy

YES!