How Do We Know The Bible Is True?
The truth of the Bible is based upon the following evidence:
1. Archeological Evidence.
The Bible mentions hundreds of cities, structures, and other archeological facts. Yet, "never in the thousands of years that people have been digging has anything been found that contradicts any Biblical account. It may be stated categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference."1
2. Historical Evidence.
Historians of the New Testament era do not refute any of the hundreds of events mentioned in the Bible. Even secular historians of the time of Christ do not contest the Biblical account. Josephus, a Jewish historian of the time of Jesus, wrote a lengthy historical treatise corroborating many New Testament events.2
3. Textual Evidence.
One of the most powerful tests for determining any modern text's reliability is to compare it with an ancient copy. The more agreement between the texts, the greater the reliability.
There was little question about the authenticity of the Old Testament until the middle of the twentieth century. In 1947 a shepherd boy was trying to scare his goats out of a cave, when he made a remarkable discovery. When he threw a pebble into the darkness, he heard it hit something brittle. He went into the cave to investigate and found several clay jars that contained one of the most important archeological discoveries of all time—the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Dead Sea Scrolls comprise over two hundred individual scrolls. They include the entire book of Isaiah and portions from all but one of the Old Testament books: Esther. The scrolls date to about 70 AD. Before this time, the oldest Old Testament texts dated to around 1100 AD. The Dead Sea Scrolls bridge a gap of more than a thousand years! Comparison of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the oldest existing Old Testament texts did not reveal any errors in doctrine. The amazingly high degree of agreement between the ancient and modern texts proved that the missing millennia of transmission was accurate. Therefore, the modern Old Testament text is indeed reliable. "Comparing the text of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the Old Testament we have today...we find them almost identical. This shows the Bible has not been corrupted for two thousand years!"3
Existing New Testament manuscripts date to around 120 AD. A few early texts date to within twenty-five years of the original writings. The interval between the original manuscripts and the first-generation copies of the New Testament texts is so small as to be considered inconsequential by experts in the field of textual criticism. Sir Frederic Kenyon is the director of The British Museum and an authority on ancient manuscripts. He concluded, "The interval... Between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be, in fact, negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established."4
Additionally, there are over 5,300 early Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in existence today. The sheer volume of these first generation texts and their agreement with each other, supports the conclusion that our modern New Testament text is accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. F. F. Bruce says, "There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament."5
The issue of reliability, includes textual variants. Careful study of the transmission of the texts over time shows no change in the content and nature of the writings. MacArthur and Mayhue write, "There are no variants substantially affecting any Christian doctrine. It has even been asserted that if every possible variant were accepted, the message of each chapter of the Bible that would be affected would read essentially the same... When all the textual evidence for both Testaments is evaluated, most scholars affirm that the Bible is essentially in agreement word-for-word with the original from Genesis through Revelation. Even beyond this, when all the variants are examined, most of them are readily identifiable and easily resolvable. They include things as obvious and insignificant as spelling errors, incidental omission of words, transposition of words or letters within a word, and the like."6
There was little question about the authenticity of the Old Testament until the middle of the twentieth century. In 1947 a shepherd boy was trying to scare his goats out of a cave, when he made a remarkable discovery. When he threw a pebble into the darkness, he heard it hit something brittle. He went into the cave to investigate and found several clay jars that contained one of the most important archeological discoveries of all time—the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The Dead Sea Scrolls comprise over two hundred individual scrolls. They include the entire book of Isaiah and portions from all but one of the Old Testament books: Esther. The scrolls date to about 70 AD. Before this time, the oldest Old Testament texts dated to around 1100 AD. The Dead Sea Scrolls bridge a gap of more than a thousand years! Comparison of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the oldest existing Old Testament texts did not reveal any errors in doctrine. The amazingly high degree of agreement between the ancient and modern texts proved that the missing millennia of transmission was accurate. Therefore, the modern Old Testament text is indeed reliable. "Comparing the text of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the Old Testament we have today...we find them almost identical. This shows the Bible has not been corrupted for two thousand years!"3
Existing New Testament manuscripts date to around 120 AD. A few early texts date to within twenty-five years of the original writings. The interval between the original manuscripts and the first-generation copies of the New Testament texts is so small as to be considered inconsequential by experts in the field of textual criticism. Sir Frederic Kenyon is the director of The British Museum and an authority on ancient manuscripts. He concluded, "The interval... Between the dates of original composition and the earliest extant evidence becomes so small as to be, in fact, negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scriptures have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established."4
Additionally, there are over 5,300 early Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in existence today. The sheer volume of these first generation texts and their agreement with each other, supports the conclusion that our modern New Testament text is accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. F. F. Bruce says, "There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament."5
The issue of reliability, includes textual variants. Careful study of the transmission of the texts over time shows no change in the content and nature of the writings. MacArthur and Mayhue write, "There are no variants substantially affecting any Christian doctrine. It has even been asserted that if every possible variant were accepted, the message of each chapter of the Bible that would be affected would read essentially the same... When all the textual evidence for both Testaments is evaluated, most scholars affirm that the Bible is essentially in agreement word-for-word with the original from Genesis through Revelation. Even beyond this, when all the variants are examined, most of them are readily identifiable and easily resolvable. They include things as obvious and insignificant as spelling errors, incidental omission of words, transposition of words or letters within a word, and the like."6
4. Internal Evidence.
The Bible was written over a span of 1,400 years, in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic), by forty authors, on three continents, yet it does not contain any errors in doctrine. This is amazing when one considers that many of the authors were not contemporaries of one another, had no means or incentive to agree with one another, and did not even speak the same language. Despite these factors the Bible agrees with itself. Author Paul Enns states, "The Bible is a great unified whole. There are no contradictions or inconsistencies within its pages... It quickly becomes apparent that no human being could have orchestrated the harmony of the teachings of the Scripture. The divine authorship of the Bible is the only answer."7 Theologian Lewis Sperry Chafer adds, “To account for such an amazing book with its continuity of development on natural means would demand a greater miracle than inspiration itself.”8
It is all the more remarkable when one considers the nature of the writings. Nowhere would one expect to find a document that is so self-condemning, painfully honest, and unique in the storyline. Any human attempt to gather this number of writers under these conditions would result in a story so contradictory it would be laughable, and not worth reading, let alone believable. However, the Bible is in complete agreement with itself, giving testimony to its divine authorship. Rene Pache adds, "Nowhere does Scripture in one place declare erroneous what it gives in another place, and this holds true for even the smallest details."9
It is all the more remarkable when one considers the nature of the writings. Nowhere would one expect to find a document that is so self-condemning, painfully honest, and unique in the storyline. Any human attempt to gather this number of writers under these conditions would result in a story so contradictory it would be laughable, and not worth reading, let alone believable. However, the Bible is in complete agreement with itself, giving testimony to its divine authorship. Rene Pache adds, "Nowhere does Scripture in one place declare erroneous what it gives in another place, and this holds true for even the smallest details."9
5. Prophetic Evidence.
Much of the Bible is predictive. One of the most persuasive reasons for the Bible's reliability is the fulfillment of predictive prophecy. Not one prediction in the Scriptures has proven false. God's ability to make known the end from the beginning is some of the strongest evidence supporting the reliability of the Bible. (Isaiah 46:10)
There are hundreds of predictions about the Messiah in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ has fulfilled over one hundred to date. The coming ages will see the fulfillment of the rest. These predictions were all made many centuries years before His birth. Many of them center on issues that He had no control over, such as: His lineage, the place and nature of His birth (Genesis 49:8-11; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14), the details of His death (Isaiah 53:1-12), and the fact of His resurrection. (Psalm 16:10)
The probability of Jesus fulfilling just eight of the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament is one in 10 to the 17th power. This would be the same as covering the state of Texas in coins two feet deep. Marking one of those coins, mixing them up, and having a blindfolded person pick the marked coin on the first try. Peter Stoner, noted mathematician states, "What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man."10
Furthermore, the chances of Jesus fulfilling 48 of the prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 157th power.11 By comparison, the estimated number of electrons in the entire known universe is about 10 to the 79th power.12 Accidental fulfillment of these prophecies is simply beyond the realm of possibility.”13
There are hundreds of predictions about the Messiah in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ has fulfilled over one hundred to date. The coming ages will see the fulfillment of the rest. These predictions were all made many centuries years before His birth. Many of them center on issues that He had no control over, such as: His lineage, the place and nature of His birth (Genesis 49:8-11; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14), the details of His death (Isaiah 53:1-12), and the fact of His resurrection. (Psalm 16:10)
The probability of Jesus fulfilling just eight of the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament is one in 10 to the 17th power. This would be the same as covering the state of Texas in coins two feet deep. Marking one of those coins, mixing them up, and having a blindfolded person pick the marked coin on the first try. Peter Stoner, noted mathematician states, "What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man."10
Furthermore, the chances of Jesus fulfilling 48 of the prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 157th power.11 By comparison, the estimated number of electrons in the entire known universe is about 10 to the 79th power.12 Accidental fulfillment of these prophecies is simply beyond the realm of possibility.”13
Summary.
The Bible is exceedingly evident. It consists of verifiable facts, substantiated records, and is an historically accurate document. It contains a unified message and fulfilled predictions. It invites ambitious inquiries and welcomes robust challenges. It answers the most difficult questions, withstands the greatest objections, and handles the most rigorous tests. Its veracity is steadfast. It incorporates reason, requires logic and demands thoughtfulness. It calls for a conclusion and necessitates a response. As Josh McDowell states in the title of his book, it is..."evidence that demands a verdict."14
The Bible is the most magnificent literature in all of human history. It stands alone as a one-of-a-kind treatise. Its unity, prophetic fulfillment, and transforming power place it in a category all its own. It humbles the proud, comforts the sorrowful, guides the lost, forgives the guilty, and saves those destined to perish. It provides peace, hope and joy. It is Scripture. It is the Word of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV
Other Resources
- Read: Is the Bible Reliable? Got Questions
- Read: Why Should I Trust the Bible? Got Questions
- Watch: Why Should I Believe the Bible? (7:11) Got Questions
- Watch: Textual Criticism and Why It Matters. (6:25) Seasoned Apologist
- Watch: What is Textual Criticism? (30:25) Got Questions
- Watch: Is There Any Historical Evidence for Jesus Christ? (3:38) Got Questions
- Don Stewart, You Be the Judge (San Bernardino: Here's Life, 1983), 48.
- G. J. Goldberg, The Flavius Josephus (Josephus.org), accessed October 17, 2018, http://www.josephus.org
- R. Brown, Why Are The Dead Sea Scrolls So Important? (One For Israel), accessed February 11, 2021 https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/importance-dead-sea-scrolls-study-bible/
- Josh McDowell, More Than a Carpenter (Carol Stream: Living Books, 1986), 48.
- F. F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003).
- John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (Wheaton: Crossway, 2017) 127-128, Kindle
- Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody, 1989), 155.
- Lewis Sperry Chafer, Major Bible Themes (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), 12, Kindle.
- Rene Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture (Chicago: Moody, 1980), 122.
- Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World (Nashville: Nelson, 2017), 167.
- McDowell, 167.
- Arthur Eddington, Eddington Number: Wikipedia, accessed, April 20, 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddington_number
- David Reagan, “Applying the Science of Probability to the Scriptures, Do Statistics Prove the Bible’s Supernatural Origin?” (Lamb & Lion Ministries), accessed January 12, 2018, http://christinprophecy.org/articles/applying-the-science-of-probability-to-the-scriptures.
- McDowell, Evidence. Title.