Can the Bible Be Trusted? Part 2

14 Jun Can the Bible Be Trusted? Part 2

Last week, we asked the question, “Can the Bible be trusted?”

We saw that this question had to be answered on two different levels: 1) a philosophical level, and 2) a practical level. Last week, in Part 1, we surveyed the philosophical level. This week, in Part 2, we will survey the practical level.

Practical Level

When asking whether or not the Bible can be trusted, there are several practical issues that must be addressed:

1. Does the Bible have mistakes in it? (factual errors, discrepancies)
2. Does the Bible have inherent credibility? (internal integrity, prophecy, and impact on individuals and history)

So, let’s look more closely at these subjects. In doing so, in keeping with our pattern, we will not present everything that could be discussed. That would be overwhelming. Whole books have been written on each of these subjects. But we will present foundational answers and then give resources at the end if you want to go deeper for more complete answers.

1. Does the Bible have mistakes in it?

Factual errors

The Bible does not have factual errors in it. For years, scholars argued that there was no archeological evidence for the ancient city of Ur, or the existence of a civilization known as Hittites, and used them as examples of factual errors in the Bible. Yet evidence was subsequently found for both, validating the accuracy of the Bible. There have been no factual errors proven in the Bible. On the contrary, there is an unrelenting succession of times that the Bible has been proven to be right through additional archeological and historic evidence that’s been discovered. The Bible is factually accurate.

Discrepancies

Examples often given of discrepancies in the Bible are not discrepancies at all, but differences in historic accounts.  For example, an omission is not necessarily a discrepancy. Luke, for instance, writes of two angels at Jesus’ tomb after the resurrection (24:1-9). Matthew mentions “an angel” (28:1-8). Is this a contradiction? No. If Matthew had stated that only one angel was present, the accounts would contradict. As it stands, there is no contradiction. It is only a discrepancy if there is no way the verses or passages can be reconciled.

There are no mistakes or apparent contradictions in the Bible that have not been resolved with sufficiently credible scholarship. If we read the Bible at face value, without assuming ahead of time that it has mistakes, we will find it to be a coherent and consistent resource.

2. Does the Bible have inherent credibility?

Internal integrity

The Bible teaches that mankind is inherently evil and deserving of eternal death. If humans were responsible for the content of the Bible, it is likely that the view of humanity would be better—we’re inclined to make ourselves look good. The Bible also teaches that humans can do nothing for themselves to solve their inherent problems. This, too, goes against human pride. In addition, this unflattering assessment of humanity is true to observation and experience. It is compelling support for the credibility of the Bible.

The internal unity of the Bible is further support for the credibility of the Bible. The Bible was written over a period of approximately 1,550 years, with at least 40 human writers, most of whom did not know each other and were from varying backgrounds (king, fisherman, tax collector, shepherd, etc.). The Bible was written in various environments (desert, prison, royal court, etc.). Three different languages were used to write the Bible, and, despite covering controversial subjects, it carries one harmonious message. The circumstances surrounding the writing of the Bible would seem to guarantee that it would have errors and discrepancies, and, yet, the message from Genesis to Revelation is uncannily consistent. This internal unity of the Bible is an additional support for its credibility.

Prophecy

There are dozens of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. In Josh McDowell’s book Evidence That Demands a Verdict, we see that the chance that any man might have fulfilled, by chance,  just eight prophecies that Jesus fulfilled are 1 in 10 to the 17th power. That is “1” followed by seventeen zeros. That is a staggering number, and is the moral equivalent of zero!

Then McDowell offers this analogy in order to comprehend these astonishing odds:

Suppose we take that many silver dollars (10 to the 17th power) and pour them out over the face of Texas. That many silver dollars would cover the entire state of Texas two feet deep in coins.

Now, imagine that somewhere in that vast expanse, one of those silver dollars was painted red. Blindfold a person, drive or fly him to anywhere in Texas he chooses and have him pick up one silver dollar. His chances of picking up the red silver dollar are approximately the same as a person fulfilling eight major prophecies of the Messiah by chance.

Fulfilled prophecy adds a powerful voice to the credibility of the Bible.

Impact

The final issue we want to look at is the impact the Bible has had on people and history.

First, Scripture has transformed countless individual lives.

Jesus’ disciples were dramatically changed by the resurrection. When Jesus was arrested the night before his crucifixion, His disciples fled into the night like cowards. After the resurrection, the disciples were transformed into dedicated and courageous apostles who spent their lives, at great sacrifice, promoting the message of the Gospel. The same thing has happened countless times since then, as believers are transformed by the Scriptures and give their lives over to the proclamation of the Gospel. Napoleon once wrote, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.” The message of Jesus is carried today primarily through the Bible, and it has ongoing power because it changes peoples’ lives.

Second, Scripture has transformed history.

In the book, What if Jesus Had Never Been Born, author D. James Kennedy lists these transformative influences on history:

1. Literacy

As the church spread, carrying Jesus’ message of the worth and dignity of each individual, Christians brought literacy and education to the masses so they could read the Bible and benefit from education.

2. Health Care

Christianity was the driving force behind the establishment of hospitals and orphanages, which were unknown before the message of Christ taught in the Bible.

3. Slavery

The faith of William Wilberforce in England, and later by Abraham Lincoln in the United States, was the driving force behind the end of slavery in the Western world.

4. Government

The influence of Christianity on the governments of the world has been profound, seen in the advancement of democracy around the world, the protection of the rights of citizens, support for the humane treatment of prisoners, the advancement of laws to discourage graft and bribery, and services to care for the helpless.

5. Science

The advancement of science was largely spurred by Christians who believed that God made laws that govern the universe, and that those laws could be known and harnessed to benefit human welfare on earth.

Jesus has changed virtually every aspect of human existence on earth. Without the life of Christ, it is likely that the world today would be much as it was when Jesus was born…a comparatively primitive world governed by the rich and powerful “few” at the expense of the poor and weak “masses.” It is through the inspired, reliable Word of God that we learn of Jesus and His transforming power.

Conclusion

Someone once said, “The Bible does not have to be defended. Let it loose and, like a lion, it will defend itself.” The Bible can be trusted, based both on philosophical grounds and practical grounds. It is the greatest literary resource for good in the history of humanity.

Resources, in addition to those mentioned above:

The Big Book of Bible Difficulties, Norman Geisler

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