Dear friends:

This is Part 2 of a series that will establish that God's Word is truth, just as Jesus said it is in John 17:17, "Thy Word is truth."  As stated in Part 1, there is nothing on earth more important to understand than this fact.  Without that understanding, you really cannot realize who you are, where you came from, where you are going, who Jesus is, His plan of redemption, or even that we can be saved.

This material is taken mostly from Appendix 2 of my book, THE POWER! (Xulon Press, 2003).

Be blessed,

Jim
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There are at least eight main reasons why we know that the Bible is from God (each of the eight will be discussed separately)

1.  Proof from its supernatural uniqueness among all books ever written.

2.  Proof from archeology.

3.  Proof from prophecy, or the accurate prediction of future events.

4.  Proof from its own unique, internal claim of flawless inspiration.

5.  Proof from Jesus Christ Himself.

6.  Proof from science.  (Yes, I said science!)

7.  Proof from mathematics.  (This will blow your mind.)

8.  Proof from its impact on people and the world.

Finally, there is the amazing “Factor X,” I will tell you about.
 
 

Proof from the Bible’s supernatural uniqueness

Scholars who have studied the writings of the various religions report that the Bible is unique and distinctive for many reasons.  Here are a few:

It was written over a period of at least 1,500 years, or about 40 generations.

It was written in different places on three different continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.

It was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.

Its 40 authors were from different walks of life, including kings, fishermen, scholars, statesmen and peasants.

It includes hundreds of subjects.

Yet with the above incredible diversity, the Bible has an amazing unity.  This consistence and continuity (along with other characteristics described below) make the Bible logically beyond human ability to accomplish.  The presence and influence of an external Guiding Hand are necessary!

Here is more uniqueness:

The Bible’s survivability.  It has withstood attacks not given to any other book, attacks from despots, doubters and skeptics throughout the ages.  From the days of the Roman emperors to modern-day fascists, communists and tyrants of false religions, the Bible has been outlawed and attempts have been made to stamp it out.  Over 200 years ago, Voltaire predicted the Bible’s soon demise.  Ironically, after his death, the Geneva Bible Society used Voltaire’s printing press to publish more Bibles!  The Bible is also attacked by both moral and intellectual pride.  Many people have opposed the Bible because they do not want to believe that their moral condition makes them need mercy from the Supreme Being.  They see their self-perceived moral goodness as qualifying them for favor from God, in a sense making them His moral equal, or debtor.  Intellectual pride is also a factor.  For example, it is beneath the “dignity” of many academics to think that they need a Savior.  They have a surprise coming!

Number of manuscripts available. In spite of these unparalleled attempts to destroy it, the Bible has survived as the most authentic and accurate ancient document, based on both age and number of manuscripts available.  Homer’s Iliad ranks closest to the New Testament in number of manuscripts available, 643, with the earliest copy written about 500 years after the original.  There are only about 10 good manuscripts of Caesar’s Gallic Wars available and the earliest was written over 900 years after the original.  By contrast, there are over 5,000 complete or partial Greek manuscripts available of the New Testament (plus over 10,000 Latin Vulgate and over 9,000 other versions), with the earliest written only 25 years after the original!

Shakespeare’s 37 plays are only about 200 years old but there are said to be about 100 significant textual variants that are the subject of scholarly dispute.  The New Testament is about 2,000 years old and it is estimated that there are only 20 or less such passages.  Does anyone ever doubt the reliability of Shakespeare’s work?

It can be concluded that if the same tests were applied to all available ancient literature, the Bible would be clearly hailed by all as by far the most reliable ancient document.  Or else all other ancient literature, including the classics, would have to be rejected as unreliable!
 
 

Proof from archaeology




The science of archeology is confirming the utmost accuracy of the Scriptures as previously unknown records and artifacts are being discovered.  For centuries, enemies of the Bible tried to cast doubt on its details, such as the existence of certain people and places that seemed in conflict with available knowledge.  Now, just in our generation, doubts have been out aside one by one by researchers combing and digging over ancient sites.

For example, the Old Testament refers to a city that was built from solid rock.  Skeptics would scoff about the reality of this unknown city, but Petra has been discovered and it is now a major tourist stop in Jordan.

In the New Testament, in Acts 13:7, the author, Luke, speaks of a “proconsul” who was the governor of Cyprus.  For years many scholars thought that Luke had made a mistake in terminology because the Roman government was thought to have used the term "propraetor’ instead.  Recently, however, archaeology has determined that Rome did, in fact, use the title mentioned by Luke.  It was the scoffing critics, not the Bible, who were found to be in error, as they have time after time.

The late scholar Dr. W.A. Criswell pointed out that about 200 years ago a group of French scholars listed 82 alleged “errors” in the Bible that would eventually destroy Christianity.  Since then, however, archeology and the increased understanding of the ancient languages and cultural contexts have resolved each item.  The Bible is now more validated than ever, and those scholars are, needless to say, dead, keeping their appointment with their Maker, the Bible’s Author.

To be continued....