Probably one of the most often asked questions is “How can I trust the bible?”

Have you ever thought about that?

Why do we as Christians read the bible?
How can we know it’s true?
How can we trust it?
How is something written thousands of years ago relevant today?

These were all questions I had when considering Christianity. I needed to determine if the Bible was all a lie and toss it aside or determine if it was all true and live accordingly.

If the bible is true, if the words written on those pages are meant for us today, then that changes things. I realized if it’s reliable historically, than there is implication on my life currently.

So here are some of the facts:

The bible has 66 books.
Written over a time span of 1,500 years
40 different authors
3 different languages
3 different continents
1 message

The unity of the message over so many years and cultures is astounding.  No other book in any other realm of study has that kind of consistency.

There have been 23,000 different archaeological digs, not ONE has ever disproved a claim from the bible.

It is an account of eyewitnesses recorded during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. You could check what was written in the Bible with people who were still alive!

There are over 14,000 copies of the New Testament within 40-250 years of the originals.  The only other book that even comes close to comparison is Homer’s Illiad, which has less than 700 copies.

The historical reliability of something being written and copied in the same lifetime means you can go and check with the person writing.  If something were false, it would be dealt with then and there.

While these are just a few of the facts that prove the reliability of the Bible, I think the best place to answer the question about why we read the bible and why we can trust it to be reliable, is to look within the bible itself.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Every word was God breathed, inspired by God for our good.
Profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.

Teaching: shows us the path God has for us
Reproof: shows us when we get off of the path
Correction: shows us how to get back on the path
Training in righteousness: shows us how to stay on the path

So that the man (or woman) of God may be complete.
Equipped for every good work.

John 1 tells us “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (v.1-3)

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (v.14)

The word of God was eternal. The Word of God became flesh, referring to Jesus.

The Psalmist tells us God’s word should be our delight, God’s word is how we keep from sinning against the LORD. “I have stored up your word in my heart,
 that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

We can trust the Bible because it is the very God-breathed inspired word. We read the bible because the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Reading the Bible is the closest thing we have to actually sitting and talking with Jesus. It’s how we learn God, commune with Him, are sanctified, grow, and delight in the LORD.

Reading & Reflection

1. Read Psalm 119. If it’s too much for one day, read 10-20 verses. List some observations you had from the text.

2. The word meditate (or meditation) was repeated often in this Psalm. What does it mean to meditate?

3. Do you spend time regularly meditating on God’s word? What are some things that help you dwell on and delight in Scripture?

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One short post with a few facts might not be enough for you to determine if the bible is true. For further resources on how we know the bible is reliable, click here:

Is the Bible Reliable? by Focus on the Family
Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
Why the Bible is True by Voddie Baucham
The Bible’s Reliability and Various Interpertations by Ravi Zacharias
Why We Believe the Bible by John Piper