Can the bible be trusted?

This question is asked more and more these days. What are some answers to this question?

A person cannot just simple say 'Because it is the Word of God' That is like saying 'Because I said so' which is no reason at all.
How can we prove the Bible can be trusted?

John

So the bible is true because it gives revelation? But what if someone doesn't get revelation? How do you show someone the bible can be trusted?

John, Truth must be accepted or rejected on its own. what are you going to use to prove that truth is true? Truth is the measuring stick.

The bible is the truth. It is the word of God. Those who demand proof from outside the Word of God that the word of God is truth have usually determined to reject it already. We can sometimes point to evidences that support the veracity of scripture such as fulfilled prophecy, accurate archaeology, agreement with secular histories, and the like. But none of these things can ultimately prove that the bible is truth since the bible is truth itself. Ultimately His must be accepted by faith. Once we accept him by faith, then we begin to understand and see clearly.

How do you prove the Bible to be true to an Atheist who believes it has been corrupted?

You can't just say the Bible is true because it is. It has to be true for a reason.

Q1. Did Moses write the Pentateuch (Genesis to Deuteronomy)?

Q2. How do we know that?

John: The moment we fall into the trap of trying to prove the Bible true to a person who has chosen to reject it, we have missed it. The scripture is truth, THE truth. To what are you going to compare it to prove it true? There are many evidences we can point to and say, "see, the Bible said that it would be this way and it is." But those evidences do not and cannot prove the Bible true. They only testify of its inherent truth.

If I don't miss my guess, deep down the athiest you speak of is not a person who is genuinely seeking truth. He has chosen to reject the truth and hopes to feel better about his choice by finding supposed contradictions in the Bible. If you cannot satisfy his questions, and you will probably not be able to do so no matter how iron clad you think your argument is, he will feel justified in his choice. But deep down this person knows that the Bible is truth. I know this because the Bible says it is this way in the first part of Romans.

Rom 1:17-25
(17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
(19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
(20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
(21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
(24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
(25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

I know Josh McDowell and others have written some great defenses of the veracity of scripture. I love good apologetics. These books are great. But if I don't miss my guess, you could load your athiest friend down with these books and he might still choose to reject the Bible. Ultimately this person is going to have to decide to accept God and His word as truth. I am not saying that it is pointless or fruitless to present evidences or a strong case for the veracity of scripture to an athiest. God can work through these things, and He has. But I am saying that there is no way to go about proving the Bible true so that the athiest is going to change his mind based on his own intellect. Ultimately he is going to have to accept the Bible as truth as his starting point. It is ultimately about him choosing to turn to the God he has rejected.

Turn: Yes he did. We know this because...

2Co 3:15
(15) But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

1Co 9:9
(9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

Rom 10:5
(5) For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Act 28:23
(23) And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Act 15:21
(21) For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Joh 8:5
(5) Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

Joh 5:46-47
(46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
(47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Joh 1:45
(45) Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Luk 24:27
(27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luk 20:28
(28) Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Mar 12:26
(26) And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

Ravi Zacharias' ministry deals with this issue although he goes one step beyond and this deals with the existence of God. I suggest you go online and listen to his talks.

Here is a favorite quote of his:

"Is it possible that somewhere in the deepest recesses of the human heart, we are really not battling intellectual ideas as much we fighting for the right for our own sexual proclivities and our passionate indulgences?” Ravi Zacharias

I think he is right. Don't you, John?

Although there are some who believe that some of the early histories and family records in the first few chapters might have been written by Moses from other writings, i.e., he might have compiles some records given him from Adam and etc.. I don't believe there would be much real evidence to support this but it is definitely possibility.

My pastor recently preached on a three word answer to your questiom:

"Because it works"

It's true. It really does.

DEADn wrote:
How do you prove the Bible to be true to an Atheist who believes it has been corrupted?
You can't just say the Bible is true because it is. It has to be true for a reason.

Unless God opens the eyes of the blind, they will not see. Knowing this helps me tremendously in speaking to people because the pressure is on God, not me! All I do is share my testimony with them!

God bless,
Lisa

by TMK on 2014/5/14 22:43:40

My pastor recently preached on a three word answer to your questiom:

"Because it works"

It's true. It really does.

Is that really an answer? Arm a teenager with that and they are not likely to stand in the face of pressure unless they know God is there.
In the world today a Christian has to have better answers.

Paul didn't say 'It works' did he?

This reminds me of a church I attended for a year. A small country church. I got bored with it and decided to run the sound board for a little while. I wrote how many times the pastor says 3 key word phrases...out of habit, not of the Spirit. 149 times in 45 minutes.

The church was dead spiritually yet elders told me he preached the Word of God. Yet, nothing was really happening in that church. It was a desert in that building.
It didn't work in the building.....probably because the lack of prayer and separation..my guess.

Well duh--- obviously his sermon was more than three words. That was one point of an entire sermon. Bottom line is if you follow the Word and obey Jesus then you will have an abundant life. Those are Jesus's words, not mine or my pastor's.

And what in the world gives you the right to call him ignorant? Didn't Jesus issue a specific warning about that?

You aren't going to prove to anyone that the Bible is reliable just like you can't prove that God even exists. You can explain WHY it can be trusted but you can't force people to trust it.

And heck even people who trust it don't follow it.

by TMK on 2014/5/15 10:01:07

Well duh--- obviously his sermon was more than three words. That was one point of an entire sermon. Bottom line is if you follow the Word and obey Jesus then you will have an abundant life. Those are Jesus's words, not mine or my pastor's.

And what in the world gives you the right to call him ignorant? Didn't Jesus issue a specific warning about that?

You aren't going to prove to anyone that the Bible is reliable just like you can't prove that God even exists. You can explain WHY it can be trusted but you can't force people to trust it.

And heck even people who trust it don't follow it.

'Because it works' doesn't prove that something is true does it?

A Muslim can say the same of Islam. How do you prove He is wrong? Especially when he says the bible is corrupted.
How do you prove New World Translation is wrong especially if a JW won't accept a regular bible?

We don't examine the history of the bible in order to defend it? Some will not listen to you unless you can prove certain things.

Some will not listen to you unless you can prove certain things.

Although I can understand your frustration at the inability to provide a quick 'proof' answer to any inquisitor, it should be remembered that we are not obliged to prove the Bible is true by means of mans logic and scientific niceties, but only to preach the Gospel.

The Western world has become so heathen now that to even suggest there is such a thing as 'the Word of God' sounds obnoxious and offensive to unbelievers.

However as it is the living Word, if we quote it to unbelievers and the Holy Spirit quickens it in their heart then the proof will come not from us, but from God.

David

Sure-- you can do all sorts of things to show that the bible we have today is a reliable copy of the originals. For example there is far more manuscript evidence for the bible than for Plato's writings. But people who say the Bible is unreliable would not say that Plato's "Republic" is unreliable. Double standard.

People who are biased against the Bible don't WANT to be persuaded otherwise. They are frightened of the implications of being persuaded.

You don't see the Apostles arguing anyone into the Kingdom. They just laid out the facts and let the HS do the rest. And like Andrew said earlier they looked like fools doing so. Paul was laughed off of Mars Hill when he mentioned the resurrection.

Apologetics has it's place I suppose but arguing only goes so far.

Josh McDowell set out to prove that was not true, and ended up writing a detailed book Evidence That Demands A Verdict ... and several more "Evidence books".

http://www.dove.org/review/9117-undaunted-the-early-life-of-josh-mcdowell/

Since then he has gone all over the place showing the undeniable evidences of God's Word.

Here is one such video but there are many many more:

http://youtu.be/WfCWFix43E0

Brother John,

What is the motivation behind the question. The reason why I ask is because I do not give the same answer to a believer as I would an unbeliever.

In what situation do I find myself?