Why Should The Bible Be Trusted?

The Bible is one of the most widely produced books in the world, second to none. Having sold billions of copies over the centuries, it is likely to be found in most households. It is arguably one of the most well-known, and arguably one of the most trusted books to ever be printed. But why is it so trusted? Does it deserve the trust and reverence it receives? Can the Bible still hold its own considering what society and science has achieved over the decades? These all lead back to answering the same question. It’s time to get some answers.

The Bible is a very old book. It has withstood the test of time, passed on first through oral tradition until written down by scribes and, finally, printed. It is estimated that 100 million bibles are printed each year, with 6 billion currently in print.[1] It’s also estimated that 3.9 billion copies have been sold, not accounting for the ones which were given away.[2] However, in all it’s years, no matter the number of translators or translations, it has not changed. With over 5,600 manuscripts and texts that are between hundreds and thousands of years old, there is 99.5 percent similarity with the only differences are spelling errors or punctuation, without any changes to context or doctrine.[3] This coincides with what scripture states about itself. According to Isaiah 40:8,

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

Psalm 119:89 further defends this by saying that God’s word is firmly established. The Bible has stayed true to its own claim that it cannot and will not change.

The Bible is also seen as a historical text, being over 3,400 years old. Knowing this, it wouldn’t be farfetched to say that the Bible has records of historical events within its text. If this is the case, then to be considered a trustworthy source, those events would have to be accurately recorded. According to Evidence That Demands a Verdict,

“William F. Albright, known for his reputation as one of the great archeologists, states: “There can be no doubt that archeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of Old Testament tradition.” 1/176

Albright adds: [. . .] “Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition to the Bible as a source of history.” (McDowell 65)”

This would mean the Bible is probably one of the most accurate historical books, considering how it has not changed at all over time. Combine this with archeological and historical evidence of its accuracy, one would be hard pressed to find a way to discredit it.

The Bible also refuses to make its characters infallible or perfect. It claims to record the biographies of historical figures but presents them with all their flaws and horrible characteristics, not just the ones that would make them appealing. Evidence reads,

Lewis S. Schafer, founder and former president of Dallas Theological Seminary, puts it this way: “The Bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.”

The Bible deals very frankly with the sins of its characters. Read the biographies today, and see how they try to cover up, overlook or ignore the shady side of people. Take the great literary geniuses; most are painted as saints. The Bible does not do it that way. It simply tells it like it is.

The sins of the people denounced – Deuteronomy 9:24 Sins of the patriarchs – Genesis 12:11-13; 49:5-7 Evangelists paint their own faults and the faults of the apostles – Matthew 8:10-26; 26:31-56; Mark 6:52; 8:18; Luke 8:24, 25; 9:40-45; John 10:6; 16:32 Disorder of the Churches – 1 Corinthians 1:11; Chapter 15:12; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Many will say, “Why did they have to put in that chapter about David and Bathsheba?” Well, the Bible has a habit of telling it like it is (McDowell 23).”

We see here how the Bible includes every possible detail on its characters even when they are painted in the worst possible way. Would a book inherent on telling the truth omit such details? No, absolutely not. In recording even the worst details, the Bible has established itself as bent on being absolutely truthful.

Yet, even with this information, should the Bible be trusted? It is a book like any other, yet it claims to hold the answers to everything from creation to salvation. However, so many other religious texts claim to offer the same, from the Book of Mormon to the Quran. So why should a book which makes a claim that some would consider to be fantastical be trusted? After all it’s a book written by men and is certain to be full of religious agendas from its various authors. In his book, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins states.

“The fact that something is written down is persuasive to people not used to asking questions like: ‘Who wrote it, and when?’ ‘How did they know what to write?’ ‘Did they, in their time, really mean what we, in our time, understand them to be saying?’ ‘Were they unbiased observers, or did they have an agenda that coloured their writing?’ Ever since the nineteenth century, scholarly theologians have made an overwhelming case that the gospels are not reliable accounts of what happened in the history of the real world. All were written long after the death of Jesus, and also after the epistles of Paul, which mention almost none of the alleged facts of Jesus’ life. All where copied and recopied, through many different ‘Chinese Whispers generations’ [. . .] by fallible scribes who, in any case, had their own religious agendas’ (Dawkins 118).”

Yet, as mentioned previously in this paper, although there are some differences, they only affect grammar. If anyone had a religious agenda, it would have been possible for them to immediately change scripture during their translation. Such a translation would be recorded, passed on, and the process would have repeated itself many times over until a rather notable difference in translations occurred. This claim of religious agenda is lost in that no difference can truly be found. Furthermore, the apostle Paul was not writing his letters in an effort to record or report on the life of Christ. He had no reason, as he was never physically with Jesus and did not claim to have spent any time with Him during His time on this earth. This being the case, any claims to personal knowledge on the life and times of Jesus would have been recognized as false. Paul’s letters were instead focused on defending faith as well as admonishing the early church and providing much needed correction in areas that need doing so. This, once again, throws out the argument made against accountability and accuracy. After all, a book that claims to be completely trustworthy cannot have authors making unsubstantiated claims.

In closing, the Bible establishes itself as one of the most trustworthy books ever published. It has stood the test of time, unchanging. It is accurate both historically and archeologically and shares even the worst details of its characters. Truly, if there ever was a book that was written to be a source of absolute truth, the Bible is that and more. In other words, the Bible is absolutely worthy of the trust it receives.

References

Bolinger, Hope. “How Can We Trust the Bible We Have Today?” Christianity.com, Christianity.com, 22 Sept. 2020, www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/how-can-we-trust-the-bible-we-have-today.html.

Dawkins, Richard. “The Argument From Scripture.” The God Delusion, Mariner Books, Boston U.a., 2008, p. 118.

“How Many Copies of the Bible Have Been Sold?” Reference, IAC Publishing, 29 Mar. 2020, https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-copies-bible-sold-e9696e587c3244b6.

McDowell, Josh. “Unique In Its Teachings.” Evidence That Demands a Verdict, V.I and II: Historical Evidences for the Christian Scriptures, vol. 1, Here's Life Publishers, San Bernardino, CA, 1979, p. 23.

McDowell, Josh. “Confirmation By Archeology.” Evidence That Demands a Verdict, V.I and II: Historical Evidences for the Christian Scriptures, vol. 1, Here's Life Publishers, San Bernardino, CA, 1979, p. 65.

McLoughlin, Danny. “Danny McLoughlin.” WordsRated, 2 Feb. 2022, https://wordsrated.com/bible-sales-statistics/.

[1] McLoughlin, Danny. “Danny McLoughlin.” WordsRated, 2 Feb. 2022, https://wordsrated.com/bible-sales-statistics/.

[2] “How Many Copies of the Bible Have Been Sold?” Reference, IAC Publishing, 29 Mar. 2020, https://www.reference.com/world-view/many-copies-bible-sold-e9696e587c3244b6.

[3] Bolinger, Hope. “How Can We Trust the Bible We Have Today?” Christianity.com, Christianity.com, 22 Sept. 2020, www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/how-can-we-trust-the-bible-we-have-today.html.