Bible Question: How do you know that the Bibles is the word of God? |
Bible Answer: People talk about faith, tradition, and authority. But just like you with your question, this wasn't good enough for the Separatists of 500 years ago. Christianity is very rational and tactile. It is based on eye witness accounts. We don't have to depend on some guy that went into trances to explain what is in the great beyond. We don't have to depend on a bunch of guys wearing funny clothes who are too spiritual to answer straight questions. We don't have to just take it on faith. We don't have to just believe it because our ancestors did. We don't have to look to mystical experiences. It is all much more down to earth than that. Just as we would expect a message to be if it were from God. Now, if you put an anthology together of great literary works spanning 1200 years, what would you have? A story here, some poems there, and nothing that synchronized. Good stuff, but all pretty "shot gun." Scripture consists of 66 books, written by around 40 different authors who were kings and paupers, Jews and Gentiles; and spanning time of over a millenia. Yet these books explain unerringly and consistently from the creation of the earth to the end of time, in a consistent flowing fashion. It is inspired by God. Lets get a definition going here: Inspiration is the act of God by which He communicates His Word in written form and directly controlled the writers so that what was written (original autographs) was free from error." Inspiration refers to the writings, not the writers. Inspiration refers to all that was written, not just the parts of it. Inspiration refers to the results of the creative breath of God -- it is His Word, not the result of human ingenuity. There are three broad categories that give us confidence in the Bible: 1. Reliability -- Accuracy (comparing it to other religious books, too) 2. Correctness A. External evidence -- manuscripts, historical, archaeological facts, geographical information independently verified B. Internal evidence -- what the Bible states about itself 3. Completeness A. Theological reason -- nothing omitted that is needed for believers to know B. Logical reason -- early witnesses were closer to the issue. They constantly rejected other writings C. Factual reason -- No attempt was made to change this completed Bible until the Council of Trent (1540-1546 AD) D. Experiencal reason -- it changes lives E. Biblical reasons -- God indicates His written word be a complete and final revelation 4. Revelation A. Claims Bible itself makes (1800 times "God says" B. Character of revelation -- truthful, supernatural, and eternal 6. Confidence, how we judge others: A. If it doesn't happen, God didn't say it would B. If it isn't the Gospel, then God didn't speak it C. If what they say doesn't agree, then God didn't speak it D. If they add anything, then God didn't speak it 7. Results A. Experience of Salvation B. Exercise of senses discering right from wrong C. Effectiveness of prayer D. Enablement for victorious living E. Equipment for every good work Don't take the old party line, Cariad. You don't have to make your brain wait out in the car! Study the scripture and you will find evidence abounding! |