Is the Bible reliable?

“Every view of Scripture proves, on analysis, to be bound up with an overall view of God and man.” ~ J. I. Packer

Sep 30, 2024

Core questions

Although I am a Christian today, some years ago, I read broadly on topics of man’s origins, morality, purpose and satisfaction, which led to periods of doubt in what I believed as a Christian. I questioned my faith and the truth of what I believed, which led me to two questions:

Is the only reason I am Christian one by chance that I had Christian parents?
If I am saved because I am a Christian, then what happens to others who will never become Christian? Doesn’t this make my god, a tyrant who doesn’t think things through?”

Long story short, after some searching, to a reasonable degree, I was able to sufficient articulate why I could believe and continue in my faith.

Lately, I have found myself in positions where there had been need to explain a bit more about Christianity, so I have decided to begin publishing a series of essays concerning the Christian faith, starting with the Bible, which is the single book and basis for life for all true Christians.

In this essay, I hope to answer a few core questions, foster internal dialogue in readers and fortify the belief system of my fellow Christian brethren. So:

Is the Bible historically legitimate?
Is the Bible cohesive?
Is the Bible divine?

An overview of the Bible

Historical backdrop

For starters, the Bible is a collection of 66 books that range from short letters to historical accounts and (family) journals written over the span of 1,500 years. The Bible is split in 2 main sections; the Old Testament comprised of 39 books and New Testament with 27 books. The Bible is written by 40 authors, some of which never knew or met personally, neither lived in the same community and time. These authors include famous kings, prophets, priests, shepherds and fishermen. The Bible is written in three (Ancient) languages, namely, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The earliest (official) canonized version of the Bible was by the Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD), held in North Africa.

Self claims

Since all Christians believe in the Bible, it is important to understand 4 major claims made within the Bible about itself that majority of theologians agree with. By understanding these, then we can have a basis to question its truth.

Authority: All of the Bible is considered to be the direct (or inspired) words of God [2 Timothy 3:16]. If God claims that all words of Scripture are his own, then there is ultimately no higher authority one can appeal to for proof of this claim than Scripture itself when it stands the test of cohesion. Hence, this means we can conclude (after questioning) the Bible should not contradict itself if this is true.
Clarity: Although there may be things hard to understand [admitted in 2 Peter 3:16], the Bible is generally clear and given to be understood by everyday people during that time. The Bible claims that people who lack “sound judgement” can understand it [Psalms 119:130, Psalms 19:7] and can also be taught to children [Deuteronomy 6:7]. It is also important to note that truly understanding the Bible does not come solely through one’s effort, but through the help of God [Luke 24:45, 1 Corinthians 2:14, John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:12], hence seeking to make sense of the Bible without positive or objective intent, or for mockery, should render the Bible (in some cases) nonsense to the reader unless God wills it not to be so. The Bible may also need to be explained through (reliable) teachers [2 Timothy 2:2]. Hence, we can to a good extent, say (after questioning) the Bible is not as mysterious as we think it to be and should communicate thoughts clearly.
Necessity: The Bible claims to be a (and the definite) source for statements about God’s will and why it is the ultimate purpose of man. The Christian life starts and thrives through the Bible [Matthew 4:4] just as our physical lives are maintained daily by nourishment with physical food. The Bible provides guidance for everyday life whether or not people (including those who are not Christians) have followed it because God has given all men a “general revelation” of the existence of God, his character and moral law, which is seen through nature, historical works and an inner sense [Romans 2:14-15]. Hence, we can say (after questioning) that the Bible should provide enough guidance on living a fulfilling life without contradicting itself, not even once, provided we understand it clearly.
Sufficiency: Due to the Bible written over 1,500 years, people at different points had and lived from the understanding of different portions of it. Jesus himself (the Savior and main character of the Bible) had just the Old Testament (the first 39 books) and most of the early churches had the Old Testament, the Gospels and one or more letters by an apostle. While the Bible might not directly answer every question we can think of [Deuteronomy 29:29], God has made its words to provide us with all we need for our daily life and every good work [2 Timothy 3:16-17]. Hence, we can conclude (after questioning) that it is divine in nature and always relevant when understood (sufficiently), and proven to be historically accurate and cohesive over multiple millenia.

Theological differences

As early as the first century, also seen in the Bible (1 Corinthians 1:10) , many Christian groups (called “denominations”) have developed based on disagreements of what is written in the Bible or practices of such. These disagreements commonly cover areas such as church governance, the nature of Christ’s presence (the Holy Spirit), the order of events relating to the return of Christ, etc. All of these areas are often things the Bible is either not explicit about, lays little emphasis on or is not core to the general story and message of the Bible (that God loved the world and sent His only Son to die for the sins of the world. Those who believe in this will live be saved, sanctified and live in hope and joy forever [Romans 15:13, John 3:16]).

Additionally, because there are theological or interpretational differences existing in the world today does not directly disqualify the Bible. These differences are as a result of misinterpretation or misrepresentation of what (truth) is in it. These misinterpretations are in most cases, due to limited information or inadequate understanding of information presented by the Bible. Just as people previously disqualified the possibility of steel ships prior to the 19th Century based on Archimede’s Principle (“objects lighter than water will float”) due to their limited understanding of object density and water displacement, so do people agree on the “wrong” things due to a limited understanding of Biblical (and scientific) laws at that point.

Questioning Biblical reliability

If the Bible is a collection of 66 “random” books, written over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, by 40 people who rarely knew or met each other personally, and were of different social or literacy status, what are the chances that this book is reliable? How possible can the theme and message be coherent? Why should I trust it and the claims made in it?

Historical accuracy

The Bible is majority (~70%) story narrative and prose, which mentions real historic cities, people and events. So methodically, 70% of the Bible can be questioned for physical (preserved) evidence for their setting or source documents.

Within the last couple of Centuries, many archaeological discoveries have supported the existence of people, places, and events mentioned in the Bible that were once questionable. For example, the discovery of the ancient city Jericho was once questioned but later confirmed through archaeology. Although there are disagreements by historians on the exact date of the fall of the city walls or the method, it is still unclear to historians what could’ve led to the collapse of such great walls, which the Biblical account is that it fell after a marching around by the Israelites.

The Bible, especially the New Testament, has a vast number of ancient manuscripts—over 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts, far surpassing majority of ancient texts. Prior to the 1940s, there had been several groups of people that believed the Bible had been fabricated much later than when it was presumed to be written. Not until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in late 1940s and early 1950s, which included very early copies of biblical manuscripts dating between 200 BCE and 50 BCE. The scrolls included the large portions of the Old Testament as well as other religious and cultural books during that era. Upon translation to modern English and compared to recent Bible versions, the Dead Sea Scrolls affirm that the content of scriptures had been preserved over centuries with minimal alterations, supporting the idea that the biblical texts have not been modified over time, let alone fabricated more recently.

Translation consistency

The scribes who copied the Bible (especially in ancient times) had strict methods for ensuring the accuracy of the text. These careful practices preserved the original meanings even though the Bible was copied by hand multiple times for many centuries. The Bible is often translated in 3 methods (word-for-word, thought-for-thought, and paraphrase), with the most circulated word-for-word translations still considered to have as much as 95% fidelity with the original author texts despite multiple iterations. Many modern translations today are still regarded to be highly accurate when compared to very early sources such as The Septuagint, Codex Alexandrinus and Bodmer Papyri that are from the 2nd to 4th CE and written in Ancient Greek.

Cross references

Despite being written over 1,500 years by different authors across different locations, the Bible is remarkably consistent in its central themes. The teachings about God, human nature, and salvation maintain coherence from Genesis to Revelation. It is estimated that there are at least 340,000 cross referenced themes, events and people within the Bible - which is among, if not, the highest of any existing literary or research work ever published.

In addition to this, what makes the Bible more unique are sections of “prophecy” where a future event or person was described (or referenced) centuries earlier. Among these include the life of Jesus where different portions of it where narrated in detail by different people who never knew each other; such as his birthplace [Micah 5:2], entry to Jerusalem [Zechariah 9:9], and his last moments before death [Psalms 22].

Philosophical and theological coherence

The Bible offers coherent answers to fundamental questions about existence, morality, purpose, and the nature of God. Many scholars argue that its worldview provides a consistent and logical framework for understanding life and reality. Asides the most obvious question of man’s origin, the Bible offers sufficient answers and direction to guide people through philosophical individual and cultural questions around purpose, justice, meaning, human rights, and satisfaction.

The Bible is also considered to be theologically coherent in its portrayal of the nature of God, humanity, sin, and salvation. Its presentation of God’s character (just, loving, omniscient) remains consistent across both the Old and New Testaments. Notwithstanding, God exercises His character with man’s free will in mind [Revelation 3:20].

In addition, the Bible introduces the concept of progressive revelation, suggesting that God’s message and plans unfold gradually throughout the Bible. Earlier writings set the stage for later ones, allowing for more nuanced understandings of theological concepts as the text progresses. For example, prophecies and instructions in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament and are offered to guide the people in that time, creating a sense of continuity; and prophecies and instruction in the New Testament are more relevant to today’s world and offer guidance and meaning to what goes on in the world and how to live a fulfilling and joyous life in it.

Impact and influence

The Bible’s influence on history, culture, ethics, and law is unmatched. Its teachings have shaped societies, legal systems, and moral frameworks worldwide. The transformative impact of its message on individuals and societies is often cited as evidence of its divine origin (which could still be argued by most).

When it comes to the arts, the Bible has influenced countless works of literature, from classical authors like Dante and Milton to modern writers such as William Faulkner and T.S. Eliot. Biblical themes, stories, and imagery are deeply embedded in Western literary tradition. Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael created works based on biblical themes. Composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and contemporary musicians have drawn the majority of inspiration for their work from the Bible. The Bible has provided the foundation for many of the timeless masterpieces in painting, sculpture, and music.

Today’s most “just” legal systems, particularly in the Western world, are rooted in Judeo-Christian principles derived from the Bible. Concepts like justice, human dignity, and human rights trace their origins to biblical commandments and teachings. Ideas of equality, freedom, and justice promoted by movements such as the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage and civil rights were supported by biblical interpretations and Bible-believers.

Challenging our unbelief

Now going back to the 3 questions I began with;

Is the Bible historically legitimate?
Is the Bible cohesive?
Is the Bible divine?

At this point, I believe I could conclude with an answer to questions (1) and (2) with good probability due to sufficient evidence and / or thought. As for question (3), I would further ask myself: What else do I need to prove that the Bible is divine? How do I do this? And finally, doesn’t the remarkable nature of its penmanship and content somewhat indicate this to some extent? I would say yes, but do you?

If we take the imagery of Scripture seriously, if we believe that God will one day give us the Morning Star and cause us to put on the splendour of the sun, then we may surmise that both the ancient myths and the modern poetry, so false as history, may be very near the truth as prophecy. At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in.

~ The Weight of Glory, C.S Lewis