In the exploration of the Bible's reliability, I would like to delve into four key areas of evidence: Manuscript, Archaeological, Prophetic, and Internal Cohesion. These pillars provide robust support for the Bible's historical accuracy, divine inspiration, and internal consistency. Through the meticulous examination of ancient manuscripts, the confirmation of archaeological findings, the fulfilment of prophetic predictions coupled with the statistical improbability of chance, and the seamless cohesion of its contents, we uncover compelling reasons to trust the Bible as a faithful record of God's revelation to humanity. Let us embark on this journey of discovery, guided by evidence and reason, to illuminate the enduring validity and significance of the Holy Scriptures.
1.Manuscript Evidence.Ancient copies of the Bible, whether fragments or complete texts, are referred to as manuscripts. These manuscripts allow us to compare their content with modern Bibles, providing substantial evidence for textual consistency.
a.New Testament Bible Manuscripts:
·Approximately 5,800 Greek manuscripts exist.
·Including translations into Latin, Coptic, and Syriac, the total number is approximately 24,000.
·One of the oldest fragments, the Rylands Library Papyrus P52, is dated to around 125 AD, approximately within one generation of the completion of the New Testament texts.
b.Old Testament Bible Manuscripts:
·There are thousands of Hebrew manuscripts of the Old Testament.
·Including translations into Greek (Septuagint), Aramaic (Targums), Syriac (Peshitta), and Latin (Vulgate), the total number of manuscripts and fragments is also in the thousands.
·One of the most significant collections of ancient Old Testament manuscripts is the Dead Sea Scrolls, which date from the third century BC to the first century AD.
·The oldest complete Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament is the Leningrad Codex, dated to around AD 1008.
In contrast:
c.Manuscripts of Caesar's "Gallic Wars":
·About 10 known manuscript copies.
·The oldest surviving manuscript dates to around 900 AD, approximately 1,000 years after Caesar's time, allowing substantial time for potential textual changes.
d.Manuscripts of Aristotle's Works:
·Around 49 extant manuscripts.
·The oldest manuscript is from around 1100 AD, about 1,400 years after Aristotle's lifetime, providing ample time for variations and changes in the text.
e.Given the overwhelming manuscript evidence, which far surpasses that of any other historical work, it is clear that the Bible has been reliably preserved through the millennia. See some quotes from prominent Bible scholars supporting this inthis link.
2.Archaeological evidence.Archaeological findings consistently support the historical accuracy of the Bible, verifying dates, cities, locations, and buildings mentioned in the scriptures.
a.John 5 details Jesus healing a man by the pool of Bethesda, located near the "Sheep Gate" in Jerusalem. The text mentions that the pool had five roofed colonnades. Scholars once doubted these details, but in 1951, archaeologists discovered a large pool near the Sheep Gate with five covered porches, confirming John's account.
b.Archaeology often corroborates biblical narratives, making it a valuable tool for biblical studies.
c.The Bible provides historically accurate details, as supported by numerous archaeological discoveries. Some more examples can be found inthis link.
3.Prophetic evidence.Prophecies concerning Jesus and others have proven the message of the Bible.
a.Conservatively, at least 300 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament have been fulfilled perfectly in the New Testament. For example:
·Psalm 22, written around 1000 BC, was fulfilled during Jesus' crucifixion, when He was "pierced," His clothes divided, lots cast for His garments, and darkness covered the land.
·Isaiah 53, written around 700 BC, details the suffering servant and the crucifixion of Jesus.
·See many more examples inthis link.
b.In total, approximately 2,500 prophecies appear in the pages of the Bible, the majority of which have already been fulfilled to the letter—no errors. The remaining prophecies have either been overlooked or reach into the future and may be seen unfolding as days go by.
·The probability of over 300 prophecies being perfectly fulfilled in Jesus is colossal. The probability of the majority (commonly cited as about 2000) of the approximately 2500 prophecies recorded in Scripture being fulfilled is monumental.
·Statistically speaking, it's more likely for someone blindfolded to randomly select one specific grain of sand from all the beaches around the world on their first try than for all the prophecies of Jesus to be fulfilled in a person by chance.
·Furthermore, since the probability for any one of the, for computational purposes, 2000 prophecies having been fulfilled by chance averages less than one in ten (figured very conservatively), and since the prophecies are for the most part independent of one another, the odds for all these prophecies having been fulfilled by chance without error are less than one in 102000(that is, 1 with 2,000 zeros written after it)!
c.The perfect fulfilment of such a vast multitude of prophecies provides staggering evidence of the Bible’s divine inspiration.
4.Internal Cohesion.The Bible is non-contradictory and internally cross-referenced. It was written over a period of approximately 1,500 years, from around 1400 BC to 95 AD. The oldest book of the Bible, Genesis, or Job, is thought to have been written around 1400 BC, while the newest book, Revelation, was written around 95 AD. The Bible was written by approximately 40 human authors on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. These authors came from diverse backgrounds, including shepherds, fishermen, kings, and priests. Despite the differences in their writing styles and personalities, the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit to record the words and events of God’s revelation.
a.There were no contradictions in the Bible in its original writing. The authors wrote from their own perspectives and experiences, but the Holy Spirit ensured that their writings were consistent with God’s ultimate message. The Bible is a unified series of books that present a cohesive and harmonious account of God’s relationship with humanity.
b.Apparent contradictions in the Bible often arise from our own lack of understanding. Some apparent contradictions can be explained by differences in the authors’ focus, audience, and purpose. Others can be resolved through careful reading, examining the original text, checking the meaning of the translated words, understanding the context, or adjusting our flawed interpretation. It is advisable to seek God's guidance through prayer for assistance in this by His Holy Spirit.
c.There are some copyist errors in the Bible due to mistakes made by scribes and copyists when copying manuscripts of the Bible over the centuries. These errors can include simple spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and even changes in the meaning of the text. However, despite these errors, the Bible has been preserved with remarkable accuracy.
d.There have been attempts to tamper with God’s word over the centuries, involving additions, alterations, or omissions in numerous copies and translations, with some translations being far superior and reliable than others. However, when cross-examining these against the thousands of comparative manuscripts, and seeking God’s assistance in prayer, these can be identified and eliminated.
e.The Bible’s internal consistency is a testament to the divine inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Featuring some 63,779 cross-references (see an impressive depiction inthis link), the authors’ human limitations and biases were overcome by the Spirit’s work, resulting in a series of books that are both historically accurate and theologically rich.
In conclusion, the exploration of the Bible's reliability reveals a wealth of compelling evidence across several domains: manuscript evidence, archaeological findings, prophetic fulfilment, and internal cohesion. Each of these areas offers robust support for the Bible's historical accuracy, divine inspiration, and consistency over millennia.
The meticulous preservation of ancient manuscripts, far surpassing any other historical work, underscores the Bible's textual consistency. Archaeological discoveries consistently validate biblical accounts, affirming the Bible's historical reliability. The remarkable fulfilment of thousands of prophecies, especially concerning Jesus, provides powerful evidence of its divine origin. The statistical improbability of these prophecies being fulfilled by chance further bolsters this claim. Finally, the internal cohesion of the Bible, despite being written over 1,500 years by about 40 diverse authors, showcases its unified message and divine guidance.
As we embarked on this journey of discovery, guided by evidence and reason, we uncovered profound reasons to trust the Bible as a faithful record of God's revelation to humanity. This comprehensive examination illuminates the enduring validity and significance of the Holy Scriptures, encouraging us to delve deeper into their truths with confidence and faith. As Jesus assured us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35 ESV)
Most importantly, these sacred writings are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul. But be a doer of the word, and not a hearer only, deceiving yourself (see James 1:19-27). As it is written, “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.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV)
