Remember that Sunday School song many of us grew up singing? “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.” Those simple lyrics were easy to sing as children, but living out that commitment to stand on God’s Word becomes increasingly challenging as we grow older and face difficult questions.
In our current Can I Ask That series, many of you submitted thoughtful questions about the Bible’s reliability: “How did people live so long in the Bible?” “Did Noah really fit every animal in the ark?” “Is the earth 10,000 years old, 10 million, or 5 billion?” “Can someone believe in science and religion, or is there no middle ground?” “How can I trust the Bible is real?”
These are important questions that deserve thoughtful answers. Today, I want to share why I believe the Bible is reliable and why you can trust it as the foundation for your faith journey.
What Is the Bible?
Before addressing reliability, let’s understand what the Bible actually is. The word “Bible” comes from a plural term meaning “books.” It’s not a single book but a collection of 66 books written over a 1,500-year period by more than 40 authors in three different languages. Together, these books tell one unified story that points people to Jesus.
The Bible is divided into two main sections:
- The Old Testament (39 books) – Contains the law, prophets, and writings (including poetry, history, and wisdom literature).
- The New Testament (27 books) – Contains the Gospels (accounts of Jesus’ life), Acts (early church history), Epistles (letters to early churches), and Revelation.
Before Jesus, the Old Testament was known as the Hebrew Scriptures. By 400 BC, the Jewish community already considered these 39 books complete and authoritative as God’s Word.
The New Testament books were written by either eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, or by their close peers. These accounts were so valuable that early believers began copying and sharing them widely.
The Resurrection Changed Everything
The story of how we got the Bible begins with an event that changed human history forever: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Luke, one of the Gospel writers, begins his account by saying: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Luke wasn’t writing Scripture; he was creating a careful investigation for someone with questions. Why did so many people undertake to document Jesus’ life? Because something extraordinary had happened—Jesus rose from the dead. When you watch someone die publicly and then have dinner with that same person the following week, that’s worth writing down!
John, one of Jesus’ closest friends, explains his motivation for writing: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
After Jesus rose from the dead, it became clear that everything in the Hebrew Scriptures pointed to Him. Jesus himself said, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
How the Bible Was Compiled
As these eyewitness accounts spread, early church leaders needed to determine which documents should be preserved as authoritative Scripture. By the second century, they began a process called canonization (canon means “measuring stick”).
They started with the Old Testament, which Jesus frequently quoted and affirmed. For the New Testament, they used three primary criteria:
- Apostolic Authority – Written by an apostle (someone Jesus sent to share His message) or their close associate
- Consistency with Jesus’ Teaching – Content aligned with what Jesus taught
- Widespread Use and Acceptance – Already widely used and trusted by early Christian communities
After a careful, prayerful process, by 367 AD the 27 books we now have in our New Testament had emerged as the consensus. In 397 AD, church councils officially confirmed the 66 books that make up our Bible today.
Four Powerful Evidences for Biblical Reliability
1. Manuscript Evidence
The manuscript evidence for the Bible is overwhelming compared to other ancient texts. Consider:
- Caesar’s Gallic Wars: 10 surviving manuscripts
- Plato’s works: 250 surviving manuscripts
- Greek New Testament: Over 5,800 surviving manuscripts
These manuscripts show remarkable consistency. In the rare instances where differences exist, scholars note these variations in modern Bible translations.
2. Archaeological Support
Before 1947, the oldest complete Old Testament manuscripts dated to around 1000 AD. Then came the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls—over 900 ancient documents found near the Dead Sea, containing every Old Testament book except Esther. Some scrolls dated back to 250 BC.
This discovery confirmed that prophecies about the Messiah existed centuries before Jesus was born. These prophecies included details like:
- Being born in Bethlehem
- Being born of a virgin
- Being a descendant of Abraham and David
- Entering Jerusalem on a donkey
- Being betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
- Having his clothes divided after death
- Rising from the dead
Mathematician Peter Stoner calculated that for one person to fulfill just eight Messianic prophecies, the chances would be 1 in 10^17 (that’s 1 followed by 17 zeros)—essentially impossible. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies!
3. Historical Consistency
The Bible contains many references to secular historical events, figures, and places. These align remarkably well with non-biblical historical records. In fact, biblical accounts often have more detailed evidence than other historical documents we accept without question.
4. Transformative Impact
Perhaps the most powerful evidence is how the Bible transforms lives. I’ve witnessed marriages restored, addictions broken, and people finding joy and peace amid tragedy. My own life has been completely changed by Scripture—how I parent, how I love my spouse, how I lead as a pastor, how I use my resources, and how I treat others.
What About Your Questions?
I recognize that this overview doesn’t answer every specific question about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, or how Noah fit all those animals on the ark. But here’s what’s important: You can trust that the Bible is reliable for its intended purpose even while having questions about specific stories.
The Bible wasn’t written to tell us exactly how old the earth is. As John said, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
My Challenge to You
If you’re still uncertain about the Bible’s reliability, don’t take my word for it. Read it for yourself! Study it, explore resources like The Bible Project, and most importantly, apply its teachings to your life.
I’m confident that as you read, study, ask questions, and apply Scripture, you’ll experience its life-changing power firsthand. The Bible has withstood centuries of scrutiny because it’s not just another ancient text—it’s the living Word of God that continues to transform lives today.
Remember the Sunday School song? We can confidently sing, “I stand alone on the Word of God,” not because we have all the answers, but because we’ve experienced its reliability in our own lives.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
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