The Bible Is An Amazing Book

First of all, God does not expect us to be mindless. After all, it was God who gave us our intelligence. What I mean is God does not expect us to ignore intelligence and go on blind faith. He does not upbraid us for wanting to see the evidence. Thomas would not believe the Lord was resurrected until he saw some proof. He said "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Jesus did not reprove him but gave him the evidence he so desired. (Joh 20:27) "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."

God has always provided plenty of evidence for our faith. For example, the creation itself is a multitude of evidence that there is an intelligent designer. As far as the scriptures, He has provided plenty of evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

What I mean by inspired is that God put it in the hearts of men to speak and pen out His words. The Apostle Peter put it this way (2Pe 1:21) " For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." Therefore, we have the Word of God that was penned out by men. God used man much like a businessman would use a secretary in dictating a letter.

But how do we really know that the Bible is really true? Is there any evidence that proves the Bible is really God's word. Yes, there is plenty of evidence. Like I said, God does not expect us to just mindlessly go on blind faith. There are internal evidences which is proof within the Bible itself, and there are external evidences, which is proof from outside the scriptures.

I will first talk about the external evidence that shows us the Bible is true. The Bible is historically correct. There are many archeological findings that verify the history contained in the Bible to be true. I will only mention a few, but if you are a sincere seeker you can find these discoveries listed in a good study Bible such as the Thompson Chain Reference or in the Halley's Bible Handbook.

At one time scoffers mocked at the idea of Moses writing the first five books of the Bible. They said that writing was unknown to man in the time that Moses lived. Since then there has been hundreds of writings found that pre-date Moses and even go back before the flood. The city of Ur which Abraham came from was uncovered, and they also found a school room that was in Ur. The walls of Jericho have been found flat and outward. Hezekiah's tunnel and Jacob's well have been discovered. Oh, I must not forget the tomb of Jesus is also found. These are but a few, but the evidence shows that the Bible is historically correct. Sir Isaac Newton said "There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any other profane History"

The Bible is truly unique-it is unlike any other book ever written, and I believe this is also evidence of its inspiration. It is unique because first of all, it is indestructible. It has survived time and persecution like no other book. Down through the years, kings have tried to burn it and rid it from the face of the earth. Heretics have tried to corrupt it and to prove it wrong. Yet there are thousands of manuscripts that have been found that are in agreement with each other, and the Bible leads as the best seller of all time. It is also unique because it was the first book to be printed on the printing press. The first printing was in 1538 on the Gutenberg printing press.

The Bible is unique in its continuity. * "It is one book made up of 66 books. It was written over a period of 1600 years with over 40 authors from almost every walk of life. Its writers include historians, doctors, shepherds, tax-collectors, cupbearers, military generals, philosophers, kings, and prophets. It was written in prisons, dungeons, synagogues, and palaces. It was written on hillsides, near the temple, on a river bank and on an island. It was written in times of prosperity and poverty, and in times of war and peace. It was written on three continents: Europe Asia, and Africa. It was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. It covers hundreds of controversial subjects and deals with every detail of human life. Yet it has no contradictions. If five of us sat down to discuss three subjects, we would have differences of opinion, yet the Bible stands unified as a whole in every way."

The Bible is unique in its power. It is more powerful than any other book that has ever been written. Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness by quoting scripture. It remains today as a powerful weapon against Satan. When the Bible is preached, things happen. Some are encouraged, some get saved, and some get very angry.
The Bible, and the preaching of it has changed the lives of millions of people. Immoral wicked criminals have become honest law-abiding people. It has delivered the drunkard, the dope pusher, cleansed the language of the vulgar, put broken homes together and set the adulterer and the homosexual free. I might add myself - the Bible has changed my life for the better in many ways. For those who read the Bible and apply its principles to their lives, they will also testify that the Bible is the inspired word of God.

The Bible is relevant to today. Even though is is a book that has been around for hundreds of years, it is not outdated. In it we can find the answers to man's problems. When faced with a crisis, a person can find direction and consolation within its pages. Even if there is no pressing crisis, a person can still find direction for their life. A person who reads and applies the scriptures to their life will find true fulfillment that is not found anywhere else. This is certainly evidence of its inspiration.

Then, there are the internal evidences that prove the scriptures to be true. I have often said that the Bible proves itself. The Bible declares itself to be inspired in (2 Tim 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:". Now, it is either true, or it is not. It is either true, or it is a lie. There are some who believe that only part of the Bible is inspired. If that were true, then who would be qualified to judge which parts were inspired and which parts were not? That belief is a convenient way for a person to pick and choose what he wants!

Jesus considered the Scriptures to be authentic in their entirety. He made many quotes from the Old Testament. (Luke 24:27) "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." He believed that all the scriptures were inspired, He said (Mat 5:18) "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." A jot is considered to be the smallest Hebrew letter and a tittle is just a distinguishing mark like the crossing of the t or an apostrophe. Since Jesus, who is the Son of God, believed the Scriptures to be inspired, then I have no reason to doubt.

Then there are the prophecies and their fulfillment.
* The Bible foretold the rise and fall of the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome years before it occurred. Isaiah, under the inspiration of God, named King Cyrus 300 years before he was born. (Is 44:28; 45:1)
There were over 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, and every one of them was fulfilled. Dr. Peter Stoner in Science Speaks illustrates the probability of only 8 (eight) prophesies being fulfilled in the life of any one person. The mathematical probability is one to ten to the 28th power. This illustrates the mathematical probability: If you would cover the state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep; take one silver dollar and mark it, then mix it in with all the others; blindfold a man and send him out to pick up the marked silver dollar. The probability that he will pick up the marked one on his first try is equal to the probability of 8 prophecies being fulfilled in one person. Imagine that! Then remember, there were over 300 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus alone. What astounding proof that the Bible is truly divine and not just human!

* From Holiness Heritage Sunday School Spring Quarter 2009, www.holiness.net

(2Pe 1:20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Many people think the Bible is hard to understand but it is not, and it is written so that the common man can understand it.
Let's remember these eleven things when interpeting the scriptures.

1. Prayerfully - it takes the Holy Spirit to give us the proper understanding.
2. Study with Proper Motives. - Proverbs 4:23
Be honest. - Luke 8:15
Love the truth. - John 8:31-32; 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Be humble. Be willing to learn, to admit you have been wrong, and to change. - Matthew 5:3
Be spiritually minded. - Romans 8:5-8
Be willing to obey. - John 7:17
Be willing to put away sin. - Ephesians 4:17-19
Be willing to be different and in the minority. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
3. Realize the Bible contains the mind and will of God. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
4. Make your primary study the Bible itself, not books about the Bible. - Psalm 119:97. Always interpret books with the Bible and not vise versa.
5. The Bible is self interpreting - it will reveal its meaning by some other Bible text. Remember the Bible does not contradict itself - If there seems to be a contradiction then you are missing some information.
6. We must take the Bible literally if at all possible - some want to spiritualize. God says what He means and means what he says. Always interpret obscure and ambiguous passages in the light of plain, obvious, and clear passages everything - Gods word is already spiritual. If there is a symbolic meaning then the Bible will give the meaning elsewhere.
7. Remember the context. Read verses in the context of the whole passage, the chapter and even the book. Finally, keep in mind the larger context of the New Testament or Old Testament. We must study the entire Bible to get a proper understanding.
8. Definitions - look up words in the dictionary. Sometimes we need to look up the Greek or Hebrew.
9. Always interpret a passage in its "historical/cultural" setting. What did it mean to the people to whom it was written?
10. Always interpret the scripture dispensationally - we are in the dispensation of Grace.
11. Remember no doctrine (teaching) should be built on one isolated text.