Why Should I Believe The Bible?

Sadly, we currently live in a time when many do not believe that the Bible should be trusted as the Word of God.  Due to such things as secularism, modernism, and atheism, some have been deceived into thinking that the Bible is merely a work of man.  While I agree that men were used in the writing, that does not change the fact that all of those men were inspired of God.  Some might wonder what does that mean.  Inspired how?  Did the writers simply receive motivation to pen the words.  Were they given mere thoughts on which they were allowed to add their opinions?  Let us study further so that we can all have a better understanding of why we should believe the Bible.

It was the apostle Paul who wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  In the original Greek language, it is worded in such a way as to describe scripture as being “God breathed”.  Biblical inspiration means that the scripture came directly from God.  Near the end of his physical life, David, king of Israel, said, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2).  David did not merely receive thoughts from the Spirit, but instead received “his word”.  Therefore, whatever man spoke or wrote by Biblical inspiration is quite literally the Word of God.  Again, it was Paul that penned, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:12-13).  The Holy Ghost/Spirit gave the word precisely and accurately.  When a fisherman named Peter wrote by inspiration, his writings were just as accurate as when an educated Paul wrote by inspiration.  Yes, each writer was able to use his own style, but the words did not come from them, but from God.  That is why Paul could also write, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37).  So the next time someone claims that the Bible is just a compilation of the writings of men, you can readily answer their error.

Seeing as how the Bible is God’s Word, we can be confident in what It contains.  Jesus once prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth” (John 17:17).  No part of the Bible is error.  While there may be errors from the translators, the Bible, when translated properly, is absolute truth.  Again, it was Paul who wrote, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye have heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).  The Psamist indicated, “The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth forever” (Psm. 119:160 ASV).  In the book of Proverbs it is written, “Every word of God is pure:  he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:5-6).  We are right to believe the Bible!

Now that we know that the Bible is God’s Word, let us finish by noticing some amazing things about It.  The Bible will never be destroyed.  This point has already been seen in Psalm 119:160, but that is not the only verse that teaches such.  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:36).  Isaiah wrote, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  but the word of our God shall stand for ever (Isa. 40:8).  In Judgment, Jesus is going to use the Bible as the standard by which we are judged.  He stated, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).  While others may ridicule those of us who accept the truth of God’s Word, the Bible will stand.  If your confidence in the Bible ever starts to waver, remember how wonderful the Word of God truly is.  “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).  Since the Word of God can do all of that, it is reasonable to put my trust in the Bible.
~ Corey Barnette