How Do I Know the Bible is Trustworthy and Reliable?

1) Archeology and Historical Evidence

The Bible is a very amazing book which makes references to many historical events, some mundane, and some rather extraordinary, yet despite the incredible nature of many of the events described, no archeological evidence has been found to disprove anything contained in the Bible. To the contrary, there is mounting evidence which actually confirms many of even the most extraordinary Bible events 1, 2, 3.

"Many facts recorded in the Bible have been challenged with the same result, later archeology confirms the reliability of the biblical records down to the smallest detail. A respected Jewish archaeologist has claimed that, 'It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference' (Shelly, p. 103). This is a strong statement for any archaeologist to make because if it were not true, he would quickly be condemned in his own field." 4

2) The Endorsement of Jesus Christ

The most important thing to remember is that Christian faith is not based on the Bible, it is based on Jesus Christ, who He is, what He said, and what He did. Although Jesus never sat down and gave us a list of all of the Bible scriptures He endorses, we can know what He endorsed by looking at the references he made, as described in the four gospels.

For the Old Testament, according to Jesus’s own words, man and woman were created in the beginning (MR 10:6); Abel the son of Adam existed (MT 23:5); there was a worldwide flood (MT 24:38); Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob existed (MT 22:32); Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (MT 10:15); the Israelites complained to God after the Exodus (MT 4:7); the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and were fed by manna from heaven (JN 6:49); the law was given to Moses (MT 8:4); David was king of Israel (MT 12:3); Solomon was king of Israel and was renowned for his Splendor (MT 9:29); Elijah the prophet and Ahab king of Israel existed (LK 4:25); Elisha the prophet existed (LK 4:27); Isaiah the prophet existed and actually wrote words contained in the Deutero-Isaiah chapters that some have questioned the authenticity of (LK 4:18); Daniel the prophet existed and his prophesies of the end times are signs we should look for (MT 24:15); Jonah the prophet existed and was swallowed by a great fish (MT 12:41); and Zechariah the prophet existed (MT 23:5). Just this short list endorses the entire Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the books of I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Jonah, and Zechariah. I am certain more can be identified with a detailed search.

For the New Testament, we need to remember that Jesus condemned the Pharisees for not accepting the words of the prophets of old that were written about Him (JN 5:37-39,46), and He considered His disciples to be His new prophets (MT 23:34). Jesus instructed His disciples to teach all of the things He commanded (MT 28:19-20), which validates them putting those commands into writings which have become New Testament scriptures, for the benefit of future generations. When we look at the Epistles and other New Testament writings, all we need do is compare those teachings with the things Jesus Himself taught. If they agree with Christ’s teachings it can be concluded that they carry His approval, and there is no book of the New Testament that doesn't fit this criteria.

Thus we have Jesus’s endorsement for Old Testament scriptures, and His approval for New Testament scriptures, attesting that they are trustworthy and reliable.


James :)