Lee Strobel on the Reliability of the Bible
Although there are about 20 major religions around the world, Christianity is the largest, with a little over 2 billion members; more than half of those, ascribing to the Catholic faith. Just over 10% of the world does not have a religion – they are mostly atheists whom do not believe in God or a deity of any kind. Each of these world religions has one or more “holy” books. Most of these holy books, except the Holy Bible, were written by one person, or a small handful of people, within the lifetime of the founder of the faith.
In contrast, the 66 books of the Judeo-Christian Bible (Old and New Testaments) were written over a 1,500 – 1,600 year period, by 40 or more different Jewish writers, from disparate educational and vocational backgrounds; from diverse geographic regions; and separately influenced by a wide range of cultural landscapes. Most of the books were written in isolated “vacuums”, meaning that one writer had no idea that another writer, in another region, was writing or had written a book, that later became part of the Bible. And yet, these books have a perfect, complementary harmony, illuminating a unified historical account of, and a non-contradictory plan for, all of humanity. No other “holy” book comes remotely close to this humanly impossible, miraculous achievement.
The Holy Bible is the only holy book full of prophesy – future predictions – that have been literally fulfilled. Not just one or two, but hundreds upon hundreds of prophesies have been fulfilled to the letter. An unanswerable mathematical impossibility, save the super-natural involvement of Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing), Omnipresent (eternal – outside of time) God. The God of the Holy Bible. Add to this, the fact that there is no other holy book, except the Holy Bible, that is historically, geographically, culturally, archeologically and believe-it-or-not, scientifically accurate. In recent years, archeology has unearthed the cities of Jericho, Sodom amp; Gomorrah and Nineveh. We now have the Dead Sea Scrolls, plus astounding new evidence of the Jewish Exodus, including the crossing of the Red Sea – not where tradition speculates – but at the Gulf of Aqaba, where there is a span, from one shore to the other of underwater chariot-shaped debris, perfectly recognizable, preserved by coral outcroppings, in an otherwise barren sea bed, free of any other coral. You see, coral must have a solid object in which to attach, and there are no natural occurring solid objects, like rocks, anywhere nearby. Mt. Horeb has been recently identified. Not in the Sinai peninsula, but in the Biblically-named area where Moses lived in exile for 40 years before the Exodus – the region of Median – known as present-day Saudi Arabia, bordering the gulf of Aqaba. This is just a small sampling of recent evidence that proves the Biblical account of history.
The Bible consists of 66 books – 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books. There is certainly some dispute, but most Bible-believing scholars agree that there were 40-44 writers and ONE Author – God Himself, through the God-breathed inspiration of the Holy Spirit. All of the Bible writers were Jewish, in spite of the popular idea that Luke was a gentile. With some disciplined scrutiny, one can clearly surmise that the evidence of Luke being a gentile is very weak at best, not that it has any bearing whatsoever on the message or veracity of God’s Word.
The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah, written by Moses, some 3,500 years ago. The Tanakh is the name used in Judaism for the canon of the entire Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible, also commonly known as the Masoretic Text, affirmed by the ancient oral tradition of scriptural preservation by orthodox Judaism, handed down from Abraham and Moses, and later codified and known as the Talmud – a two fold writing consisting of the Mishnah (the written part of the Mesoretic “Old Testament,”) and the Gemara, a revered commentary on the Mishnah and other writings of the Jewish Sages. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 sealed the proof that the entire Old Testament was available in HEBREW prior to Jesus’ arrival in ancient Israel over 2,000 years ago.
Before I say anything more about this subject, let me first say that I do not know everything there is to know about the Bible. In fact, I probably know less than many of you reading this. I also recognize that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find any two people that agree 100% on all doctrinal issues. You will find many people, myself included, that have been on different sides of doctrinal disputes at different times, as we search for Truth. You may then ask why this topic is so important, especially if the issues are not “essential” for salvation that comes only from “the simplicity that is in Christ.”? Because it deals with Truth; God’s absolute Truth. I do not profess to know all biblical truths, nor do I dogmatically claim I am 100% right on the ones I am sure I am 100% right on, if that makes any sense! I do know that God wants us to diligently seek His truth. I believe we will only know 100% of His Biblical truths when we are with the Lord, and we can ask Him, and then say, “Oh, NOW I get it! Wow, did I have that one wrong!” I also know, though, that God has revealed Himself to us through Abraham, the “the father of all them that believe”, and his sons Isaac and Jacob, from whom came the twelve tribes of Israel, the Commandments, the Prophets, God’s only begotten Son – our savior Jesus Christ – and God’s holy scriptures. And in those scriptures, He commands us to “Study” and to be “rightly dividing the word of truth” (note the continuous state of that command). If God thinks it is important, then we better take heed. I believe that to properly understand the Bible, you must first BELIEVE the Bible. Many schools of theology teach modern, interpretive views of the Bible that lead to apostasy (a falling away from the truth) and false doctrine. I am convinced that God says what He means and means what He says. If He truly does exist and truly did create all things, then He is quite capable of giving us His Word in a book. It has been said that one interpretation is as valid as another. On the contrary, I believe no interpretation is needed when reading the Bible. The Bible interprets the Bible. We just need to read, and believe.
God does use parables and imagery in many parts of the Bible, especially in prophecy, but He makes it obvious and clear when He is doing so (yes, the present tense is appropriate here, as the Word is alive and present in all ages.) Every word and every passage in the Bible has power and meaning. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16). You must take into account the context of each passage of scripture and how it compares to other scriptures about the same subject in order to determine TRUE doctrine, as we are commanded in 2 Timothy 2:15 we must “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
It is far too easy to misinterpret scripture by intentionally or unintentionally taking it out of context from the subject at hand – one of the biggest causes of confused doctrine. For example, many of the proponents of the idea that one can “loose” their salvation, or that salvation is something to strive for by “enduring” to the end. “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13). In this section of scripture, Jesus is describing the tribulation, AFTER the “catching away” (called the rapture). If you don’t take the bible literally, you will most likely not believe in the rapture and the tribulation, and you will never be able to properly understand this scripture reference! Jesus is referring to the new converts during the tribulation to “endure” by NOT taking the mark of the beast which will lead to eternal banishment in Hell. (The mark of the beast is referred to SEVEN times in Revelation – obviously an important point God wants to make!) I believe God gives us all we need within the Word of God to understand what He wants us to understand. If we let scripture interpret scripture to discern the parables and imagery, and simply, literally believe the rest at face value, we cannot go wrong. That way, we can “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” as Titus 2:7-8 says.
A serious problem occurs when theology “evolves” to fit current social trends and traditions. When scholars “spiritualize” scripture and use human reasoning to interpret what is written, or when scripture is academically conformed to co-exist with some “so-called” scientific truth, then the Church becomes riddled with chaos, doubt, division . . . and the fulfillment of Mark 7:13, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition,. . .”; and the fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Remember, according to the Word of God, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: . . .” Proverbs 28:26.
We must TRUST God’s Word, not our own hearts, wishes or feelings. But you will not be able to trust the Bible if you don’t BELIEVE it in the first place – and I mean “literally” believe it – not some humanistic, relative perspective.
Many others may point out the differences in bible versions, and how the bible was written and translated by men, therefore subject to error. Therefore, it is the meaning that is to be understood, NOT the literal words. I call that a Pandora’s Box, full of doubt, confusion and weakened faith! Please read the Truth about Bible Versions to understand the issue of Bible versions. My prayer is that this will bless you in your quest for Truth.
It must be remembered that we live in a spiritual world, and we struggle against powers we cannot see. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Here is some scripture explaining some basics about TRUTH . . .
John 18:38, Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
John 3:16-18 amp; John 3:35-36, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
John 16:13, . . . the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
John 5:46, For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
And Jesus said in John 14:6, “. . . I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
So, if you really want to know the Truth about God . . . Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
You see, the Truth IS God, and you can know the Truth by having a relationship with God. The only way to have a relationship with God is through His Son, Jesus Christ – whom is THE WORD, AND GOD HIMSELF! John 1:1-3 amp; John 1:14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
