Lee Strobel on the Reliability of the Bible

Why the Bible Is Unique

Although there are many religions in the world, Christianity remains the largest, with more than two billion adherents. Nearly every major religion has one or more sacred writings, but the Holy Bible stands apart in several remarkable ways.

Unlike most religious texts, which were written by a single individual or a small group within a relatively short period of time, the Bible was written over approximately 1,500 years by more than forty Jewish authors from diverse backgrounds, occupations, cultures, and geographic regions. Many of these writers lived centuries apart and had no knowledge of one another’s work. Yet together they produced a unified and consistent message that presents a coherent account of humanity, God’s nature, and His plan of redemption.

The Bible’s internal harmony is extraordinary.

Its sixty-six books complement one another without undermining the central themes that run from Genesis to Revelation. No other religious text possesses such a unique combination of historical continuity, prophetic fulfillment, and literary unity.

Fulfilled Prophecy

One of the strongest evidences for the Bible’s divine origin is fulfilled prophecy. Throughout Scripture, hundreds of specific predictions were recorded centuries before the events they describe. These prophecies concern nations, cities, historical events, and most significantly, the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The sheer number and accuracy of these fulfilled prophecies present a challenge that many believe cannot be explained by chance alone. Why?Because the Bible is the revelation of an omniscient God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who knows the end from the beginning, and fulfilled prophecy stands as proof of that claim.

Historical and Archaeological Reliability

The Bible is also distinguished by its historical and geographical accuracy. Archaeological discoveries have repeatedly confirmed the existence of people, cities, kingdoms, and events recorded in Scripture. And have NEVER dissproved the Bible’s historical or geographic accounts – not once.

Among the most significant discoveries are the Dead Sea Scrolls, which demonstrated the remarkable preservation of the Old Testament text over many centuries. Other discoveries have provided evidence for ancient cities mentioned in the Bible, including Jericho and Nineveh, and Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Bible’s Origin and Preservation

The Bible consists of sixty-six books: thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. While approximately forty human authors participated in its writing, Christians have historically believed there was ultimately one Author—God Himself—who inspired the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit.

The Old Testament, known within Judaism as the Tanakh, preserves God’s dealings with Israel and contains the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The first five books, known as the Torah, were written by Moses approximately 3,500 years ago.

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 proved that the Hebrew Scriptures in use today match exactly the Masoretic text that existed before the time of Jesus Christ.

A Word About Truth and Doctrine

I do not claim to possess complete knowledge of Scripture. No two believers agree perfectly on doctrinal issues, and many sincere Christians have changed positions as they have continued their study of God’s Word. I am one such person!

Nevertheless, truth matters because God is Truth.

Scripture commands believers to “study” and to be “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Therefore, every Christian has a responsibility to diligently seek God’s truth through prayerful study of His Word.

I believe the Bible should be approached with faith, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. And it always does. While God often uses symbols, parables, and imagery, He also provides the necessary context for understanding them. Sound doctrine comes not from isolated verses but from taking in the entire counsel of God, discerning Scripture ONLY with Scriptural confirmation, and understanding passages through the lens of its proper context – again, as ddefined by Scripture.

Many theological errors arise when verses are separated from their context (for example, is it talking about Israel, or the Church?) or when modern philosophies are imposed upon the text. When human reasoning is elevated above Scripture, confusion and division always follow.

God’s Word should shape our beliefs rather than our beliefs reshaping God’s Word.

Truth Is Found in Christ

When Pontius Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), he voiced a question that humanity continues to ask today.

The Bible’s answer is clear:

The ultimate purpose of Scripture is not merely to provide information but to reveal the person of Jesus Christ.

John 3:16 declares:

“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.”

The Bible teaches that salvation is found through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He is the eternal Word made flesh, fully God and fully man, who came into the world to save sinners.

If you sincerely desire to know the Truth about God, Jesus Himself gives the invitation:

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7)

Truth is ultimately not merely a concept to be studied, but a person to be known. According to Scripture, that Truth is Jesus Christ. God Himself!