Can we Trust the Bible?
Millions of believers claim the Bible is the word of God. Answering three questions with three principles will show us why we can trust the Bible.
How did God have His message communicated to humans?
Principle #1: The Holy Spirited moved men and they recorded God’s message/word in the Bible (2 Peter 2:21; Hebrews 1:1-2)
What does it mean the Bible is inspired?
Principle #2: The Whole Bible is inspired in the sense that Spirit-moved men wrote God Breathed words which are inherent (true & without error) and divinely authoritative for Christian Faith and Practice (adapted from Guisler).
( 2 Tim 3:16; 1 Tim 5:18; 1 Thes 2:13; 2 Peter 3:16).
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Has God accurately preserved his word?
Principle #3: God has preserved His Word
There are over 5600 Greek manuscripts. By comparing them we can be confident of the word of God has been accurately preserved. See links below.
The Reconstructed text of the New Testament is anywhere from 98.3% to 99.9% free from substantial variation and not one variation in the text affects doctrine or Christian duties.
Taken from quotes of scholars found in A general Introduction to the Bible by Norman Geisler. Pg 365-66
Links:
Questions and Answers on the Bible:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/bible.asp
Various Questions about the Bible Answered
http://www.gotquestions.org/questions_Bible.html
The Superiour Evidence of the Greek Manuscripts
http://www.carm.org/questions/textualevidence.htm
Information on the Dead Sea Scrolls and how they confirm the Bible.
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a023.html
Comparison of Different Translations
Chart that shows the readability of different translations.
(C) Arlen Busenitz 2007
Given at church on March 10.