As an old Boomer and minister of Gods Word, simply stating ‘It is written’ makes demons tremble, but most people have lost respect for the Bible as final authority in our lives, So, I have written Five reasons, why I believe the Bible is unlike any other book and is in truth, the inspired, infallible, holy Word of God:
Here’s a list of five reasons often given by believers and scholars as to why the Bible is considered the authoritative Word of God:
- Divine Inspiration
Christians believe the Bible was inspired by God Himself. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed,” meaning it comes directly from God through human authors. This divine origin is a key reason it’s seen as authoritative.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV):
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV):
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Support:
The belief in inspiration means that the Bible speaks with God’s authority, not merely man’s opinion. The consistent moral and theological message across its books reflects a divine authorship behind the human writers.
- Historical and Prophetic Accuracy
The Bible contains numerous fulfilled prophecies and is supported by historical and archaeological findings. Its accuracy over centuries gives weight to its reliability and divine authorship.
The Bible’s historical reliability and its many fulfilled prophecies are seen as strong evidence of its divine origin.
Examples of Fulfilled Prophecy:
- Messianic Prophecies:
- Born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2,
Micah 5:2
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
fulfilled in Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
- Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver – Zechariah 11:12-13,
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Zechariah 11:12-13
12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.
- fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-15
- Pierced hands and feet – Psalm 22: 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.16, fulfilled in
John 20:25-27
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
- 1. Messiah Born in Bethlehem
- Prophecy: Micah 5:2 (circa 700 BC) – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
- Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-7 – Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as recorded in the New Testament and corroborated by early Christian tradition.
- Evidence: Bethlehem was a small town, and the precise location was specified centuries before Jesus’ birth. Historical records, including the Gospel accounts, align with this location, and no competing claims exist for another birthplace of Jesus.
- 2. Messiah from the Line of David
- Prophecy: Jeremiah 23:5 (circa 600 BC) – “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely.”
- Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38 – Both genealogies trace Jesus’ lineage through King David.
- Evidence: The genealogical records in the Gospels, though differing in details (likely due to maternal/paternal lines or legal vs. biological descent), consistently affirm Jesus’ Davidic ancestry. Early Jewish critics of Christianity did not dispute this claim, suggesting it was widely accepted.
- 3. Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (70 AD)
- Prophecy: Daniel 9:26 (circa 530 BC) – “The Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
- Fulfillment: Historical records (e.g., Josephus, Wars of the Jews) – Roman armies under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 AD.
- Evidence: The specificity of a foreign ruler’s people destroying the city and temple, post-Messiah, aligns with the Roman siege. This event is well-documented by Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and Roman sources like Tacitus.
- 4. Exile and Return of Israel
- Prophecy: Jeremiah 25:11-12 (circa 600 BC) – “This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon.”
- Fulfillment: 2 Chronicles 36:20-23, Ezra 1:1-4 – The Babylonian exile lasted approximately 70 years (from 605 BC to 536 BC), followed by the decree of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return.
- Evidence: The Cyrus Cylinder and other archaeological records confirm Cyrus’ policy of repatriating exiled peoples, including the Jews. The 70-year duration closely matches historical timelines.
- 5. Messiah’s Suffering and Death
- Prophecy: Isaiah 53:3-9 (circa 700 BC) – Describes a servant who is despised, pierced for transgressions, silent before accusers, and buried with the rich.
- Fulfillment: Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19 – Jesus’ crucifixion, silence before Pilate, and burial in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb align with these details.
- Evidence: The specificity of piercing (crucifixion), silence, and burial with the rich is striking, as these were not typical expectations for a Jewish Messiah. The Gospel accounts, written within the first century, are supported by early Christian creeds (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and non-Christian references (e.g., Tacitus, Annals 15.44).
- 6. Fall of Tyre
- Prophecy: Ezekiel 26:3-14 (circa 590 BC) – Tyre would be destroyed by many nations, its walls broken, and its debris cast into the sea, becoming a bare rock.
- Fulfillment: Historical records – Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre (585-573 BC), and later, Alexander the Great destroyed it in 332 BC, scraping its ruins into the sea to build a causeway.
- Evidence: Ancient historians (e.g., Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander) describe Alexander’s actions, and Tyre’s mainland city was never rebuilt to its former glory, aligning with the prophecy’s permanence.
- 7. Virgin Birth of the Messiah
- Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14 (circa 700 BC) – “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.”
- Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-23 – Mary, a virgin, gave birth to Jesus, interpreted as “Immanuel” (God with us).
- Evidence: The Hebrew term almah (young woman or virgin) is debated, but the Septuagint (Greek translation, circa 200 BC) uses parthenos (virgin), supporting the interpretation. Early Christian tradition unanimously affirms Mary’s virginity, and no contemporary sources contradict this claim.
- 8. Scattering and Regathering of Israel
- Prophecy: Deuteronomy 28:64-68 (circa 1400 BC) – Israel would be scattered among the nations for disobedience but regathered (Ezekiel 36:24, circa 590 BC).
- Fulfillment: Historical events – The Jewish diaspora followed the Assyrian (722 BC) and Babylonian (586 BC) exiles, with partial returns in 536 BC and modern regathering after the establishment of Israel in 1948.
- Evidence: The global Jewish diaspora is well-documented, and the reestablishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 is a historically unique event, aligning with prophecies of regathering.
- Born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2,
Historical Reliability:
Archaeological discoveries have confirmed many details in the Bible, including:
- The existence of Hittites (once thought to be fictional until discovered).
- The Dead Sea Scrolls, which confirm the remarkable accuracy of the Old Testament transmission over centuries.
- Confirmation of historical figures like Pontius Pilate (via the Pilate Stone).
2.Unity Across Time and Authors
Despite being written over 1,500+ years by more than 40 authors from different backgrounds and cultures, the Bible presents a unified message about God, humanity, sin, and redemption — something seen as miraculous and indicative of a single divine source.
Explanation:
The Bible was written over 1,500+ years by over 40 different authors (kings, shepherds, fishermen, prophets, a tax collector, a doctor, etc.) in different cultural and geographical contexts — yet it presents a coherent narrative of God’s relationship with humanity.
Key Themes Consistently Present:
- God’s holiness and justice
- Humanity’s fall into sin
- God’s plan of redemption through a promised Savior
- A future hope of restoration
Key Scripture:
- Luke 24:27 (NIV):
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
(Jesus reveals how the Old Testament points to Him — showing the unity of the message.)
- Transformative Power
Many testify that the Bible has radically changed lives — bringing peace, purpose, healing, and moral transformation. Its ability to speak across cultures and centuries supports its claim to divine authority.
Explanation:
Across centuries, people from all walks of life testify that reading and applying the Bible has changed their lives. Its moral teaching, spiritual depth, and ability to convict and guide are unlike any other book.
Key Scriptures:
- Hebrews 4:12 (NIV):
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Psalm 19:7 (NIV):
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
Examples:
- Personal testimonies of conversion (e.g., St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Newton).
- Social transformation — the Bible’s teachings inspired the abolition of slavery, civil rights movements, and widespread humanitarian aid efforts.
3. Jesus Affirmed It
Jesus quoted the Old Testament frequently and treated it as the authoritative Word of God. If Jesus is who He claimed to be — the Son of God — then His view of Scripture confirms its authority for Christians.
Explanation:
Jesus, whom Christians believe is the Son of God, treated the Scriptures as the authoritative Word of God. He quoted from them, obeyed them, and declared them trustworthy.
Key Scriptures:
- Matthew 5:17-18 (NIV):
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter… will by any means disappear from the Law.” - John 10:35 (NIV):
“… and Scripture cannot be set aside…”
Support:
If Jesus trusted and submitted to Scripture, then Christians follow His lead in recognizing it as the final authority on faith and practice.
