…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21, ESV)
“I would call you a liar,” he responded.
We had finished our round and were headed back to our evening meeting when a colleague asked, “Where have you been?”
“Playing 18,” I said. “What would you say if I told you David made a hole-in-one?”
Without hesitation, he blurted out, “I would call you a liar. Did anyone see it?”
There is a reason golfers sign one another’s scorecards. When David jarred it on that par three, it mattered that others had witnessed the extraordinary achievement and signed the card to verify it.
Suspicious. Disbelieving. Those words often describe our response to extraordinary events. We live in an age of skepticism and incredulity. Conspiracy theories abound, so people are curious but cautious when they hear remarkable claims. Vetting the veracity of such stories is exactly what we should do.
When it comes to the authenticity, accuracy, and authority of Scripture, examining the evidence is vitally important. After all, the Bible makes an astonishing claim about itself: God is speaking to his creatures about himself, his world, and the roles we should play in his unfolding plans.
For two thousand years, scholars and non-scholars alike have believed Scripture is far more than a reliable historical document. Multiplied millions have been persuaded that it is God’s very Word, spoken through prophets and apostles to us, the readers.
When we enter debates surrounding the nature of the Bible’s sixty-six books, we enter a war zone. The stakes are indescribably high. If Scripture is nothing more than the reports of men and their religious experiences, it deserves a place among the classics.
If, on the other hand, Scripture is ultimately the Spirit of God speaking through men about all that matters, we would be wise to listen reverently.
Besides what Scripture says about itself, is there other evidence for its authenticity, accuracy, and authority? Consider:
Prophetic Corroboration: The Bible knows history before it happens. It repeatedly announces events beforehand, then interprets their fulfillment as evidence of God’s sovereign authorship of history.
Historical and Archaeological Corroboration: For centuries, opponents have accused Scripture of historical and archaeological inaccuracies. Yet archaeologists have repeatedly made discoveries confirming the reliability of its people, places, and events.
Manuscript Evidence: The manuscript evidence is massively in our favor. Approximately 5,800 to 5,900 Greek New Testament manuscripts exist, some dating as early as the second century. This does not prove divine inspiration, but it gives us abundant evidence that the biblical text has been reliably transmitted.
Eyewitness Testimony: The Bible presents eyewitness accounts, not mythology, folklore, or fables. Luke 1:1–4 refers to eyewitnesses; John 19:35 identifies eyewitness testimony concerning the crucifixion; 2 Peter 1:16 says, “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty”; and 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 cites witnesses to Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and appearances, including more than five hundred people at one time.
The Unity of Scripture: Sixty-six books telling one coherent story? The Bible was written by many authors over many centuries, in different settings and literary genres. Yet, without contradicting one another, its books develop one extraordinary theological storyline, together telling the “true story of the whole world.”
Can we trust the manuscript evidence, archaeology, eyewitness testimony, prophecy, and much else besides? Can we trust Scripture’s remarkable unity, coherence, and explanatory power? Most importantly, can we recognize God’s voice in Scripture?
This evidence does not make Scripture God’s Word. Rather, it corroborates what Scripture says about itself. As one scholar puts it, “We don’t stand over God’s Word as a jury conferring authority upon it; ultimately, through the Spirit, we hear in Scripture the voice of the God who speaks.”
Prayer: Lord! Help us to help others see the staggering importance of Scripture.