A Summary of the Kinds of Evidence That Demonstrate the Authenticity, Reliability, and Authority of the Bible
The evidence for the authenticity, reliability, and authority of the Bible is overwhelming. In fact, the Bible alone, among the world’s religious documents, can substantiate its truth-claims with concrete, verifiable evidence. Demonstrating this, however, is an apologetic task that is beyond the scope of this series of blog articles. Moreover, I have dealt with this subject in detail elsewhere (see my books Defending Your Faith and The Christian Combat Manual). Nevertheless, I think it is important that I give a brief summary of the kinds of evidence available for study that clearly and specifically support the veracity of Scripture.
The first kind of evidence is bibliographical. This has to do with the question of whether the Bible we have today is close enough to the original writings to be equally reliable. The answer is yes. Scholars possess thousands of ancient manuscripts of the Bible, particularly of the New Testament. Some Old Testament manuscripts date back to the second century B.C. Scholars also possess New Testament manuscripts that date to between twenty-five and fifty years of their original writings. Theologians also believe that some of the early Christian creeds later quoted in the Bible (e.g. 1 Cor. 15:3-4) date to within eight years of Jesus resurrection! What does all this textual evidence prove? It conclusively demonstrates that existing copies of the Bible are almost word-for-word identical to the original manuscripts. Textual critics claim that today’s New Testament is 99.5 per cent accurate to its original writings. This means that the Bible has not been corrupted, altered, or added to over the centuries of transmission. What God originally inspired is accurately recorded.
The second kind of evidence is internal. This evidence is particularly important to the historicity of Jesus Christ. The four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and post- resurrection appearances were written by eyewitnesses to the events or by people who were associates of the eyewitnesses. This is primary source evidence; it presents the highest level of validation available to historical events. What was recorded was actually witnessed by those who recorded it. New Testament historicity does not rest on oral tradition, hearsay, or circumstantial evidence.
The third kind of evidence is external. This is confirming evidences from non-biblical sources, which further verifies the historical accuracy of the Old and New Testaments by relating similar data. There is corroborating evidence from both Christians and non-Christians that lived close to the time the New Testament was written. Professor Gary Habermas, for example, documented nineteen ancient non-Christians sources that provide historical references about Jesus Christ (see The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ). Altogether these authors confirm, among other things, events in the life of Christ, the birth of the Christian church, and numerous other relevant facts recorded in the New Testament.
The fourth kind of evidence is historical accuracy. In every area in which the Bible can be checked-out, it has been verified by non-biblical sources to be historically accurate. Its references to extinct nations and cultures; to ethical behavior and customs; to tools, weapons, and foods; to religious beliefs and practices; and to ancient kings and laws have been verified by archaeology. Dr. Nelson Glueck, a scholar who specialized in studying ancient documents remarked, “it can be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. (Rivers in the Desert)
The fifth kind of evidence is prophetic accuracy. Prophecy is an ingredient in many religions, including modern ones such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism. Yet every non-Christian religion that touts prophecy has a long list of prophecies that have failed to come to pass as predicted. This is not the case with the Bible. Hundreds of biblical prophecies have come true. Every biblical prophecy concerning events up to the present time have come to pass.
The sixth kind of evidence is scientific. The Bible abounds in geological, biological, astronomical, meteorological, nutritional, and other data—most of the scientific processes for which were not understood at the time they were written (cf. Job 26:7; Isa. 40:22; Eccl. 1:6-7). All of these descriptions are in total agreement with modern research.
In sum, the more the Bible is studied, the more the evidence mounts supporting its authenticity and reliability. Two facts surface relevant to this evidence.
First, if the Bible is truthful in areas where investigation can be applied, it is legitimate to believe that in areas of religious (spiritual) truth it is equally truthful and reliable.
Second, no other religious document in existence can offer for evaluation the kinds of evidences used to verify the authenticity of the Bible. Other religious truth-claims fall under one of three categories: (1) The meaningless prattle of false prophets who sometimes claim to have historical verification but cannot demonstrate it; (2) The fanciful philosophical writings and/or teachings of long dead (or living) religious “sages” with no credentials or confirmation at all for their authenticity; Or (3) The subjective opinions of self-appointed gurus and other religious leaders who don’t even try to verify their claims beyond private mystical experiences. Only the Christian worldview has a source of authority (revelation) that stands the tests of historical, legal, and scientific verification. ©