THE RELIABILITY OF GOD'S WORD

A common name for the Bible is "the Word of God." That's a big claim to make. What does it mean, and how do we know it's a true statement?

Furthermore, if it is true, how does it affect our lives?

These are important questions to answer. If we are to allow the Bible to inform our worldview, then we must learn more about its origin and be confident we can trust it.

Satan has waged constant attacks on God's Word since he first tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In fact, a challenge of God's Word was the basis of his temptation to Eve.

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Satan encouraged Eve to doubt God's words and honesty with the simple phrase "hath God said?" In the same manner, Satan often suggests to us that the Bible isn't really true. He tells us that we have no means to verify the accuracy of Scripture, and therefore, no need to obey it.

History has revealed continuing attempts to question God's Word. Many of these attempts have weakened the faith of our society.

As recently as the twentieth century, theological liberalism swept through Europe and then the United States, dramatically changing the landscape of mainline denominations. At the heart of these discussions and changes were severe challenges to the accuracy of the Bible. Seminaries, theologians, and pastors began to question the inspiration of Scripture (a truth we'll define in a moment) and the facts of the Bible including its miracles and the deity of Christ. Some suggested that entire books in the Bible should be removed.

This questioning of Scripture continues today.

Due to the pervasive influence of secularism, many people even in Bible-preaching churches have been led astray and have accepted false views about God and the Bible. One author wrote,

"Secularism has desensitized many people sitting in the pews of faithful, gospel-preaching churches, leading them to unwittingly hold even heretical doctrines."1

Although many deny the historicity and veracity of the Scriptures, they do so without credible reasons. Biblical scholar F. F. Bruce wrote, "The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of the classical authors, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning. And if the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt."?

[[[[[“¡ Discussion What are some of the ways Satan tempts us to question the Bible's teaching?]]]]]]

Yet, people still insist on denying the credibility of the Bible.

Although many people doubt or deny the reliability of the Bible, there are many reasons to trust it.

In this lesson, we will study some of these reasons so we can be strong in our belief of God and of His Word.

Discussion Do you think there is a difference between healthy questions someone might ask to better understand his or her faith versus unhealthy questioning that might lead a person to deny truth? If so, how would you define the difference(s)?

1. THE BIBLE IS TRUSTWORTHY - The Reliability of the Bible -

The Bible itself claims to be a reliable source of truth, coming directly from God Himself.

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Let's break this verse down:

A. Inspired Words

The Bible is given by inspiration of God. God Himself is the author of Scripture.

~ Slide 1A

The Greek word for inspiration is theopneustos, which means "God-breathed."

This definition is paralleled in the English phrase inspiration of God. Our English word inspire has multiple definitions. In this case, it uses the definition "to breathe into."

This is the exact manner in which God gave Scripture.

Just as God breathed life into Adam and he became a living soul, God breathed life into His words. In turn, these words give life to all men who believe on Jesus Christ.

John 6:63

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Bible is a living book, and it produces heart-penetrating conviction. Sometimes that conviction feels like a sword, sharply cutting through our hearts and revealing our thoughts.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Bible is also an incorruptible seed that will never die. Just as a physical seed produces a plant and then fruit, God's Word produces fruit and new life.

1 Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

So, how did God breathe His Word into existence?

Although God is the author of Scripture, He used human writers to record His Word.

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV 1900)

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

While skeptics often claim that the Bible is just man's opinion, because it came through the pens of human writers, this is a misleading and even illogical claim.

IT’S CONGRUENCY

Think about it this way: The Bible was recorded by about forty human writers from a variety of backgrounds and occupations. It was written over a period of approximately fifteen hundred years. It was penned in three languages and on three continents. And it covers hundreds of controversial subjects. Yet, the entire Bible has a single theme and complete unity within itself. This could only be achieved if it were inspired by a sole author. And there is only one Author who spans every age, language, location, and subject—God Himself.

There was only one writer-God the Holy Spirit.

He moved men to write what He wanted, yet He used each person's words and writing styles.

The writers themselves expressed awareness that Scripture was God's Word, not their own thoughts. David was used of God to write some o the largest portions of Scripture, and he claimed that God gave him the words.

2 Samuel 23:2

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

There were also New Testament writers who quoted verses from the Old Testament. They claimed those words to be the Word of God, revealing that they considered the Old Testament to be inspired Scripture.

Quote: "There are, in fact, over 320 quotations from the Old Testament recorded in the New, as well as over 1,000 clear and definite references to it. Always, the context indicates the belief of the speaker or writer that he was referring to the authoritative Word of God whenever he made such a quotation or reference." —Henry Morris?

The Bible is reliable because it has been given by a divine Author who spoke through human writers.

We can trust it to provide the truth and direction we need.

B. Inerrant Facts

Looking back to 2 Timothy 3:16, we saw from the beginning of the verse that the Bible is given by inspiration of God, but the verse further states that the Bible is profitable for significant areas of life.

The Bible is unique in that it is inerrant. It literally says nothing that errs from the truth.

Although the purpose of the Bible wasn't to record all of history or teach science, where it does state facts regarding history, science, or any other subject, it is without error.

Notice a few of the unique aspects of the Bible in relation to facts.

It is the only book of antiquity that gives an account of special creation of all things out of nothing. The Bible is the only ancient book that gives a continuous historical record from the first man to the present era. We find accurate descriptions of historical events and people throughout the Bible.

• The Bible is the only religious book containing detailed prophecies of events that, at the time of the writing, had not yet happened but which have since been fulfilled.

From a historic standpoint, it is amazing to see how Scripture recounts history which modern-day historians are only recently catching up with.

[[[[[Slide Mud Brick ^ Slide Hittite Art]]]]

For instance, for years, historians questioned the biblical account of a people known as the Hittites as well as the Babylonian king, Belshazzar. In both instances, skeptics said since there was no evidence of either of these, the biblical authors had simply made them up. Over time, however, archaeological discoveries have revealed material proof for these peoples and stories.

[[[[[Slide Belshazzar on Clay Cylinder]]]]]

These confirmations, thousands of years after the events were recorded, should assure us that we can trust the Bible's historical accuracy even before archaeology catches up to the history.

From a scientific standpoint, we see that Scripture recorded accurate scientific facts, even before they were discovered by man.

For instance, it was a common belief of the Middle Ages that the earth was flat. The Bible, however, always taught otherwise.

[[[[[Slide Planet Earth]]]]

Isaiah 40:22

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth ...

Long before Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity and its ramification, God had already told us about the gravitational pull of the earth. Newton simply realized what God had previously explained.

Job 26:7

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Our knowledge about the earth matters to God.

The one who created the earth knows everything about it, and the Bible's voice on history and science—as well as on any other topic—is always an accurate record.

C. Infallible Truth

One of the best showcases for the infallibility of Scripture in found through its prophecy and the fulfilling of it.

Author Henry Morris wrote, "One of the strong objective evidences of biblical inspiration is the phenomenon of fulfilled prophecy." 4

The Bible is unique in this respect among all other religious books. While some contain vague forecasts of future events, none of them hold anything comparable to the vast number of specific prophecies given in Scripture which have subsequently been fulfilled.

Let's take a look at the clear prophecies surrounding just the one event of Christ's birth. The Bible gave details on the timing, miraculous nature, and place of Christ's birth hundreds of years before it occurred.

The prophet Daniel provided the specific time period of Christ's birth.

This is given in the famous "seventy-week prophecy."

Daniel 9:25-26

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself ....

Every sequence and spacing of years in this prophecy add up to Christ's crucifixion (the Messiah "cut off, but not for himself") in the first century. (The "weeks" mentioned here, refer to "a set of seven." In this case, it refers to sets of seven years.)

The prophet Isaiah prophesied the miraculous nature of Christ's birth-that He would be born of a virgin.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The prophet Micah even foretold the exact town of Christ's birth, some 750 years before Jesus came.

Micah 5:2

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.

These examples are just a small sampling of all the specific biblical prophecies that have been executed exactly as written.

God said that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it is clear that the Bible is a supernatural and God-breathed book. It is high above all other literature and any opinions this world can offer.

2. THE BIBLE IS TRIED - The Durability of the Bible

Psa 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

TRIED = to fuse (metal), that is, refine (literally or figuratively): - cast, (re-) fine (-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try.

In our text, Paul reminded Timothy that he had known the Scriptures since his childhood.

2 Timothy 3:15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

This could only have been true if God had kept them preserved for all generations, just as He promised He would.

Psalm 119:89

For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

A. The Words Preserved

When God gave His words to man, He also preserved them so that man would have God's truth forever.

Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

What God meant for man to have, He revealed and then had it preserved in written form forever.

Furthermore, God made it clear that His words are not going away.

Psalm 12:6-7

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

This theme of God preserving His Word is continuous throughout Scripture.

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Amazingly, what Isaiah recorded (above) around 800 BC was quoted by Peter (in bold below) almost 800 years later. When you compare the two, you see preservation in action, even through the translations into other languages.

1 Peter 1:24–25 KJV 1900

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Jesus reaffirmed the promise of preservation, specifically including the smallest letter (jot) and part of a letter (tittle) in the Hebrew alphabet.

God's promise is that not even the smallest part of His Word can be erased.

Matthew 5:18

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Preserving the words of Scripture, of course, includes preserving the physical copies. This is exactly what we see has happened.

B. The Manuscripts Preserved

The overwhelming number of physical manuscripts that exist today is astounding, especially considering that these are all handwritten.

In fact, no other ancient book or writings has more extant evidence today than the Bible.

In a 1988 Time Magazine article titled "Religion, Who Was Jesus?" skeptical author Richard Ostling wrote,

"How reliable are the Gospels? Aside from a few brief references in other ancient documents, the New Testament is the only source of information concerning the most influential life that was ever lived. Scholars generally agree that the four Gospels were written within 40 to 70 years of Jesus' death on the Cross.

In addition, existing copies of the New Testament are far older and more numerous than those of any other ancient body of literature."5

Copies of these manuscripts are located throughout the world, many of which have been preserved in historic collections.6

At the age of sixteen, Swiss-born Martin Bodmer started what would become one of the best collections of early books and writings. At the time of his death in 1971, he had amassed 150,000 works in eighty languages. In 2003, the present-day Bodmer Library of World Literature opened in Cologny, Switzerland, showcasing his collection of rare and valuable books.

[[[[[Slides The Martin Bodmer Library and Museum]]]]

Among those items, is a rare copy of the Gutenberg Bible as well as some of the earliest manuscripts of the New Testament that have been found.

P66 (Papyrus 66) contains most of the Gospel of John, and is just one century after the time of the original text. This document dates from AD 200 or earlier.

Papyri

Papyrus 66-The first page shows John 1:1-13 and the opening words of verse 14.

Another document in the collection, P72, contains the earliest-found copy of the epistle of Jude and the epistles of Peter. The books appear to have been copied by the same scribe, and the handwriting has been assigned to the third or fourth century.

The final document of note here is P75, dated between AD 175 and 225. It is the earliest known copy of the Gospel of Luke and one of the earliest of the Gospel of John.

Chester Beatty was a British mining engineer who purchased a collection of papyri from an Egyptian dealer in the 1920s. His collection includes three more of the earliest surviving Christian writings in the world, now on display in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, Ireland.

P45 contains part of the text of the Gospels and Acts.

P46 contains letters written by Paul: Romans, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians.

P47 contains the oldest known text of Revelation.

(These particular manuscripts, among the earliest surviving in history, are especially of note because they favor the Byzantine or Textus Receptus family— the manuscripts behind the King James translation).

Located in the Cambridge University Library in England, the Codex Bezae dates from the fifth century.

It contains the Gospels and Acts, but has the unique feature of being a parallel Bible, having Greek and Latin corresponding pages which face each other.

The only complete book within this manuscript is Luke. The codex was acquired by theologian Theodore Beza in 1562 from a monastery in France, who gifted it to Cambridge in These are just a small sampling of thousands of manuscripts that have been preserved for generations.

We are greatly blessed to have vast documentation of God's Word throughout the centuries.

Based on the promises of God, which we also know to be supported by the tangible evidence of history, we can believe without a doubt that the Bible we hold in our hands is the preserved Word of God.

* Discussion Given the manuscript evidence for the Bible, why do you think people are so willing to question its authenticity?

C. The Bible Indestructible

Although many tyrants, dictators, rulers, and rebels have attacked and tried to destroy the Bible throughout the entirety of its existence, they have not succeeded.

Quote: "The Bible has withstood vicious attacks of its enemies as no other book. Many have tried to burn it, ban it, and outlaw it from the days of Roman emperors to the present-day communist-dominated countries." —Josh McDowell?

In 303 AD, the Roman emperor Diocletian issued an edict to stop Christians from worshipping and to destroy the Scriptures. Only twenty-five years later, his successor Constantine ordered fifty copies of the Bible made and distributed throughout the empire.

The evil plans of one man to destroy the Word of God were foiled by another who was used of God to create even more copies.§

^ Slide Emperor Diocletian; Constantine the Great

William Tyndale translated the Bible into English even as he had to run from hostile authorities. After he finally completed an English translation, the government bought every single copy they could and burned them. Rather than viewing this as a setback, Tyndale was grateful because the sales provided enough money to fund an improved translation.

He continued translating God's Word until he was martyred in 1536. His ministry lived on and his work was one of the main sources used by the King James translators less than one hundred years later.?

^ Slide William Tyndale

God's promise to preserve His Word was not made in vain. Even as wicked forces attempted to destroy Scripture forever, God thwarted their efforts and used them to further the propagation of Scripture. Men and kingdoms have repeatedly toiled to blot out and destroy the Bible, but they have never succeeded. The Bible still endures.

3. THE BIBLE IS TRUTH - The Capability of the Bible

The Bible is not only reliable and durable, but it is also capable. Looking back again to 2 Timothy 3:16, we see that it speaks to every area of our lives, with power and truth unlike any other words.

^ Slide 3

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Bible is profitable in our lives for

Doctrine— shows us what is right. Reproof—shows us where we are wrong. Correction—shows us how to get right.

Psa 105:19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

Instruction in righteousness —shows us how to stay right.

Indeed, the Bible is capable to help us in every area of life.

A. Authentic Power

The living Bible speaks to our hearts with absolute truth, and it will always change us for the better.

Quote: "An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly."—A. W. Tozer

Scripture's foremost purpose is to bring us to Christ.

The Bible shows us our need for a Savior, and reveals God's plan of salvation to us. Then, after we are born again, the Bible reveals the greatness of our God.

Quote: "It is the very drift and design of the whole Scripture, to bring souls first to an acquaintance with Christ, and then to an acceptance of Christ, and then to build them in a sweet assurance of their actual interest in Christ." Thomas Brooks

Discussion What is a recent way in which God has used His Word (through personal study, hearing preaching or teaching, or any other way) to impact your life?

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

This is why daily study of God's Word is so necessary for every Christian. As we faithfully study Scripture and apply its truths to our lives, it changes us, guides us, strengthens us, and transforms us to the image of Christ.

Suggestion Consider sharing with your group a few specific and foundational passages God has used at key times in your life.

There is no area of our lives in which the powerful Word of God is not capable to help. And there is nothing like the Bible to transform our lives.

B. Authoritative Principles

The Bible makes no apologies for the truth it presents. All principles outlined in Scripture have been established for our own good and benefit, and God states them authoritatively.

There are those who hold the Bible at arm's length, determining for themselves what is profitable for their lives and what is not. In a sense, they place themselves as the authority of Scripture as they determine what parts they will apply to their lives. But God calls us to place ourselves under the authority of Scripture. We are to come to Scripture with a tender heart, recognizing God—not ourselves—as the authority of our lives.

As we saw a moment ago, our text mentions four areas of principles through which the Word of God profits us: doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

Doctrine teaches us what to believe. It is the measuring stick by which we discern truth from error. Doctrine is the reason we can firmly state our beliefs, regardless of the changes in culture and even the changes in the churches around us.

What do we believe about church attendance?

Marriage? Relationships? Finances? Prayer? Honesty? The Bible gives us doctrines to believe and follow for every area of life. When we study and obey Bible doctrine, we gain stability in our lives.

Doctrine is profitable as it grounds us in truth so that our Christian life is stable.

Reproof shows us where we have strayed from truth. The Bible reproves us when its words convict us when we have disobeyed God's instruction to us.

Correction is God's mercy to us. The Bible doesn't stop with reproving us. When we respond to the reproof of Scripture with a tender heart, God then uses His Word to show us how to change. For every truth of God that reveals our wrong there is a truth that teaches us what is right and how to do it.

Instruction in righteousness gives us the path forward on how to live in a right relationship with God and how to practically apply the doctrinal truths of God's Word to our lives.

C. Perfect Process

The authoritative Word of God provides everything we need to know God and live a life that is honoring to Him, as we see in verse 17 of our text.

2 Timothy 3:17

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The word perfect means "to be mature." Spiritual maturity is the process of becoming Christlike, and God's Word is profitable to bring us to this maturity. As we immerse ourselves in God's Word, we will grow in Him and become ready to do the work He has called us to.

Quote: "The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives." —D. L. Moody12

Conclusion:

The Bible is absolutely reliable, durable, and capable to help us in every area of our lives. We must build our lives upon its doctrines and truths.

In 1908, a small group of people established The Gideon's International—an organization with a goal of making a difference for the Lord disproportional to their size. A few years later, the group began distributing free copies of God's Word. To date, they have distributed more than two billion copies of New Testaments and Bibles around the world.13

Every copy of a Gideon's New Testament contains the following statement:

"The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

"Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

"It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword and the Christian's charter. Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed.

"Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure."

Quote: "Within the covers of one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems that face us today—if only we would read and believe." —Ronald Reagan

The Bible is, in fact, the very Word of God.

When you need answers, go to God's Word. When you see unimaginable chaos on the news, have a heavy heart for a friend, or are struggling in your own life, focus your heart on God's truth.

Culture's confusion and our own emotions do not lead us to a true worldview. We must allow God to direct us through His perfect Word. All other counsel will fade away and ultimately break down. Keep going back—again and again—to the reliable guidance of God's Word.