God has revealed Himself through the inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments, collectively known as the Holy Bible. These sacred texts weave together magnificent themes that reveal the personality and character of God. Reading the Bible is an invitation to witness the story of God’s relentless love for His creation—despite humanity’s fall from grace—and the ultimate restoration made possible through Jesus Christ. Through poetry, discourse, and narrative, the Bible invites readers to meditate on its words so that, over time, its transformative truths take root in their hearts.
Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible
1. Old Testament and Manuscript Evidence
The Old Testament, comprising the first 39 books of the Bible, is also known as the Tanak. These scriptures were painstakingly preserved by Jewish scribes who regarded them as the very words of God. Every copy was meticulously checked to ensure absolute accuracy, with any errors corrected to maintain the original content. A groundbreaking discovery in the 1950s, the Dead Sea Scrolls, confirmed this precision. When compared to modern Old Testament texts, these ancient manuscripts revealed an astounding 99%+ accuracy, with variations limited to minor spelling or word choice differences—none altering the content or doctrine. This provides compelling evidence for the authenticity and preservation of the Old Testament over thousands of years.
2. New Testament and Manuscript Evidence
The New Testament, consisting of 27 books, is unparalleled in its manuscript evidence. Historians assess the reliability of ancient texts based on two factors:
- The time gap between the original writing and the earliest surviving copies.
- The number of manuscript copies available.
For comparison, Homer’s Iliad boasts 643 surviving manuscripts, considered a significant number. The New Testament far surpasses this, with over 24,600 manuscript copies from the first four centuries after its composition. Any textual variations among these copies are minor and transparently noted in modern translations, none impacting the core gospel message. No other ancient work approaches the textual reliability of the New Testament.
3. Archaeological Evidence
Archaeological discoveries over the past two centuries have further validated the Bible’s historical accuracy. For instance:
- The Babylonian Chronicles confirm the fall of Jerusalem, as recorded in Kings and Chronicles.
- A plaster fragment references Balaam, a figure from Numbers.
- In ancient Corinth, the name Erastus—a co-laborer of Paul mentioned in scripture—was unearthed.
Currently, over 25,000 archaeological finds affirm the people, places, and events described in the Bible, providing substantial corroboration for its narratives.
4. Unity of the Bible Evidence
The Bible’s unity is extraordinary, comprising 66 books written by more than 40 authors across 1,500 years, on three continents, in three languages. Despite addressing hundreds of controversial subjects, it maintains a harmonious message. This coherence strongly suggests that its words were indeed God-breathed, and its content remains trustworthy and divinely inspired.