Can You Really Trust the Bible?

“Is Christianity based on objective truth, or is it just a delusion that people keep alive for some compelling reason?”

Rosaline Picard, MIT Professor & AI Expert

DID GOD REALLY WRITE A BOOK?

What is the Bible?

• The Bible is a LIBRARY, not a BOOK.
• The Bible claims to be GOD’S WORD.

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 Timothy 3:16-17

Can we really trust the Bible?

TRANSMISSION: How do we know the Bible hasn’t changed or been corrupted?  

The Bible wasn’t casually passed down; it was carefully preserved.

1. Meticulously SCRIBAL COPYING
2. Variants: What about ERRORS?
3. MANUSCRIPT Evidence 
4. ARCHAEOLOGY Affirms the Bible 

THE GOSPELS: Can we trust what the Bible says about Jesus? 

The Gospels are:

• Written within the LIFETIME of EYEWITNESS
• HISTORICALLY grounded 
• EMBARRASSINGLY HONEST
• PRESERVED and QUOTED very early
• What about CONTRADICTIONS?

What do historians actually agree on about Jesus?

• Jesus was a real HISTORICAL PERSON.
• Jesus was executed by ROMAN CRUCIFIXION.
• Jesus followers believed He ROSE from the DEAD.
• Jesus’ followers WORSHIPPED Him as GOD.

What should you do with the Bible?

• Read it for YOURSELF.

“I started reading the Bible, and it started to change me.”

Rosalind Rosaline Picard, MIT Professor & AI Expert

• Take Jesus SERIOUSLY.

FURTHER RESOURCES:

How (NOT) to Read the Bible by Dan Kimball (dankimball.com)

Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell 

The Skeletons in God’s Closet by Joshua Butler

Can I Trust the Bible Series by Wesley Huff (wesleyhuff.com)