THE BIBLE

God has given us a book called the Bible. Its Purpose is to give us directions about how to live in this life, and how to get to heaven. Sixty-six books make up the Bible, thirty nine of these are found in the Old Testament (Genesis through Malachi); and twenty seven are in the New Testament (Matthew through Revelation). They were written by about 40 different men, over a period of fifteen hundred years, however, these men are not the authors of what they wrote (the Bible), and God is. “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21 NKJV).

The books in the Bible are all Inspired of God. ”All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV). Some have called the Bible a "road map from earth to heaven;" but David put it best: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).  There are two kinds of proof that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. First, there is internal proof found in the Bible itself. Second, there is external proof, evidence outside, of the Bible.

Internal evidence is the most valuable evidence,

1. The UNITY of the Bible itself declares its inspiration. Beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation, there is a Central Theme throughout without any contradictions or lack of harmony whatsoever. Christ is the Theme of every book from first to last. In prophecies in the Old Testament, His coming is foretold. The New Testament reveals that He did come, that He lived, and then He was crucified. It tells of His work and of His accomplishment of that work without any variations. The fact that over forty men wrote, over a period of fifteen hundred years, proves that one mind was behind the writing of this book.

2. The prophetic accuracy of the Bible declares its inspiration. Throughout the sixty six books, prophetic statements are made in which not only major events are predicted, but even minor details of these events are described. On the pages of history, both secular and divine, we have the fulfillment of these prophecies recorded, supporting the claims found in the Bible. Inspiration by God was necessary for that to happen.

3. We have the historical and geographical accuracy of the Bible which proves its inspiration. Although the book does not claim to be a historical or a prophetical book, its re-cord of these events have been proven to be correct, time and time again. This is spite of the fact that we know several of these writers never visited the place they wrote about, and what they wrote is accurate. Some have questioned the historical facts revealed in the Bible, and over the years, all have been proved to be factual and correct.

External evidence supports the inspiration of the Bible.

1. The popularity of the Bible declares its inspiration. Books written by men are soon revised or rewritten, and eventually discarded; the Bible still stands as it was written centuries ago. The Bible is the "best selling" book of all times. In every age it is loved and revered by millions throughout the earth. Man has in all ages given the Bible a place which he has been denied all of the writings of men and thus bear witness to its inspiration.

2. The power and strength of the Bible in overcoming its enemies and its critics, has proven its inspiration. No other book has had such enemies, such coalition of powers going against it, and yet it has stood. Combined forces of apostate churches and civil authorities have sought to destroy it and rid its influence in the hearts of men, but it had stood the test of time. Infidels have sought to ridicule and laugh it into oblivion, but they are dead and the Bible lives on.

3. The superiority of the Bible in every field of learning declares its inspiration. In literature it is unequaled, as a code of law it stand supreme, as a way of life it is superior to all philosophies of men, and as a source of comfort and consolation it stands alone. Even infidels have confessed that man is unable to produce a book equal to the Bible.

Conclusion

Therefore, in view of these facts which are undeniable and unquestionable, let us put our faith and our trust in God's Word, and build our hope upon the precious promises found therein.  "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23 NKJV). “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 NKJV). Solomon thought this truth so important that he repeated it in, Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (NKJV).  In view of these facts and the evidence present, we can and should accept the Bible as the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word from God!