How Can We Be Certain the Bible was Inspired by God?

The Bible claims to be inspired and that means that the words are God’s words, given to man. There are many lines of evidence to support the divine origin of the Bible. Consider the following:

• Manuscripts: No other ancient document comes anywhere close to the Bible in terms of the number and accuracy of surviving copies and they authenticate the accuracy of the Bible through the ages.

• History: Archaeology has repeatedly verified the biblical record. Over the centuries archeological digs have validated peoples, places, and events recorded in the Bible and archaeology continues to unearth finds that offer additional validation of the Bible’s accuracy.

• Authorship: The men who wrote the Bible were known as men of integrity. They were pious Jews, persons of authority, and ones who suffered for the things they wrote. There is no reason to believe that they recorded false accounts of their experiences. Jesus Christ also testified that the Bible comes from God (see Matt. 24:35 and John 10:35, among others).

• Prophecy: There are numerous prophecies of future events recorded in the Bible. A single false prophecy would be enough to refute the Bible’s claim to divine origin; instead, so many have been fulfilled that it supports our certainty that prophecies of events yet-to-happen will one day be fulfilled.

• Power: Since the beginning of time, God has spoken to His people and changed their lives.  And with the Bible available worldwide, for centuries we have witnessed the amazing power of the written word to change people’s lives, even to the point of impacting history.

No other book has shaped individuals—and world events—like the Holy Bible the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Gen 1:1, Col 1:17).

No other book has offered absolute truths like the Bible, written by the Absolute Truth Giver (John 17:17).

No other book gives hope like the Bible, the Word of God who is our Redeemer, our Saviour, and our true Hope (John 1:1, Gal 4:4-5, Titus 2:13)

All of these facts support the Bible having a divine (rather than human) origin.

About the Bible

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• Does Mark 16:9-20 Belong in the Bible?
• What Are The Two Manuscript Lines From Which We Get Our New Testament?
  
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• What is the Most Popular Book in the Bible? The Least Popular Book?
• Super Bowl – Bible Quiz – Game
• The Bible: Truth
• The Bible: A History Book?
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• A better answer than 2 Timothy 3:16 for the Bible being God’s Word?
• The Everlasting Word Of God
• God At Word In Us
• God’s Words Of Wisdom
• The Oracles Of God
• How Can We Be Certain the Bible was Inspired by God?
• What are the Mysteries in the Bible?
• How Did the Gospel Writers Remember all the Words Jesus Spoke?
• How Can We be Certain the New Testament is True and Accurate?

***For in-depth answers to some of the most challenging Bible questions, Visit

Christian apologists Alex McFarland and Shari Abbott answer some of life's many questions concerning the gospel, faith, and the Bible by sharing Truth for a New Generation and Reasons for Hope found only in Jesus. For more information about apologist, evangelist, author, and religion and culture analyst, Alex McFarland, visit www.alexmcfarland.com. For more information about Shari Abbott, executive director of Reasons for Hope* Jesus, click here.

Truth for a New Generation (TNG) serves nationwide, featuring a multi-year conference tour and student-led club program to equip teenagers, parents, grandparents, and others who lead them to live for God. TNG's mission is to creatively communicate a compelling Christian worldview to the next generation by giving answers to tough questions, based on the truths of Scripture, and to build up the Body of Christ to stand strong and boldly proclaim the gospel in the world. For more information and resources visit www.truthforanewgeneration.com.