Arguments That The Bible Is The Word Of God
Arguments That the Bible Is the Word of God
This section addresses the positive question, "Is the Bible the Word of God?" or, negatively, "Does the Bible have mistakes?" It primarily concerns the credibility of revelation, not the inspiration or inerrancy of manuscripts (which are covered in other sections).
The arguments are not based on the Bible validating itself (avoiding circular reasoning), but on external and internal evidence.
Foundational Claims for Credibility
To accept the Bible's premise as God's self-revelation, we must demonstrate:
Its claims are consistent with itself.
Its claims correspond with reality.
Its claims work in the life of the reader.
Its claims are in harmony with history, archaeology, and all of nature.
Ten Proofs That the Bible Is the Word of God (Descending Order of Importance)
The unique revelation of Jesus Christ.
The extraordinary claims that the Bible is from God.
The empirical fulfillment of prophecy.
The convicting, convincing, converting power of the message.
The inexhaustible infinity of its message.
The unity of the message from diverse human sources.
The trans-cultural appeal of the message.
The unmistakable honesty of the Bible.
The immeasurable superiority to other literature.
The pragmatic test of experience.
A. The Unique Revelation of the Person of Christ
No other book could contain such a convicting and extraordinary message about the Son of God. The first argument for the Bible's divine origin is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ.
Biblical Teaching on Christ's Person
Existed before Creation and was the Creator.
Manifested Himself in the Old Testament through Christophanies.
Born of a virgin and came into the world as the God-man.
Lived without sin and died as a substitute for the salvation of sinners.
Was buried, arose from the dead on the third day, and ascended into Heaven.
Makes intercession at the right hand of God the Father.
Shall return to take believers to be with Him forever.
This unique revelation demands examination by any rational person seeking truth. Christ's claims are so radical they cannot be ignored; they must be fully accepted or utterly rejected. If He is the Son of God, belief is obligatory. If not, His claims must be rejected.
Jesus Christ's Affirmations of Deity
Applied the Jehovahistic statement, "I am" to Himself (John 8:24; Exod. 3:14-15; John 4:26, 18:5-6). The Jews understood this as a claim to full deity and attempted to stone Him (John 8:59).
Claimed to be identical with the Father (John 14:9, 10:33).
Asserted His omnipresence (Matt. 18:20; John 3:13), omniscence (John 11:14), and omnipotence (Matt. 28:18; John 5:21-23, 6:19).
Received and approved of human worship (Matt. 14:33; 28:9; John 20:28-29).
Forgave sins (Mark 2:5-7, Luke 7:48-50).
Made other Jehovahistic "I am" statements, identifying Himself with God (e.g., bread, light, the door, the way, the truth and the life, resurrection and life – John 6:37, 8:12, 10:9, 11:25, 14:6).
C. S. Lewis's Dilemma (The Trilemma)
One cannot accept Jesus merely as a great moral teacher while rejecting His claim to be God.
A man making such claims, if not God, would be either a lunatic (on par with claiming to be a poached egg) or the Devil of Hell.
Therefore, the choice is clear: Jesus was, and is, the Son of God, or a madman/worse.
There is no middle ground: "You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).
These teachings lead to the conclusions: Jesus Christ is God, Jesus Christ is the message of the Bible, and the Bible is the Word of God.
The "Man Invented Christ" Argument and Its Refutation
Some claim Jesus Christ is a journalistic or creative invention. Two questions arise:
If man invented Christ, why has man not invented a greater god than Jesus Christ?
Man-made deities (e.g., Greek gods, superheroes like Superman, Spiderman, Batman) are typically extensions and amplifications of human desires and limitations, not personifications of infinite and eternal power.
Christ is presented as the perfect God-man with all projected divine attributes and absolute powers, suggesting He must be God revealing Himself to man, not a human invention.
If man invented Christ, why has He not been able to improve on Christ over the years?
Many have tried to humanize Christ, making Him less than God, but no one has ever succeeded in making Him more loving, powerful, or eternal.
His absolute qualities imply He cannot be improved. He is perfectly human and perfectly divine, the God-man who cannot be equaled or duplicated.
The Argument from Human Inability
"Man would not write the Bible if he could, and man could not write the Bible if he would." (Lewis S. Chafer)
Man would not write it: A rational man would not create a message of a perfect Son of God who condemns all men, including himself, leading to judgment in Hell. Humans typically write self-reinforcing books.
Man could not write it: Due to human limitations and imperfect rational ability, it is impossible to conceive of an unlimited, all-powerful, eternal God with absolute attributes.
Universal Appeal and All-Encompassing Characteristics of Christ
Jesus Christ has equal appeal to all nations, ages, genders, and socioeconomic statuses, regardless of His historical Jewish origin. This universal reverence contributes to the uniqueness of God's self-revelation.
Jesus embodies all ideal characteristics found in exemplary persons (e.g., Abraham's faith, Job's patience, Elijah's boldness, Paul's rationality). He possesses every exemplary quality in one person, pointing to the uniqueness of His revelation and, by extension, the Bible as the Word of God.
B. The Extraordinary Claims That the Bible Is From God
Simply stating "The Bible claims to be the Word of God" is a circular argument, as many false leaders have made similar claims. The credibility of the Bible's claims must be tested.
The Bible's Claims of Divine Authorship
The Bible is either the Word of God (and must be accepted) or the greatest forgery ever printed (and must be rejected).
Over 3,000 times in Scripture, authors claim their message is from God.
Expressions like "thus saith the LORD" appear approximately 500 times in the Pentateuch and over 1,200 times in the prophets.
Old Testament prophets frequently used phrases such as "thus saith the LORD" or "The word of the LORD came unto . . . ."
B. B. Warfield notes that "Word of the Lord" (debhar Yahweh) is the "simplest and most colorless designation of a Divine communication," and both "Word of the Lord" and "Law of the Lord" came to express the entire body of divine revelation, carrying these implications into the New Testament.
If God wrote a book, His truthfulness would necessitate Him claiming authorship. God has placed His "autograph" throughout the Scriptures thousands of times to prevent mistaken source.
Implications for Reliability
If we accept philosophical arguments for a divine message and the un-inventability of Christ, then a book with a unique divine message is required.
The uniqueness of this message demands a unique, reliable avenue of communication.
God must communicate in a way that guarantees its trustworthiness. Thus, God gives the message, and human messengers attest to its divine origin.
The question of revelation concerns the authenticity of its divine author, God, not the reliability of human authors.
The Bible must be accepted as God's Word or rejected as a hoax. "A good book with errors" is illogical: a good, authoritative book cannot contain errors that undermine trust; books with errors serve only for amusement or escape, not authority.
C. The Empirical Evidence of the Fulfillment of Prophecy
This is the strongest empirical argument for the Bible's divine origin, based on its demonstrated ability to predict the future.
Only God claims and possesses knowledge of the future.
Accurate prediction of the future is evidence of God, compelling acceptance of His message.
Christianity is unique among religions in offering fulfilled prophecy as a basis for credibility.
Wilbur Smith emphasizes the Bible's unique prophetic nature, noting other religions' founders lack similar ancient prophecies.
Attempts to Explain Away Fulfilled Prophecy and Their Refutation
Enemies of Scripture typically avoid direct attack on fulfilled prophecy but try to explain it away:
Re-dating the prediction: Claiming prophecies were written after the events happened (e.g., suggesting Daniel was written post-Christ).
Refutation: The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament translation, c. 285 BC) and Dead Sea Scrolls (Hebrew texts collected before Christ) establish that these books, including Daniel, were written before the events they predicted.
Spiritualizing the prediction and fulfillment: Making words mean something other than the authors' original intent.
Refutation: This distorts the historical and literal meaning, undermining the text's straightforward claims.
An English deist suggested Jesus read prophecies and then attempted to fulfill them. This implies Jesus was a lunatic, dying for predictions He knew were false.
Specific Examples of Fulfilled Prophecy
1. Prediction of Names
Cyrus: Predicted by name (Isa. 44:26-28, 45:1) 100 years before his birth.
Josiah: An unnamed prophet predicted Josiah's reign (1 Kgs. 13:2) 300 years before he was born. This was fulfilled when Josiah became the 16th king of the Southern Kingdom (2 Kgs. 23:15-18).
2. Predictions Concerning Messiah
The messianic prophecies of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection were fulfilled with supernatural insight.
a. Prophecies of the Birth of Christ
Lineage of David: Traced through Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), Isaac (Gen. 17:19), Jacob (Gen. 28:14), Judah (Gen. 49:10), and David (2 Sam. 7:12-13).
Date of birth: Daniel 9:25 predicted Messiah's birth before AD 30 (expiration of Daniel's 69 weeks of years, 445 BC-AD 30).
Place of birth: Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2).
Supernatural birth: Of a virgin (Isa. 7:14).
b. Prophecies of His Life on Earth
Savior and Deliverer (Gen. 3:15; John 19:23; Isa. 53:5-6, 12).
His deity (Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Mic. 5:2; Isa. 11).
Preceded by a messenger (Mal. 3:1a; cf. Isa. 40:3-5).
A prophet (Deut. 18:15; cf. John 1:21; 4:29; 6:14; Acts 3:20-24; John 5:46; 8:28; 14:24).
A priest (1 Sam. 2:35; Psa. 11:4; Zech. 6:12).
A king (Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Psa. 2; Isa. 2:1-4; 4:1-6; 9:6-7; 11:1-12; 49:7; 52:15; Jer. 23:1-6; Zech. 9:9).
A cornerstone and foundation (Isa. 28:14-18; Gen. 49:24; 1 Kgs. 7:10-22; Psa. 118:22; Isa. 8:14; Zech. 4:7).
Obedient Servant of Jehovah (Isa. 42:1-7; 49:1-7; 52:13-53:12).
c. Prophecies of His Death
Betrayed by a friend (Psa. 41:9).
Falsely accused (Psa. 35:11).
Spit upon (Isa. 50:6).
Pierced (Psa. 22:16-17).
Ridiculed (Psa. 22:6-7).
Forsaken of God (Psa. 22:1).
Bones not broken (Psa. 34:20).
Silent before accusers (Isa. 53:7).
To die with the wicked (Isa. 53:9).
Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isa. 53:9).
A sacrifice for sin (Isa. 53:5-6, 12).
New Testament prophecies of His death (Mt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; Lk. 9:22; John 12:32-33).
d. Prophecies of His Resurrection
(Psa. 16:10; cf. Psa. 22:22; 118:22-24; Matt. 12:38-40; 16:21; 17:9, 23; 20:19; 27:63; Mark 3:31; 9:9, 31; 10:34; 14:58; Luke 9:22; 18:33; John 2:19-22).
3. Predictions Concerning Nations
Many prophecies predicted unlikely events for powerful nations, fulfilled outside the Bible.
Babylon: Isaiah predicted its fall and uninhabited state (Isa. 13:19-22) when it was the world's most powerful capital city.
Nineveh: Its downfall (Zeph. 2:13-15) was predicted when it ruled the world and experienced an unexpected collapse.
Tyre: God predicted it would be thrown into the Mediterranean Sea (Ezek. 26:3-6, 12-14). Nebuchadnezzar partly destroyed it, and in 330 BC, Alexander the Great used its pillars to build a causeway to an offshore island. Today, the site is used for spreading fishing nets, exactly as predicted.
Philistia: Its downfall was predicted while strong (Zeph. 2:4-7); by the New Testament, Gaza was called a desert (Acts 8:26).
Egypt: Predicted to become "the basest of the kingdoms" and never again rule over nations (Ezek. 29:15). Egypt has not regained international superiority since this prophecy.
4. Prophecies About Israel
Blessing and Endurance: God promised Israel would be blessed (Gen. 12:3) and endure as a race. Recognizable physical characteristics of Jews globally serve as proof of God's Word.
Curse for Opponents: Nations that cursed Israel have faded (e.g., Hittites, Edomites, Canaanites).
Suffering due to Unbelief: Despite enduring, Israel was promised suffering and affliction for unbelief and rejection of God (Lev. 26:28-29; Deut. 28:25, 32, 37, 49, 53, 62, 64, 65, 68). This apparent contradiction is fulfilled by the continuous, yet humanly unexplainable, persecution (including recurring holocausts).
Future Blessings: Jews continue as a people because God has predicted future blessings for them.
Unfulfilled Prophecy
Approximately 75 percent of biblical prophecy remains unfulfilled, including the Second Coming of Christ, the Great Tribulation, the Millennium, and final judgments. While these cannot yet prove the Bible, the credibility of past fulfilled prophecies serves as a warning that future judgment prophecies will also be fulfilled.
D. The Convicting, Convincing, Converting Power of the Message
The Bible possesses a unique power that no other book can universally claim: transformation.
Despite detailing sinful acts, the Bible is not found in places of sin (prostitution houses, taverns).
Its uniqueness lies in its call to repentance, its convicting power to unsettle sinners, and its ability to convert and transform those who accept its message.
The changed lives of individuals who receive the Bible's message provide empirical proof of its divine origin.
Many who initially rejected God or the Bible have been brought under conviction and converted by interacting with its message, often bypassing initial intellectual acceptance and immediately embracing the Bible's divine authorship and authority.
Harold Lindsell's "Pragmatic Test"
The Bible's validity is demonstrated by those whose lives are changed, and by observers of these transformed lives.
"What the Bible promises it delivers."
Illustrations of the Bible's Power
Analogy (Scripture Reference) | Power to… |
|---|---|
A hammer (Jer. 23:29) | Judge sin |
A mirror (James 1:23) | Reveal sin |
Water (Eph. 5:26) | Cleanse sin |
A sword (Heb. 4:12) | Defeat Satan |
A lamp & light (Psa. 119:105) | Guide |
Honey & gold (Psa. 19:10) | Satisfy |
Milk (1 Pet. 2:2) | Sustain & nourish |
Bread (Matt. 4:4) | Sustain & nourish |
Seed (Luke 8:11) | Produce growth |
For 2000 years, the Church of Jesus Christ has demonstrated the difference Christ makes, with thousands living noble lives and tens of thousands suffering martyrdom. The faith has been passed through generations.
Some professing Christians lack promised victories due to never experiencing the Bible's saving power or having intellectual problems from ignorance or false doctrine.
E. The Inexhaustible Infinity of Revelation
The Bible is both remarkably simple and infinitely profound.
Simplicity: Can be understood by children and the illiterate with minimal teaching.
Infinity: No reader can ever exhaust its depths. Doctrines like the Trinity, Christ's two natures, or God's sovereignty contain inexhaustible mystery.
Finite man cannot fully comprehend every part of God's infinite teaching.
Apparent contradictions are often instances where truth transcends itself, especially with supernatural miracles.
Arthur W. Pink on Spiritual Resources
The Bible is infinite in both content and application.
Even familiar passages yield new insights and delights with every fresh reading, no matter how many times revisited.
The Bible is like "a fountain of living water: the fountain is ever the same, but the water is always fresh."
Conclusion on Infinity
The Bible's infinite and unfathomable nature implies an Author infinite in nature and expression.
An infinite God wrote it, yet made it simple enough for everyone to understand due to His desire to communicate and His compassion.
The Bible is easy to understand, yet at the core of every doctrine lies an infinity beyond human comprehension.
F. The Unity of the Message from Different Human Sources
The unity of Scripture is a strong internal argument for those familiar with its content.
Unified Message: Centers in Jesus Christ.
Unified Theme: The redemption of God.
Unified Structure: Each part contributes to the whole; no book can be removed without detracting from the composition.
Unity of Literary Emphasis: Despite numerous authors, it feels as though one mind guided its preparation.
Against Normal Expectations for Diverse Authorship
The Bible was penned on two continents, in three languages, and its composition and compilation spanned 16 centuries.
Written at different times and under varying circumstances (tents, deserts, cities, palaces, dungeons, danger, joy).
Writers came from diverse occupations: judges, kings, priests, prophets, patriarchs, prime ministers, herdsmen, scribes, soldiers, physicians, and fishermen.
Despite this diversity, it is "one Book; behind its many parts there is an unmistakable organic unity. It contains one system of doctrine, one code of ethics, one plan of salvation, and one rule of faith." (Arthur W. Pink)
Dual Authorship of Scripture
Human Authors: Each book reflects the human author's occupation, vocabulary, style, and sociological background.
Divine Authorship (Holy Spirit): Each human author was guided by the Holy Spirit, using their literary tools (vocabulary, rationality, poetical nature, historical observation). The Holy Spirit ensured each book was inspired by God, written without error or mistake.
The Holy Spirit provides the unity, a supernatural dimension proving its divine origin.
Statistics of Diversity
Authors: At least 36, perhaps 40 (some wrote multiple books, like John who wrote 5).
Books: 66 books.
Time Span: Approximately 1600 years, from Moses (c. 1440 BC) to John (c. AD 100), spanning 55 generations.
Only God, who transcends time, could be its source.
Diversity of Occupations (writers write from their background, yet no clash in points of view):
Moses: Politician
David: Shepherd/King
Samuel: Prophet
Peter: Fisherman
Isaiah: Politician
Luke: Physician
Matthew: Tax-collector
Paul: Theologian
Amos: Herdsman
Joshua: General
Job: Businessman
Nehemiah: Butler/Cupbearer
Jeremiah: Prophet
Locations: Written in different locations stretching over 2000 miles (e.g., Ezekiel in Babylon, 560 miles east of Jerusalem; Paul in Rome, 1450 miles west of Jerusalem). Different prophets wrote to different tribes, yet social background doesn't destroy unity.
Subject Matter: Includes history, biography, hygiene/holiness, poetry, theology, prophecy, letters, psychology, genealogy.
Considering around 40 authors, over 1600 years, diverse occupations, vast geographical separation, and numerous subjects, the Bible's unity in theme, structure, literary emphasis, and thrust is evident, pointing to God as its Author.
G. The Trans-Cultural Appeal of the Message
The Bible has a universal appeal across all demographics.
Across Time: Appeals from the first century to the twenty-first century, always seeming up-to-date and meeting readers' needs.
Across Races: Its message resonates universally; few perceive it as solely from an Oriental perspective.
Across Language Barriers: Linguists note the Bible's "translatableness" across languages, with its message conveying clearly, indicating a unique Author.
Across Socioeconomic Status: Found in homes of the rich and poor alike.
Across Ages: Loved by children to the elderly.
God supernaturally endowed the Bible with His Spirit to give it universal appeal, desiring to communicate to all people, in all circumstances, at all periods, and at all levels of society. This argument, while not conclusive on its own, strongly reaffirms other proofs.
H. The Unmistakable Honesty of the Scriptures
Objective readers observe that the Biblical writers hold nothing back.
Honesty about Authors and Nations: They are candid about their own sins, their nations' sins, and their exploits, not succumbing to pride or false humility.
Honesty about Biblical Heroes: The sins of revered men of God are always included, often showing them falling at their strongest points. This serves to:
Direct attention from men to God.
Demonstrate that all men are mortal and fallible.
Foster humility and perseverance in readers who identify with flaws.
Arthur W. Pink's observations: The New Testament is not a mere human invention. The honesty of its writers, faithfully portraying human enmity against God, implies they spoke and wrote "not of themselves," but "as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet. 1:21).
Examples of Honesty in Scripture
Noah: Drunkenness
Abraham: Lied about his wife
Moses: Pride
Eli: Undisciplined, wicked sons
David: Adultery
Solomon: 300 wives, 700 concubines
Elijah: Ran from Jezebel
Peter: Denied the Lord
Thomas: Doubter
Paul: Paid a vow in the Temple
I. The Immeasurable Superiority to Other Literature
Comparing the Bible to other religious texts (e.g., The Koran, Science and Health, The Book of Mormon) or secular classics (e.g., Shakespeare, Scott, Dickens) reveals its superiority in most literary aspects, and especially its message.
Superiority of Message
Other Religions: Teach that man must do something to please God (works-based systems: "Do this to live").
The Bible (Christianity): Teaches grace, that God has done everything for man. It offers a salvation that is free, complete, and comprehensive, requiring only reception by man ("Done").
This distinct and superior message leads to the conclusion that it is the Word of God.
J. The Pragmatic Test of Experience
The world tests claims (e.g., Underwriters Laboratory for products). The Bible's greatest test is its pragmatic impact on the lives of those who engage with its conclusions.
Those with a personal experience with Jesus Christ know the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit to produce new life.
A child of God comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ through Scripture, removing doubt about its divine origin.
E. Y. Mullins on Irrefutable Evidence
Mullins points to "irrefutable evidence of the objective existence of the Person so moving me" through personal experience.
Adding the experience of "tens of thousands of living Christians, and an unbroken line of them back to Christ," recorded in the New Testament, makes the certainty absolute.
Modern Christians have a duty to assert the certainties of Christian experience vigorously.
Addressing Subjective Experience: Josh McDowell's Analogy
Many claim to have had experiences, raising questions about the unique validity of the Bible's transformative power (e.g., could someone claim the Koran changed their life).
Josh McDowell applies two tests to subjective experiences:
What is the objective reality or basis for the subjective experience?
How many other people have had the same subjective experience from being related to that specific objective reality?
Example: "Stewed Tomato in My Right Tennis Shoe"
Claim: "This tomato has changed my life. It gave me peace, love, joy, and I can run the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds flat."
Test 1 (Objective reality): "A stewed tomato in my right tennis shoe."
Test 2 (Repeatability): "How many people in this classroom, university, country, continent, etc., have experienced the same peace, love, joy, and increased track speed from a stewed tomato in their right tennis shoe?" (Answer: "No one!")
Application to Christian Experience:
Test 1 (Objective reality): The person of Christ and His resurrection.
Test 2 (Repeatability): Millions from all backgrounds, nationalities, and professions have had their lives elevated to new levels of peace and joy by turning their lives over to Christ.
A professor confirmed meeting "scores of people around the world that have been transformed by Christ."
Conclusion: There is an objective reality behind the Christian experience that is repeatable in various circumstances by many individuals, unlike isolated or non-replicable subjective claims.
Biblical Invitation to Experience
Resurrection Confirmation: The angel invited women to "Come, see the place" (Matt. 28:6), confirming the empty tomb by experience.
Taste and See God's Goodness: The psalmist invites, "O Taste and see that the LORD is good" (Psa. 34:8).
Knowing the Doctrine: Jesus states, "If any man will [wills to] do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17).
The key to doubt is man's will, not his intellect. Surrendering one's will to God leads to the new life promised in Scripture.
The "natural man understandeth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Cor. 2:14) because he is spiritually blind and cannot grasp the dual nature of the Bible's source or its spiritual impact. Conversion through knowing Jesus Christ as Savior allows one to experience the message of salvation.
Ten Proofs That the Bible Is the Word of God (Descending Order of Importance)
The unique revelation of Jesus Christ.
The extraordinary claims that the Bible is from God.
The empirical fulfillment of prophecy.
The convicting, convincing, converting power of the message.
The inexhaustible infinity of its message.
The unity of the message from diverse human sources.
The trans-cultural appeal of the message.
The unmistakable honesty of the Bible.
The immeasurable superiority to other literature.
The pragmatic test of experience.