Hebrews 4:12
ESV - 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
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It's rather easy to demonstrate the authenticity of the Bible. To anyone criticizing its content I would say first read it - many critics never took the time to read the entire Bible. The field of archaeology time and time again proved the Bible's record to be true. The Bible contains 66 books written by 44 different authors over a span of 1500 years. These authors, from many walks of life, and of varying degrees of education, most of whom never knew each other were able to write only through God's inspiration. The authenticity of its stories and of the people who lived in its history has been authenticated by many discoveries: The Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1948. The Cyrus Cylinder, discovered in 1879, records Cyrus' overthrow of Babylon and his subsequent deliverance of the Jewish captives. The Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799 in Egypt, was written in 3 languages and unlocked the mystery of the hieroglyphics which confirm the authenticity of the Bible. The Moabite Stone discovered in 1868 in Jordan, confirmed Moabite attacks on Israel as recorded in 2 Kings 1 and 2 Kings 3. The Lachish Letters, discovered in 1930s north of Beersheba, described the attack of Nebuchadnezzar on Jerusalem in 586 BC. In addition, many of the Bible's prophecies have already come true. Prophecies concerning Babylon (Isaiah 13:19-22), Tyre (Ezekiel 26:3-5), Sidon (Ezekiel 28:21-23), Cyrus (Ezra 4:3; 5:13-14; Isaiah 44:28; 45:1), Medo Persia (Daniel 8:20-21), Greece (Daniel 8:20-21), and Jesus' birthplace Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) have all been fulfilled as predicted. All these are strong arguments for the trustworthiness of the Bible.
Let’s first understand these words from the question: 1) Inspired – means of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative purpose, 2) Infallible - means incapable of making mistakes or being wrong, 3) Inerrant means incapable of being wrong. My answer will argue that we can know that the bible meets these conditions from the words of the scriptures themselves based on two propositions: 1) The entire bible is the revelation of God's Word to human beings 2) Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, is the embodiment of all truth Now, let’s look at what the scriptures say. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Hebrews 6:16-18 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 3:31-33 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. John 7:18 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 1 John 2:20-21 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.
The question is simple... "How can we KNOW that the Bible is inspired, infallible, and inerrant?" The answer has been the same for thousands of years. It is likewise the answer to other questions like, "How do we know that the God of the Bible is the one true God and real?" "How do we know that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God?" It is the same answer that time and time again sustained the faith of the Hebrews and has powered them forward to this very day. It is the answer as to why there is a thing even called "The Christian Faith." This single powerful answer is found in a single word that permeates all of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. It is God's chosen method of evangelism... and it is the least taught and least understood aspect of Holy Scripture... the answer lies in the word... "Prophecy!" And Yes! It really is that simple. "Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.” “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I am God." Isaiah 43:8–12 (NKJV) “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ” Isaiah 44:6–8 (NKJV) It is equally impossible to rightly testify of Jesus apart from prophecy! This is not true because I say it is true. It is true because God says it is true... For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 (NKJV) We are commanded to "not quench the Spirit by despising prophecy" and to "test all things" prophetic and hold fast to that which is good, right and true! (1 Thes 5:19-21) "Prophecy" is the single proof of the truth! It is prophecy and prophecy alone which has consistently given the naysayers and the detractors of the Bible (over the entire course of time) an incurable case of heartburn! Why do you suppose that is? It is because... "Prophecy" is the single proof of the truth! When any believer is asked the question "Why do you believe the Bible is true?" The answer to which no argument can be made is... "Prophecy!" That is why I believe it! Yet, how many can give this answer? It is prophecy, and prophecy alone which separates the Bible and makes it unique among all religious writings. Learn about the prophecies and you too can know with absolute certainty! God has really said... and yes... He is very real!
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