An Amazing Fact: The Bible is the best-selling book of all time. According to the Guinness Book of World Records,
over 5 billion copies have been distributed since printing began in 1454. The Bible has also been translated into
over 3,600 languages, more than any other book in the world.
What if someone gave you a handwritten letter and said, “Here. This is for you. From God.”
You’d be suspicious, right?
But that’s exactly what Christians say about the Bible. The wild part? The Bible says it too:
- “All scripture was given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
- “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).
The Bible writers claim that God spoke to them directly and told them what to say. Even Jesus said that He was
speaking God’s words (John 12:49, 50).
But here’s the million-dollar question: Can you trust it?
Let’s find out.
Outside Evidence (AKA: Extrabiblical)
Want to know if something is trustworthy? Follow the evidence and see if the clues add up:
- Archeologists have discovered references to many biblical characters in
ancient artifacts. One is the
Pilate Stone—a limestone slab with the inscription “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.” He was the Roman leader that the Bible
says approved Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:2, 22–24). Another important artifact is the
Tel Dan Stele, which refers to the “House of David.” That’s good evidence for one of the Old Testament’s most important
people—King David.
- In 1947, a Bedouin goat herder tossed a rock into a cave and heard pottery
shatter. He investigated and discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls—one of the most significant historical discoveries ever
made. The
Dead Sea Scrolls
include 980 ancient manuscripts (230 of them were from the Bible) from the centuries immediately before and after
Christ. Most of the Bible manuscripts were only fragments, but there were pieces from every book of the Old
Testament except Esther. The most exciting find? A complete scroll of Isaiah that is virtually identical to the book
of Isaiah in your Bible.
- Scholars have found over
24,000 fragments
and manuscripts of the New Testament from the first centuries after Christ—over 12 times as many copies as we have
of Homer’s Iliad. That’s a lot of evidence that the Bible you hold in your hand is the real deal.
Inside Evidence (AKA: Intrabiblical)
There is a lot of evidence for the validity of the Scriptures right inside the Bible:
- Did you know that the Bible was written over 1,500 years by over 40
different people? Its authors include farmers, prophets, military leaders, commoners, and royalty. Yet from
beginning to end, the Bible tells the story of God’s love for you and just how far He is willing to go to rescue
you.
- Most ancient literature only tells of victories and glory, but the Bible
doesn’t filter. It’s honest. King David? Hero and a hot mess. Jesus’ disciple Peter? Willing to die for his Master
but denied Him three times. It’s more BeReal, and less Instagram, because God wants you to know that He can save you
no matter how bad you’ve been.
- Bible prophecies come true. Case in point? The prophecies of Jesus. There
are at least 300. Guess how many
Jesus fulfilled? All of them. One scholar
calculated the odds that one man could fulfill even just eight of them as 1 in 1017. That’s the likelihood of
covering Texas two feet thick with one-dollar coins, painting one of them red, and then sending your little sister
in to find that one coin with a blindfold on.
Changed Lives = Real Proof
The factual evidence stacks up high in favor of the Bible. But is there any other evidence? Yes! The best evidence
is its ability to transform the people who read it. Countless people just like you have discovered a living God in
the pages of the Bible. They have gone from fear to faith, hopelessness to peace, and sin to salvation.
Like Wyatt Allen. He was a 15-year-old Satanist who started reading the Bible in prison. Today, he’s an evangelist
helping others to meet God too.
Watch his story HERE.
God is still in the business of changing lives through His Word. Why not give Him a chance to do the same for you
today? Whether it is your first time or 1,000th time picking up a Bible, pull it out and begin reading about Jesus
in the book of Matthew. Ask God to help you understand it and then keep reading. Today. And every day.