How do you know that anything in the bible is true?

Question

I know what you are going to say: "Because it says it is."

Don't christians realize what a goofy, backwards argument that is?

Something isn't true just because it says it is. The fact that people even have to be told that is a little disconcerting.

Answer 1

No one has the slightest physical evidence to support a historical Jesus; no artifacts, dwelling, works of carpentry, or self-written manuscripts. All claims about Jesus derive from writings of other people. There occurs no contemporary Roman record that shows Pontius Pilate executing a man named Jesus. Devastating to historians, there occurs not a single contemporary writing that mentions Jesus. All documents about Jesus got written well after the life of the alleged Jesus from either: unknown authors, people who had never met an earthly Jesus, or from fraudulent, mythical or allegorical writings. Although one can argue that many of these writings come from fraud or interpolations, I will use the information and dates to show that even if these sources did not come from interpolations, they could still not serve as reliable evidence for a historical Jesus, simply because all sources derive from hearsay accounts.

Hearsay means information derived from other people rather than on a witness' own knowledge.

Courts of law do not generally allow hearsay as testimony, and nor does honest modern scholarship. Hearsay provides no proof or good evidence, and therefore, we should dismiss it.

If you do not understand this, imagine yourself confronted with a charge for a crime which you know you did not commit. You feel confident that no one can prove guilt because you know that there exists no evidence whatsoever for the charge against you. Now imagine that you stand present in a court of law that allows hearsay as evidence. When the prosecution presents its case, everyone who takes the stand against you claims that you committed the crime, not as a witness themselves, but solely because other people said so. None of these other people, mind you, ever show up in court, nor can anyone find them.

Hearsay does not work as evidence because we have no way of knowing whether the person lies, or simply bases his or her information on wrongful belief or bias. We know from history about witchcraft trials and kangaroo courts that hearsay provides neither reliable nor fair statements of evidence. We know that mythology can arise out of no good information whatsoever. We live in a world where many people believe in demons, UFOs, ghosts, or monsters, and an innumerable number of fantasies believed as fact taken from nothing but belief and hearsay. It derives from these reasons why hearsay cannot serves as good evidence, and the same reasoning must go against the claims of a historical Jesus or any other historical person.

Authors of ancient history today, of course, can only write from indirect observation in a time far removed from their aim. But a valid historian's own writing gets cited with sources that trace to the subject themselves, or to eyewitnesses and artifacts. For example a historian today who writes about the life of George Washington, of course, can not serve as an eyewitness, but he can provide citations to documents which give personal or eyewitness accounts. None of the historians about Jesus give reliable sources to eyewitnesses, therefore all we have remains as hearsay.

But there is proof that matthew was killed in rome before he wrote the first word in the bible so how can it be true

Answer 2

study the content of the bible, is it consistent and reliable? Only you could answer that question.

Look into the Quran, the first statement verse of the 2nd chapter (the first chapter is the openning) states: "This is the Book (Qur'an) wherein there is no doubt." From the very beginning, God is challenging you to find doubt in His book. Islam considers the best of Muslims the one that can prove their faith, having faith alone is not the best of belief. Muhammad, before becoming a prophet, has been known to climb a cave and meditate about life and the creation.

Other verses:
"Have not the unbelievers considered that if it were from other than Allah, it would contain many contradictions?"
"Allah shall show them the Signs within themselves and on the farthest horizons."
"If you are in doubt about it, bring a book like it."

If you want to seek the truth, then you have to consider the bible to c if it's real, as well as the Quran, and any other book that claims to bring guidance to human beings. Ultimately, it's your life, and you and only you are responsible for the choices u make. Make no mistake about that!

Answer 3

Some parts of the Bible that deal strictly with history have been proved true through archeology and by other ancient writings from neighboring kingdoms.

For example, the names/existence of towns (IE Jerusalem, Nazareth, Shiloh, Beth-El, Megiddo, etc), the names of kings (IE David, Solomon, etc), that Jews were slaves in Egypt, that Israel was divided into northern and southern kingdoms, that the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria around 722 BC, that the southern kingdom was conquered by Babylonia around 587 BC, and that there was a King Herod.

The specific details and dialog in the stories about these factual places and people are what today is called "narrative nonfiction" in literary circles. And, of course, there is no proof of any of the supernatural and paranormal events in the Bible.

Answer 4

We don`t, the bible was written by men to control us. When it comes down to it we really don`t know if anything is for real or not, some dreams are very convincing. Maybe the whole universe is just an illusion, or maybe it`s real. Either way I`m not going to let a 2 thousand year old book run my life, all I have to do is be a good person that`s it. Some people are not willing to accept that the power of god is within themselves, when something goes wrong we can say "well it`s part of god`s master plan" that's bull. We all have control of our own lives, some people just don`t want to accept that responsibility. So they turn to a book to tell them whats right and wrong and who to hate and what to warship, the real god/universal power dosen`t need to be warship ed. And no real benevolent being would want to be.

Answer 5

For one thing you ought to know that a christian will answer you from the bible...because that is our source..it is Gods word to us...that being said...let me show you a few scriptures...
Jeremiah 33:20.Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21. Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, 25. Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
26. Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

What God is saying is ...if you can change the relationship night and day have so there would no longer be night and day...then you can change the promises of God...
again....the bible says Ecclesiastes 3;14. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

That's pretty cut and dry...God promised that his works cannot be changed especially his word...in which you must consider, he is Alpha and Omega...and he is able to see all things from beginning to end and knows how to preserve his word...let's go to the new testament

Matthew 5 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled...
Gods word cannot fail...not one jot or tittle...and if that could happen...that means the world would cease to exist as we know it...why are we still here...why do we have night and day...because Gods word exists and there has been nothing lost...I can go further till even revelations...which will tell you pretty much the same...Man cannot change Gods word...God bless

Answer 6

Christians dont become christians after reading the bible. They become christians by hearing about the power of god in someones life who they care about. And then they start reading the bible. Some people have "religious" experiences which gives them faith and helps them belive. "we walk by faith, not by sight". Why should anyone belive history books? Just cause they say it is?

Answer 7

"The Archko Volume" ~ original writings of the Sanhedrin have documented interviews of Gamaliel with Mary Joseph and even Caiphas.

Try starting there...
then go to....

www.drdino.com

www.answersingenesis.org


.....continue to search out on your own, you are NOT going to find all the facts on YAHOO! There is just not enough room....


One more thing....Faith is NOT about religion....It's about relationship...seek God, cry out to Him to reveal Himself, He WILL answer you....

and if He doesn't? Then start crying, now......

Answer 8

I am a skeptic too. But I settled this for myself a long time ago.

Why don't you start with this link. There's not going to be a quick key-stoke byte to answer this. I think Yahoo Forum is best when we can give a quick answer but this is not one of those questions.

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/about/6.php

Answer 9

Because it is the inspired Word of God.

It has stood the test of time.

Governments have tried to stamp it out, people all down the centuries have tried to disprove it. but the Word of God endures forever.

I have proved it to be true every day of my life, for the past 37 years.

Answer 10

It's actually a logical fallacy known as "begging the question"

It calls for circular reasoning and is completely unsound. As is most argument for religion.