Christians, isn't it possible that the Bible was created entirely from the minds of men?

Question

There is really no evidence to prove the Bible is inspired by God.
Isn't it possible that people used God's power to gain control over the masses by writing this book?
Isn't it possible it's all fake? There was no Jesus, no resurrection?
This question does not address the existence of God, merely the reliability of the Bible as the true inspired word of God.

If you think this is not possible, what are your sources for believing otherwise? Please don't say faith, faith is nothing, it cannot prove anything.

Answer 1

That is the only possible answer.

Answer 2

Thank you for being respectful. This is going to take awhile. I hope you read this.
What you suggest WOULD be possible if it wasn't for several facts:
1. The Bible was indeed written by men, as you say. However, it was written by many different men, from many different walks of life, from kings to paupers and everything in between. Most of these men never met each other, never read each others' books, and yet they have almost exactly the same message. Many of them gained NOTHING by writing books of the Bible, and several of them were killed for it. Isaiah, for example, who prophesied the coming of the Messiah, was martyred.
2. There is too much in the Bible that has been corroborated by historians and archaeologists. Here is one site that contains historical and archaeological evidence for the Bible:
http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/bib-qur/bibarch.htm
Here is some information on Jericho:
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/jericho.html
http://faculty.vassar.edu/jolott/old_courses/class%20of%2051/jericho/kenyon.html
http://www.creationapologetics.org/news/jericho.html
http://biblicalstudies.qldwide.net.au/cs-walls_of_jericho.html
3. Yes, there is some historical evidence for the existence of Jesus. However, the most telling is the fact that of His disciples, only one died a natural death. The rest were killed violently. Also, consider the fact that when Christianity first began to spread, Jesus's followers were actual WITNESSES to His miracles. They were faced with a decision: Violent death, or recant. They chose violent death. Why would they do that, if they were only lying? What would they have gained?
Also, go to this site, and check out the second section, and the third:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/Jesuschrist.asp
4. Did you know that Jesus's tomb was found? On the first page, you might want to turn your speakers down.

http://stationeryheaven.net/holylands/the_tomb_of_jesus.htm
http://www.dallas.net/~dchancey/tomb.html
You want to know how the tomb was found? I'll see if I can make this short. When Hadrian became the Roman emperor in 117, he began to heavily persecute the Christians. One of the things he did as a "slap in the face" of the Christian pilgrims who gathered at an empty tomb in Jerusalem and a cave in Bethlehem was erected pagan temples over the sites. When Constantine became emperor in the 4th century, he sent his mother Helena to these sites to build new churches over them. Years later, when archaeologists went back to the sites, they first unearthed 4th century churches, then 2nd century temples, and underneath, they found an empty tomb, and a cave (which would have been where the stable was located.).
Even though this doesn't necessarily "prove" that these sites are where Jesus was born, or where He was buried, it does prove that that's where early Christians felt that these events occurred.
Because it was so soon after the fact, one can assume (and probably be correct) that those people were right.
There are also writings which mention Jesus outside of the Bible (Pliny the Younger, Josephus, et cetera. I'll get the full list for you if you'd like it.).

Is this a good start? Not all of us walk by faith only. I did my research.

Answer 3

Some areas of the bible , have been misrepresented ,, by those who wished to gain control over others. They twist the meaning to fit their own designs.

However,
There is evidence that the bible is inspired by God, lots of evidence, Many of the biblical stories once thought to be mythical, have been shown to be incredibly accurate.
More is found every day, much by anthropologists.

The existence of Jesus is common knowledge, even after 2000 years. To deny He existed,, is to disregard historical fact.
Which is what you are doing.
Since you chose to deny , that the historical records are valid, then why do you ask for proof of historical events.

You have to open your mind and look around at the overwhelming preponderance of historical evidence, and notice that each bit of information supports other facts . Taken as a whole it is somewhat impressive . A vast amount of knowledge

You are the one who can not prove He did not exist, because how can you find evidence that something does not exist,

If there was no evidence that He ever existed anywhere, then you might have a shot at making a valid point.
But such is not the situation..
You base your assumption on the false premise that there is no evidence,. But there is evidence.

Answer 4

look at other books created by the mind of man. historical evidence of what people believed concerning the universe, sun, moon and stars, solar and earth orbits. ex: they thought that earth was flat, or that it was central and the sun orbited around it, or that big turtles, or elephants held the earth in space.
evidence of what doctors used to believe regarding treatment of illnesses. and what parts of the human body were for. ex: the egyptians thought that what mucus came out of the nose came from what we know to be the brain. so they never preserved it like they did other bodily internal organs. they thought the heart - blood pump did the thinking.

there is evidence to prove the Bible is inspired. there's proven fulfilled prophecy, events of history concerning nations, and Israel. and even ongoing events that confirm the Bible to be true.
there is evidence of persons and places mentioned in the Bible that at one time was thought to be made up, yet later acheologically proven to be true.

we have the writings of men who personally knew Jesus of Nazereth. those of his disciples as well as those who accepted the message of the disciples after Jesus resurrection and ascension to heaven.

its either accepted or rejected. believed or not believed.

faith isnt suppose to prove anything. faith is the result of being convinced in what is presented.

faith is involved in every area of life.
faith in something, anything cannot be foisted onto another. one either believes in something or believes in something else and so rejects the other.

human beings are constantly believing in something all the time.
now where did an evolved humanistic human get faith?

evolution cannot explain that question, but religion can. God made man with the capacity to believe.
evolution requires faith in evolution and what it teaches. but it does not give an answer for where faith came from.
evolution - all wisdom of men indoctrinates.

religion requires faith in religion in what it teaches. and gives an answer for where faith came from.
religion - that is of God reveals in a way that is beyond the senses, that equals truth which is accepted by faith.

Answer 5

Where is proof that the Bible is created entirely from the minds of men?
1)There's historical evidence to back up the Bible.
2) Prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus Christ

Answer 6

i think it was Constantine 1st 325AD who held the 1st Christian Council in Rome,& these were the guys who picked what gospels went into the forthcoming Bible, they had a choice of literally thousands,(the one's they didn't choose fill an enormous library in the vatican at the moment)said book wasn't translated into English until Henry 8th1491-1547, & it has always been about Power & controlling the masses.Faith is for the people who can't or won't accept the fact:there is nothing after death,you don't have a soul,what you do have is a concience while you are here.I believe in Evolution, the two don't mix,Im an atheist

Answer 7

ah but it is faith. have you loved someone that has died? If so, prove it. faith doesnt have to prove anything. wecan go round and round on thisand get nowhere. all you non believers are always saying what if the bible isnt true, what If God does not exist but I put it to you WHAT IF ITS ALL TRUE? Look, this has all been asked before, you can look it up in the resolved question section. I think that most non believers just like to try and pick a fight on this site.
you dont wanna believe? so what? My Lord doesnt need defended. Dont believe, hey you have that right. Anyone who gives more than a paragraph for this answer is wasting their time.

Answer 8

There a many books known to be created by the minds of men.

My question is why has this one book had the impact and staying power, and following that it has had.

I am not sure if there is any other book in known history that can claim the amount if influence on the human psychic that the Bible has had.

Answer 9

If you are asking for tangible evidence that God inspired the Bible, I have to ask you for tangible evidence that He did not. Or do you just believe that God did not inspire the Bible? Then, your faith that the Bible was written by man proves nothing, and I will continue to believe as I do.

Answer 10

Wow your amazing are you sure your not god you are so prophetic and wise you have cracked it this is utterly amazing I cant believe someone like you is sitting in front of a computer asking and answering mere mortals questions you should be in a synagogue being worshiped by all

Is it possible your wisdom and knowledge will put an end to this question being asked over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again?

Sincerely yours,
A believer in nothing

Answer 11

The evidence in in prophecy. There are specific things the Bible predicts will happen, not some vague prediction that is open to interpretations. The Bible did predict the return of Israel, the Bible did predict the fall of Babylon and the rise of other empires ending with the revived Roman empire (EU).