Christians: What makes you think the bible is reliable?

Question

Is it because it says it is, or is it something else?

Prophecies....that should make an interesting question.

Answer 1

Because the Bible was written over a period of 1500 years by 40 different people and still has a common thread running through it.
Plus, many of the events in the Bible have been substantiated by history or archeology.

And if that is not enough the Bible speaks to my spirit and tells me that it is true. That would be hard to prove to a non-believer, but most born again believers would say Amen to that.

Look at chapter 11 of Daniel and check out the prophecy against the history of the countries mentioned, mainly Egypt and Syria.
And they came about centuries later. How could Daniel in 535 BC know about Antiochus Epiphanies IV in 150 BC, some 365 years later?

I obviously will never read garbage such as:
W. H. Burr, Self-contradictions of the bible.
Dawkins, The God Delusion
Mills, Atheist Universe
Harris, The End of Faith
These men know nothing about the God of heaven. They are just motivated by a belief that it is harmful to society to hold to such beliefs.

grace2u

Answer 2

attempt and be sure what your analyzing is saying approximately God particularly than no remember if each and each particualr area is literal. Eg Adam and Eve - some take actually and a few do not, yet those that don't nonetheless think of the story tells us something approximately God. Anne Rice (between others, Anne replace into the properly- prevalent 'switched over' author of the interview with the vampire sequence so in basic terms suggested her because of the fact i like her type) wrote approximately her extensive examine into the historic accuracy and so on... she replace into an atheist who after spending years getting to know got here across the data for the bible is powerful (besides the fact that of direction this would not recommend there are actually not any further superficial gray aspects) and grew to alter into Christian or Catholic or something, you comprehend, besides the fact that. I agree that there is lots to question like translations, the books not secure interior the bible and so on and you ought to spend the whole existence getting to know the project!

Answer 3

The Bible's accuracy and reliability have been proved and verified over and over again by archaeological finds produced by both believing and no believing scholars and scientists. This included verification for numerous customs, places, names, and events mentioned in the Bible.
One among many examples is the fact that for many years the existence of the Hittites (a powerful people who lived during the time of Abraham) was questioned because no archaeological digs had uncovered anything about them. Critics claimed the Hittites were pure myth. But today the critics are silenced. Abundant archaeological evidence for the existence of the Hittites during the time of Abraham has been uncovered.
Bible scholar Donald J. Wiseman notes, "The geography of Bible lands and visible remains of antiquity were gradually recorded until today more than 23,000 sites within this region and dating to Old Testament times, in their broadest sense, have been located." Nelson Glueck, a specialist in ancient literature, did an exhaustive study and concluded: "It can be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverter a biblical reference." Well-known scholar William F. Albright, following a comprehensive studies, wrote: "Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition of the value of the Bible as a source of History."

There are more than 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies of the New Testament. These manuscript copies are very ancient and they are available for inspection NOW. there are also some 86,000 quotations from the early church fathers and several thousand lectionaries (church-service books containing Scripture quotations used in the early centuries of Christianity). In fact, there are enough quotations from the early church fathers that even if we did not have a single copy of the Bible, scholars could still reconstruct all but 11 verses of the entire New Testament from material written within 150 to 200 years from the time of Christ. Bottom line: The New Testament has an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting its reliability.

Answer 4

Archaeology, Science and History have shown it reliable for one for one!

"There is no incompatibility between science and religion... Science shows that God exists." - Prof. D. Barton, Nobel Prize Chemistry

"If I had no other data than the early chapters of Genesis, some of the Psalms and other passages of Scripture, I would have arrived at essentially the same picture of the origin of the universe, as is indicated by the scientific data." Nobel Prize-winning physicist Arno Penzias (Big Bang Theorist)

The Case for Faith and the Case for Jesus would be a good start in your reading.

Answer 5

They probably haven't read any of the following:
W. H. Burr, Self-contradictions of the bible.
Dawkins, The God Delusion
Mills, Atheist Universe
Harris, The End of Faith

Postscript. The notion that there is no conflict between science and religion is not correct. Religion requires belief in supernatural phenomena, while science prohibits it.
Post-postscript: The long spiel above about MAPS does not deal with the scientific inaccuracies of the bible, of which there are hundreds. Even ONE error would destroy its authenticity as a religious document.

Answer 6

What I hold most reliable about the Bible are things I have practiced myself. Simply, personally putting teachings in to the test. When I was a kid I learned how to stop fights between my brothers and sisters, and it felt good, and that's when I figured "hey, that blessed are the peacemakers thing is right."

Answer 7

A vital clue is provided in the Bible, in 1 Thessalonians chap 2 verse 13: "And we also thank God continually becuase, when you receivd the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the wor d of God , which is at work in you who belive."

Once a person puts their complete trust in God, and in the Word of God - Jesus Christ - the power of the Bible is let loose in their life. It becomes real. It "works"! For those who proudly refuse to believe without "proof" first, it doesn't "work". And they are surprised? Come on, guys! "Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar!" (Romans ch 3 verse 4) If God is who he says he is, his Word is the most powerful force in existence, be that the written, or the spoken word. He but spoke, and the universe came into being! Wakey wakey! Read his written word! Believe in the Word of God - Christ! The power of God lies in his Word. Believe it. And live. Have real life, in abundance, now and forevermore!

Answer 8

Because it has a list of prophecies in it that get fulfilled within it.

Not sure how credible that is but, hey, what do I know?

Answer 9

The Bible says to 'Prove all things' and to keep that which is good and true. Therefore, if you are a true Christian, you will constantly seek to prove that the Bible is true.

Answer 10

Its stood for a very long time without anyone who is able to destroy the legitimacy of it. And I believe God divinely inspired it.