What evidence do Christians claim points to the Bible as the Word of God?

Question

Most of the answers I've seen on this point to the Bible's historical accuracy which, even if true, would only imply that the Bible is an accurate historical record of the time. What evidence exists (or is claimed to exist) that the Bible is divine in nature?

A lot of good responses.

Art: The emergence of western ("Christian") democracies as centers of power is a relatively recent phenomenon. There was a time when the world's power was concentrated in people of other faiths. Personally, I don't see the connection except that western democracy lends itself it capitalism which allows for the freer transfer of goods and services. This in turn allows an economy to grow at a more rapid pace than other economic systems. I'm not sure how this is related, however, to Christianity. In fact, while Christianity (and others) has long held a tithe-based system, it is accepted economic thought that such a system is akin to a government tax in terms of its impact on a market-based economy. In other words, it lowers the total surplus generated by the economic mechanism.

Answer 1

The bible says so.

It's a logical fallacy but that doesn't seem to stop them.

Some of them make baseless attempts to find some kind of hidden code in the bible to prove it is from a god but all they're really doing is playing around and making things up as they go along to fit events to what may as well be noise while others abuse the law of large numbers to try to claim that the stuff in the bible is improbable just like getting Ace of Hearts, Nine of Spades, Five of Clubs, Four of Diamonds and Two of Hearts in poker is very improbable.

Note to art: Those countries that are doing so well are actually more postchristian than Christian, they sure don't seem to be following the "word of god" very closely.

Answer 2

There is nothing in the Bible that says it is the "Holy Word of God" - Where that interpretation came from would be a good question, too. This is what separates some of the Christian denominations, even against Paul's admonitions. You're right it's an amazing historical account of the evolution of religious thought - and some of the Biblical authors were divinely inspired, but still very human. If one would read with discernment, one would see this clearly: even the concepts of God evolves through the Bible from the beginning to the end of the New Testament. All the writings are humanly written, God did not write it, and some of the characters in the Bible are no so holy, eh? But it is a highly valuable and worthy book that I consider to be Humanly Sacred, and a great life's guide - but God doesn't stop there, He ever leads mankind to progressively more insights and illuminations as they evolve and progress into new things with each passing generation.

Answer 3

The biggest evidence is, of course, the affect it has on the life of a person who has submitted to it's authority.

In other words, as they say, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating" or "The proof is in the pudding"

Next to that, I would say, are the prophecies. 1 in 8 passages, on the average, is prophetic in nature, and other than future events that have not yet transpired, have come to pass just as the Bible prophecied.

The biggest portion of prophecy, of course, are the 300+ prophecies of the Messiah God would send. Just a smattering few include his birth: where, when and how; his life and his ministry; and his death: how and why, and the events surrounding his death, such as the men casting lots for his outer vesture, etc.; and His resurrection, which even Jesus foretold.

If you understand the math behind probability and statistics, you will quickly come to the realization that it would be easier for a blindfolded person to find one "marked" grain of sand after it had been lost for 100 years, then for all these prophecies to be fulfilled just by accident.

In fact, SOME could NOT occur at all, except for divine intervention.

This is convincing enough evidence for the honest seeker. However, to the person who does not WANT to believe, there is NOTHING that would convince them. There will NEVER be sufficient evidence for the person who has deliberately blinded themselves.

It's like the story of the man who - for some unknown reason - did not want to believe that rainbows exist, so he poked his eyes out, and when someone would tell him that there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky after a rain, he would say they were wrong, since he couldn't see any rainbows. But remember, he deliberately poked his eyes out for that very purpose.

One quick thought - to those that think the Bible doesn't make that claim about itself, they have never bothered reading the Bible, because (and I'll let you find out where on your own), the Bible says that ALL Scripture is inspired by God, or God-breathed.

Answer 4

If you look at the Christian answers posted right here on this thread, they admit themselves (although they try their best to change the language up a bit) that the ONLY reason they think the bible is the word of a god, is because the bible says it is.

This is probably the most profound example of the mental illness that is Christianity. Even when they say the words themselves, they will not allow themselves to comprehend what they are actually saying. And when we point out that they sound like complete fools, they will cite that as proof that the bible is correct, as it PREDICTED we would say they sound like fools! Imagine that. What a prophecy, eh?

Answer 5

You asked for evidence. Not concrete absolute proof. Here's some you may not have thought about.

The Nations that embraced Christianity are currently the most prosperous on the planet. Almost all of them are Constitutional Republics featuring advanced brain-based Economies.

Not to single out the "muslims", but examine the Nations where they're in charge. Zero advanced economies. Zero democracies.

Answer 6

as a rely of actuality that scientific technique isn't approximately what you will possibly call tangible information. What information does a psychiatrist have whilst he makes a prognosis of psychotic ailment in accordance with no longer something however the affected person's very own subjective history and a question and answer MSE? What approximately alibis, whilst human beings swear somebody grow to be with them on the time against the regulation grow to be dedicated? that's admissible in a court docket of regulation. If the understand a guy or woman can count extensive form as information in a court docket of regulation, or in a psychiatric examination, or different authentic existence circumstances, why shouldn't it in non secular concerns? in spite of everything, we are no longer residing in attempt-tubes and petri-dishes, in a lab someplace, or in witness stands, wanting "information" to returned up each and every fact... it particularly is authentic existence - our lives

Answer 7

some people find it hard to belive that some humans wrote such powerful words, but some people don't understand that they [the prophets] didn't do it on their own. the bible was inspired by God, but It was written by a humans point of view, so that other humans will understand. If God himself wrote the bible, in all his majesty, splinder and intellgence, NO-ONE would understand it. Also, the many events that are taking place now, was given by God, to prophets, so that it could be written. many people don't read their bible. many things that has happend and that will happen, are in there. ......the bible (front & back) is the word of God.

Answer 8

Here's one of the main passages Christians cite:


2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The problem is, these above scriptures weren't even written until later in the first century, so what 'scriptures' are the 'god breathed' ones?

Answer 9

*READ ALL*Both the Old and New Testaments are strongly supported by manuscript evidence (the evidence of early hand written copies). The famous Dead Sea Scrolls are one example of the Old Testament evidence. These documents came from the “library” of a settlement founded at Qumran before 150 B.C. and abandoned about 68 A.D. Some of the manuscript copies were made during that period, and some were written earlier (third century BC) and brought to the settlement. Ignoring spelling-oriented (orthographic) changes and similar small differences, the Dead Sea Scrolls match the Hebrew text behind today’s Old Testament, in spite of the passage of over 2,000 years (where one would expect errors to creep in).
Over 20,000 known manuscripts document the New Testament text. This makes the New Testament the most reliable document of antiquity (a document written before the printing press). These manuscripts vary in size from a part of a page to an entire Bible (Old and New Testaments). The earliest New Testament manuscripts date from the second century (100-199) AD These manuscript copies were written in different languages by people of different nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds. In spite of all those differences between them, the New Testament texts all agree. (That is, those differences that we do observe between these hand written documents are occasional changes in the spelling of names or isolated cases of missing or changed words. Still, since we have so many copies, it is obvious to anyone but the hardened skeptic can that they all represent the same text.)It is the only book that has the power within itself to fufill itself. It is God breathed.

Answer 10

Well, let's see. The Bible is a collection of 66 books (protestant version) written over a period of 1400 years by over 60 diffenternt authors ranging from slaves to kings with no contradictions.

But ultimately, ALL claims of christianity are based on one thing. Jesus claimed that he would be killed but be raised to life again after 3 days. He was basically saying, if I can do this, then EVERYTHING else I have said is true.

He did it. Now what are you going to do?