What proof is there that shows that the Holy Bible is the word of God? Or that it is inspired bu God?

Question

No, this is not one of those bating questions. I am believer, but I think this question offers something to reflect on.

A big criticism of the Bible is that it is seen as its own first, last, and only arbiter of the truth. What I mean by this is that when asked why the Bible is thought to be inspired by God, some might answer with "Because it says so in the Bible".

This is not logical. Its like saying to someone "you know I am telling you the truth because I am telling you that I am being truthful". This is obviously where faith comes into play.

But I am wondering what you see as proof of the Bible's authenticity which is external to the Bible?

God Bless.

Answer 1

i'd say just read it and study it and it becomes apparent ...

Answer 2

I don't even know where to begin; there is so much!! First of all, the HUNDREDS of prophecies in the Old Testament alluding to the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled them ALL!
Secondly, the authenticity of the Scriptures is proven by the fact that some books (ie the Gospels) tell very slightly varying versions of the same occurrences, yet they were written miles and years apart from each other.
The Bible has never been proven wrong, nor does it contradict itself. That is in my mind hard proof that God inspired it, because how many contradictions would occur with only 3 or 4 writers let alone all the men who compiled the books of the Bible??
Dozens of people over the years have reported finding Noah's ark. Dinosaurs are talked about in the Bible: Leviathan for example.
Hope this helps a bit! :)

Answer 3

1. Most of its writers do claim to be inspired by God, so we must either discard them totally as frauds, or take them seriously.
2. The Bible was written over a period of over 2000 years, consisting of 66 books by 40 different authors, from many different walks of life: farmers, shepherds, bureaucrats, doctor, kings... And yet the unity throughout the Bible is striking.
3. Accomplished prophecy.
4. Its preservation when so many civilizations since its beginning made concerted efforts to do away with it completely. We have thousands of manuscripts of the new testament dating back to the first two centuries, many from the first century.
5. Subjectively, its effect on so many lives: millions of people have been positively transformed through the reading, meditation and application of the Bible: alcoholics, murderers, drug addicts (I know some of each).
6. The response of Jesus, then of his first disciples, was: "Come and see" (see John chapter 1). That is really the final answer: read and meditate it, seeking God at the same time, and asking Him to show you if it is His Word. That is very subjective, and yet at the same time it is the conclusive personal evidence.

Answer 4

Something those that doubt refuse to acknowledge. Independent corraboration on a number of levels. I'll keep this one short. The one that stands out is it's prophecies.

The Book of Daniel speeks of the fall of ancient Babylon. It goes into amazing specifics such as the fact that the great doors of the city gate would be left open. That is, in historical fact, what happened. It also mentions the name of the military leader that would bring Babylon down. Also verified by history. Daniel's prophecy was so accurate that many critics accused it of actually being a book of history instead. The problem was that among the Dead Sea Scrolls were found fragments of the Book of Daniel dating back to about 100 years BEFORE the events he foretold.

Answer 5

Are the Biblical Documents Reliable? by Jimmy Williams
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bib-docu.html

The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part One
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC0802W2.htm

The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part Two
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC0902W2.htm

The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part Three
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC1002W2.htm

The Historical Reliability of the New Testament Text--Part Four
http://www.johnankerberg.org/Articles/editors-choice/EC1102W2.htm

Textual Trysts: The Textual Reliability of the New Testament
http://www.tektonics.org/lp/nttextcrit.html

Answer 6

The Bible does not say it is the word of God nor lists which books should be in it.
We know it is the word of God because we believe that Christ is God and
(a) He founded a Church (Mt. 16:18 : And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build MY church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it),,. and
(b) He gave power to his Church to decide for him (Mt. 16:19 - I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.")

That Church selected which books should go in the Bible in a process that took almost 400 years. Consider that:
(a) Not a single word of the new testament was written for at least 10 years after Christ died.
(b)The last book of the NT was written about 65 years after Christ died.
(c)Then, during over 300 years there was no consensus about what books were inspired and which were not. - see "Ecclesiastical History" by Eusebius of Cesarea, circa AD 350
(d) The book of Hebrews and Revelation are in the NT because St. Augustine argued for their inclusion , in the councils of Hippo (AD 357) and Cataghe (AD 397).
It was the Catholic Church who finally agreed on the canon of the scripture in those councils, and the canon was ratified by the Pope at that time.
Then the NT was "official". So we owe the Bible to the Catholic Church. That is a matter of history

Answer 7

Since you are a believer I trust you are looking for a few answers.
First I would start with resurching the Dead Sea scrolls, I had alot of these same questions and I found out that by resurching them It brought alot of things into play that is in the Bible, It was realy helpful,
As far as myself needing proof, this answered all my questions I had and therefore I no longer question if the Bible is real, I know it is, and for me that is all that matters, But it all started with resurching the Dead Sea Scrolls,

Answer 8

There is no proof, my friend.
Thank you for letting us know that you are not baiting and that you are a believer. One person has already DEMANDED proof this morning and has told us that we are all "dumb" for believing. (LOL, and she made numerous grammatical errors in her rant).



The proof to me is the miracle of life and the beauty all around me. I FEEL His presence. I just know. My heart tells me that this is so.

Truly, we are under no obligation to prove anything to anyone, are we?

Have a good evening.

Answer 9

Prophecies in the Bible that have, and continue to come true.
A Risen from the dead Savior.

Answer 10

So, its kind of like a biography about anyone. It is about Him, so obviously it is inspired by Him.

Answer 11

There is absolutely none.

Keep going with that line of thinking. It makes perfect sense in the end.