CAN WE REALLY TRUST THE BIBLE?

IS THE BIBLE THE TRUE WORD OF GOD? CAN WE TRUST OUR WHOLE BELIEF AND FAITH ON THE SCRIPTURES? If we do not believe the Bible to be the true, infallible word of God, on which we base all our beliefs and faith, then we might as well put away the moral code, the blessed hope for the future, and give up the idea of a Savior. Our lives have no meaning, and we are all going into the abyss of the unknown. BUT WAIT! Before we give up, let us put the Bible to the test.

Can We Really Trust The Bible
by Annetta

From a historical standpoint, we find, when we research secular sources for the validity of Scriptures, there has been opportunity to question the historicity of the Scriptures. But time and again a question about whether or not something in the Scriptures was valid has been proven accurate by archaeological findings. For example, the mention of and existence of King Sennacherib in 2 Kings 19:36,37 was questioned until an Assyrian record was found that says that on the 20th day of the month Tebet, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, was killed by his son in a revolt. Another example is the mention in Isaiah 20:1 of Sargon, king of Assyria who preceded Sennacherib. In the 1840's archaeologists uncovered a palace with a statue and inscription telling about Sargon, king of Assyria. Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 further validated the authenticity of the Old Testament portion of the Scriptures.

From the prophetical viewpoint, there are numerous Old Testament prophecies which were fulfilled as much as 1500 years after their writing. Here are two of those prophecies

Nahum 3:2-7 - prophecy that Nineveh would be destroyed.
Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC by the Medes and Babylonians

Isaiah 13:19-22 - prophecy that Babylon would be destroyed.
It no longer stands. The ruins can be visited today.

In regard to prophecies about the coming Messiah, let's look at both the Old Testament prophecies and their New Testament fulfillments:
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY = NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT

Isaiah 7:14 = Matthew 1:23

Micah 5:2 = Luke 2:4-7

Daniel 9:25 = Luke 3:1-23

Hosea 11:1 = Matthew 2:14

When looking at prophecies about the future Second Coming of Christ which Jesus Himself told the disciples they should look for, we find a very accurate portrayal of our present world conditions, indications that His Second Coming is imminent:

a. increase of knowledge (Daniel 12:4)

b. false messiahs (Matthew 24:4,5)

c. wars and rumor of wars (Matthew 24:6,7a)

d. famine (Matthew 24:7b)

e. earthquakes (Matthew 24:7b)

f. preaching of the gospel )Matthew 24:14)

g. pestilence (Luke 21:11)

h. signs and wonders (Luke 21:11)

i. people living in fear (Luke 21:26)

j. social problems (2 Timothy 2:1-5)

k. increase of skepticism (2 Peter 3:3,4)

Because God wants us to trust Him and His Word to us, He wouldn't leave us with an inaccurate Guide Book for our lives. He would make sure that what he has left us would be proven to be accurate from beginning to end. There are some passages that are difficult to understand. But when we cannot find answers to them, do not decide that Scripture is not reliable. It is best, for the time-being, to set them aside, allowing time to pass, allowing concepts to settle into our thinking, allowing other scriptures to shed light on them, before we make a definite decision about them. Take the Scriptures as a whole, not just as individual texts or stories separated out from the whole, and it is easier to see that the whole is much more than just the individual passages that we, personally, haven't yet found answers for. Apply Scripture against Scripture, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; Scripture will prove to be all God has intended it ot be for each of us.

It is always best to 'taste and see' for yourself whether or not the life-changing information found in Scripture will make a difference. Don't take someone else's word for it, whether good or bad. It's like - how would I know whether or not an orange you are eating is sweet? I've not tasted it so I have no way of knowing. I can't take your word for it, either, for you might be teasing or lying to me. I must try it for myself.