Lesson 1In these rapidly changing and challenging times—when promises of stability and safety rarely come through; when trusted spiritual leaders prove false; when lying in politics seems to be the norm; when those you depend on the most often hurt you the deepest—is there anything left you can trust? Yes! You can fully trust the Bible! Why? Let’s take a look at the evidence …
1. What does the Bible claim about itself?
The Bible says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
“Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
“The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
Answer: The Bible claims to be inspired, written by men who were guided by the Holy Spirit. It says its messages cannot be broken or proved untrue.
Jesus quoted the Bible and stated that it was true.
2. How did Jesus demonstrate His confidence and belief in Scripture?
Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’ … It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ … For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’ ” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Answer: Jesus quoted from Scripture when He was tempted by Satan. He also said the Bible is truth (John 17:17). Jesus quoted Scripture as the authority for everything He was teaching.
3. How do Bible prophecies confirm its divine inspiration?
The Bible says, “I am the Lord. … New things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Isaiah 42:8, 9).
“I am God … declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9, 10).
Before Cyrus was born, God's Bible prophet named him as the general who would overthrow Babylon.
Answer: Bible predictions of future events that have come to pass dramatically confirm the divine inspiration of Scripture. These are just a few examples of fulfilled Bible prophecies:
- Four world empires would arise: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome
(Daniel chapters 2, 7, 8).
- Cyrus to be the warrior to capture Babylon (Isaiah 45:1-3).
- After Babylon's destruction, it would never be inhabited again (Isaiah 13:19, 20; Jeremiah 51:37).
- Egypt would never again have a commanding position among the nations (Ezekiel 29:14, 15 30:12, 13).
- Earth-shaking calamities and fear toward the end of time (Luke 21:25, 26).
- Moral degeneracy and decline of spirituality in the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
4. Are the Bible’s statements about the natural world confirmed by science?
The Bible says, “The entirety of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160).
Answer: Yes. The Holy Spirit, who guided each Bible writer, always speaks the truth. Here are just a few Bible statements confirmed by science:
- “He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). This scientific fact is mentioned in Job, the Bible’s oldest book.
- “He … sits above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22). The Bible said the earth is round centuries before it was confirmed by scientists.
- “To establish a weight for the wind” (Job 28:25). Long before science verified it, the Bible reported that air has weight.
5. Are the Bible’s statements about health still relevant in today’s world?
The Bible says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health,
just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
Answer: God wants His creation to be happy and healthy. Following are just a few examples
of Bible health principles that confirm its divine inspiration:
- Cover body waste with dirt (Deuteronomy 23:12, 13).
Moses’ command that body waste should be buried outside Israel’s encampment was thousands of years ahead of its time. When human waste is not properly disposed of, disease can quickly spread via the water supply. This Bible counsel has saved millions of lives throughout history.
- “Nor let us commit sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 10:8).
“Sexual immorality” refers to any inappropriate sexual conduct (see Leviticus 18 for a comprehensive list). By following this Bible counsel, people would have little reason to fear unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis and AIDS.
- Leave alcoholic beverages alone (Proverbs 23:29–32).
If everyone followed this Bible advice, millions of alcoholics would become sober, helpful citizens; millions of broken families would be reunited; thousands of lives would be saved from drunk driving; and government and business leaders would make clear-minded decisions.
Note: God not only tells us how to succeed and have joy amid today’s challenging problems, He also gives us the miraculous power to do it (1 Corinthians 15:57; Philippians 4:13; Romans 1:16). The Bible’s health principles are still relevant today and are desperately needed. (For more on health, see Study Guide 13.)
6. Are the Bible’s historical statements accurate?
The Bible says, “I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right” (Isaiah 45:19).
Answer: Yes. Sometimes evidence might not yet be available to prove certain historical claims found in Scripture, but evidence has repeatedly surfaced proving the validity of the Bible. Note the following:
- For years skeptics said the Bible was unreliable because it mentions the Hittite nation (Deuteronomy 7:1) and cities like Nineveh (Jonah 1:1, 2) and Sodom (Genesis 19:1), all of which they denied ever existed. But now modern archaeology has confirmed that all three did exist.
- Critics also said that the kings Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1) and Sargon (Isaiah 20:1) never existed. Again, their existence has since been confirmed.
- Skeptics said the Bible record of Moses was not reliable because it mentions writing (Exodus 24:4) and wheeled vehicles (Exodus 14:25), which they said didn’t exist in his time. Today we know they did.
- At one time, the 39 kings of ancient Israel and Judah were known only from the Bible record; thus, critics doubted their existence. But when archaeologists found independent ancient records that mention many of these kings, the Bible record was proved accurate once again.
Critics of the Bible have been proven wrong repeatedly as new discoveries have confirmed biblical people, places, and events.
*The Revised Standard Version of the Bible C 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.
7. What other facts about the Bible prove its divine inspiration?
The Bible says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Answer: One of the greatest miracles of the Bible is its unity. Just ponder these amazing facts:
The 66 books of the Bible were written:
- On three continents.
- In three languages.
- By about 40 different people (such as kings, shepherds, scientists, attorneys, an army general, fishermen, priests, and a physician).
- Over a period of about 1,500 years.
- On the most controversial subjects.
- By people who, in most cases, had never met.
- By authors whose education and background varied greatly.
Yet, though it seems totally inconceivable, the 66 books maintain harmony with one another. And even when new concepts on a certain subject are expressed, they do not undermine what other Bible writers say on the same subject.
This is almost too amazing to believe! Ask people who have viewed the same event to give a report of what happened and you’ll discover that their stories will often differ widely and will contradict each other in some way. Yet the Bible, penned by 40 writers over a 1,500-year period, reads as if it was written by one mind. And indeed it was: “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit “moved” them all; He is the real Bible author.
Accepting Christ and obeying Scripture changes a drunken, immoral, profane, sinner into a loving, sober, pure Christian. Skeptics cannot explain this fact.
8. What evidence of Bible inspiration is found in the lives of people?
The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Answer: The changed lives of those who follow Jesus and obey Scripture provide some of the most convincing proofs of the Bible’s divine inspiration. The drunk becomes sober; the immoral person becomes pure; the addicted becomes free; the profane person becomes reverent; the fearful person becomes courageous; and the cruel person becomes kind.
9. What evidence for Bible inspiration emerges when we compare Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah with New Testament events in the life of Jesus?
The Bible says, “Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27).
“[Apollos] vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 18:28).
Answer: The Old Testament predictions of the Messiah were so specific and so clearly fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth that both Jesus and Apollos used these prophecies to prove that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. There are more than 125 of these prophecies. Let’s review just 12 of them:
| Prophecy | Old Testament Prediction | New Testament Fulfillment |
| 1. | Born in Bethlehem | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:1 |
| 2. | Born of a virgin | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:18-23 |
| 3. | David’s lineage | Jeremiah 23:5 | Revelation 22:16 |
| 4. | Target of murder attempt | Jeremiah 31:15 | Matthew 2:16-18 |
| 5. | Betrayed by a friend | Psalms 41:9 | John 13:18, 19, 26 |
| 6. | Sold for 30 silver coins | Zechariah 11:12 | Matthew 26:14-16 |
| 7. | Crucified | Zechariah 12:10 | John 19:16-18, 37 |
| 8. | Lots cast for His clothes | Psalms 22:18 | Matthew 27:35 |
| 9. | No bones broken | Psalms 34:20 | John 19:31-36 |
| 10. | Buried in a rich man’s tomb | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60 |
| 11. | Year, day, hour of His death | Daniel 9:26, 27; Exodus 12:6 | Matthew 27:45-50 |
| 12. | Raised the third day | Hosea 6:2 | Acts 10:38-40 |
What are the odds that Jesus could have fulfilled just eight of these prophecies by mere chance? Dr. Peter Stoner, former chairman of the departments of mathematics, astronomy, and engineering at Pasadena College in California, applied the principle of probability to this question.
He calculated the odds of just eight being fulfilled by one man as one in
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
.
What would be the odds of all 125 prophecies of the Messiah being fulfilled by chance alone? It simply couldn’t have happened by chance!
10. What advantage does a person have who accepts the Bible as God’s inspired word?
The Bible says, “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts” (Psalm 119:100).
“You … make me wiser than my enemies” (Psalm 119:98).
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are … My thoughts [higher] than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
Answer: A person who accepts the Word of God will discover answers to many mysteries that confound those seeking only worldly answers. For instance, there is no known way life could spring up from non-life; the Bible says it took a supernatural agent—God—to start life. Scientists also now know that all human life today came from one woman; this is exactly what the Bible teaches in Genesis.
You can also know that God created the world in six, literal, 24-hour days; that a worldwide flood destroyed every living thing except sea life and what was inside the ark; and that the different world languages originated at the Tower of Babel.
God, who has always existed and knows everything, shares these truths with us in the Bible, recognizing that we could never figure them out on our own. God’s knowledge is “past finding out” (Romans 11:33). Believe the Bible, and you will always be ahead of the wisdom of mere humans.
11. What recent events have brought the power and appeal of the Bible into sharp focus?
Answer: The increasing number of natural disasters and the rise of worldwide terrorism are signs predicted by the Bible, which says that at the end of time, “On the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring” (Luke 21:25). The tsunami of December 26, 2004, is just one example. Over 250,000 people were reported dead or missing in what was one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. A year later, Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, reminding us again of the prophetic power of Jesus’ words that there would be “waves roaring.”
The Bible also predicted that “nation will rise against nation” (Matthew 24:7). After the devastating attack on the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001, people realized that no nation is truly secure. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the ongoing torment of terrorism have brought people to the Bible as a source of strength and hope.
Some people question the Bible because it speaks of the world being created instead of “evolving.” Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). The theory of evolution, however, is now being widely discredited. For instance, molecular biology demonstrates that the single cell is irreducibly complex, making the accidental origin of life in a single cell not just improbable, but impossible.
Perhaps that’s why many former atheists now believe the world was created, including Fred Hoyle and once notorious atheist Antony Flew, who said, “The most impressive arguments for God’s existence are those that are supported by recent scientific discoveries.”
The theory of evolution teaches that humans and apes come from a common ancestor, denying that people were created in the image of God and that you have a real purpose: to live eternally with God. The scientific collapse of evolution, along with the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, can help establish your faith in the Word of God.
The Bible has universal appeal because it provides clear answers to life's most perplexing questions.
12. Why is the Bible your best chance for lasting happiness and peace?
The Bible says, “Your word is a … light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
“These things I have spoken to you … that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).
“In the image of God … He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
“I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3).
Answer: Because it answers life's most puzzling questions:
- Where did I come from? God created us in His image; we are not mere accidents without purpose. We are children of God (Galatians 3:26). Even better, as His children, we are precious to Him and He desires that we be with Him forever.
- Why am I here? The Bible says our aims for life today should be to discover God’s perfect, practical answers to life’s problems, to accept Jesus’ offer of salvation from sin, and to become more like Him each day (Romans 8:29).
- What does the future hold for me? You don’t need to guess! Not only will you experience more peace and joy today, the Bible says Jesus will come very soon to take His people to the wonderful home He is preparing for them in heaven (John 14:1–3). In supreme joy and happiness, you will live forever in God’s presence (Revelation 21:3, 4).
13. Are you thankful to God for lovingly answering life’s most puzzling questions?
Answer:
Your Questions Answered
1. Why does the Bible give such awful, graphic descriptions of people’s sin?
Answer: Sin is horrifying to God, and He wants us to be revolted by it as much as He is. The inclusion of such stories, both the good and the bad, also gives credibility to the Bible. Telling it like it is gives people confidence that the Bible can be trusted; it doesn’t cover up anything. Satan’s strategy is to convince people they are such terrible sinners that God cannot or will not save them. What joy sweeps over them when they are shown Bible cases of people like themselves whom God delivered from sin! (Romans 15:4).
2. Is all of the Bible inspired—or just parts of it?
Answer: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, emphasis added). The Bible does not merely contain the words of God—it is the Word of God. The Bible is the information and operations manual for human life. Ignore it and you will experience unnecessary difficulties.
3. Isn’t it unsafe to rely on an ancient book so far removed from our day?
Answer: No. The Bible’s age is one of the proofs of its inspiration. It says, “The word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25). The Bible stands as a rock; it cannot be destroyed. Men and even entire nations have burned, banned, and tried to discredit the Bible, but they destroyed themselves instead. Long after they were gone, the Bible remained (and remains) a bestseller in constant demand. Its message is God-given and up to date. Before you study it, pray that God opens your heart as you read.
4. Many brilliant people in the world believe no one can understand the Bible. If it is truly God’s book, shouldn’t everyone be able to understand it?
Answer: Bright people who can understand virtually anything else are often quickly perplexed when they read the Bible. The reason is that spiritual things “are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:13, 14). The deep things of the Word will never be understood by a worldly mind, no matter how brilliant. Unless one honestly seeks an experience with God, he or she cannot understand the things of God. The Holy Spirit, who explains the Bible (John 16:13; 14:26), is not understood by the secular mind. On the other hand, the humble, even uneducated, seeker who studies the Bible receives amazing understanding from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 2:9, 10).
5. Some say the Bible is full of errors. How can anyone believe it is inspired?
Answer: The vast majority of so-called errors in the Bible have been demonstrated to be merely errors of judgment or a lack of understanding on the part of those who make the complaint. They are not errors at all, but simply truth misunderstood. The inspired Bible:
- Will always tell you the truth
- Will never mislead you
- Can be fully trusted
- Is reliable and authoritative in spiritual, historical, and scientific matters
It’s true that, in some cases, copyists might have mis-copied a small word or number here and there, but no such supposed error or any other alleged error has affected the absolute truth of God’s Word. Doctrine is built not upon one Bible passage, but upon the total of divinely inspired comments on a subject. Of course, some things in the Bible are difficult to reconcile. There will always be room for doubt. However, even alleged errors not yet fully explained will eventually be reconciled, as they have been in the past. It seems the harder people work to undermine the Bible, the brighter its light shines.
Summary Sheet
1. Which fulfilled prophecies confirm the Bible’s inspiration? (4)
_____ Cyrus would capture Babylon.
_____ George Washington would become president of the United States.
_____ Egypt would never again be a strong, leading nation.
_____ Morals would degenerate in the last days.
_____ Germany would have a 20-year drought.
_____ Babylon, once destroyed, would never be inhabited again.
2. Jesus showed His belief in Bible inspiration by (1):
_____ Talking loudly on the subject.
_____ Quoting from it as He taught.
_____ Calling fire down on those who doubted.
_____ Announcing it from the temple steps.
3. Which scientific facts from the list below does the Bible mention? (2)
_____ The earth is round.
_____ Air has weight.
_____ The formula for water is "H2O."
_____ Seawater is salty.
4. Which of the following health rules appear in the Bible? (2)
_____ Drink four gallons of water daily.
_____ Leave alcoholic beverages alone.
_____ Run every morning and evening.
_____ Abstain from immoral sexual conduct.
5. The following statements about the Bible are true: (3)
_____ About 40 people helped write the Bible.
_____ The Bible was written over a period of 10,000 years.
_____ Only parts of the Bible are inspired.
_____ The real Bible author is the Holy Spirit.
_____ The Bible is a best-seller.
6. Which of the following did the Bible predict about the Messiah's life? (3)
_____ Would be born in Nazareth.
_____ Would fly to heaven often.
_____ Would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.
_____ Herod would try to kill Him.
_____ Would be crucified.
_____ Would be raised to life after seven years.
7. What Bible rule, if followed, would best prevent AIDS?
_____ Do not be sexually immoral.
_____ Do not worship graven images.
_____ Eat meals regularly.
8. Which statements below are true about evolution? (3)
_____ It is an unproved theory.
_____ It undermines Christianity.
_____ It is a proved fact.
_____ It proves that human beings and apes have common ancestors.
_____ It is a strong tenet of communism.
9. Which statements below help prove Bible inspiration? (5)
_____ Its biographies include bad as well as good.
_____ It changes the lives of its followers.
_____ Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah were fulfilled by Jesus.
_____ It predicted the rise of the four world kingdoms.
_____ It has astonishing unity.
_____ It tells the day and hour of the second coming of Jesus.
10. According to the Bible God created the earth in six, literal, 24-hour days.(1)
_____ True
_____ False
11. In Noah’s day, a worldwide flood destroyed every living thing except sea life and what was inside the ark. (1)
_____ True
_____ False
12. The different languages of the world originated at the Tower of Babel. (1)
_____ True
_____ False
13. I am thankful to God for giving me positive answers to life's most puzzling questions.
_____ Yes
_____ No