Is The Bible Worthy Of Our Confidence?
Is the Bible worthy of our confidence? That is a question that is often raised, and one that must be answered conclusively in each succeeding generation.
In writing to the young preacher, Timothy, the apostle Paul said, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16, 17.)
The apostle Peter said, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:3, 21.)
And again, an inspired writer said, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." (Heb. 1:1, 2.)
All of these passages indicate that the Bible is worthy of our attention and confidence; let us see if other evidence bears out this indication.
I
The Bible is pre-eminently the Book of Books. When Sir Walter Scott was on his death bed, he asked those standing by to read to him out of the Book. When asked, "What book?" he replied: "There is only one book, the Bible."
Of all the books ever written, the one that stands forth as the most remarkable of earth's volumes is the Bible. Carlyle said it was "one of the grandest things ever written with pen. It is the beau ideal of all subjects that ever engaged the powers of burning eloquence or inspired poetic fire." It is no wonder that the Psalmist exclaimed to God: "Thy testimonies are wonderful:
The entrance of thy words giveth light." (Ps. 119:129,130.)
The majesty of the Bible is explained in that it contains the infinite mind of God. The thread of divinity running through its sacred pages makes the Bible a diamond among rocks, a light in the darkness, and a fortress of strength in time of need.
II.
There are many reasons why we believe the Bible is worthy of our confidence. Its profound and rational teaching about God, man, and man's redemption distinguishes it from the books of men. The Bible presents a conception of God not found elsewhere. Man in his search for a god has created many gods through the centuries. When Paul came to Athens, he found that they had an altar to all of the known gods and even to the god unknown. (Acts 17:23.) At Lystra the apostle found the people worshipping Mercury, Jupiter, and other pagan gods. (Acts 14.) The people of Ephesus were dedicated to the goddess Diana. (Acts 19.)
Heathen people have invented many mysterious creatures that imposed heavy burdens, grievous and austere. These man-made gods are often presented as angry, jealous, and hard task-masters.
The Bible on the other hand presents to us only one God and forbids the worship of any other. (Ex. 20:1-4; Matt. 4:10.) He is presented as the great eternal Father of all, a perfect embodiment of divine holiness, and always mindful of His children. The God of the Bible is infinite in power, knowledge, and holiness (Ps. 139:1-16), and present everywhere with loving compassion and tender mercy. (2 Peter 3:9.) Yet, He demands strict obedience and always punishes the wicked. (Heb. 2:1-4.)
The Bible doctrine of man is consistent throughout. It never strikes a false note concerning man, nor contradicts itself concerning him. He is presented as a free moral agent, created in the image of God. (Gen. 1:26; Josh. 24:14, 15.) Man is a triune being consisting of "spirit and soul, and body" (1 Thess. 5:23), with both inward and outward characteristics. (2 Cor. 4:16.)
The scheme of redemption set forth in the Bible culminates in man's salvation by divine sacrifice. Man alienates himself from God by rebellion against divine authority. (Isa. 59:1, 2.) Once separated, man is unable to save himself. Since man is unable to save himself, God supplies the Saviour. (Eph. 2:8, 9; Titus 3:5.) But salvation is everywhere conditional. God invites; man must choose. (Matt. 11:28-30; 2 Cor. 5:11.) Salvation demands a new birth. (John 3:5.) The saved person must demonstrate his transformation by inner purity, not mere external form. (Matt. 15:7-9; Rom. 12:1, 2.)
III.
The very nature of the Bible tells us that it is worthy of our confidence. It teaches the highest standards of morality and uprightness known to man. Some critics reject it on the grounds that it records some of the vilest deeds of immorality. They forget that the Bible merely records these imperfections as historical, but never approves them. The fact that the Bible takes its greatest heroes and reveals the "skeleton in the closet" is one of the best proofs of its inspiration and trustworthiness.
When men write books, they present their heroes as inerrant demigods of perfection and goodness. The unsavory episodes are edited out of their memoirs. Only the good traits and successful exploits are held up for observation.
But when God writes a book, He publicizes the darkest deeds as well as the good deeds of His greatest character. David was a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), but his sin of adultery with Bathsheba goes down on the inspired record. (2 Sam. 11.) And unlike human historians, God does not try to patch up the incident with gratuitous assumptions that David meant to do better. With a critical word of denunciation, Nathan said to David, "Thou art the man." (2 Sam. 12:7.) Truly, the word of God is quick and powerful, and "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Heb. 4:12, Th.)
When the Bible was being revealed to man, the moral trend was definitely downward. Men's thoughts were gross, and national concepts tended toward corruption. Yet the Bible, delivered in the midst of such circumstances, holds up a system of morality which is beyond reproach. The spiritual theme running through the whole volume is: "Ye shall be holy: for I, the Lord your God am holy. (Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48)
IV.
The unity of purpose within the Bible is another proof that we can place our trust in its inspiration with confidence. For one man to write a book or a series of books with one central theme would not be so remarkable. But suppose that a number of men, separated by distance and many years, some without access to what had already been written, should undertake to write with one theme. The production would be a failure.
The Bible was written by about thirty-eight persons over a period of about fifteen hundred years. The authors came from various walks of life, and had very little or no access to former writings. Yet the unity is perfect, the one purpose throughout being the glory of God and the salvation of man through Jesus Christ the Lord. (Gen. 3:15; Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:10, 11; Rom. 6:23.)
The sacred narrative covers fifteen hundred years in its writing. The characters and the authors change; yet the one grand idea is never lost and never changes until the redemption of the human family is made possible, and Jesus Christ is crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.