Is The Bible Really God’s Word?

     Many attacks are being made against the Bible.  Some say that they believe the Bible, yet at the same time they believe the Bible to be full of inconsistencies and contradictions.  Some believe that the Bible contains God’s word, that is, they do not believe that the entire Bible came from God.  They believe that some of the truths in the Bible are from God, but that much of the Bible was added by different writers over a period of time.  Still others hold that the Bible is God’s word, and that it was given to man by God Himself.  Which view is true?  Is the Bible riddled with error and gross inconsistencies of every kind?  Is the Bible God’s word, or only partly God’s word?  Let us seek the Bible answer.
     The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years by some 40 different writers.  Despite this fact, the Bible nowhere contradicts itself or teaches error in any way.  This would be an impossible task to accomplish were the hand of God not involved.  The writers of the Bible were from different educational and economic backgrounds, and most of them were not at all acquainted with the other writers.  How then does the Bible fit together in perfect harmony?  No man could have overseen such a task as this.  This evidence alone should be enough to convince all men that the Bible is from God.
     The Bible also claims to be the word of God, delivered to man by God Himself.  Paul wrote to young Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim.3:16).  The word translated “inspiration” in this passage comes from the Greek word theopneustos, meaning “God-breathed.”  Throughout the Bible we see passages which say, “And the word of the Lord came unto……”  Peter writes that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet.1:21).  These men of whom Peter writes are the medium by which God delivered His word to man.  God selected certain men to convey His will in written form.  These men were guided by the Holy Spirit as they wrote, so that their writing was infallible.  The Bible claims to be God’s divine word.
     To claim that the Bible is full of error and inconsistency is to accuse God of being unable to deliver His will to man.  While this charge is expected from those who question or even deny God’s existence, it is not something one would expect from those who claim to believe in and who claim to follow God.  Yet there are many so-called Christians who believe God’s word to be full of inconsistency.  While they may not realize it, they are denying God’s power.  The person who says that he/she is a Christian, yet believes the Bible to have contradictions is not thinking logically.  How is this one assured that he/she is a Christian?  After all, what the Bible says one must do to become a Christian may in fact be just another error among many.  One cannot claim to follow God, yet refuse to believe that the Bible is God’s word.
 
    Do you have a Bible question that deserves a Bible answer?  Do you want more information about this subject?  Feel free to contact the Mabelvale church of Christ at 455-2548 or by fax at 407-0072.  We may also be reached by e-mail at mabelval@cei.net, and we have a web page at www.cei.net/~mabelval.  On the web page you will find archives of all of the “Ask A Bible Questions” to date, as well as other items.  Also, tune into the Search television program on Sunday mornings at 8:00 on channel 4.