Reason One: The uniqueness of the Bible in telling about the people described in it. Bible “Heros” are not heroic – they’re human. The one thing truly ancient documents have in common is the “superhuman” characteristics of the king or Emperor about whom it is written. The Bible is HONEST in reporting about people who do bad, nasty things to each other. That is a description of humanity, not God.

Reason Two: The Bible was written by different people over a long period of time in different languages, and in different places – yet all of this mishmash delivers a continuous and rational train of thought which gives us hope of a better future and how to live a good life now.

Reason Three: Several powerful people have tried to wipe out the Bible but it continues stronger and stronger. In 303 Anno Domini, Roman Emperor Diocletian forbid Christians to worship and the Bible was to be destroyed. 25 years later Roman Emperor Constantine ordered 50 copies of the Scriptures to be prepared at government expense.

Voltaire, the atheist, died in 1778. He said within a hundred years Christianity would pass into history. 50 years after his prediction the Geneva Bible Society used Voltaire’s printing press and house to print Bibles. God does indeed have a sense of humor. – God has taken care of His word very well even through many have tried to wipe it out.

Reason Four: Copyists have been diligent in giving us accurate copies. There have been some copy errors which are actually useful. These are few in number. The copies of Bibles come from so many different sources that the differences give us confidence in the accuracy of the form found in the larger majority of copies. Bernard Ramm said the Jews kept tabs on every letter, syllable, and word in copying the Old Testament – every jot and tittle. No one ever counted the words and letters of Plato, Cicero, and Aristotle.

Reason Five: Many good, intelligent people have given their lives for the Bible. Tyndale was one of the earliest English Bible translators. When he had difficulty finding a printer for one of his translations he returned to the continent where he was a wanted man. His crime? — writing the Bible in English. They caught him, put him in prison, and then killed him. Jesus gave his blood for our salvation. Tyndale gave his blood so that we could know of Jesus’ blood. Some people of the church care little about reading this book which is so easily found today. Perhaps the availability of the book has allowed them (us?) to treat it as common reading material instead of the word of God which it is.

Revelation 22:5-7 (NIV) 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” 7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”

 

–Jerry Hallett, lives in Indianapolis and is a member of the Southeastern Church of Christ