Our answer to this question will not only determine how we view the Bible and a significance for our lives, but it will also have an eternal impact on us. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then we should cherish it, study it, it, and fully rely on it. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority for all matters of faith, practice, and morality. If the Bible is the Word of God, then to dismiss it is to dismiss God Himself.
God’s giving us the Bible is proof of His love for us. God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things we could not have known if God had not divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. The Bible contains everything mankind needs to know about God in order to have a right relationship with Him.
How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God and not just a good book? What is it about the Bible that sets it apart from all other books ever written? Is there any proof that the Bible is truly the Word of God? These types of questions need to be examined carefully. There is no doubt that the Bible claims to be the Word of God. This is seen in Paul’s commendation of Timothy: “And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17 ).
There are both internal and external evidences that the Bible is truly the Word of God.
Internal Evidences That the Bible Is the Word of God
Internal evidences are those things within the Bible that testify to its divine origin. One internal evidence that the Bible is truly the Word of God is its unity. Although it is actually sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1,500 years, by more than 40 authors from different social backgrounds, the Bible remains a unified book from beginning to end, without contradictions. This unity is unique from all other books and is proof of the divine origin of the words that God caused men to record.
Another internal evidence that indicates that the Bible is truly the Word of God is prophecy. The Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies concerning the future of various nations, certain cities, and all of mankind. Other prophecies concern the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all who would believe in Him. Unlike the prophecies in other religious books or by men such as Nostradamus, Bible prophecies are extraordinarily detailed. There are over three hundred prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Not only were His descendants and where He would be born prophesied, but also how He would die and that He would be resurrected. There is simply no other logical way to explain the fulfillment of Bible prophecies other than by citing their divine origin. There is no other religious book that contains the amount of detailed and predictive prophecies that the Bible contains.
A third internal proof of the Bible’s divine origin is its unparalleled authority and power. Although this test is more subjective than the first two, it is still a powerful testimony that the Bible is the Word of God. The authority of the Bible is unlike that of any other book ever written. This power is seen in the way countless lives have been supernaturally transformed. Drug addicts have been completely cured by it, homosexuals have been set free by it, vagabonds and freeloaders have been transformed by it, hardened criminals have been reformed by it, sinners have been rebuked by it, and hatred has been turned to love by the Bible. Indeed, the Bible has a dynamic, life-changing power that is only possible because it is truly the Word of God.
External Evidence That the Bible Is the Word of God
There is also external evidence that indicates that the Bible is truly the Word of God. One is the historicity of the Bible. Since the Bible details historical facts, its accuracy is subject to verification like any other historical document. Through archaeological evidence and extrabiblical writings, the historical accounts of the Bible have been repeatedly proven accurate and truthful. In fact, all of the archaeological and manuscript evidence supporting the Bible makes it the best-documented book from the ancient world. The fact that the Bible accurately records historically verifiable facts helps corroborate its claim to be the very Word of God and supports trustworthiness regarding other matters the Bible addresses.
Another external proof that the Bible is truly the Word of God is the integrity of its human authors. As we study the lives of the authors of Scripture, we find that they were honest and sincere. The fact that they were willing to die many times in excruciating ways for what they believed shows that these men truly believed that God had spoken to them. The men who wrote the New Testament and many hundreds of other believers ( 1 Corinthians 15:6 ) knew the truth of their message because they had spent time with Jesus Christ after He rose from the dead. Seeing the resurrected Christ had a tremendous impact on them. They went from hiding in fear to being willing to die for the message that God had revealed to them. Their lives and deaths testify that the Bible really is the Word of God.
Another external evidence that the Bible really is the Word of God is its indestructibility. The Bible has suffered more vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it than any other book in history. From early Roman emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators, to modern-day atheists, the Bible has withstood constant attack from its detractors. Yet it remains the most widely published book in the world.
Throughout history, skeptics have considered the Bible to be mythological, but archaeology has confirmed that it is historical. Detractors have considered its teachings primitive and outdated, but its moral and legal concepts have positively influenced societies around the world. It continues to be attacked by pseudoscience, psychology, and political movements, but it remains as true and relevant today as it was when it was first written. This should come as no surprise. After all, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” ( Mark 13:31 ).
The Bible, unique among books, has transformed countless lives and influenced entire cultures. After examining the evidence, it can be said without a doubt that God has spoken and that, yes, the Bible is indeed the Word of God