External Proofs of Inspiration--#15

The Bible claims to be a unique writing, a writing that contains the thoughts and plans of the Elohim. This Biblical claim forces humanity to face a series of “If” questions: 

• If the Bible is the Word of God, then a person had better pay attention to It (Isaiah 34:16). 

• If the Bible is truly God's Word, then this communication from God is more important than one's home, job, or present circumstances. Even one's concern for others whom one might love or hate pales next to the significance that Almighty God desires to instruct an individual (Isaiah 1: 18-20). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, it is vitally important that the individual knows what information is in the book (Psalms 119:104). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, then the Bible alone can fully explain man's feelings of confusion and lostness over his existence (Genesis 3), and the Bible alone will contain the solutions to the questions one faces. 

• If the Bible is God's communication to man, it alone states God's plan for man (Gen. 1:28) and His requirements of man (Micah 6:8). 

• If the Bible is God's Word, then one must not just own a copy of it and keep it on his shelf; one must read, study, and apply it to his life. (Acts 20:32; Deuteronomy 17:19-20). Owning a copy without studying the Bible would be like buying a car and trying to drive it without receiving a driver's education. Owning a new car might be nice, but operating that car without driver training could lead to a tragic accident. Living one's life without studying the Bible could also lead to tragedy (1 Co. 10:6-14). 

Thus, if the Bible is God's Word, it would not be enough to read It occasionally or even to memorize catchy phrases from It. One must study the Bible and receive its teaching if it is God's Word. A person must follow the Bible's teachings to experience the desirable life that God created one for (Psalms 119:4, 9,24). One must know the Word and obey It (Deuteronomy 12:32). For if the Bible is truly God's Word, all it states shall come to pass (Psalm 111:7, Matthew 5:18, Luke 21: 23). 

If God has given man His Word, He shall hold man responsible for It (Matthew. 22:29, Deuteronomy 4:2, Psalms 119:4-6). He will bless man’s keeping the Word and punish those that disobey it (Deuteronomy 28, Matthew 7:22-27, 25:29—46). The Bible is the Word of God, and one had better pay attention to It, for It is God speaking to man (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3: 15-17).

In addition, the Bible declares that It is inspired (2 Timothy. 4:16), which means that the Bible claims that It is "God-breathed." (Strong's). The Scriptures declare that they were composed not by man but by God. Holy "men of God spake as the Holy Ghost moved them." (2 Peter 1:21).

The written Scripture directly results from God's revealing Himself to men and directing those men to record what and how they learned of God's personality and character [Revelation 1:10-11]. The Bible, therefore, contains the recorded revelation of God to man. Only Jesus provides a greater revelation since Jesus is the actual Word made flesh [John 1:1, 1 John 1:1-3]. Although God did not answer every question that man might conceive of asking Him in the Bible, God did reveal His character and provided answers to the fundamental questions of man's existence through the Scriptures. Through the revelation of the Scriptures, written for the benefit of man, we can establish a relationship with Yahweh. That relationship is possible through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lord, and Savior.  

So, how does the Bible support its claims? The Bible demonstrates Its divine origin in several ways. 

• The Bible provided scientific knowledge on certain topics long before that knowledge was known to man. The shape of the earth [Isaiah 40:22], the deep trenches or “valleys” in the oceans [2 Samuel 22:16], the hydrological cycle of water [Job 26:8], etc. Medical information was also recorded in God’s word that has only recently been verified. 

In Genesis 17:12, God told Abraham, “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, . . .” Yet scientists and physicians only recently discovered that circumcision greatly reduces the occurrence of penile cancer in males and cancer of the cervix in their female counterparts. It was also discovered that vitamin K is a vital blood-clotting element. However, this vitamin is not manufactured in the baby’s intestinal tract until sometime between the fifth to seventh day after birth. The element prothrombin is also vital to the clotting of the blood. However, at birth, a baby's prothrombin levels in the blood are much lower than normal and decline until day three. Nevertheless, by day eight, the prothrombin levels skyrocket to a level ten percent above normal, only to level off by day nine. Thus, the perfect day to perform a circumcision is the eighth day when vitamin K and prothrombin are at their highest concentration. These facts, not known to the medical community until the 1940s, were recorded in the Bible nearly four thousand years ago. https://warrenapologetics.org/articles-the-bible/2017/2/27/external-evidences-for-the-inspiration-of-the-bible  

• Archeological evidence that supports the historical record provided by the Old Testament books [https://amazingbibletimeline.com/blog/q9_historical_proof_bible/]. 

• The fulfillment of prophecy. The Bible prophesied certain cities would be destroyed and never rebuilt. These include  Nineveh ( 1:10; 3:7,15; Zeph. 2:13-14), Babylon (Isaiah 13:1-22), and Tyre (Ezek. 26:). Daniel 12:4 prophesied that knowledge would increase as well as the ability to travel great distances.  Of course, this prophecy was fulfilled with our present rise in technology. In addition, Jesus fulfilled over 300 Messianic prophecies during His incarnation, life, sacrificial death, and resurrection. 

• Although composed of sixty-six books with over forty authors, the Bible has an overall unified theme. 

• The Bible has survived in its present format for over 1500 years. Its various books were compiled over an additional 200 years. The continuing existence of the Scriptures speaks to its supernatural guidance.
• The fact that the Scriptures exist proves that an all-powerful God loved man and desired to communicate with humanity so that He might save man from death (CI, p.6). God revealed the plan of salvation in His Word. He protected the Scriptures throughout the years and from great persecutions so that men might discover the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 Therefore, since the Bible is God's revelation to man, given by an all-powerful God and protected by Him throughout time, the accuracy and truthfulness of the Bible are unquestionable. The Creator and Master of the Universe has given man His revelation and has confirmed His Words through – fulfilled led prophecy (John 17:12, Acts 2), eyewitness accounts (Luke 24:13-33), and archeological records [https://www.redeemersavior.com/archaeological-discoveries-bible/, https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-crucial-archaeological-discoveries-related-to-the-bible/]. The perfection and holiness of Himself are reflected in His Word.

 And in our next discussion we will discover more evidence supporting the Bible’s inspiration.