The question of why we can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God is foundational for every Christian. In a world where truth is often seen as personal to your preferences and opinions, the Bible claims to be from God and authoritative, regardless of your preferences and opinions.

The Scriptures are the divinely inspired revelation of God to His creation: humanity. This claim carries weight because the Bible speaks not only about history and morality but also about the nature of God, humanity, salvation and eternity.

To understand and trust the Bible’s authority, we must explore its inspiration, inerrancy, historical reliability and transformative power.

The inspiration of Scripture

One of the most fundamental reasons we can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God is because of its divine inspiration. The doctrine of inspiration teaches that the Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that while human authors wrote the individual books of the Bible, they were guided by the Holy Spirit to record God’s Word without error.

Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, elaborates on this concept: “Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

This passage underscores the belief that Scripture is not the product of human imagination or effort but the direct result of God’s communication through the Holy Spirit.

R. C. Sproul defines biblical inspiration as the process by which “God superintended the human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, styles, and cultural contexts, they composed and recorded without error His message to humanity.” This divine inspiration ensures that the Bible contains God’s perfect and complete revelation.

Furthermore, Jesus Himself affirmed the authority of Scripture. In Matthew 5:17-18, He said, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.”

Jesus affirmed the Scriptures were authoritative and unchanging, validating the Old Testament as the Word of God. His teaching, life and death also fulfill the promises and prophecies within Scripture, further affirming its divine nature.

The inerrancy of Scripture

In addition to its divine inspiration, the Bible’s inerrancy is crucial to understanding its authority. Inerrancy means that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error in all that it affirms, whether in matters of faith, history or morality. If the Bible is truly God’s Word, then it must be free from error because God Himself is perfect and incapable of lying (Titus 1:2).

In John 17:17, Jesus prays to the Father, saying, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” This statement reveals that the Bible is not only true in the sense that it contains truth but that it is truth itself. The Bible does not merely conform to a standard of truth outside of itself; it is the very standard of truth because it is the Word of God.

Norman Geisler explains that “since God is the ultimate author of Scripture and God cannot err, it follows that Scripture cannot err.” This reasoning is foundational to our trust in the Bible. If the Bible contained errors, it would cast doubt on its claim to be the authoritative Word of God. However, the consistent testimony of Scripture is that it is trustworthy in all it teaches.

The historical reality of Scripture

The Bible’s trustworthiness is also based on its historical reliability. The Bible records real historical events and people, many of which have been confirmed by archaeological discoveries and external historical sources. The historical accuracy of the Bible lends credibility to its claims of divine origin.

For example, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 provided substantial evidence for the accuracy of the Old Testament text. These ancient manuscripts, dating back to the second century B.C., closely match the Hebrew text we have today, demonstrating the careful transmission of Scripture over the centuries.

Additionally, numerous historical figures and events recorded in the Bible, such as King David, Pontius Pilate and the destruction of Jerusalem, have been corroborated by external sources. Archaeologist Nelson Glueck stated, “No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.” While archaeology cannot prove the divine inspiration of the Bible, it does confirm the Bible’s reliability as a historical document, which strengthens our confidence in its truth claims.

The New Testament, particularly the Gospels, also stands up to historical scrutiny. The Gospels were written within a few decades of Jesus’s life, which is an extremely short time frame for ancient documents. The authors of the New Testament, many of whom were eyewitnesses to the events they recorded, had firsthand knowledge of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection.

The apostle Paul, writing in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, recounts the appearances of the risen Christ to over 500 people, many of whom were still alive at the time of his writing, encouraging readers to verify the truth of the resurrection for themselves.

The transformative power of Scripture

Finally, the Bible’s authority is confirmed by its transformative power. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient writings; it’s the living Word.

The writer of Hebrews 4:12 tells us: “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Through the Bible, God speaks directly to His people, convicting them of sin, comforting them in suffering and guiding them in truth.

The Bible’s power to transform lives is evident throughout history. Countless individuals, from Augustine to Martin Luther to modern-day believers, have testified to the life-changing impact of God’s Word. Charles Spurgeon once remarked, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” This analogy highlights the Bible’s power to defend itself by its transformative effect on those who read it.

Scripture has also played a central role in shaping cultures and societies. The principles of justice, human dignity and morality found in the Bible have influenced legal systems, governments and social movements throughout history. From the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement, the Bible’s teachings have inspired transformative social change, testifying to its authority as a guide for living.

The Bible can be trusted

We can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God because it’s divinely inspired, inerrant, historically reliable and transformative. The Bible stands apart from all other books because it isn’t merely the product of human effort but is the very Word of God, breathed out by Him and preserved for us. Its teachings are true, its historical claims are reliable, and its impact on individual lives and society is undeniable.

As Christians, our faith is built on the solid foundation of God’s Word. In a world of shifting opinions and unreliable sources of truth, the Bible remains the unchanging, authoritative guide for our lives. As we study Scripture, we can be confident we are hearing the voice of God, who has revealed Himself to us through His Word. When the Bible speaks, God speaks.

It is through this Word that we come to know the real Jesus and understand what He calls us to be and do.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Shane Pruitt is executive director of next-gen evangelism at the North American Mission Board. This article originally appeared at research.lifeway.com.)