Why I Believe the Bible - Pt. 1

Much of the information that follows will be taken largely from the work of the late Dr. James Montgomery Boice, longtime pastor of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA.

First, in answering "Why do I believe the Bible?" let us build a case for the divine truthfulness for the Scriptures.
1. The Bible is a generally trustworthy document. Its reliability can be looked at and established as we would any other historical document. For instance we might treat the trustworthiness of Scripture as we would come to a historical record like the works of an ancient Greek writer. I mean why do we believe we have the accurate works of Socrates or Plato? What makes them trustworthy that is what we have when we read their works? So establish the trustworthiness of the Scriptures.

2. On the basis of the history recorded by the Bible we have sufficient reason to believe that the main character of the Bible, Jesus Christ, did what He claimed to have done and is who He claimed to be: the one and only Son of God.

3. As the unique Son of God, Jesus Christ possesses an infallible authority.

4. Jesus not only assumed the Bible's authority in His own teaching, but clearly proclaimed such -- that it is indeed without error and eternal. See Matthew 5:18 -"For truly I say to you till heaven and earth pass away not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished."

5. If indeed the Bible is the Word of God. as Jesus Christ taught, then the Bible must be inerrant and completely trustworthy as God is a God of truth, incapable of falsehood. 1 John says that God is a God of light and in Him is no darkness at all.

6. Therefore, based on the clear, straightforward teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ we can profess with confidence that the Bible is indeed infallible.

Hopefully these points will lay some groundwork for what will follow, as we touch on 10 reasons to believe the Bible as our guide and authority in matters of life and faith.