How do we know the Bible is true? - ChristianAnswers.Net
I posed this question on Google and this was the first site that cropped up.
Basically, the writer goes through a series of reasons why it is true:
1) Fulfilled Prophecies
The source only lists one fulfilled prophecy and I'm not entirely well-versed in others. The one that he does list states that Daniel 9:24-27 claims that the Christ would come as Israel's promised Saviour and Prince 483 years after the Persian emperor would give the Jews authority to rebuild Jerusalem.
"24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Is this the best example of prophecy he could come up with? It seems very vague and it is incredibly questionable as to whether it was fulfilled. The only way you can see it was fulfilled is if you presuppose that Jesus IS the promised saviour. Circular logic. (Plus, there is talk of a flood which I'm unaware of ever happening....prophecy yet to come maybe???)
2) Unique Historical Accuracy:
Here he claims that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted the Bible (this claim was made by a devout rabbi according to the source). But you can easily do a search on Google and find archaeological things that do contradict the Bible:
"http://christianthinktank.com/noai.html"
While this is largely Arguments From Silence because the archaeological record is never complete, it seems strange that certain sites mentioned in the Bible have been combed numerous times by archaeologists and yielded not a shred of evidence. Especially strange is when evidence is found which places the site at a date far later than the Bible suggests.
So is it historically accurate or not? Seems to be more of a debate than an agreed upon conclusion.
3) Scientific Accuracy:
He quotes a series of verses that support scientific conclusions. Here are a couple:
A) II Peter 3:7 "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
B) Psalm 102: 25-27 "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."
and
C) Jeremiah 33:22 "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me."
Now, each of these verses apparently gives some insight into the scientific nature of the world. My question to you is, without looking into it, what scientific laws do each of these verses represent? Because, if these verses without a doubt tell you something about the scientific universe, then everyone should have consensus on what they mean.
4) Unique Structure
This is the argument that states that the Bible never contradicts itself. Again, you can quickly do a Google search and find a whole host of Biblical contradictions. These are not all great examples but they range from the way Judas died to whether God is wrathful or loving:
""I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy." (JER 13:14) "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling."
"The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." (JAS 5:11)""
(http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html#shape_of_earth"
5) Bible's Unique Affect
This is the throwaway argument which says the Bible has inspired lots of people and changed peoples lives, therefore its true. Hindu scriptures have been inspiring and changing peoples lives for about 2 millenia longer than the Bible so doesn't that just make Hinduism true then?
So after that incredibly lengthy post I wish to ask the Christians out there: Why do you believe the Bible is true????
I posed this question on Google and this was the first site that cropped up.
Basically, the writer goes through a series of reasons why it is true:
1) Fulfilled Prophecies
The source only lists one fulfilled prophecy and I'm not entirely well-versed in others. The one that he does list states that Daniel 9:24-27 claims that the Christ would come as Israel's promised Saviour and Prince 483 years after the Persian emperor would give the Jews authority to rebuild Jerusalem.
"24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Is this the best example of prophecy he could come up with? It seems very vague and it is incredibly questionable as to whether it was fulfilled. The only way you can see it was fulfilled is if you presuppose that Jesus IS the promised saviour. Circular logic. (Plus, there is talk of a flood which I'm unaware of ever happening....prophecy yet to come maybe???)
2) Unique Historical Accuracy:
Here he claims that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted the Bible (this claim was made by a devout rabbi according to the source). But you can easily do a search on Google and find archaeological things that do contradict the Bible:
"http://christianthinktank.com/noai.html"
While this is largely Arguments From Silence because the archaeological record is never complete, it seems strange that certain sites mentioned in the Bible have been combed numerous times by archaeologists and yielded not a shred of evidence. Especially strange is when evidence is found which places the site at a date far later than the Bible suggests.
So is it historically accurate or not? Seems to be more of a debate than an agreed upon conclusion.
3) Scientific Accuracy:
He quotes a series of verses that support scientific conclusions. Here are a couple:
A) II Peter 3:7 "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
B) Psalm 102: 25-27 "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."
and
C) Jeremiah 33:22 "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me."
Now, each of these verses apparently gives some insight into the scientific nature of the world. My question to you is, without looking into it, what scientific laws do each of these verses represent? Because, if these verses without a doubt tell you something about the scientific universe, then everyone should have consensus on what they mean.
4) Unique Structure
This is the argument that states that the Bible never contradicts itself. Again, you can quickly do a Google search and find a whole host of Biblical contradictions. These are not all great examples but they range from the way Judas died to whether God is wrathful or loving:
""I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy." (JER 13:14) "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling."
"The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." (JAS 5:11)""
(http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/jim_meritt/bible-contradictions.html#shape_of_earth"
5) Bible's Unique Affect
This is the throwaway argument which says the Bible has inspired lots of people and changed peoples lives, therefore its true. Hindu scriptures have been inspiring and changing peoples lives for about 2 millenia longer than the Bible so doesn't that just make Hinduism true then?
So after that incredibly lengthy post I wish to ask the Christians out there: Why do you believe the Bible is true????
