Can We Trust the Bible? Understanding Its Truth

Q: What manuscript and archaeological evidence supports the Bible?

The Bible is one of the best-documented ancient texts in history, supported by a wealth of manuscripts and archaeological discoveries.

  • Manuscript Evidence:

    • There are over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, along with thousands more in Latin, Coptic, and other ancient languages.

    • Some manuscripts, like the Dead Sea Scrolls (dated 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE), confirm the accuracy of Old Testament texts, showing remarkable consistency over centuries.

    • These manuscripts allow scholars to compare copies and verify the Bible’s reliability with high confidence.

  • Archaeological Evidence:

    • Excavations across Israel, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and surrounding regions consistently confirm people, places, and events described in the Bible.

    • Examples include the discovery of Hezekiah’s tunnel (2 Kings 20:20), the pool of Siloam (John 9:7), and inscriptions mentioning Pontius Pilate.

    • Ancient cities like Jericho, Nineveh, and Babylon, along with cultural artifacts, align with biblical accounts, reinforcing the historical context of Scripture.

In short

The Bible’s reliability is supported by thousands of ancient manuscripts and numerous archaeological findings that confirm its historical, geographical, and cultural details. This evidence shows that the Bible we read today faithfully reflects the texts preserved over millennia.

Q: Has the Bible been altered?

The Bible has been remarkably preserved over thousands of years, and the evidence shows that its message remains intact. Its unique structure is deeply interconnected—like a web of hyperlinks—where prophecies, teachings, and events reference and support one another. If any part were removed or significantly altered, the coherence of the Bible would collapse. For example:

  • Prophecies and Fulfillment: Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies point to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Removing or changing even one prophecy would break the chain of fulfillment found in the New Testament (Isaiah 53; Luke 24:44).

  • Thematic Unity: Themes like covenant, sacrifice, mercy, and God’s faithfulness appear throughout Scripture. Altering parts of the text would disrupt these recurring motifs, revealing inconsistency.

  • Manuscript Evidence: Thousands of manuscripts—including the Dead Sea Scrolls and early New Testament copies—confirm the consistency of the biblical text over centuries. Even minor copyist differences do not affect the core message, showing extraordinary preservation.

The Bible’s survival through history—despite persecution, attempts to destroy it, and translation across languages—demonstrates not only careful preservation but also its divine design. Its interconnected nature, where every passage supports the whole, makes it virtually impossible for the Bible to have been deliberately altered without detection.

In short

The Bible’s intricate structure, fulfilled prophecies, consistent themes, and manuscript evidence all point to a text that has been faithfully preserved. Its message is whole, interconnected, and reliable, showing that what we read today reflects the original intent of God’s Word.

Q: Does the Old Testament describe Jesus?

Yes. It predicts a divine Person: eternal, worshiped, saving, judging, and ultimately resurrected. Only Jesus fits these details.

Q: Are the prophecies specific?

  • Birthplace centuries in advance (Micah 5:2)

  • Crucifixion foretold 1,000 years prior (Psalm 22)

  • Resurrection described (Psalm 16:10)

  • Betrayal for 30 silver coins (Zechariah 11:12–13)

  • Isaiah 53 details His suffering

Q: Does the Old Testament reveal more than one divine Person?

Yes. Throughout the Old Testament, we see evidence of more than one divine Person interacting within the Godhead. Long before Jesus came in the flesh, the pre-incarnate Christ appears alongside the Father in several passages, revealing that God’s nature has always included relationship and unity.

Where We See This

The Old Testament shows divine figures who are called God, speak with God’s authority, receive worship, and yet are distinct from the Father:

  • The Angel of the Lord who speaks as God and is worshiped (Exodus 3).

  • The Lord on earth interacting with the Lord in heaven (Genesis 18–19).

  • The Word of the Lord appearing and speaking as a Person (1 Samuel 3).

These are early glimpses of the One the New Testament fully reveals as Jesus.

Why This Matters

This shows that God has never been solitary. Love, relationship, and unity have always existed within the Godhead. The Father, Son, and Spirit did not begin in the New Testament — they were present from the very beginning.

Q: How is the Bible interconnected?

The Bible is made up of many books, written by many people, across 1,500 years — yet it tells one unified story. From beginning to end, its themes, symbols, and prophecies connect like threads woven into a single tapestry.

You can see these connections everywhere:

  • Genesis ↔ Revelation — creation and new creation

  • Exodus ↔ John — the Passover lamb and Jesus as the Lamb of God

  • Isaiah ↔ the Gospels — detailed prophecies fulfilled in Christ

  • Psalms ↔ the Crucifixion — David’s writings describing Jesus’ suffering centuries in advance

These links are not accidental or humanly coordinated. The entire Bible “speaks to itself,” revealing one Author behind all its pages.

In short

The Bible is deeply interconnected because God inspired it. Its unity, precision, and prophetic harmony show a divine design far greater than human planning.

Q: Does God protect His Word?

Revelation 22:18–19:

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

God takes the words of Scripture very seriously because He wants to protect His truth and the people who find it. Revelation 22:18–19 warns that anyone who adds to or removes from the Bible risks serious consequences. God does this out of love, like a good Father, wanting His children to find Him and not be left alone without hope, truth, or a way to salvation. Every part of Scripture is interconnected, teaching, guiding, and pointing to Jesus. By warning against altering His Word, God shows how precious the truth is and how deeply He cares for us, ensuring that anyone who seeks Him can find Him safely and fully.

Summary

The Bible is historically reliable and divinely inspired. It reveals God’s love, guidance, and plan for salvation. Millions have been transformed by its truths.