How Can We Know that the Bible is the Word of God and Without Error?

How to Handle This Question

(The parts in quotes are just examples of what you might say or ask.)

It is best to ask them a few questions first and to listen to their answers

• "What do you think?  Do you think that there is a way that you can know this?"
• "What have others told you about this?"
• "Have you questioned in your mind whether this is even possible?"
  

Let them know you understand

• "I can understand how you would ask that."
• "I actually can relate to this question."
• "This is a good question, and I have given it some thought over time."
  

Relate to them

• "When I first heard this question, it seemed to challenge what I know to be true.
• "I used to wonder about this."
• "At first glance, this question gives the appearance of being a problem."
• "Would you like to hear what I discovered?"

Tell them what God has shown to you

• "God has revealed to me that the Bible is accurate.  He revealed it to me through my conscience, through the Bible, through a still small voice, and through the creation.  Then, He revealed to me that the only way we can know anything at all is by the revelation the God gives.  We can't even understand what we can observe using scientific method unless the Holy Spirit opens our understanding to it."

It is then good to ask an open followup question (not a "yes" or "no" question) to allow them to process what you have said.

• "How do you see this as applying to your life?"
• "What are your thoughts?"
• "Where do you see this as different from your point/question?"
  

A More Complete Answer

Many people wonder whether there are errors in the Bible.  Some are sure that there are biblical errors but just can't think of any.  Some bring up what appear to be one or more errors but, on examination, these are not errors at all.  Some people are so desperate to try to get out from under the weight of the conviction of the Holy Spirit that they would say just about anything if they thought they might be able to convince themselves of some biblical error.

First, we need to make it clear that the reason those who are actually following Christ believe is not based on physical evidence or human argument, though the observable physical evidence supports the Bible's inerrancy without the mental gymnastics that the ungodly find themselves tangled in.  The sure belief [faith] of Christ's followers flows from Christ and is based in the power of God.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word (utterance) of God.   God speaks.   God speaks to every person.   Whoever will listen receives the faith that is of God.   Only those who do not want to listen to God and obey Him will not receive this faith of God.  This is a supernatural belief that is not human-generated.   It is a gift.   That faith is the belief that what God has said is true.  

Before a person is born again, there will have been some kind of history of hearing God's voice.   No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him or her.   A person is born again the moment that he or she hears God's voice and receives the faith that comes from God to believe in Jesus as Savior from sin.   In the same way, it is God who speaks and says that the Bible is the Word of God without error.   When we hear His voice, then His faith comes, the supernatural belief that the Bible is the Word of God without error.   Once God opens our eyes, we see that the Bible is the only written source that is both internally and externally consistent.   We cannot possibly believe unless we are having an active interaction with our Maker and that interaction is an interaction in which He leads and we follow in humble submission to Him.   Some Christians are not aware enough of their own experience to know this, however.  If they go back to their creeds and the Bible verses they have memorized, they will see it, but some Christians do not follow Christ, so they never have this experience.  

Interestingly, the description that was given in the previous paragraph does not depend on circular reasoning * or poor logic.   It depends on God.   This is the kind of faith that is really operating.  It is faith based on real-time revelation.   Now, a Naturalist will attack the whole idea of revelation claiming that revelation cannot be verified. However, Naturalism is, in itself, irrational and the claim that revelation cannot be verified is based on circular reasoning.  

Many have tried to find an error on Scripture.  Billions have been spent over centuries of time.  If there had been any, it is reasonable to say that all this effort would have turned up an error or an inconsistency.  Some people have falsely claimed there are contradictions in the Bible.  There are not any.   We know this by revelation; however, no real contradictions every are presented.  Are supposed contradictions presented?  Yes.  All the time, but a little investigation quickly shows them to be falsely presented.

Jesus quoted the Bible in a way that indicates that He was certain that the Bible was the authority.  And He was certain for the same reason His true followers are certain.  Ability to see the Kingdom of Heaven.

The only sane answer, given these facts, is that there are no errors in Scripture.

Let's start by stating the obvious. In the scoffer's shell game, the obvious is often missed. The obvious, in this case, is that which does NOT demonstrate an error. In an attempt to find an error in the Bible, scoffers will make assumptions regarding Scripture or assumptions regarding science.  Assumptions are never proof of anything.  Scoffers will take their assumptions as if these assumptions were facts.  Then they will try to cover the fact that their assumptions are assumptions.  They will presuppose their assumptions into deceptive language or try to call their assumptions, "scientific facts."  They will try to say that everyone must accept their assumptions as the "correct assumptions."  This insane form of "reasoning" will make a reasonable person shudder.  Unfortunately, this kind of "logic" is being taught in universities around the world.  There are endless ways to hide the fact that the scoffers are just making it up as they go along.  Once they have their assumptions well hidden, they try to use their assumptions to "prove" that an error exists in Scripture.  Of course, all of this is flimflam.  No one has ever found a real error in Scripture.

The scoffers take the attitude that, if there is an assumption that could be made that would make the Bible not make sense, then the Bible must contain an error.  That is to say that they add to or take away parts of Scripture by making assumptions, and by adding to Scripture or taking away from Scripture, they falsely claim that they have found an error.  If anyone looks at the situation and discovers their mind game, they will see very plainly that the claim of an error was simply a silly trick.

If someone were to say to you, "If I can misinterpret any one of your statements, then you are lying or in error," then, what would your hope of communicating with that person be?  This is exactly the attitude of the scoffer toward the Word of God as found in the Bible.  No wonder scoffers cannot make a connection with the God of the Bible.

Every single argument that has ever claimed Biblical error has followed the deceptive pattern just mentioned.  All of those arguments have been shown to be bogus, but the Bible stands.

For an error or conflict in Scripture, or any other document for that matter, a situation would have to exist where there was no set of assumptions that could possibly show that there was no error or conflict.  Some would say that this would eliminate all possible errors, but this is not true.  If there were real errors in the Bible, then it would be very easy to find them using these rules. Science books, by this rule, should be and are replaced often because of the errors that exist in them.

Questions and Answers

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God has established the pattern of Scripture, for life and for the Church.

You can feel free to use the Contact Form further down on this page to ask any question regarding this pattern of Scripture. The Church, the Body of Christ, and discernment of this Body, is the method that God is using to finish the work in His Body. The Body of Christ, God's Temple, is built up by that which every joint supplies, building each other up in love, and the Temple must be built according to the pattern of Scripture.

We believe the Holy Scriptures teach:

• The 5 apostolic ministries (Ephesians 4:11)
• The nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
• Local congregations overseen by elders and deacons (Titus 1:5)
• Every member having and being a ministry in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11)
• Being led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
• The gathering together of the Body of Christ (Genesis 49:10, John 17:21)