The Question
Many people wonder: “The Bible was written by human beings—Paul, Peter, Moses, David, and others. How can we trust it as God’s Word? What if these writers were simply recording their own opinions? Why should we believe in a book that came through human hands?”
This question is crucial, because our faith stands or falls on the reliability of Scripture. If the Bible is merely human opinion, it holds no more authority than any other book. But if it is truly God’s Word, then it carries ultimate authority over our lives.
1. Jesus’ Own Principle: Believe Because of the Works
Before answering, let us see what Jesus Himself said:
John 14:11 (ESV) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe on account of the works themselves.
John 14:11 (ESV)
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or else believe on account of the works themselves.
Jesus is saying: Even if you struggle to accept My words, look at My works—the miracles, the signs, the changed lives. These works confirm that My message is from God.
This principle applies to Scripture itself. The Bible’s truth can be seen in the fruit it produces: transformed lives, miraculous deliverances, and fulfilled prophecies. The external evidence confirms the divine origin of the message.
2. Human Writers, Divine Author
It is true that the Bible was physically written by human beings. But Scripture itself explains that these humans were guided by God’s Spirit:
2 Peter 1:20–21 (NKJV) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20–21 (NKJV)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
This means the Bible is both fully human and fully divine—just as Jesus Himself was fully man and fully God. The human authors used their own vocabulary, style, and historical context, but every word they wrote was inspired (God-breathed) and preserved by the Holy Spirit.
Paul affirms this truth:
2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
3. Testing the Bible by Its Results
The truth of Scripture can be tested in the same way we test scientific laws—by applying them and observing the results.
The Bible promises that demons flee at the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17). Millions of believers throughout history—including today—testify that this is true.
It declares that those who repent and are baptized receive forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Countless people have experienced this exact promise in their lives.
The prophecies of Scripture, such as the birth of Christ in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1) or His suffering on the cross (Isaiah 53; John 19), have been fulfilled in exact detail—centuries apart.
These evidences show that the Bible is not a collection of human guesses, but a divine revelation confirmed by history and personal experience.
4. An Everyday Illustration
Think of a physics textbook. Scientists wrote it, explaining principles like gravity or aerodynamics. At first, you might doubt it. But when engineers apply those principles and planes actually fly, the truth of the book is proven—not by theory, but by results.
In the same way, the writings of Paul, Peter, or Moses prove themselves true when people live them out. The Word of God transforms sinners into saints, brings healing to broken hearts, and continues to change lives across cultures and centuries. No other book in history has this power.
5. A Spiritual Challenge
If someone denies the Bible’s truth despite seeing its power, it reveals more about their heart than about Scripture itself. As Paul says:
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
In other words, rejecting Scripture often comes from spiritual blindness, not from lack of evidence. Those who humbly seek God will see His fingerprints all over His Word.
Conclusion: Approach the Bible as God’s Living Word
The Bible may have been written by men, but it carries the voice of God. It is inspired, tested, and proven true across generations. As Hebrews reminds us:
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Approach Scripture not as a human book, but as the living Word of God. Test its promises. Apply its teachings. And you will discover firsthand that it is indeed the truth.
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