The Reliability of Scripture: How We Got Our Bible

The Reliability of Scripture: How We Got Our Bible

As we navigate the complexities of our daily Christian lives, it’s essential to have a solid foundation of faith. One such foundation is the trustworthiness of Scripture. But how did we get our Bible? Where did these sacred texts come from? And what can we learn from them?

## Key Scriptures: The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)

• Autobiographical accounts: Many of the books of the Old Testament are autobiographical accounts written by prophets, kings, and leaders who lived during that time period. For example, Moses wrote about his own life and experiences (Exodus 1:1-3:15), as did Joshua (Joshua 24:1-27) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:1-2:10). “And the Lord said unto me, Write thee the words of this song; and Moses wrote this song after the manner of the songs of the children” (Deuteronomy 31:22).
• Historical records: The Old Testament contains historical records of events that occurred during the time period in which they were written. For example, the book of Daniel provides a detailed account of the Babylonian exile and the rise of Persia (Daniel 5:30-31).

## Key Scriptures: The Greek New Testament

• Eyewitness accounts: Many of the books of the New Testament are eyewitness accounts written by individuals who knew Jesus personally or saw him perform miracles and teach. For example, Matthew wrote about his own experiences as a tax collector (Matthew 9:9-13), while John wrote about his own experiences as an apostle and friend of Jesus (John 1:1-14).
• Letters and epistles: Many of the books of the New Testament are letters or epistles written by early Christian leaders to specific churches or individuals. For example, Paul wrote many letters to various churches (Romans 1:1-15; Galatians 1:1-2), while Peter wrote a letter to his friends and fellow believers (1 Peter 1:1-5).

## The Canonization of Scripture

The process of canonization is the way in which Christian leaders identified and accepted certain texts as authoritative. This process was gradual and occurred over several centuries.

• Early Christian Church: The early Christian church recognized the authority of the Old Testament, which had been written by Jewish prophets and leaders.
• New Testament writings: As the New Testament writings emerged, they were initially considered to be separate from the Old Testament. However, as more texts were written and accepted, they were gradually incorporated into the canon.

## The Trustworthiness of Scripture

Despite the challenges and complexities surrounding the canonization process, Christian leaders have consistently affirmed the trustworthiness of Scripture.

• Inspiration: Christians believe that God inspired human authors to write the Scriptures. This inspiration was not a mechanical dictation but rather an enabling presence that guided the authors as they wrote (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
• Authority: The Bible is considered authoritative because it is the Word of God, and its teachings have been confirmed by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Consistency: Despite being written over several centuries and by many authors, the Scriptures demonstrate remarkable consistency in their message and themes.

## Practical Applications for Daily Christian Living

1. God is Sovereign: The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all things (Isaiah 45:7; Romans 11:36). This understanding should shape our prayers, decisions, and perspectives on life.
2. Scripture is Life-Changing: The Bible has the power to transform lives by revealing God’s character, purposes, and will (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 4:12).
3. Fellowship with God: Reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture enables us to have fellowship with God (Psalm 119:97-104; John 17:3).
4. Wisdom for Decision-Making: The Bible provides wisdom for making decisions by revealing God’s character, purposes, and will (Proverbs 9:10; James 1:5).

## Real-Life Example

I recall a time when my wife was struggling with anxiety and depression. As we prayed and sought guidance from Scripture, she began to realize that her struggles were not unique to her but rather an opportunity for growth and dependence on God (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Through daily meditation on Psalm 119:105, she found solace in the promise of God’s Word and eventually overcame her struggles.

## Encouragement and Prayer

As you navigate the challenges and opportunities of your daily Christian life, remember that the trustworthiness of Scripture is a source of inspiration and guidance. May the following prayer be your heart’s cry:

“Oh Lord, I come to You with an open heart, seeking wisdom, comfort, and direction from Your Word. Help me to understand the reliability of Scripture and its power to transform my life. Grant me the courage to apply its principles in practical ways, that I may reflect Your character and nature to those around me.”

May this blog post be a source of encouragement as you seek to deepen your faith and understanding of God’s Word.