Is the Bible reliable?

“The Bible is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.” Mark Twain’s famous quote captures the complex relationship many people have with the Bible.  

Billions revere it, yet others question and criticise it. Is the Bible a reliable source of truth, or is it riddled with errors, contradictions and outdated ideas? 

The question of the reliability of scripture affects discussions about faith, history and morality. And it deserves careful consideration, especially in an age where it’s harder than ever to discern fact from fiction. 

What is the Bible? 

First, let’s understand what the Bible is. The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by dozens of authors over hundreds of years. It spans from the creation of the world to prophecies about the end of time. It includes stories, poems, laws, prophecies, letters and wisdom sayings.  

We have thousands of manuscripts for biblical books, far more than any other ancient text 

The first five books, the Torah or Pentateuch, lay the foundation for the people who descended from the patriarch Abraham. The Old Testament then chronicles their history, poetry and prophetic messages.  

The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, sent to Abraham’s descendants, as well as the beginnings of the early Christian Church. 

This vast and diverse collection of writings has shaped our world. The Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages, and its influence on history, culture, politics, law, literature, music and art is undeniable.  

Archaeological evidence 

But influence doesn’t equal accuracy. So, how can we assess the Bible’s reliability? One way is through archaeology. Can we verify the people, places and events described in the Bible with external evidence? Archaeologists have uncovered inscriptions, tombs and artifacts that shed light on the ancient world. 

The Merneptah Stele, for example, is an Egyptian inscription from around 1210 BC that mentions Israel. This is the earliest textual reference to Israel outside of the Bible, providing evidence for their existence as a distinct people in that time. Archaeological discoveries have also confirmed details about King Ahab’s palace and the existence of synagogues in ancient Galilee. 

However, archaeology has its limits. It can’t prove that God spoke to Abraham or that Jesus preached a specific sermon. But, as one prominent archaeologist stated: “No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.” 

Ancient literature 

Another way to validate the Bible is through ancient literature. Comparing biblical accounts with other contemporary sources can strengthen their credibility. Assyrian records corroborate details about kings, battles and places mentioned in the Old Testament. The Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote about Jesus’s life and death. The Roman historian, Tacitus, confirmed Jesus’s execution and the early Christian movement. 

Despite this evidence, objections remain, such as: “Even if God inspired the original words, we don’t have the original words.” We only have copies of manuscripts, but this is the case for all ancient works. What matters is the number of copies and the time gap between the original and the earliest copies. 

Here, the Bible is unparalleled. For most ancient texts, there’s a gap of 700–1450 years between the original and the earliest copy. For the Old Testament, the Dead Sea Scrolls are less than 500 years removed. For the New Testament, we have a full manuscript dating to within 300 years of the originals, with one fragment only 40 years removed! Plus, we have thousands of manuscripts for individual biblical books, far more than for any other ancient text. 

What about contradictions and inconsistencies?  

Doesn’t the Bible contradict itself? Genesis 1 and 2, for example, offer two different creation accounts. However, understanding ancient literary designs, like telescoping, helps resolve this issue. Genesis 1 tells the full story chronologically, while Genesis 2 zooms in on the creation of humankind. 

Similarly, seeming discrepancies in the four Gospels reflect different thematic purposes, not factual errors. Ancient biographers often organised their material thematically, not chronologically. It is also important to consider the culture and language in which it was written. 

This vast and diverse collection of writings has undeniably shaped our world 

Finally, what about the problem of translation? Can the message be lost as the Bible is translated from one language to another? Thankfully, modern Bible translation isn’t like a game of Chinese Whispers, where one person passes on a message to another, until it becomes hilariously garbled. Scholars, linguists and Bible experts work together for years, meticulously checking every word against ancient manuscripts. New discoveries, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, further refine our translations. Discoveries of more ancient manuscripts enable new translations to be even more accurate than previous ones.  

While the Bible is supported by research and data, Christians also view it as sacred. They see it as God’s word and find powerful and transformative applications to their lives. The Bible’s themes and principles offer lessons and truths that continue to inspire billions of people around the world today. 

Want to know more about how to follow Jesus? Find out more here

Bruce Miller’s latest book, The 7 Big Questions: Searching for God, truth, and purpose (Global Outreach Media) is available now