Why I Believe The Bible

 

The Scientific Trustworthiness Of The Bible 3

The Bible Covers Many “Every-Day” Scientific Facts Without Contradiction 3

Biology 3

Isaiah 3

Romans 4

Some of the many biological facts found in the Bible are: 4

There Is A Genetic Unity Of The Human Race 4

Animal Flesh And Human Flesh Are Different 4

Man’s Body Is Made Of Dust (Earthly Elements) 4

The Life Of The Flesh Is In The Blood 5

Unborn Fetuses Are Living, Real, Individual Human Beings 5

The Mosaic Laws Of Hygiene And Sanitation Presuppose An Understanding Of Microbiological Pathogens (germs) 6

Animals Reproduce Only after Their Kind 8

Ant Worker Are Female And Do Not Sleep 8

There Are Agricultural ants That Actually Harvest Seeds 8

Eagles Have Acute Vision And Eat Carrion 8

The Oceans Are Teeming With Marine Life Of Countless Shapes And Sizes 9

Astronomy 9

The Universe Is Virtually Infinite 9

There Are Stars Too Numerous To Count 9

Stars Differ In Their Glory (Brightness) 9

The Existence And Influence Of Certain Constellations 9

There Are Constellations Visible From The Southern Hemisphere (“chambers of the south”) 10

There Is An Empty Space In The North 10

The Star Arcturus Moves 10

Other Planets Exists 10

The Sun Moves Through Space 10

The Sun Exerts Force Upon The Earth ??? 10

The Moon Shines By Reflected Light 10

The Earth Hangs Upon Nothing 10

A Reference To The Earth’s Gravitational Field 11

Geology & Geophysics 11

The Earth Is Spherical 11

The Earth Rotates (Different Time Zones) 11

There Is Fire Beneath The Earth 11

Mountains Have Roots (Lava Veins) 11

The Oceans Have Currents 12

There Are Springs In The Seas 12

There Are Valleys And Mountains On The Ocean Floor 12

Valleys 12

And Mountains 12

Air Has Weight 12

Air Is Moved By Sunlight 12

Winds Have Patterns Of Movement 12

Winds Have An Effect Upon Nature 12

There Is A Water Cycle 13

Botany 13

Physics 13

The First Law Of Thermodynamics (Conservation Of Mass & Energy) 13

The Second Law Of Thermodynamics (Increasing Entropy) 13

Matter Is Made Up Of Invisible Particles 14

The Archaeological Trustworthiness Of The Bible 15

Topographical Trustworthiness 15

Geographical Trustworthiness 15

Ethnological Trustworthiness 16

Chronological Trustworthiness 16

Historical Trustworthiness 17

 

 

 


The credibility of the Bible has to do with the truthfulness of its narrative or its inerrancy—Psalm 119:160. 

Psalms 119:160 (KJV) Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

This is in contrast to its canonization which has to do with the genuineness of its authorship.  (For example, consider 5he Shakespearean play “Hamlet”.  The author [William Shakespeare] is real, but the narrative is somewhat fiction.)

 

Having determined the canonicity of the Books of the Bible, we must now investigate the narrative to demonstrate the Bible’s claim for inerrancy.

 

Bible-believing Baptist approach doctrine from the “first truth” that the Bible is truth.  However, many unbelievers will not accept this premise.  Therefore, it becomes necessary to actually prove the Bible for what it claims to be.

 

THE QUESTION IS:  Is the Bible narrative trustworthy?

    THE TEST IS:  Compare Bible statements with known facts.

 

The Scientific Trustworthiness Of The Bible

The Bible does not claim to be a book on science, although it is full of science as it touches on everyday life.  What is important to note is that the Bible ALWAYS HARMONIZES with established scientific knowledge.

The Bible Covers Many “Every-Day” Scientific Facts Without Contradiction

Biology

When the human anatomy is described (e.g. Isaiah 59:3,7; Romans 3:13-18), no strange or unknown parts are ever mentioned.  Furthermore, those parts that are mentioned are always in the correct context of their location and connection in the body.

Isaiah

Isaiah 59:3 (KJV) For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Isaiah 59:4 (KJV) None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah 59:5 (KJV) They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

Isaiah 59:6 (KJV) Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

Isaiah 59:7 (KJV) Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

Romans

Romans 3:13 (KJV) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Romans 3:14 (KJV) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Romans 3:15 (KJV) Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Romans 3:16 (KJV) Destruction and misery are in their ways:

Romans 3:17 (KJV) And the way of peace have they not known:

Romans 3:18 (KJV) There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

Simple observations regarding animal life are found in passages such as Matthew 6:26.  As elementary as they may seem, the fact is that the Bible does not contradict natural scientific knowledge.

 

Matthew 6:26 (KJV) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Some of the many biological facts found in the Bible are:

There Is A Genetic Unity Of The Human Race

Acts 17:25 (KJV) Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Acts 17:26 (KJV) And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Animal Flesh And Human Flesh Are Different

1 Corinthians 15:39 (KJV) All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

Man’s Body Is Made Of Dust (Earthly Elements)

Genesis 2:7 (KJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

Genesis 3:19 (KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV) Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

The Life Of The Flesh Is In The Blood

Genesis 9:3 (KJV) Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Genesis 9:4 (KJV) But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

 

Leviticus 17:10 (KJV) And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

Leviticus 17:11 (KJV) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Unborn Fetuses Are Living, Real, Individual Human Beings

Exodus 21:22 (KJV) If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

Exodus 21:23 (KJV) And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

Exodus 21:24 (KJV) Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

Exodus 21:25 (KJV) Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

 

Psalms 139:15 (KJV) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Psalms 139:16 (KJV) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

 

Job 3:11 (KJV) Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Job 3:12 (KJV) Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

Job 3:13 (KJV) For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

Job 3:14 (KJV) With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

Job 3:15 (KJV) Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

Job 3:16 (KJV) Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

 

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

 

Luke 1:15 (KJV) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

 

Luke 1:44 (KJV) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

The Mosaic Laws Of Hygiene And Sanitation Presuppose An Understanding Of Microbiological Pathogens (germs)

Leviticus 6:28 (KJV) But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.

 

Leviticus 11:35 (KJV) And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

 

Leviticus 15:1 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Leviticus 15:2 (KJV) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.

Leviticus 15:3 (KJV) And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.

Leviticus 15:4 (KJV) Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.

Leviticus 15:5 (KJV) And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:6 (KJV) And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:7 (KJV) And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:8 (KJV) And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:9 (KJV) And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.

Leviticus 15:10 (KJV) And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:11 (KJV) And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 15:12 (KJV) And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

Leviticus 15:13 (KJV) And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

 

Numbers 19:14 (KJV) This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

Numbers 19:15 (KJV) And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.

Numbers 19:16 (KJV) And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Numbers 19:17 (KJV) And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

Numbers 19:18 (KJV) And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:

Numbers 19:19 (KJV) And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

 

Deuteronomy 23:12 (KJV) Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:

Deuteronomy 23:13 (KJV) And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

Animals Reproduce Only after Their Kind

Genesis 1:11 (KJV) And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

 

Genesis 1:12 (KJV) And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:21 (KJV) And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:24 (KJV) And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 1:25 (KJV) And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Ant Worker Are Female And Do Not Sleep

Proverbs 6:6 (KJV) Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Proverbs 6:7 (KJV) Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

There Are Agricultural ants That Actually Harvest Seeds

Proverbs 6:8 (KJV) Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

 

Proverbs 6:9 (KJV) How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Proverbs 6:10 (KJV) Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Proverbs 6:11 (KJV) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Eagles Have Acute Vision And Eat Carrion

Job 39:27 (KJV) Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

Job 39:28 (KJV) She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

Job 39:29 (KJV) From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

Job 39:30 (KJV) Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

The Oceans Are Teeming With Marine Life Of Countless Shapes And Sizes

Psalms 104:25 (KJV) So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

Astronomy

The Universe Is Virtually Infinite

Isaiah 55:9 (KJV) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

There Are Stars Too Numerous To Count

Genesis 22:17 (KJV) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

 

Deuteronomy 1:10 (KJV) The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

 

Deuteronomy 4:19 (KJV) And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

 

Jeremiah 33:22 (KJV) As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

Stars Differ In Their Glory (Brightness)

1 Corinthians 15:41 (KJV) There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

The Existence And Influence Of Certain Constellations

Job 38:31 (KJV) Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

There Are Constellations Visible From The Southern Hemisphere (“chambers of the south”)

Job 9:9 (KJV) Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

There Is An Empty Space In The North

Job 26:7 (KJV) He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

The Star Arcturus Moves

Job 38:32 (KJV) Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

Other Planets Exists

Hebrews 1:2 (KJV) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The Sun Moves Through Space

Psalms 19:4 (KJV) Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Psalms 19:5 (KJV) Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

Psalms 19:6 (KJV) His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The Sun Exerts Force Upon The Earth ???

Job 38:12 (KJV) Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

Job 38:13 (KJV) That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Job 38:14 (KJV) It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

The Moon Shines By Reflected Light

Job 25:5 (KJV) Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

 

Job 31:26 (KJV) If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

 

The Earth Hangs Upon Nothing

Job 26:7 (KJV) He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

A Reference To The Earth’s Gravitational Field

Job 38:4 (KJV) Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Job 38:5 (KJV) Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Job 38:6 (KJV) Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

Geology & Geophysics

The Earth Is Spherical

Isaiah 40:22 (KJV) It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

The Earth Rotates (Different Time Zones)

Luke 17:30 (KJV) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Luke 17:31 (KJV) In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

Luke 17:32 (KJV) Remember Lot's wife.

Luke 17:33 (KJV) Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Luke 17:34 (KJV) I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Luke 17:35 (KJV) Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:36 (KJV) Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:37 (KJV) And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

There Is Fire Beneath The Earth

Job 28:5 (KJV) As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

Mountains Have Roots (Lava Veins)

Job 28:9 (KJV) He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.

The Oceans Have Currents

Psalms 8:8 (KJV) The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

 

Isaiah 43:16 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

There Are Springs In The Seas

Job 38:16 (KJV) Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

There Are Valleys And Mountains On The Ocean Floor

Valleys

2 Samuel 22:16 (KJV) And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

And Mountains

Jonah 2:6 (KJV) I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

Air Has Weight

Job 28:25 (KJV) To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

Air Is Moved By Sunlight

Job 38:24 (KJV) By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Winds Have Patterns Of Movement

Ecclesiastes 1:5 (KJV) The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Ecclesiastes 1:6 (KJV) The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

Ecclesiastes 1:7 (KJV) All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

Winds Have An Effect Upon Nature

Psalms 147:18 (KJV) He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

There Is A Water Cycle

Ecclesiastes 1:5 (KJV) The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Ecclesiastes 1:6 (KJV) The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

Ecclesiastes 1:7 (KJV) All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

 

Psalms 135:7 (KJV) He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

 

Amos 9:6 (KJV) It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Botany

The nature and life cycle of plant life is accurately described in passages such as

 

Matthew 6:28 (KJV) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Matthew 6:29 (KJV) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:30 (KJV) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Physics

The First Law Of Thermodynamics (Conservation Of Mass & Energy)

2 Peter 3:7 (KJV) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The Second Law Of Thermodynamics (Increasing Entropy)

Psalms 102:25 (KJV) Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Psalms 102:26 (KJV) They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Matter Is Made Up Of Invisible Particles

Hebrews 11:3 (KJV) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 

Note: The Bible is not written in the language of scientific empiricism.  In fact, it has often been ridiculed for using such expressions as “the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12), the “pillars of the earth” (I Samuel 2:8), and the sun “rising and setting” (Psalms 50:1).  However, the Bible was not written in a technical jargon for scientists.  It uses the language of simple observation (used by scientists today anyway, once they leave their lab or classroom) that is part of normal everyday speech.  The Bible was written for all men.

 

Note:  It is interesting to see how many of the above-mentioned scientific observations and statements come from the Book of Job.  Job lived sometime between the flood and Abraham (compare Job 1:1 with Genesis 10:23), and while we vainly imagine the ancients were scientific ignoramuses, the opposite was in fact the case.  Scientific knowledge (and Christianity) went into the dark during the Dark Ages under the influence of the Bible-banning Catholic ‘Church’.


The Archaeological Trustworthiness Of The Bible

The greatest external proofs for the trustworthiness of the Biblical narrative are derived from the archaeologist’s spade. 

 

“No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference.  Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the bible.  And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.”  (Glueck, N. Rivers in the Desert.  New York, New York:  Strauss & Cudahy, 1959: pg. 31. cited by Morris, H.M. & Clark, M. E. in The Bible Has the Answer.  San Diego, California: Creation-Life Publishers, 1976: pg. 2)

Archaeology demonstrates that the Bible exhibits:

Topographical Trustworthiness

Topography has to do with the layout of the land.  It is evident Bible localities are where the Bible says they were; times taken for journeys were feasible.

 

e.g.  The Discovery of the over 15,000 clay tablets in Northern Syria (the Ebla Tablets) in the late 1970’s relate to a kingdom existing around 2,300 B.C.  One tablet actually lists the five cities mentioned in Genesis 14—in the Biblical order!  Until then, the existence of these cities was doubted by Higher Critics.  These tablets mention Urusalima (Jerusalem) and Ebrium (Eber, the great grandson of Shem) on several occasions.

 

e.g.  In 1976, the gold mines of Solomon were located in Saudi Arabia .

See Kings 9:28

 

1 Kings 9:28 (KJV) And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.

e.g.  In the late 1920s, archaeologists discovered the existence of many cities in the desolate south Jordan valley region—proving that this area was once lush—Genesis 13:10

Genesis 13:10 (KJV) And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Geographical Trustworthiness

Any visitor to the Holy Land will find desert where the Bible says there is desert, mountains where the Bible says there are mountains, etc.

 

e.g.  The Plain of Jezreel (which figures in Bible prophecy and the coming Battle of Armageddon) actually exists, and is a plain which forms a strategic passage from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan valley without having to cross mountains.

 

In 1976, the author of these lecture notes privately traveled extensively in Greece, Turkey, Israel, and Egypt.  As part of his travels, he was able to follow the footsteps of Paul—using only his Bible as a “tour guide”.  It stood him in good stead.  For example, while visiting the ruins of Philippi he asked the site attendant for directions to the river.  The man did not know of any river, but after asking around was able to give directions to a local creek a short hike away.  One of the author’s priced possessions is a photograph of him kneeling by that silted up river—where Lydia was baptized.

Acts 16:12 (KJV) And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

Acts 16:13 (KJV) And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Acts 16:14 (KJV) And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Acts 16:15 (KJV) And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Ethnological Trustworthiness

The family tree of the nations in Genesis 10, and the various migrations mentioned in the Bible are verified.  The origins of certain peoples, their customs, their kings, and times of servitudes and victory are all being verified by archaeology.

 

e.g.  The ancestry of the Hebrews from Mesopotamia through Abraham has been demonstrated.  Excavations at Ur have shown it to be the idolatrous pagan city so described in Joshua 24:10

Joshua 24:2 (KJV) And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

e.g.  Excavations by Hugo Winkler in Asia Minor proved the existence of a vast Hittite empire.  The Hittites, mentioned several times in the Old Testament, had previously been considered a fictitious people by skeptics.

Chronological Trustworthiness

Archaeological discoveries involving contemporary civilizations have given much supportive evidence to Biblical events, the order of events, and the circumstances involved.

 

e.g.  Luke has often been attacked for historical inaccuracies, especially relating to the birth of Christ.  Discoveries have now shown the Romans had regular censuses every 14 years, that Quirinius was the Governor of Syria at around 7 B.C. (Luke 2:1-3)

Luke 2:1 (KJV) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Luke 2:2 (KJV) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

Luke 2:3 (KJV) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

and that Roman procedures for conducting a census (outlined on a papyrus document discovered in Egypt) required the return of people to their homelands.

Historical Trustworthiness

Many of the events recorded in scripture, as well as persons, places, and nations have been verifi3d by inscriptions and monuments.

 

e.g.  A seal discovered at Tepe Gawra in Iraq and dated c. 3,000 B.C. depicts a man, a woman, and a serpent.  A similar seal was found at Nineveh.

 

e.g.  The discovery of a fortress built in the Sinai by king Jehoshaphat revealed many inscriptions of significance to Israel’s history—including a possible mention of the Obadiah of II Chronicles 17:7.

2 Chronicles 17:7 (KJV) Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

e.g.  The collapse of the walls of Jericho, the presence of Hebrews in Egypt, the existence of Nabonidus in Babylon, etc., are just some of the startling discoveries which go to prove the trustworthiness of the Word of God.