The origin, accuracy and inerrancy of the Bible must be established before it can benefit the soul. Once established as a Divine message, then the soul can be addressed. Thus, how do we know and on what basis do we say that the Bible is the Word of God? The reasons are important and as follows.
First, the Old Testament writers affirmed that they were speaking the Word of God and not the words of men. The phrase “Thus says the Lord” or an equivalent is found more than 2,000 times in the Old Testament (cf. 2 Samuel 23:1-3; Isaiah 8:1, 11; Jeremiah 1:9; 5:14; 7:27; 13:12; Ezekiel 3:4; Micah 5:10; Habakkuk 2:2; etc.). Consequently, the Old Testament speaks from the perspective of divine inspiration. Should we do any less?
Secondly, the apostles regarded the whole of Scripture as the infallible Word of God (1 Corinthians 14:37; Galatians 1:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). Notice the word “all” in 2 Timothy 3:16. Second Peter 1:20-21 informs us that the Holy Spirit did not provide an imperfect revelation!
In the third place, Jesus without reservation endorsed the Scriptures as the inspired Word of God (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 12:48). Jesus taught that the whole of Scripture is inspired.
Fourthly, fulfilled predictive prophecy unmistakably demonstrates the authoritativeness of Scripture (Deuteronomy 28:37, 63-65; Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 46:19-20; 51:37; Ezekiel 29:15; 30:6; Nahum 3:1, 4-6; Zephaniah 2:13-14; Luke 21:24). Fulfilled prophecy is evidence that God is the Author of the Bible.
Fifthly, biblical archaeology confirms the accuracy of Scripture. From the discovery of the Cyrus Cylinder in 1879, to the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, to the Pool of Siloam in 2004, archaeology has provided an independent witness to the truth of God’s Word.
The pragmatic test shows the Bible to be the Word of God (i.e., it performs what it promises). The principles and precepts of God’s Word work in actual human experience in response to faith. Paul characterized the transformed life of a sinner as one that “proves” the will of God for others to see (Romans 12:2). Therefore, it can and must be said, “It works!” (cf. Psalm 34:8; John 7:17).
