Answering The Question: Is The Bible True

By Marlene Blevins


It's a dismal fact that one generation generally knows little about those that came before, even the one immediately preceding it. This is why even significant people and events can be quickly forgotten, and the lessons of history must be learned over and over again. A shining example of this is that people still ask the question: 'Is the Bible true?' even though this is the best-documented book ever.

More and more, anthropologists and archaeologists use the writings of the Hebrews to understand ancient times and races. The accounts, called by Christians the Old Testament, become increasingly important as new discoveries are made. In 2005, guided by Old Testament accounts, an archaeologist found the remains of King David's palace. The very existence of Israel's most famous king was not confirmed until his name was found on an ancient stone discovered in 1993.

Many scientific discoveries also support passages in the scriptures. Even though the Book of Isaiah was written perhaps seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, it tells us that the earth is round and suspended in space. The 'flat earth' belief was accepted until the 1400s, however.

The Book of Job, which is considered symbolic rather than historic by many, nevertheless tells us that springs of fresh water lie deep under the oceans, that light is a spectrum of colors, and that plants make their food from sunlight. All of these statements have been validated by scientists over the centuries and are common knowledge today.

People who believe the truth of biblical accounts are often accused of being anti-science and anti-intellectual. However, many things that science once taught are being refuted by new methods and discoveries, while biblical teachings are found to hold up. Scientists even use the Holy Writ as inspiration, like Matthew Maury, who wanted to find the 'paths of the sea' talked about in the eighth Psalm. He found (like others before him) the Gulf Stream, a powerful current that ships can use to guide them at sea.

The Old Testament has long been considered not only a helpful guide to ancient civilizations but the most accurate of all. This is in comparison to Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek texts and records. The accuracy of biblical accounts is accepted by the Smithsonian Institute, not a hotbed of religion.

Anthropologists who study ancient civilizations have also found the scriptures to be authentic and reliable. By deciphering the monuments and inscriptions of ancient peoples, experts have traced the existence of Israel as a people and a nation for over 3,000 years. No other people group has been so coherent or enduring. From a purely secular viewpoint, this book is remarkable in its records of ancient times and its predictions of future events. This lends credibility to its spiritual content.

The study of scripture to prove its truth is called Apologetics. This fascinating subject gained new impetus when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, analyzed, and found to authenticate the translations that had come down through the ages.




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