Just Another Book?

Most religions have sacred writings. However, Christians contend that their sacred writings are very different from the writings of other religions. Christians believe the Bible ably complies with a proper definition of sacred writings. 

Sacred writings are religious writings that claim to be influenced by divine or non-human sources. In other words, the writings are supernatural in origin. Furthermore, these writings are communicated via human beings who were in direct contact with or were clearly influenced by a divine source.

The fact that the Bible is outstanding as a literary production, is not enough for one to conclude that it is sacred. Neither is it enough to say that because the Bible has influenced more persons than any other piece of literature, it is sacred. No human factor should be used to determine sacredness. Sacredness should only be determined by clear evidence of contact with a divine or non-human source. 

Although the claim to inspiration is no proof of inspiration, one cannot ignore that numerous passages in the Bible which speak unequivocally as a response to the voice of God. Even the most cursory reading of the prophets reveals the constant recurrence of such expressions as “the word of the Lord came,” or “the Lord said”. Interestingly, the same cannot be said of the Apocryphal Books or other ancient writings.

Christians believe that there is internal and external evidence that attest to the Bible as the word of God. Internal evidences would be those things within the Bible that testify of its divine origin. 

The first case of internal evidence is in the unity of the Bible. Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1,500 years, by more than 40 authors who came from many walks of life, the Bible remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction in doctrine. This unity is unique when compared with other religious writings and provides evidence of divine origin.

In addition, the Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies relating to the future of individual nations. Other prophecies concern the coming of the Messiah. Unlike the prophecies found in other religious books or those by men such as Nostradamus, biblical prophecies are extremely detailed. 

For instance, there are numerous prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Not only was it foretold where He would be born and His lineage, but also how He would die and that He would rise again. There simply is no logical way to explain the fulfilled prophecies in the Bible other than by divine origin. There is no other religious book with the extent or type of predictive prophecy that the Bible contains.

There is also external evidence that suggests that the Bible is the Word of God. One such area of evidence is the indestructibility of the Bible. Because of its importance and its claim to be the very Word of God, the Bible has suffered more vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it than any other book in history. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators and on to modern-day atheists and agnostics, the Bible has withstood and outlasted all of its attackers and is still today the most widely published book in the world.

The accuracy with which the Bible has been preserved, despite every attempt to corrupt, attack, or destroy it, is clear testimony to the fact that the Bible is supernaturally protected. Interestingly, no matter how the Bible is attacked, it always comes out unchanged and unscathed. The late Professor Bernard Ramm was correct when he said, “no other book has been so chopped, knived, sifted, scrutinized and vilified” (Protestant Christian Evidences).

Throughout history, skeptics have regarded the Bible as mythological, but archeology has confirmed it as historical. Opponents have attacked its teaching as primitive and outdated, but its moral and legal concepts and teachings have had a positive influence on societies and cultures throughout the world.

Globally, the Bible, more than any other sacred text, has profoundly influenced law, literature, politics, ethics, philosophy, art and religion. I believe it was also Professor Ramm who said, “No other book in all of human history has in turn inspired the writing of so many books as the Bible has.”

Unlike other religious writings, the Bible is historical at its core. Even ideas like sin, forgiveness and virtue, are presented in historical contexts. With this history one sees realism and not extreme mysticism, asceticism or mere religious theories. The historical thread of the Bible is unique in religious philosophy.

Because John was so confident that he was recording the word of God, he warned in Revelation, “if anyone adds...or takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will...add to him the plagues described in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).