Is the Bible the Word of God? Why this Question Matters to the Next Generation & Why it Matters NOW (Part 1/4)

Is the Bible the Word of God?  How does one know that the Bible is the Word of God?  How does one know that the Bible has not been changed over the years?  These are all questions that the modern thinker asks concerning the reliability and historicity of Scripture. 

The Bible is a book written two thousand years ago over a span of a thousand years by over 30 or more different authors.[1]  It tells the story of God’s unfolding revelation throughout history and his redemptive plan for his people and his creation through his Son, Jesus Christ.  The defense of the Bible as God’s Word in this paper will come from distinctively Christian-based presuppositions. 

What is it that convinces Christians that the Bible is God’s Word?  In defending the truth claim that the Bible is God’s Word, we will look at the role of revelation in general and special terms, the role of evidence in believing the Bible as God’s Word, the role of faith in believing the Bible as God’s Word, and the priority of the gospel and the testimony of the Spirit for someone to believe that the Bible is God’s Word.  And the kicker, “Why this question matters for our next generation and why it matters NOW!”

This post will be broken down into 5 parts: 1) General Revelation; 2) Special Revelation; 3) the role of faith and evidence in believing the Bible as God’s Word; 4) the priority of the gospel and the testimony of the Spirit for someone to believe that Scripture is God’s Word; and 5) Why we must believe ALL of Scripture to believe ANY of Scripture and how the question of the Bible really being God’s Word is challenging and changing our generation and the generations to come.

General and Special Revelation:

If God exists, then how does he reveal himself to his creation?  If there is a God who created the cosmos, then what purpose did he create it for?   First of all, the Bible is not necessary for knowing that God exists.  Even without the Bible, people can know that there is a distinction between Creator and creation.  Wayne Grudem says,

“People can obtain a knowledge that God exists, and a knowledge of some of his attributes, simply from the observation of themselves and the world around them.[2]  Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”[3] 

Grudems explains further,

“To look at the sky is to see evidence of the infinite power, wisdom, and even beauty of God; it is to observe a majestic witness to the glory of God… Rains and fruitful seasons, food produced from the earth, and gladness in people’s hearts, all bear witness to the fact that their Creator is a God of mercy, of love, and even of joy.  These evidences of God are all around us in creation to be seen by those who are willing to see them.”[4]

This understanding of a Creator revealing himself to his creation is found in the idea of revelation, or the fact that God would reveal himself to his creation.  The word ‘revelation’ comes from the Greek word apokalupsis, which means “disclosure” or “unveiling.”  Concerning the nature of revelation theologian B.B. Warfield rightly states,

The religion of the Bible thus announces itself, not as the product of men’s search after God, if haply they may feel after Him and find Him, but as the creation in men of the gracious God, forming a people for Himself, that they may show forth His praise.  In other words, the religion of the Bible presents itself as distinctively a revealed religion.  Or rather, to speak more exactly, announces itself as the revealed religion, as the only revealed religion; and sets itself as much over against all other religions, which are represented as all products, in a since is which it is not, of the art and device of man (emphasis added).[5]

Furthermore, the Bible is not necessary for knowing something about God’s character and moral laws.[6]  The knowledge of God’s existence, character, and moral law without the knowledge of the Bible is called general revelation.  General revelation comes to us through observing nature, through seeing God’s directing influence in history, and through an inner sense of God’s existence and his laws that he has placed inside every person.[7] 

Although the Bible is not necessary for knowing that God exists or knowing something about God’s character, attributes, and moral laws, the Bibles does speak to this issue in comprehensive form.  Romans 1:19-21 says,

“That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks but hey became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

This passage of Scripture tells us that all men, even the most wicked, have an internal knowledge or perception that God exists and that he is a powerful Creator.  This understanding of general revelation is given by God to all people in the ‘things that have been made,’ referring to all of creation.  Even without the Bible, all persons who have ever lived have had evidence in creation that God exists, that he is the Creator and they are part of his creation and have also had some evidence of his character.[8] 

Romans 2:14-15 says,

“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” 

Paul seems to address that all people everywhere have the Law of God written on their hearts, and that there conscience bears witness to a Creator.  Through nature and through the witness of conscience, all persons know that God exists, God is a mighty creator, and God has revealed himself.

What do you think about this?  Is this understanding of God revealing himself through creation and in men’s conscience adequate for the needs of men?  

In the part to this series, I will discuss why general revelation is not enough for us to know God’s salvation plan for us and why we must have something more… something perfect… something that will redeem us broken and deformed sinners from our sin and its consequences… a man.

[2]Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Press, 1994), 121.

[3]All Scripture quotations are from the NASB.= 

[4] Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Systematic Theology, 121.

 [5]Warfield, B.B. “The Biblical Idea of Revelation.” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. v. 4, pp. (2573-2582).  Chicago, IL: Howard Severance Co., 1915.

[6]Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Systematic Theology, 122.

[7]Ibid.

[8]Ibid.