Before reading this article please read part 1 and part 2.

Only a brief explanation concerning external justification or evidence shall be said during this section.  For a very good and brief synopsis of this, Paul Helm is a very helpful resource on distinguishing between external evidence and internal evidence.  He defines external evidence as the view that the Bible can only be said to be of divine origin if it meets certain criteria established independently of it; and internal justification as the view that the Bible ought to be believed to be of divine origin on its own evidence.[1]  David Gibson says this concerning Helm in his article on the roles of faith and evidence in believing the Bible,

At first glance the thought of external justification is appealing – it would seem to offer non-arbitrary and generally accepted grounds for concluding that the Bible is the Word of God.  However, there are at least three main reasons why we must deem external justification to be highly problematic.  Helm outlines these as: 1) Externalism assumes that there is some obvious, unquestionable test or criterion of what is appropriate for a divine revelation, or that there is some a priori standard of reasonableness that the Scriptures must meet.  But who is to decide what this standard is?  2) Accepting an external criterion as proof of the Bible’s divine origin is necessarily compromising – it makes the authority of the Bible and of God dependent on the other matters external to the Bible.  Acceptance of the Bible as God’s revelation is made to depend on other non-revealed matters.  3)… Even at its best, externalism can only offer the probability that the Bible is God’s Word – and this is not the kind of foundation on which Christian belief about the Scriptures is based.[2]

These specific problems with external justification or evidence lead us transitionally into why internal evidence is the foundational argument for the Bible as God’s Word.

[...]

Can we know our Creator only through general revelation? 

This is where the need for special revelation comes in.  General revelation is addressed to all persons everywhere; the other is addressed to a special class of sinners, to whom God would make known His salvation.  The one has in view to meet and supply the natural need of persons for knowledge of their Creator; the other to rescue broken and deformed sinners from their sin and its consequence.[1]  This is what is known as special revelation. 

What is the purpose of this Creator/creature relationship?  How does God reveal this purpose?  The purpose of this Creator/creature relationship is seen in the character of who God is and why he creates in the first place.  If God is perfect, holy, and good, then his creation should be perfect, holy, and good.  Through the entrance of sin this perfect relationship between the Creator and creature has now been distorted.  Again, special revelation is given to rescue broken and deformed sinners from their sin and its consequence of eternal separation from their Creator.  Special revelation is specific revelation from God that is given to specific people at certain times in history.[2]  The words of the Bible are considered to be special revelation, but special revelation is not limited to the Bible.[3] 

[...]

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.

[...]

For a more in-depth resource for the defense of why a holy, good, sovereign, and just God would reveal himself to rotten sinners like us then check out the blogBook.  Click on the title below to view in .pdf format.

The Bible as the Word of God eBook

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?   These are questions that the prudent thinker takes very seriously.  Let’s begin answering these questions by laying down some ground rules.  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.[1]  Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”[2]  Grudems says 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.”[3]

[...]