Almost everyone at some point in life experiences a lack of trust in another person. This lack of trust could be the result of a person misrepresenting something, or not quite telling all the facts, or simply not telling the truth. Because of this, some may find it difficult to trust the Bible, knowing that men wrote it. While they believe that God is trustworthy, they may wonder, “How can I trust what the Bible says if it was written by men?” To answer this question, let’s see, What does the Word say?
We can begin by looking at what the Bible says regarding how we got the Scriptures. Was it by the will of man?
II Timothy 3:16:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God….
All Scripture without exception—from the very first verse in the Bible, Genesis 1:1, all the way to the very last verse, Revelation 22:21—is “given by inspiration of God.” This phrase means “God-breathed” and is a figure of speech. A figure of speech is a unique way of saying something and, in the Bible, is God’s marking of what He wants emphasized. As a figure of speech, “God-breathed” emphasizes the truth that God is the Source of the Scriptures. The Scriptures came from God, and God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19). His promises are always true and dependable.
The writers of the Bible did not sit down and decide what they wanted to put in the Bible. The Word came from God. This point is further substantiated in II Peter 1:21.
II Peter 1:21:
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].
The Word of God did not come by man’s will. God is the Author of His Word. The Bible was not written by those who rejected God and did not believe Him. It was written by holy men of God—men who believed God, walked for God, and loved God—who spoke as they were moved by holy spirit.
To be moved by holy spirit is to be inspired of God. The Word of God was given by inspiration of God, and holy men of God spoke as they were moved by holy spirit. Greater depth on what this means can be found in Galatians 1:11 and 12.
Galatians 1:11 and 12:
But I certify [guarantee] you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of [pertaining to] Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul was referring to the revelation he received regarding Jesus Christ. Paul wrote what he received by revelation from God. The Word of God, the Bible, was written by inspiration of God. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by holy spirit. God revealed His Word to those holy men, men who loved Him, and they wrote it down. That is how we got the Bible, and knowing this helps us to put our trust in God’s Word.
Furthermore, God, the all-powerful Creator of the heavens and the earth, says that He magnified His Word above all His name.
Psalms 138:2:
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
God enlarged and enhanced His Word above all His name. He underwrote and endorsed it. He backs up His Word with all that He is. We can trust that Word!
The revelation of God’s Word confirms for us that His Word is pure as well.
Psalms 12:6:
The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
God says His Word is pure; it’s undefiled. The original Word of God, which was revealed to and written down by holy men of God, was perfect. Rightly divided, that perfect, undefiled, pure Word of God can be trusted!
The God-breathed Word also lives and abides forever.
I Peter 1:23:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
God’s Word is not here today and gone tomorrow. It lives and abides forever. Something that stands the test of all time is certainly something we can put our trust in!
When we look to the Scriptures regarding the question, “How can I trust what the Bible says if it was written by men?” the answer is clear. We see that the Bible can be trusted because God is the Author of His Word. He revealed it to holy men who loved Him, and they simply wrote down what God revealed to them. We can trust God’s Word because He magnified it above all His name—He guarantees it. His Word is pure, undefiled, and it lives and abides forever. Any doubt we may have concerning the integrity of God’s Word can be removed when we come to that Word and receive with meekness the great truths that it reveals to us. What joy the Word of God brings to our hearts when we take the time to see, What does the Word say?
This is a reprint from the September/October 2013 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2013 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
For more information on subscribing to The Way Magazine, Click Here