There are various ways in which the inspiration of the Bible can be verified. Some of these
evidences, by themselves, may not be completely convincing; but, when all the evidence is
compiled together, no honest person can deny the conclusion that the Bible is inspired of God
in its entirety.
1. Unsurpassed Accuracy. A more accurate record of ancient events and places cannot be
found. In fact, there is not one single inaccuracy that can be found in all of the Bible. Whether it
is a record of the miraculous, a record of historical fact, a record of geography, a record of
typography, a record of sociology, or a record of scientific fact, the Bible is correct
in its record.
There are no errors. From the grain bins of Egypt in the days of Joseph, to the title for
magistrates in Greecian cities during Paul's journies, the supposed errors of the Bible have
proven to be the errors of the doubters. Upon every occasion the spade of archaeology has
been able to shed light upon Biblical accounts, the Bible has proven to be 100% accurate.
Can such accuracy from forty different authors over 1600 years be a mere coincidence? Or, is it
the unmistakable mark of the inspiration of God?
2. Dramatic Form. The Bible allows the actions of its characters to speak for itself. A minimum
of commentary is found upon its pages. Compare this with the history books written by men,
either ancient or modern, and the Bible becomes a wonder. This dramatic form, especially in
consideration of the importance of the subject treated in the eyes of the human authors, makes
the Bible even more remarkable.
Is this the result of the combined human genius of forty men over a period of 1600 years? Or, is
this an unmistakable mark of the inspiration of God?
3. Impartiality. If God is no respecter of persons, then one would rightfully expect his word to
exhibit this characteristic; and, the Bible does. Both the strengths and weaknesses of its
characters are portrayed: both their righteousness and their wickedness. Abraham is shown
as the great patriarch of faith, but also as a liar. David is portrayed as "a man after God's own
heart," but also as an adulterer and murderer. Peter is recorded as an apostle of Jesus Christ
and a proclaimer of the gospel, but also as a coward who denies Jesus and becomes a
respecter of persons.
Such frankness and impartiality about major religious personages is not a human
characteristic, especially upon the part of those who are supportive of their positions. Look in
the library at the biographies of the world's religious leaders written by their followers and
supporters, and the Bible stands in dramatic contrast.
Is such impartiality in recording the actions of these men the result of human wisdom? Or, is it
the mark of the inspiration of God?
4. Dispassionate Manner. In addition to the dramatic form and impartiality, the dispassionate
manner of the narrative of the Bible is a mark of its inspiration of God. Especially in dealing with
a subject that is perceived to be a matter of graver concern than life and death - a matter of
heaven and hell - it is common for men to be overcome with their emotions - their passions
being fired by the importance of their subject. Yet, the Bible reads as the words of an uninvolved
The emotions that must have swelled within the hearts of Moses, Joshua and the other
historical writers of the Old Testament are repressed.
The passions of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that must have burned within their very souls
are not apparent in their historical accounts.
Is this dispassionate manner another example of combined human genius? Or, is it the
hallmark of the Bible being composed by the inspiration of God?
5. Unaccountable Brevity. The Bible covers over 4000 years of human history. The book of
Genesis covers over 2500 years of history by itself. Yet, how brief are its records! The
biographical accounts of the lives of Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses and the
other great heroes of the Old Testament are in essence but sketches of their characters,
leaving many questions unanswered to the inquiring mind; yet, containing all the material
necessary to give us the knowledge of their lives.
The same is true of the lives of the memorable characters of the New Testament, such as
Peter and Paul, including Jesus of Nazareth.
How much could have been recorded concerning the lives and deeds of the most memorable
and important personages to ever walk the face of the earth?
Yet, through the brief sketches given in the Bible, millions and even billions have come to
intimately know these great men of faith. When you stop to consider the biographies written by
mere men, the brevity of the Bible is no less than miraculous.
Is this brevity to be considered the result of mere man? Or, is it the stamp of the inspiration of
God upon the Bible?
6. Remarkable "Omissions." Hand in hand with the unaccountable brevity of the Bible are its
remarkable omissions. How many volumes have been written of what lies "between the lines"
of the Biblical account? Facts and stories men usually include, and deem absolutely
necessary, have been omitted from the Biblical record without harming its
credibility or affecting its purpose and power.
What of the life of Abraham before he left Ur of the Chaldees? What of the first twelve years of
Jesus' life, or the next fifteen years? How many are the places men might wish to add facts or
explanations? Yet, the Bible has without these additions been read and studied by more
people than any other book in the history of the world.
With these "omissions" the power of its message has changed individual hearts and lives,
changing the entire course of history and the way in which man perceives himself.
Can these "omissions" be the result of human genius? Or, are they the design of divine
inspiration unquestionably drawn upon the pages of the Bible?
7. Angelology. Angels are the messengers of God. Whether cherabim, sheraphim, or
other, the angels of the Bible stand in complete contrast to the messengers of the gods of
mythology. Read the mythological accounts of demigods, fairies, geniis, etc. But angels
stand alone. "Unlike men, they are always like themselves." The holiness, might, humility and
compassion of the angels of the Bible commend themselves to the human mind in contrast to
the ridiculous of the products of the human imagination.
Can humanity account for the angelology of the Bible? Or, is it the result of the direct revelation
and inspiration of God?
8. Assumption of Infallibility. No experience is more common to all of the human family than
the realization of each individual's fallibility. Especially is that true of those who present their
views or facts to the public, either orally or in writing. A public presentation presents the
invitation for public scrutiny. Thus, a claim for infallibility is either bold, or the height of stupidity.
If error is to be found, it is stupidity!
The writers of the Bible from Moses to John on Patmos make the claim of infallibility for what
they have written in making the claim that it was given by the inspiration of Qod. For generations
and centuries and millenium, men have inspected and dissected the writings of the Bible to
expose the stupidity of the claim it makes to infallibility; and, many of those inspectors have
been convinced of the truthfulness of that claim which they thought to be false.
Could, and would such men as were the penmen of the Bible, make the claim to infallibility if it
were not true? and, could their claim to infallibility have been made and sustained had they not
been inspired of God?
9. Power of the Writings. Since, and even before the invention of the printing press, the Bible
has been the most widely published, the most widely read, and the most widely studied book in
the world. Its contents have reached almost, if not every nation upon the face of the earth.
Every culture, from the most highly technically advanced to the most primitive in respect to
technology and modern education, has been profoundly changed as the hearts, minds and the
very souls of men have been transformed by the power of its words.
The advances in social equity and benevolence, which have transpired where the Bible has
held sway speak dramatically of the difference between the power of the Bible and the writings
of men. That is not to say, however, that there have not been occasions when men have
attempted to twist and pervert the Bible to suit their own ends, for they have. However, in spite of
the hypocrisy and wickedness of certain men, the general effect of the Bible upon society and
its specific effect upon the lives of individuals has been positive and good.
Its message has transformed lives of wickedness, ungodliness and unrighteousness into
lives characterized by good deeds, godliness and righteousness. Its words and message
have forever changed the course of history.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart. " (The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, chapter 4, verse
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
chapter I, verse 16).
Is this power and influence upon the minds, hearts and souls of multiplied millions throughout
the centuries the result of the human mind in originating its words and message? Or, does the
unparalleled power and influence reveal the divine power and influence which brought about
the Bible by the inspiration of God?
1O. Prophecy. Of all the evidences of the inspiration of the Bible, none is more compelling and
convincing than its prophecy of things to come.
From Moses' records to the closing words of Malachi, prophecies concerning Israel, the
nations surrounding Israel, and the coming Messiah, the Old Testament perfectly portrays the
future. From the prophecies concerning Israel, Judah, Babylon, Egypt, Media, Persia, Greece,
Rome and other cities and nations which were fulfilled in minute detail; it is evident that the
writers of the Bible had more than mere human knowledge of the events of the future.
Within the Gospels, as well as within the preaching and teaching of the apostles and
evangelists, an understanding and perfect portrayal of future events is clear.
The minute details prophecied hundreds of years before the facts concerning the coming
Messiah (his birth place, his birth, his flight into Egypt, his preaching, his residences, his
parables, his miracles, his betrayal, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his purpose,
and his influence) are a convincing testimony of the divine origin of the scriptures.
Yet, when the prophecies of the Old Testament are combined with the prophecies of the Mew
Testament; the evidence of inspiration is undeniable. For one prophecy might be attributed to
mere chance; two or three prophecies might even be a coincidence; but, when hundreds of
prophecies are fulfilled to the smallest detail with not one single failure, only the dishonest
could attribute the origin of the prophecies to anything other than the inspiration of God.
"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not
commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet
shall die. And if thou say in thine heart. How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not
spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to
pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it
presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. " (The Fifth Book of noses Called
Deuteronomy, chapter 18, verses 2O through 22)
When you stop to consider the men who wrote the Bible, and the circumstances under which
the Bible was written; when you stop and consider the character and content of the Bible; when
you stop and consider all the evidence of the inspiration of the Bible; reason and logic allow for
only one conclusion: THE BIBLE IS GIVEN BY THE INSPIRATION OF GOD, WORD-FOR-WORD,
EVERY WORD OF IT. As it has been said, "Surely any man who can see through a ladder, can