Question:

53.1—Considering that the Bible was written by man many many years ago, what are the chances that it’s truly accurate and that there aren’t discrepancies that have occurred through translations and errors of men throughout the centuries?  There are several “findings” out today that have documentation of very early meetings in Jerusalem and suggest that when Christianity separated into different factions, it was actually much earlier than suspected—and was done by one of the apostles in order to satisfy the Roman and Greek public.  Basically, the teachings of Jesus in the years before do not match the teachings of some of the apostles after his death…meaning that since the Bible was not written by God, but by man, things could have been changed, purposely or not, and the Bible could just be a guide but not an actual accurate representation of history.

53.1— Much of Question 53.1 is not a question but is a statement that is against God and His Word. The Bible says that God told men what to write, but to say that “the Bible was written by man” is, in effect, stating that God either could not or did not provide “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).  We, who by faith know the Father and the Son, know that the Bible could not have been written by man because (1) God tells us in His Word that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16) and (2) we have the Spirit’s testimony that “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). GOD has provided in His Word the truth that mankind needs to know.  HE gave it to us through those HE chose to use in the writing of it throughout the many centuries.  All the truth came out from GOD through the hands of His servants as they wrote what HE gave them to write. They could not, nor did they wish to, alter or delete even one word that HE gave them to write.   God is sovereign.

Let us see what Scripture says about itself.  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).  “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:10-13).  “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” (2 Peter 1:21).  These references are sufficient to show that God is truly the divine Author of the Bible, and simply used man as a tool to write down what He dictated.

Let us make no mistake in understanding that Satan will do all he can in this present day to undermine all the precious things that God has given us.  Let us refuse every effort of the Adversary to deprive us of God’s blessings while we live here on earth.  He would disarm us by taking away God’s Word and reduce us to having only men’s words.    Scripture says of itself:  “THY WORD IS TRUTH” (John 17:17). May our God give to each of us the faith to hold to Himself and HIS precious Word.