I wrote the following in 1999, meaning to flesh it out more fully.
- Consistency of messages among 40+ writers over 1,600+ years
Here work needs to be done on finding other multiple-author works and comparing their internal consistency to that of the Bible. The methodology will need to eliminate questions of interpretation.
- Claims in the OT and NT of its God-inspired origin
This, of course, doesn’t prove the truth of Scripture. It heightens the need to examine the claims. Because of its own claims the Bible is either inspired of God or it is, at best, a pompous fabrication. Need to examine the self-claims of other religious literature.
- Confirmation through the work of the Holy Spirit
All converted Christians can acknowledge this, but how can this reason be made objective to the skeptic?
- Accuracy of prophetic content
This is the reason most used in evangelism. Can it be defended against knowledgeable historical criticism?
- Historical accuracy
Again, its defense.
- Only apparent source for the universal 7-day week
Are there other claimed sources for the 7-day week? Would a critic merely say that the phenomenon only demonstrates the effectiveness of Judeo-Christian politics, not the inspired nature of the Bible?
- Apparently miraculous preservation of Scripture
How miraculous is it? Are there other non-Bible examples in archeology?
- Account of the life of Jesus Christ
Much the same as the Bible’s self claims of inspired origin.
- Christ’s approval of the Old Testament
Rests on the point above, but given that, He clearly claims OT to be inspired. And, OT clearly points to Him.
- Effect on the lives of people who hear/read it
Showing this certainly proves the value of the Bible. How can that be used to validate its origin?
- Fact statements only later proved true by science
These are very interesting. Need to demonstrate that they were made well in advance of their scientific validation.
That the shape of the earth is indeed round (cf. Isa. 40:22; Luke 17:26).
The suspension of the earth in space (cf. Job 26:7).
That to the north there is nothing but blackness (cf. Job 26:7).
The weather cycle of the elements is continuous (cf. Jer. 10:13; Eccl. 1:72).
The ocean currents (cf. Psalms 8:8).
That the element of life is in the blood (cf. Lev. 17:10-16).
All nations of men came from one common origin (cf. Acts 17:26).
Medical practices that prevent diseases, (cf. Lev. 13 & 14)
That the number of stars cannot be numbered (cf. Gen. 13:16; 15:5).
The art of ship building, or the proper pattern for ship building (cf. Gen. 6:15).
The Classification of plant, animal, marine, human life, etc. (cf. Gen. 1; I Cor. 15:37-41).
That man cannot create or destroy matter or energy (Matt. 6:27).
- Mythological links in many cultures to Bible history statements
This may not establish the primacy of the Bible. Rather it may be claimed by some that it merely shows that the Bible is part of the strange phenomenon of world myth patterns
All speak of a creation of man, and the creation of the woman from the body of the man.
All speak of the fall of man and his leaving a garden paradise.
All speak of the birth of sons, and the murder of one son by another.
All speak of the wickedness of the world, and its destruction by water, and the saving of one family by a large boat.
All speak of a great tower and the confounding of the tongues of the people, which resulted in the different languages of today.
- The continuing acceptance by large numbers of people
Lots of other works have risen and fallen as a general guide to life.
- Its efficacy in converting people in all cultures
Is there anything else that works?
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