Know the Fundamentals

Fundamentals. I was playing Little League Softball the first time I ever heard that word.

The basics. The foundation.

You can guess the purpose of the conversation, the advice from Coach to a dozen eight-year-olds.

We are NOT going to turn double plays or execute squeeze bunts. Not this year.

Instead, we’re going to throw the ball properly. We’re going to catch using two hands.

We’re going to swing at pitches in the strike zone. We’re going to refrain from picking clover while playing the outfield.

The fundamentals.

Just as my coach emphasized the importance of mastering the basics in softball, it’s imperative to learn the most critical fundamental in defending the Christian faith, the foundation of apologetics: The Bible is historically reliable.

Skeptics and even some Christians may struggle with questions or doubt about the Bible’s historicity and reliability.

• It is ancient literature.

• It had many authors who wrote at different points in history.

• Some things are difficult to understand.

• Fallible human hands wrote and copied it.

• Parts of it seem unbelievable, and there are contradictions…. or so it may seem on the surface.

But the Bible is not a “surface” kind of read. It’s not just any book. It’s the history of the universe from the very beginning through the life of the last of the apostles.

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 until all good works. (2 Timothy 3: 16-17, KJV)

So how will you answer if someone asks you how they can trust the Bible as true? Here are some easy to remember facts to consider.

• The Bible references real people. These are not made-up characters in fables. Many are documented in history outside the Bible, including writing and archaeological discoveries. Among those from the Old Testament are King David, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Jeroboam II, and several others. Among those from the New Testament are Jesus (the most documented person in human history), His brother James, and political figures such as Caiaphas, Annas, Pontious Pilate, King Herod, Herod Antipas, Caesar Augustus, and Tiberius Caesar.

• The Bible reference real places. Many of the names still stand today, but even for those that do not, there is well- documented evidence and knowledge of their existence in history.

• Archaeological discoveries have yet to discredit the Bible. Instead, each one adds another gold star for Scripture. They range from the ruins of entire ancient cities to individual artifacts like coins, seals, and documentation on stone, tablets, and parchment. Entire books have been written on the archaeology of the Bible.

• By ancient standards, the Bible well exceeds the qualifications for reliability. Its number of original manuscripts and their preservation far exceeds that of other documents considered to be historically trustworthy.

• Copying errors did occur, but they were remedied in later versions. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament through the years of copying, printing, and translating.

• Scripture promised preservation through history. Take a look at Psalm 12: 7, Matthew 24:35, 1 Peter 1:25, Isaiah 40:8.

• Myths take at least 500 years to form. The Gospel authors wrote within 50 years of Jesus’ death, while the eyewitnesses were still alive. The entire New Testament was written within 100 years of His life.

• Study brings a deeper understanding. In depth reviews often prove the believability of items that seem unbelievable or contradictory on the surface. (We will explore some of these together in future posts.)

If this beginning list of evidence for the reliability of the Bible is not enough to convince your skeptical friends, I suggest you pose some questions of your own. Take your pick of any well-known historical figure that your friend is familiar with, and engage them in a conversation that might look like this:

You: “What do you know about this historical figure?”

Skeptic: “They lived around this time. They were famous for this. They lived in that part of the world.”

You: “So you believe they were a real person, not someone made up?”

Skeptic: “Of course.”

You: “Did you ever meet them?”

Skeptic: “No,” with a tone of derision.

You: “Then how do you know they are real?”

Skeptic: “They were well-documented. They are in history books. Archaeological finds show corroborating evidence. History preserved a legacy.”

You: “Exactly!”

God’s legacy is in the past, the present and the future. It is all around us. For those who have accepted Christ, it is within us. His Word documents what He wanted us to know from the beginning of history until the days in which Jesus declared “It is finished.” (John 19:30, KJV)

When defending our faith, sometimes our best formed answers will satisfy, but not always. Understanding the reliability of the Bible makes it easier to accept what we can't explain. Through your study, you will find that the Bible is dependable, as it is God's Word and fully trustworthy.