Expert: Mel and Guyna Horne - 12/8/2005

Question
Hello. Im not sure if you are familiar with what I am looking for but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. Basically, I'm looking for a book that talks about the origins of the bible. Is there any proof of who wrote the bible? What do we know about them? What proof is there that Jesus did all the things they say in the bible and other questions similar to these.

Is it simply all on faith? Thank you for your time.

Take Care

James  

Answer
Hi James,
You asked:
" Basically, I'm looking for a book that
talks about the origins of the bible. Is there any proof of who wrote the
bible? What do we know about them? What proof is there that Jesus did all
the things they say in the bible and other questions similar to these.

Is it simply all on faith? Thank you for your time."



If one is looking for tangible proof that would be accepted in a court of law, the answer is “no”.

If one is looking for modern books that discuss the origins of the Bible, there are many but based on the ones we have seen, they are mostly a waste of time.

If one is looking for archaeological evidence or historical works that are accepted by anyone in the academic or scientific world then one will not find much as the academic world is primarily populated by those who do not believe in God or, if they do, will not risk their academic standing by admitting it publicly.

There are some books about the validity of the Bible, the basis and scholarship of which is ignored, scorned or ridiculed by the greater part of the academic world.  One may find some of these to be of help in making his own decisions about what to believe.  As with any book, they should be read critically (which does not mean negatively), because some religious writers are not always honest in their arguments, or sources.

The scientific method of theories, propositions, experiments, observations, evidence (sometimes also called proof), and laws (often subjective) are supposed to yield “facts”.

Yet, all the sciences are taught mainly from the standpoint of, and by believers in, “the theory of evolution”, which, even though it is a theory in name, is taught and spoken of as a fact.
 In most university classes, it is taught that there are no absolutes. This leaves us in the position that “the fact is that there are no facts”.

If one is looking to disprove the Bible, there are several ways to attack it.  There are atheist and agnostic web sites that do this at length.

If one wants to prove the Bible is reliable enough to use as a guideline for living, he can do that for himself, but usually not for anyone else.

The first question is, do we believe in God?  Is there enough evidence around us that proves to us that a Higher Power or a First Cause must exist?

Does the existence of intelligent life, the design in nature and the universe, the laws of nature, the existence of this world with everything in it and the universe around us prove anything?
Does human emotion, love, creativity, artistry, and aspirations for achievement and greater good, prove anything?  Does human thought and conceptual thinking prove anything?

Evidence does not have to be in a book to be real or to be logical, or to be accepted.

If we believe in God, the next question is, “Do we believe that the Bible contains information or instructions or explanations from him to mankind?”
Translators and religious organizations have tampered with the Bible to the extent that there are conflicting versions available.  This doesn't affect the most important aspects of God's message to mankind, but it does cause doubt and give atheists an opportunity to scoff. Confusion within Christianity causes some to doubt God but it should be kept in mind that while God created man, man created religions and the resulting confusion.

The Bible contains prophecies (history told in advance), some of which have been fulfilled in the past, some of which are being fulfilled now, some of which have not yet  been fulfilled, and some of which have a dual fulfillment (past and current, or past and future).  
It usually doesn't make national news, but periodically, archaeological discoveries confirm details given in the Bible.  I have seen some ads for books based on these discoveries, but I do not have any information on them at this time.

The Bible contains four eyewitness accounts of the life and actions of Christ plus partial accounts by other disciples. I am not aware of any physical proof that these four witnesses lived, much less that they wrote accurately about what they claim to have witnessed.  The widespread distribution of their individual accounts for over 200 years before the Catholic Church existed, proves to me they were real and that God intervened to preserve and distribute these accounts.

God claims to be all-powerful and eternal. I have no reason to doubt that, so I believe it. I have proven it to my own satisfaction but I could not prove it for anyone else.  Such an all-powerful and eternal being would be able to present unquestionable and permanent proof of himself and his word in any form he chose.
Since he has chosen to give us the Bible and very little else of a tangible nature, then he must have a reason for forcing us to make choices based on faith.

For us, the proof of God is all around us in the existence of life, the design of the creation, the existence of physical laws of an ordered universe, our one-time world cycle (from a time before man existed to a time when our sun burns out and no physical life can survive), man's ability of abstract thinking, the existence of love, and the fact that the Bible should not exist but it does. It is also in answered prayers, sudden healings of illnesses and injuries, and other divine intervention.
For us the proof of the Bible is that it has survived in spite of mankind, in its fulfilled prophecies, in the cohesiveness and consistency between 66 books written by different authors over a period of 1,500 years, and the fact that the instructions given, when followed fully and consistently, actually work to produce peace in our life, happiness, blessings, and protection.
So it is not faith alone. And it is not just faith in what any one person alone has said or written.

Before Christ left the earth, he spoke about what he hoped to find when he returns.

Lk. 18:8  “. . . Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?”

He could have speculated about finding love, churches, peace, humility, kindness, joy, obedience, law, sacrifice, harmony, religious unity, or any other trait.  But he only asked about faith. Apparently it is quite important to him that we have it.

We hope that this helps answer your question in some way.

If you have further questions about proving God exists or proving the Bible is valid, feel free to ask.

Sincerely,
Mel and Guyna