The Bible: A Wonderful Book

The Bible, among all books, stands out as the most extraordinary and wonderful. Its composition, age, and the profound nature of the subjects it addresses are remarkable. It not only teaches about God but also encompasses commands, precepts, doctrines, ordinances, and human history—both of individuals and nations. No other book so faithfully delineates the silent, secret workings of the human soul. The Bible introduces its reader to the infinite, traces the historical period of the human race, extends back to the dawn of creation, and lays open the foundations of religion, morality, and truth. It then carries the reader forward into the mysterious, unknown future, unfolding a realm where matter does not prevail, and by an inscrutable mystery, the bodies of the redeemed are transformed into spirit—a realm of higher realities where Jehovah dwells in the presence of His happy children.

Two Testaments

The Bible consists of two testaments: the Old and the New, which together form the Holy Scriptures. These Scriptures constitute the entire foundation of religious belief for both Jews and Christians. The Old Testament is essential for Jews, while Christians regard both testaments as vital.

Importance of the Scriptures

Given their significance, the Scriptures become a subject of immense importance for both believers and unbelievers. If the Bible is an authentic book, its doctrines and teachings cannot be overestimated. Are these Scriptures authentic, meaning do they relate matters of fact as they really happened? This question is central to the discussion in these pages.

Authenticity of the Scriptures

To answer this question, it is necessary to examine the reality, age, and actions of the leading persons mentioned in the Scriptures, as the instruments used in giving this revelation to the world, and then some of the more important events recorded.

Origin of the Scriptures

No part of the Scriptures can be traced to human imagination, misapprehensions, or errors. The Bible’s theology cannot be resolved into mistaken history, corruption of names, or puerile allegory. The serious student of the Bible and its religion will find it entirely different from the sacred books and religions of the peoples surrounding its adherents. Through successive revelations, knowledge of the one true God was kept prominent. Every intervention of paganism was set aside by miraculous power. The children of the Most High always regarded Jehovah with veneration, representing Him as infinite, eternal, invisible, unchangeable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent—a God unlike any of the heathen deities.

This venerable volume, comprising sixty-six independent books, purports to have been written by various authors over a period of 1,500 to 2,000 years. The Old Testament, composed of thirty-nine books, claims to contain the first revelation of God to man and was the foundation of Jewish institutions. The New Testament, containing the last revelation, forms the foundation of Christian institutions.

Teaching of the Scriptures

The Scriptures state that Moses was the leader and lawgiver of the Jews around 1,600 years before the Christian era and the author of their religious institutions. Jesus Christ is presented as the Son of God and Savior of the world, living during the reign of Augustus Caesar, born in the days of Herod, and put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. The patient truth-seeker finds ample proof to justify believing these historic facts.

Moses and His Work According to the Scriptures

The Scriptures’ claims about Moses and his work are corroborated by external evidence. The authenticity of the Old Testament is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Septuagint version, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which show remarkable consistency with the Hebrew text.

The New Testament’s authenticity is similarly supported by numerous early Christian writings and discoveries, such as the Diatessaron of Tatian and the Syriac versions of the Scriptures, which align closely with the current canonical texts.

Canon of the New Testament

The New Testament canon, comprising the books we have today, was established by the early church fathers. Formal catalogues, such as those by Eusebius, Athanasius, and the council at Carthage in 397 C.E., affirm the authenticity and canonical status of these texts. The Muratorian Fragment and the Assyrian Bible, dating from the early centuries of Christianity, further support this.

Documentary Evidence

The Apology of Aristides, presented to Emperor Hadrian in 125 C.E., and the Diatessaron of Tatian provide additional evidence of the early acceptance and use of the New Testament texts. These documents, along with discoveries such as the Syriac version found in 1892, reinforce the authenticity of the Gospels and other New Testament writings.

Testimony of Early Critics

Notable critics of Christianity, such as Celsus, Porphyry, and Julian, acknowledged the existence and widespread acceptance of the New Testament texts in their critiques. Their testimony, extending from the second to the fourth century, supports the authenticity of these writings.

Old Testament Regarded as Sacred Before Christ

The Old Testament’s sacred status is affirmed by catalogues from Josephus and Philo, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Septuagint version. These sources show that the Jewish Scriptures, regarded as sacred long before the advent of Christ, align with the texts we have today.

In conclusion, the evidence for the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures is overwhelming. Both the Old and New Testaments have been faithfully preserved and transmitted through history, providing a reliable foundation for Christian faith and practice.

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