In 1947 some papyrus scrolls were found near the north west shore of the Dead Sea. Eventually more scrolls were recovered. They had been in the library of a Jewish religious group of about 200 people which had its centre there from about 150 BC to 68 AD. Included among the scrolls are copies or parts of every Old Testament book except Esther. These manuscripts are 1000 years older than the oldest Hebrew text previously known! From the point of view of what the Old Testament teaches, no modifications are necessary to our previous beliefs: all is confirmed by these older manuscripts.

So for the Old Testament we have primary evidence which predates the New Testament period. This is a vastly superior position to that of other ancient books where only a few manuscripts survive and these from long after the original writing.
As well, we have the early Greek translation of the Old Testament dating from before Christ and often quoted in the New Testament.

When we turn to the New Testament we have currently in excess of 5,000 Greek manuscripts, mostly fragmentary but some very complete. These have been the subject of detailed investigation by scholars, often of the very critical kind. The abundance of material, plus the evidence from ancient translations, enable us to be sure we have virtually the original text. For although it is sometimes said that there are 150,000 errors, which is true, these are very largely spelling mistakes and similar errors affecting about 10,000 places. Because of the abundance of evidence from different early Christian centres, it is easy to eliminate these usually obvious transcriptional slips, and the number of places in the New Testament where there is any very serious question of what was the original reading is probably about 60. In any event, whatever reading one takes from the available evidence the teachings of the Christian faith are unaffected.

So far as the date of the New Testament is concerned, the argument of sceptical scholars of a generation or two ago that many books belonged to the second century, and thus were not eye witness accounts, is now largely given up. Such a liberal scholar as John A.T. Robinson of Honest to God fame argued that the bulk of the New Testament was written before 70 AD.

Of course it is important to interpret the Bible correctly. There are many Bible believers who derive some very strange ideas from it, particularly relating to unfulfilled prophecy. They miss the basic storyline, that the Bible unfolds God's redemptive purpose for the human family and for creation. It provides a provisional fulfilment of God's promises in Christ and the kingdom of God by what God did among Old Testament Israel.

If we look at the way in which the Bible, although written over a period of some 1400 years by 40 different authors, is harmonious; if we consider its marvellous accuracy in historical detail and the many predictions fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ, we have something very impressive. But the impact on people's lives is also impressive. Grant a few odd people who twist the Bible, yet it remains that multitudes have been transformed by the Bible, and have been prepared to die for it. They have not just become religious, still less fanatical; but their lives have been so transformed that love of God and their neighbour has become a marked characteristic.

However, what has been said does not of itself prove the Bible is God's Word. What it does do is show us that believe in the Bible as God's Word is not irrational. The points made earlier are fully consistent with the claim that the Bible is the inspired word of God. If they were not true then we would certainly have an obstacle in the way of believing the Bible to be God's Word. The Bible books indicate the claim of ultimate divine authorship and authority about 4000 times, while Jesus repeatedly attests the authority of the Old Testament Scriptures.

Are we to light a candle so that we can see the sun? No, for there is no superior authority to God that can be brought forward to prove him. Ultimately, the reason a person beliefs the Bible to be not just a reliable book but the Word of God rests on the testimony of God's Spirit by and with the Word. Two people can hear the same evidence; one accepts and the other rejects, because on one God has mercy and the other is left in unbelief.

So what are you doing about the Bible? Are you perhaps just arguing about it without being familiar with it? Far better to search the Scriptures prayerfully and carefully. What strikes the sincere inquirer is the unique personality of Jesus. He practices what he preaches. His holy life is not the production of evolution but of God's intervention. God's book is also unique: thoroughly human yet exactly the Divine message God intended. The Bible can be trusted because God can be trusted. 'Holy men spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of God'.