The Bible in Your Hands
“The Bible has been copied and translated so many times that nobody knows what it originally said.” You have probably heard some version of that sentence. It sounds reasonable, and many people repeat it without ever looking at the evidence. This study asks the question behind it: can we trust that the Bible we hold is what God originally gave?
The answer begins with God, not with manuscripts. Jesus and the prophets testify that God's Word stands firm and that God Himself has preserved it. Then the historical evidence, examined honestly, tells the same story. Believers can trust that the Bible in their hands faithfully reflects what God originally gave.
Knowledge can feed pride. This study is not about becoming sharper in arguments or winning debates. The goal is that you would know what you believe and why you believe it, so that you can speak the truth in love, with a settled heart and a clear mind, and point people to Jesus rather than to yourself.
Three truths carry the study:
- The manuscript evidence for the New Testament is unparalleled in ancient literature.
- The canon was recognized, not created, by the churches.
- Textual variants do not threaten any doctrine of the faith.
Do you know why you can trust your Bible, or do you just assume it?
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For Deeper Study
- The Canon of ScriptureAmazon F. F. BruceA careful, readable history of how the Old and New Testament books were received.
- The Question of CanonAmazon Michael J. KrugerAnswers the claim that the New Testament canon was a late invention of the institutional church.
- Evidence That Demands a VerdictAmazon Josh McDowell and Sean McDowellA popular reference work on manuscript evidence; the source behind many comparison charts.
- From God to Us: How We Got Our BibleAmazon Norman L. Geisler and William E. NixAn accessible survey of inspiration, canon, and transmission.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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The Preservation of Scripture
God not only inspired every word of Scripture but has kept His words through the ages, so that every generation has His Word in hand.
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