Why I Believe In The Bible

Here's a paper I just finished for one of my classes. It isn't perfect, and admittedly it's slightly circular in logic, for its main argument is based on the prior understanding of and belief in God's existence, but this is what I've always thought and believed.

Why I Believe In The Bible

What if someone were to tell me that I can’t trust the Bible because it has been tampered with by men? Even though God exists, men have distorted the Bible and its meaning throughout the years and it no longer contains what He intended. I would answer that they don’t understand who God is. If we really profess a belief in God—the omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God, the one who spoke creation into existence—then how could we justify this inconsistency in character? It’s not like God is sitting up on his throne, perhaps complaining to His angels, “Well guys, I may have created the greatest miracle ever conceived—sending My Son to die for all mankind, but gosh darn it, if only I had been a little more attentive when those meddling humans decided to change the My holy Word! My biggest regret is how easily is slipped past Me!” If we were to actually assume the legitimacy of this dialogue then we completely misunderstand the character of God.

If the Bible is the sole surviving physical embodiment of God’s message, holy and complete, why would He allow it to be changed?  If everything in it is necessary for our instruction as Christians to live obedient, faithful lives, then any significant alterations jeopardize the execution of this goal. If we are to humor this idea then we must also assume that God is not all powerful, that some things are beyond his control. But if we’re willing to take our logic this far then we are no longer regarding the God of Christianity, but some deity with the same name who lacks complete control over his creation.

Basically, to believe in God is to believe in His sovereignty and limitless power. If we truly believe in God, then we cannot by any sound reason believe that His Word is anything but complete and authoritative. If we were to humor the idea that the Bible has been altered so as to lack authority, and instead represents the personal agendas of men, then we are both inconsistent with our profession of God and our understanding of His character. God is perfect and the purpose and meaning of His Word remains perfect as well.