Why the Bible is true... (Revised June 2015)

[christianwarrior]

It does ultimately come down to faith. If God is a loving God, he would want to communicate with mankind who bear his image. So he sent his Holy Spirit that inspired the human authors to write God's message to humanity. God is a perfect being therefore his message is perfect. The Bible is His Word therefore it is perfect. To say that the Bible is true because it is the Word of God might sound like a circular argument so here are some of the reasons why we can trust it.

1. Fulfilled prophecy: Jesus fulfilled several Old Testament prophecies. A scroll of Isaiah was found with the Dead Sea Scrolls that dated from 250-350 B.C. (even if you were to assume a late date for the writings of the prophets they were not altered afterwards to match Jesus' life) http://christianity.about.com/od/biblef ... -Jesus.htm
http://carm.org/does-isaiah-53-predict-jesus-messiah http://www.goodnewsdispatch.org/math.html The probability that Jesus could have fulfilled just 8 prophecies by random chance is the same as the probability a blind man could on his first try pick out a special marked coin out of a pile of coins stacked two feet tall and covering the area of Texas. http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/is ... the-bible/ http://www.bethinking.org/jesus/ancient ... an-sources

The book of Daniel gives an accurate prediction of world events. Including the rise of the Greek empire followed by the Rome Empire which split into several pieces after its collapse. http://ncbible.org/resources/Danielcomm02.html http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6f.asp The split of the Greek empire into 4 pieces by the 4 sons of Alexander the Great. https://www.thisisyourbible.com/index.p ... diaid=1067 The Hanukkah uprising. (Daniel 8:9-14 ; 11:21-35) http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/daniel.html

Any time there is a beast in Biblical prophetic vision it refers to an empire. Daniel 7:17 “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” In his dream Daniel he sees 4 beasts. The four beasts are the Babylon Empire, which was defeated by Persian Empire, followed by the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great, followed by the Roman Empire. The first beast was like a lion then is given a human mind (Daniel 7:4). Nebuchadnezzar went insane for several years (Daniel 4:33) before he was restored. Second beast was devouring three ribs (Daniel 7:5). Historians note that the Persian Empire had 3 major victories: 1. Against Lydia (kingdom in Asia Minor). 2. Against Babylon. 3. Against Egypt. The third beast had four heads and four wings. After Alexander the Great died his empire was divided by his four sons. The fourth beast had iron teeth. The Roman Empire was noted by their usage of unstoppable iron weapons.

In Daniel 9, Daniel had read the prophecies of Jeremiah and realized that the time of exile was coming near the end. He fasted and prayed on behalf on him and his people.

Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.

“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (Daniel 9:20-27)

So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty two weeks (69 weeks):

The word for weeks in the Hebrew is shabuwa` which refers to sets of sevens. Throughout the Old Testament the word is used in reference to a set of seven days, weeks, and years. An alternative translation to seventy weeks could be seventy sevens. Hebrew Lexicon:http://lexiconcordance.com/hebrew/7620.html Hebrew/English interlinear text:http://www.qbible.com/hebrew-old-testam ... iel/9.html
King Artaxerxes of Persia gives Nehemiah, his cupbearer, the decree allowing Nehemiah to return to rebuild the walls and the Temple of Jerusalem in the year 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8). The Messiah, Jesus, was cut off and was reduced to nothing in the year 33 A.D. (Isaiah 53) This is a gap of 476 years (1 .B.C. to 1 A.D. is 1 year). However when accounting for the difference between the length of an ancient Persian calendar and the prophetic Hebrew calendar (360 days) with our modern-day calendar (365.25 days), 476 years becomes 483 ancient Persian/Hebrew prophetic years. 483 is 69 sets of 7 (69*7).
Prophet year: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commenta ... -year.html Ancient Persian calendar:http://www.iranchamber.com/calendar/art ... rigins.php Calculations using prophetic years: http://www.jesusonmymind.com/facts

http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publication ... /timetable
http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publication ... /fourfacts

http://www.reasons.org/articles/article ... -the-bible http://www.100prophecies.org/page6.htm

2. Archaelogical evidence: People have claimed that the Bible is not a historical document because many of the places listed in the Bible there was no evidence that they existed, many events listed in the Bible had no non-Biblical historical writings referring to those events. However with recent archaelogical findings many of the historical claims of the Bible as well as the places listed in the Bible are being found. One example was the Pool of Siloam. After Jesus heals a blind man (John 9:1-6). He tells the man to go to the Pool of Siloam (9:7). Bible critics claimed that the Gospel accounts were inaccurate because places like Pool of Siloam did not exist. (There was a Pool of Siloam constructed by a Byzantine emperor in AD 400). In 2005 archaelogists uncovered the original Pool. http://articles.latimes.com/2005/aug/09 ... ci-siloam9 In 2013, the original city of Gezer was found buried beneath the city of Gezer built above it during the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 20:15-19). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/2 ... lp00000009 There have been several recent discoveries. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/201 ... -2013.html http://www.godandscience.org/apologetic ... ology.html
http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Verac/C-0401.htm

3. Changed lives. The Word of the God is living and active. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
I know someone whose life was transformed when he was in prison. He had been a hopeless drug addict and had dropped out of college. In prison he would spend several hours reading the Bible especially the Psalms. Through the Holy Spirit and absorbing the Word of God, his life started to change. Today he is a Sunday teacher active in the church, he has a stable job, and is doing well in college. Countless lives have been transformed through the reading of the Bible.

4. Unmatched books of Wisdom. King Solomon had all the world had to offer: several wives and concubines, great riches, glory, fame, great reputation, and a genius mind. Yet in midst of having it all, he had turned away from God. Late in his life he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes talking about the vanity of the riches of the world. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... esiastes+1 There is a void without God that riches cannot fill. Having what the world has to offer causes your body to make adrenaline however eventually the chemical feelings in the brain fade out. This why is in the last fifty years we have more than double the material goods but not more happiness(I am assumming that most of the readers are Americans). The void can only be filled by being alive in the Spirit. Read the book and see if your life is like his (this also applies if you are "poor").
Also read the book of Proverbs and see for yourself the wisdom contained in it. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... rsion=NKJV

5. Written by people willing to suffer and die for their beliefs. When someone lies usually they are doing it for 4 reasons: material gain (money), social gain (popularity, better chance with romantic relationships), avoiding punishment, and avoiding embarassment. The Bible writers told the truth and suffered for it. Several of the Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah and Isaiah were rejected by the Jews during their lifetime (their books were accepted only after the Babylonian exile of the Jews). Isaiah was sawed in half by King Manessah. Jeremiah lived a lonely life as a single man. Ten of the twelve disciples of Jesus were beaten, tortured, and killed. Judas Iscariot committed suicide after betraying Jesus, John was sent to exile to the island of Patmos. http://www.everystudent.com/wires/apostles.html
The Old Testament is filled with embarassing details about Israel, Judah, the Israelites' failure to follow God despite being chosen, kings committing adultery and other evil acts. http://townhall.com/columnists/franktur ... /page/full The Gospel accounts are also filled with embarrassing details such as saying that the first people to see Jesus resurrected from the dead are women (eyewitness testimony of women was useless in a Jewish court at that time) because all of the followers of Jesus who were male were hiding and had deserted Jesus. http://townhall.com/columnists/franktur ... _true_pt_2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76zrdnvkmtc

6. Scientific accuracies: http://www.godandscience.org/apologetic ... bible.html The Bible states many things that were scientifically proven later on. Life is in the blood. 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ Leviticus 17:11 Before the importance of blood was discovered medically, physicians used to drain people's blood to make them feel better. Of course such treatment was ineffective. http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/brought ... tting.aspx
Scientifically speaking there is only one human race. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings," Acts 17:26 https://answersingenesis.org/racism/are ... ent-races/ This goes against what the Social Darwinists, the racial supremacists, and the majority of society thought before the 1960s.

7. The Bible tells the truth about human nature. http://www.goodpersontest.com/ People from all civilizations, with or without the Bible, know that the moral code exists. The Moral Law points to a Moral Law giver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOJeseNJneg The great writer C.S. Lewis points out that the moral code is not always the standard which we follow but it is the standard that we want others to follow when treating us. http://www.truthaccordingtoscripture.co ... CqMaPldWJk When we mistreat others, we want mercy. When someone mistreats us, we want justice. However all of us have at one point or another violated the Moral Law. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 Humanity is fallen. http://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html We see the evidence all over us in war, corruption, murder, stealing, and mistreatment of people. This is why many of the revolutions did not improve the situation and caused an increase in violence. The new guy in charge gets corrupted and becomes just like the bad guy they replaced (Chinese Communist Revolution, Russian Revolution, French Revolution, etc.) We need a Jesus Revolution. http://www.cru.org/how-to-know-god/woul ... nally.html

8. The Bible has been preserved through out the years. http://www.answering-islam.org/authors/ ... iants.html (Textual criticism)
http://carm.org/manuscript-evidence (Manuscript evidence)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miS4jBln4JU (This video is 1 hour 46 minutes but is worth seeing if you have time. Dr. Daniel Wallace, a Greek scholar, has traveled around the world taking high tech photos of early New Testament manuscripts. If you are lacking in time skip to 1:05:00 where he talks about where he talks about how 99.75% variants in the text involve spelling differences and word order differences which do not affect meaning ,in Koine Greek, the subject and the object are not determined by word order but by verb ending rendering most variants having no difference in meaning at all. At the 1:18:00 he talks about the early church's position on the divinity of Jesus and the Da Vinci Code then he talks about Bart Ehrman.)

The Bible was copied by hand countless times before the printing press with 99.5% accuracy in the New Testament. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were found that had portions of every book in the Old Testament including most of Isaiah and was compared with manuscripts copied 1,000 years later there were only 13 textual variations found. http://carm.org/old-testament-corrupted Although significally less than any other ancient document there are variants in manuscripts due to copyist errors (most of them spelling variations). However with comparing the manuscripts, we have a high degree of certainity of what the original manuscript says. Bart Ehrman, the agnostic author of a book called "Misquoting Jesus", admits that "the essential Christian beliefs are not affected by textual variants." http://crossexamined.org/is-the-new-tes ... es-ehrman/ We know what the variants are, check the footnotes in your Bible. They do not put any doctrine in danger. One example of a variant is the number of the Beast which the majority of manuscripts says is 666 but some early manuscripts says it is 616 (Rev. 13:18). http://www.rightreason.org/2009/616-tha ... the-beast/ However either way the number is a trilingual code name for Emperor Nero and it is a bad idea to take the Mark.

[Mallz]

Great post!

[neo-x]

Its is a nice post and most noble intentions which I appreciate but it is as you said curricular and entirely useless when talking to non-christians. Every religion can pin a few historical events down, every religion can produce people who will die for their beliefs, just look at the burning monk, and the 400 prophets of Baal against Elijah the prophet, even when their God didn't answer them they still were ready to die for their beliefs and they did die when Elijah ordered all of them to be killed. There is no single claim in there which Islam can't mimic.

[1over137]

Welcome to the forum christianwarrior.

(Btw, your profile says you are not Christian. Most probably a mistake)

[Mallz]

Neo, how do you show non-believers the truth effectively?

[christianwarrior]

Neo, what I meant was the claim the Bible is true because it is the Word of God is a valid argument however without evidence it sounds like a circular one. Second, yes I agree that many non-believers will claim the same thing about their religion however that is why we must be ready to defend our faith and give an answer for the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Also with Islam, there is a trap you can use. The Quran states that the Injeel (the Gospel) and Taurat (Torah) are from God. However Muslims believe that the original text of the Gospel and the Torah were altered and changed. They believe that Jesus was not crucified and that the passages pointing his resurrection were added later. This is why I included my last point about textual preservation. In fact the Quran had a lot more textual variations than the New Testament until one of the early Muslim leaders, Uthman, ordered all versions except his preferred one to be burned. http://www.answering-islam.org/Green/uthman.htm So if you can show to the Muslim that the Bible has been accurately preserved and show that it claims that Jesus is Lord then you would have a great case for Christianity. Lastly when talking to non-believers we must trust in the Spirit of God to change people's hearts. P.S. I did make a mistake on my profile when I marked that I was a non-Christian, I have fixed that.

[RickD]

Hi christianwarrior, and welcome to the board.

When you get a chance, why don't you please introduce yourself, and tell us a little about yourself here:
http://discussions.godandscience.org/vi ... start=1575

[Kurieuo]

Welcome CW.

I agree with many things that you've said and many certainly help to reassure those of us Christians who believe in the truth of Scripture.

Something I learnt long ago and caused me much disappointment was my own attempts to justify Scripture and use it as an apologetic.
I fell flat on my face many times debating to truth of Scripture with non-Christians -- not because I couldn't rebuff what they said, but rather because it didn't make a difference to them. BUT, I did learn much so I gained personally.

Certainly defend parts when challenged, but there is a blindness that needs to first be cured before Scripture even has an allure.
That blindness is something that can only be cured in Christ. Then everything else starts falling into place and becoming evident although not all things.

So really, the one thing I'd say to a non-Christian who asks.
Is that I respect Scripture as truth because Christ did.
Simple as that. It directs attention to what is most important -- Christ Himself.
And really, my reason simply boils down my faith in Christ and not necessarily rational arguments.

[Nicki]

Welcome CW.

I agree with many things that you've said and many certainly help to reassure those of us Christians who believe in the truth of Scripture.

Something I learnt long ago and caused me much disappointment was my own attempts to justify Scripture and use it as an apologetic.
I fell flat on my face many times debating to truth of Scripture with non-Christians -- not because I couldn't rebuff what they said, but rather because it didn't make a difference to them. BUT, I did learn much so I gained personally.

Certainly defend parts when challenged, but there is a blindness that needs to first be cured before Scripture even has an allure.
That blindness is something that can only be cured in Christ. Then everything else starts falling into place and becoming evident although not all things.

So really, the one thing I'd say to a non-Christian who asks.
Is that I respect Scripture as truth because Christ did.
Simple as that. It directs attention to what is most important -- Christ Himself.
And really, my reason simply boils down my faith in Christ and not necessarily rational arguments.

The Bible is deep down the basis of our faith however. We believe things because the Bible says them. I can't say that I'd had an experience of Christ before I became a Christian but (this was at the age of 12 or so) I believed the Bible was true because I'd been taken to church when I was younger and then I believed what a children's gospel correspondence course said because it was based on the Bible. What I didn't have at the time was the evidence for the Bible actually being true - something I've become more interested in in recent years. If people think a lot of the Bible is fiction, why would they believe what it says about Jesus and about salvation?

Regarding the martyrs, the difference with the earliest Christian martyrs was that they had actually been there when Jesus was around, died and rose from the dead, so they not only died for their beliefs, they knew whether they were true or false.

[christianwarrior]

Kurieno, what you said is true. That's why I try to share my testimony about what Christ has done in my life in addition to making the intellectual case for believing. No rational argument can overcome someone's resistance to God if it comes from the heart. In that case we should show the love of Christ and pray for them. However while rational arguments might a difference for someone who is genuinely seeking. Someone at my church recently shared his testimony about how he came to Christ. He stated that he wanted Christianity to be true but for years no one made the rational case for Christianity. Many people especially college students in this generation have been raised on skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism. With those people the rational case is important. When Paul preached to religious Jews, he shared Scriptures. When Paul preached to Greek philosophers, he used philosophy (Acts 17). http://biblicalgreece.com/athens/ So in following the Great Commission we can have the same Gospel and message but use different methods.

[B. W.]

...Many people especially college students in this generation have been raised on skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism. With those people the rational case is important. When Paul preached to religious Jews, he shared Scriptures. When Paul preached to Greek philosophers, he used philosophy (Acts 17). http://biblicalgreece.com/athens/ So in following the Great Commission we can have the same Gospel and message but use different methods.

To bring out another point raised in your comments regarding college students in this generation, I would add all students in secular schools at all levels of learning are being raised on skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism. The objective truth of this is that society and social cohesion is breaking down. It is being taught that this breaking down is a good thing to whole new generation. However, why is it a good thing is never really explained nor is there any honest critical thought permitted on the merits skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism as it pertains to the breaking down of social cohesion and propagating hate, selflessness, lust, intolerant tolerance, and a will to murder what is good.

So, there you have a good definition and example of the beautiful side of evil, maliciousness, and deviousness. A spring board for the gospel to be preached as you and K and others mentioned. Youth do rebel against the status quo and the status quo is now all based solely upon skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism. So folks are just brainwashed and will never change from skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism no matter if it is destroying or has destroyed there parents relationship, their relationships... how it brings sorrow and weakness to themselves. Basically an emptiness that medication alone cannot cure nor therapy heal, or the eastern bow can give hope.

Look for opportunities to reach folks broken by being raised on skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism with the gospel as the Lord will lead us all too. WE may well be in the beginning of the Last Days but at least let's go out in style... as the bible and Holy Spirit directs believers to do. Our hope is secure in heaven. This life so temporal and fleeting. WE have something beyond mere head knowledge, we are sealed and grounded to and in Christ Jesus! Amen
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[Kurieuo]

Kurieno, what you said is true. That's why I try to share my testimony about what Christ has done in my life in addition to making the intellectual case for believing. No rational argument can overcome someone's resistance to God if it comes from the heart. In that case we should show the love of Christ and pray for them. However while rational arguments might a difference for someone who is genuinely seeking. Someone at my church recently shared his testimony about how he came to Christ. He stated that he wanted Christianity to be true but for years no one made the rational case for Christianity. Many people especially college students in this generation have been raised on skepticism, post-modernism, and relativism. With those people the rational case is important. When Paul preached to religious Jews, he shared Scriptures. When Paul preached to Greek philosophers, he used philosophy (Acts 17). http://biblicalgreece.com/athens/ So in following the Great Commission we can have the same Gospel and message but use different methods.

I'd say with "those people" that a rational case is a smokescreen and so is actually of little importance
Very little who follow after the skepticism, post-modernity and relativistic mindsets do so based on an intellectual or rational stance.
Most don't even know what such things are. Rather, they are just caught up in the mindset of society at large.

The issues, as Scripture itself says, is largely a spiritual blinding. (2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Th 4:3-4)
Apologetics are great for us Christians who wish to have rational reasons for our beliefs. They're great as an apologia (aka "defense") of our beliefs.
BUT, they just won't cut mustard with many non-believers out there, especially in our Western societies.

Christians reaching to others would do well being their for others and setting a good example.
A rational case also needs to be made, but it's a huge obstacle when anything said is already rejected before being heard.
And "being heard" is a main issue that I see that needs to be overcome.

Don't get me wrong.
I'm also not saying rational arguments should not be had, etc.
BUT, for starting a conversation with a non-Christian in most cases proving Scripture wouldn't be a good starting point.

No more a good starting point than the Book of Mormon would be to start convincing you of Mormonism and what Joseph Smith published was true.
You're not going to give any Mormon a serious hearing if they start with writings that you reject from the get go.

Even your lecturer wasn't making a statement re: Christ based on his rationality or education, but rather based upon his biased opinion.
There is a hidden indoctrination goes on that we're all cultivated into within our societies.
In Western societies, our education systems are part and parcel to it.
Your lecturers statement is both evidence and symptomatic of this.

If we want to be effective then we must as Christians try to identify the causes.
For dealing with symptoms will only lead to more symptoms being experienced, until the cause is dealt with.
Defending Scripture is a valid apologetic. Giving testimonies can be great.

Those who finally give their lives the Christ, normally do so not because of this or that argument, but after much time reflecting.
Usually someone positively being in their lives who is there for them that they look up to as both a friend and Christian.
This changes a person from hard rock into soil ready to fairly evaluate rational arguments.

I'm not sure where I wanted to go with this really.
I suppose, it just depends who you had in mind for your original post.
Not really challenging anything you've said, just trying to inspire a deeper analysis of it all.

[Kurieuo]

Welcome CW.

I agree with many things that you've said and many certainly help to reassure those of us Christians who believe in the truth of Scripture.

Something I learnt long ago and caused me much disappointment was my own attempts to justify Scripture and use it as an apologetic.
I fell flat on my face many times debating to truth of Scripture with non-Christians -- not because I couldn't rebuff what they said, but rather because it didn't make a difference to them. BUT, I did learn much so I gained personally.

Certainly defend parts when challenged, but there is a blindness that needs to first be cured before Scripture even has an allure.
That blindness is something that can only be cured in Christ. Then everything else starts falling into place and becoming evident although not all things.

So really, the one thing I'd say to a non-Christian who asks.
Is that I respect Scripture as truth because Christ did.
Simple as that. It directs attention to what is most important -- Christ Himself.
And really, my reason simply boils down my faith in Christ and not necessarily rational arguments.

The Bible is deep down the basis of our faith however. We believe things because the Bible says them. I can't say that I'd had an experience of Christ before I became a Christian but (this was at the age of 12 or so) I believed the Bible was true because I'd been taken to church when I was younger and then I believed what a children's gospel correspondence course said because it was based on the Bible. What I didn't have at the time was the evidence for the Bible actually being true - something I've become more interested in in recent years. If people think a lot of the Bible is fiction, why would they believe what it says about Jesus and about salvation?

Regarding the martyrs, the difference with the earliest Christian martyrs was that they had actually been there when Jesus was around, died and rose from the dead, so they not only died for their beliefs, they knew whether they were true or false.

Hi Nick,

The Bible forms a basis of our faith, but not the basis.
To call it "the" basis seems too much, and also too simplistic.

I do not believe things just because the Bible says so unless I believe there is good reason to believe it.
On historical-critical grounds there is good reason to believe that Jesus respected Scripture as authoritative.

BUT, remove Scripture and I'm sure God can still get His message clearly to us.
There have been many reports, especially by Muslims now Christian, where dreams played a large role.

If people couldn't believe without the Bible, then anyone who doesn't believe in the Bible would never believe in Christ.
However, many come to Christ without accepting the Bible as truth. Partial truth, but their faith is primarily based upon something other.
That may have not been the case for you, but it is the case for others. We can all come to Christ in different ways.

[PaulSacramento]

The only faith we should place is in Jesus.
I always remember the likes of Ehrman, who placed his faith in the inerrant and unaltered written word of the bible and when he came to the conclusion that was not the case, his "faith" collapsed.
The bible simply points the way to Christ ( as does the universe), like a finger pointing the way to the moon.
Don't concentrate overly on the finger or you may miss all the heavenly glory.

[neo-x]

Neo, how do you show non-believers the truth effectively?

Hi Mallz, sorry for late reply, My personal opinion is that you its very hard to do with the bible. It must be spontaneous and most of the time non-academic and must show christ's unequal unbiased love. That in my opinion leaves a more lasting impression, atleast that is my experience.