By Kingsley Baehr
Grissom, the star of the television series “CSI”, often cautions his co-workers to “Follow the evidence.” Wherever the evidence takes you will be the truth.
Good advice! Let’s apply it to the Bible. Where does the evidence take us in trying to decide if its writing was controlled and inspired by God?
It was written by approximately 40 men from all walks of life, from servants to kings.
It was written over a period of about 1500 years.
It was written on three continents.
It was written in three languages.
It is comprised of 66 books and letters.
Many of its human authors had no knowledge of nor had met each other.
It addresses many very controversial subjects.
and yet,
IF YOU WERE TO BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING AND READ IT THROUGH TO THE END,
YOU WOULD FIND TO YOUR AMAZEMENT
THAT IT BEGINS AT THE BEGINNING AND ENDS AT THE END,
THAT IT IS ONE BOOK, UNIQUELY UNIFIED.
THE EVIDENCE LEADS TO THE FACT THAT IT HAD TO HAVE ONE AUTHOR
WHO LIVED FOR AT LEAST 1500 YEARS
AND WHO CONTROLLED WHAT WAS WRITTEN.
NO OTHER INTERPRETATION FITS ALL THE FACTS.
By contrast, if you were to choose 40 men, all residents of the United States all living in 2006, all speaking English, all with university degrees, and were to ask each of them to write his own book on one controversial subject such as “love”, and then were to take their writings and bind them into one book and read that book from beginning to end, what would you have? A HODGEPODGE! No continuity among the books! Little agreement regarding the subject! Many contradictions! Certainly, nothing like the Bible!
Is the Bible the Word of God?
And if so, will you believe it
or continue to choose to fly in the face of the evidence
and reject it?
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine [what is right],
for reproof [what is not right],
for correction [how to get right],
for instruction in righteousness
[how to stay right],
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.- 2 Timothy 3:16,17