Can you trust the bible

Psalm 19 begins with creation preaching without words. The heavens declare God’s glory, the skies proclaim his handiwork, and day and night pour forth knowledge to every corner of the earth. David then turns from the witness of creation to the written Word, calling God’s law perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, firm, sweeter than honey, and more precious than gold. Scripture refreshes the soul, makes wise the simple, gives joy to the heart, and warns God’s servants away from sin.

The reliability of the Bible stands at the center of the question: can the Scriptures now in hand be trusted as the inspired Word God gave? Bart Ehrman’s claims raise three concerns: original manuscripts no longer exist, scribes sometimes altered texts, and manuscript copies contain many variants. Ancient writings, however, were written on material that deteriorates, so copies of copies are exactly what should be expected from the ancient world. The absence of an original manuscript does not make the copied text untrustworthy.

Textual differences do exist, and honest Bibles plainly say so in places such as Mark’s longer ending and the woman caught in adultery. Those additions do not change one foundational doctrine of Christianity. Variants often amount to spelling, word order, pronouns, or whether a text says “Jesus” or “the Lord.” The Greek language itself can express the same sentence in many different word orders, and each possible arrangement may be counted as a variant even when the meaning remains unchanged.

The New Testament possesses an embarrassment of riches: roughly 24,000 manuscripts or portions of manuscripts across Greek, Latin, and other languages. Those copies far outnumber the surviving manuscripts for Caesar, Tacitus, or Plato, while also standing much closer to the time of the originals. Early church fathers quoted Scripture so often that the New Testament could virtually be reconstructed from their writings. Those quotations provide checks and balances against the idea that someone secretly collected and corrupted the biblical text.

The Dead Sea Scrolls likewise confirm the careful preservation of the Old Testament. Those scrolls pushed the evidence back a thousand years and showed remarkable agreement with later manuscripts, with most differences involving slips of the pen or spelling. Scripture has been handed down through faithful copying, public reading, and a multitude of witnesses.

The Bible bothers people because its commands interfere with the way people may want to live. Yet God’s Word is not cruelty toward sinners but God’s love letter to humanity. The Bible given to Ron became a living instrument in God’s hands, bringing him to Christ and reaching his family. Scripture remains alive and active, and every dream, circumstance, inward impression, or spiritual counsel must bow to its supreme authority.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Creation points beyond itself to God Psalm 19 presents creation as a constant witness that never needs a microphone. The skies do not save anyone, but they leave humanity surrounded by evidence of God’s glory and power. Creation prepares the heart to hear the clearer voice of God in Scripture. [46:55]
• 2. Variants do not destroy Christian doctrine Manuscript differences can sound frightening when presented without explanation. Most involve spelling, word order, or small wording differences that do not touch Christ’s incarnation, atoning death, resurrection, or lordship. Honest footnotes do not weaken the Bible; they show that the evidence is being handled out in the open. [64:43]
• 3. Many witnesses strengthen textual confidence The New Testament has not survived through one fragile chain of copies. Thousands of manuscripts, translations, lectionaries, and quotations from early Christian writers provide many ways to test the text. A supposed corruption would have had to overcome all those witnesses without anyone noticing. [67:49]
• 4. God’s Word reaches real human hearts Ron’s Bible was marked by tears, notes, family memories, and eventually a new believer’s handwriting. God used a costly act of obedience and a faithful Bible to bring one man and his family to Christ. The Word of God is not merely preserved information; it is alive and active in the lives it confronts. [74:47]
• 5. Scripture remains the supreme rule Dreams, circumstances, prayerful impressions, and trusted friends may offer guidance, but each must be tested by Scripture. Feelings can mislead, and circumstances can be read wrongly. God’s written Word sets the rules and never leads God’s people astray.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [46:34] - Psalm 19 and God’s Word
• [49:14] - Can the Bible Be Trusted?
• [49:34] - A Costly Gift of a Bible
• [53:20] - Bart Ehrman’s Three Claims
• [55:37] - Textual Scholars Respond
• [58:01] - Why Original Manuscripts Are Missing
• [59:17] - Additions, Footnotes, and Doctrine
• [61:43] - Manuscript Variants Explained
• [66:40] - Early Church Fathers as Witnesses
• [69:00] - Dead Sea Scrolls and the Old Testament
• [70:02] - The Gospel According to Snoopy
• [71:44] - Why the Bible Bothers People
• [74:47] - Ron’s Bible and a Changed Family
• [77:02] - Scripture as God’s Supreme Voice

Bible Reading

Psalm 19
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” [46:34]

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” [01:16:05]

2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” [01:12:50]

Observation questions

1. In Psalm 19, what does David say creation communicates about God, even though creation does not use spoken words? [46:48]
2. What descriptions and results of God’s law, statutes, precepts, commands, and decrees stand out in Psalm 19? [47:29]
3. What three concerns about the Bible’s transmission are raised: missing original manuscripts, altered texts, and manuscript variants? [53:47]
4. What kinds of differences between manuscripts were identified as the most common, and what examples were given? [01:03:01]

Interpretation questions

1. Psalm 19 moves from God’s witness in creation to God’s clearer revelation in Scripture. Why is creation enough to point people toward God but not enough to replace the written Word?
2. Why do honest Bible footnotes about passages such as Mark’s longer ending or the woman caught in adultery strengthen confidence rather than require Christians to hide difficult questions? [59:17]
3. How do the many manuscripts, early translations, and quotations from early church leaders make it difficult for someone to secretly change the New Testament everywhere? [01:07:49]
4. Second Timothy 3:16 describes Scripture as useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training. What does this show about why God’s Word can feel uncomfortable while still being an expression of His love? [01:12:50]

Application questions

1. When doubts or hard questions about the Bible arise, what is the usual response—avoiding the question, becoming fearful, or seeking trustworthy answers? What is one practical next step toward becoming better prepared? [56:36]
2. Psalm 19 calls God’s Word more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Does the current pattern of Bible reading show that kind of value? What could make time in Scripture more consistent and meaningful this week? [47:54]
3. God’s Word warns believers about hidden faults and willful sins. Is there an area of life where Scripture has recently exposed an attitude, habit, or choice that needs repentance? [48:07]
4. Ron’s life and family were changed as he read the Bible he received. Who is one person in your life who may need encouragement, a Bible, an invitation to read Scripture together, or a simple conversation about Christ? [01:14:47]
5. Dreams, circumstances, inward impressions, and counsel from friends can all seem persuasive. When facing a decision, how can Scripture become the final test for whether a direction is truly wise and faithful? [01:18:16]
6. The Bible may confront desires or choices that people want to protect. When has God’s Word challenged something in your life, and how did obedience lead toward your good rather than away from it? [01:12:29]