God Questions: How can we know the Bible is reliable?

Peter puts the reliability of the Bible right on the ground of eyewitness testimony. Peter says the apostles did not follow “cunningly devised fables.” That is just a wordy way of saying, “This is not fiction. This was not made up.” Peter saw the glory of Christ, heard the voice from the excellent glory, and stood there on the holy mountain when heaven declared, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Bible claims more than religious feelings or private experiences. Christianity rests on historical events. The gospel is not someone saying, “I tried it and it worked for me.” The gospel is that Jesus walked real roads, talked to real people, faced real enemies, died under a real Roman government, and rose again in real history. Pontius Pilate was not invented. The crucifixion was not a metaphor. The empty tomb was not a spiritual idea.

Luke writes like a man giving an orderly account. Luke says eyewitnesses delivered these things, and the purpose was certainty. John says the same thing with almost stubborn repetition. The life was manifested. John saw it, heard it, touched it, and then declared it. The apostles were not dealing in imagination like Wilson the volleyball in Cast Away. They were saying, “I was there.”

Paul anchors the resurrection in public witness. Christ died for sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and appeared to Cephas, the twelve, more than five hundred at once, James, all the apostles, and last of all to Paul. Paul even says many of those witnesses were still alive. That matters because the claim could be tested.

The Bible also bears the mark of divine prophecy. Historical trustworthiness matters, but prophecy shows that Scripture is not merely human. Micah points to Bethlehem. Isaiah speaks centuries ahead. Zechariah gives the thirty pieces of silver. Psalm 22 describes crucifixion before crucifixion was even a thing. Jesus fulfills it all, even from the cross.

God alone declares the end from the beginning. People can guess and get something right eventually, like calling for rain every day until it rains. But detailed prophecy, given centuries before the event and fulfilled in Christ, is a different thing altogether. Scripture stands as historically trustworthy, prophetically confirmed, miraculously preserved, and divinely inspired.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Scripture is not fabricated myth. Peter’s claim is plain: the apostles did not invent a spiritual story and then sell it as truth. The glory, the voice, and the holy mountain were witnessed realities, not religious theater. Biblical faith does not ask a person to step into fantasy, but to reckon with testimony rooted in history. [10:18]
• 2. The gospel is historical fact. Personal testimony can show evidence of grace, but personal experience is not the gospel itself. The gospel stands on events that happened: the crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and public life of Jesus. Faith becomes thin when it is reduced to “it worked for me,” because Christ’s work is true whether anyone’s feelings rise or fall. [13:04]
• 3. Eyewitnesses make claims testable. John does not speak like a philosopher offering an idea, but like a witness giving testimony. Seeing, hearing, and touching matter because Christianity entered the world through public events. The apostles invite examination because truth is not afraid of being tested. [23:54]
• 4. Prophecy reveals divine authorship. Historical evidence can show that the events are trustworthy, but fulfilled prophecy presses deeper. Bethlehem, the betrayal money, Psalm 22, and the cross all show details no human author could control across centuries. God declares the end from the beginning, and Christ stands at the center of that fulfillment.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:44] - The Voice From Excellent Glory
• [10:18] - Not Fiction Or Fabricated Stories
• [10:37] - Why The Bible Is Reliable
• [11:20] - Historical Trustworthiness Explained
• [12:01] - Eyewitnesses Saw, Heard, And Touched
• [13:04] - The Gospel Happened In History
• [14:01] - Luke’s Orderly Account
• [15:19] - Testing The Bible’s Historical Record
• [18:42] - Honest Questions And Real Evidence
• [20:07] - Lee Strobel And Investigating Jesus
• [22:01] - John’s Witness To The Word Of Life
• [24:24] - Paul Lists Resurrection Witnesses
• [26:42] - Prophecy Proves Divine Scripture
• [28:53] - God Declares The End From The Beginning

Bible Reading

2 Peter 1:16-18
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.” [09:44]

1 John 1:1-4
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” [23:54]

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” [24:24]

Luke 1:1-4
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” [14:01]

Observation questions

1. In 2 Peter 1:16-18, what does Peter say the apostles did not follow, and what does he say they actually experienced on the holy mountain? [10:18]
2. In Luke 1:1-4, what words show that Luke wanted to give a careful and orderly account rather than a vague religious impression? [14:22]
3. In 1 John 1:1-4, how many senses or forms of personal contact does John use to describe his witness to Jesus? What are they? [23:54]
4. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, who are some of the people or groups Paul names as witnesses to the risen Christ, and what detail does he add about many of them still being alive? [25:49]

Interpretation questions

1. Peter says, “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Why does eyewitness language matter so much for Christian faith? What does it show about the kind of truth Christianity claims to be? [10:37]
2. Luke says he wrote so that Theophilus “may have certainty.” What kind of certainty seems to be in view here? Is it blind confidence, or confidence rooted in something public and knowable? [14:30]
3. Paul says Christ died, was buried, was raised, and appeared to many witnesses. Why is it important that the resurrection is presented as a public event and not just a private spiritual experience? [13:04]
4. Fulfilled prophecy points beyond human effort. How do details like Bethlehem, thirty pieces of silver, and Psalm 22 help show that Scripture is not merely human writing? [28:53]

Application questions

1. Many people are used to thinking of faith mainly in terms of feelings or personal stories. Where is there a need to be reminded that the gospel is rooted in real events, not just in what seems meaningful in the moment? [13:04]
2. John speaks with simple confidence: “we have heard,” “we have seen,” “we have touched.” What would it look like to speak about Jesus with that same grounded confidence, even without sounding argumentative? [23:57]
3. Honest questions should be tested, not just repeated. Is there a question or doubt about Scripture that has been left unexamined? What would it look like to actually test it carefully rather than carry it around vaguely? [26:00]
4. The gospel includes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. When sharing faith with others, is there a tendency to lean more on personal experience than on those central truths? How could the gospel itself be spoken more clearly? [12:29]
5. Jesus fulfilled what was written beforehand. How does fulfilled prophecy strengthen trust in Christ personally? Does it lead more toward worship, confidence, boldness, or something else? [27:54]
6. Scripture is given as a light shining in a dark place. In this season of life, where is light most needed right now: confusion, fear, suffering, temptation, or discouragement? How can God’s Word be brought into that place this week? [09:44]
7. If Christianity really stands in history, then it remains true whether feelings are high or low. How might that steady someone who feels spiritually dry, shaken, or uncertain right now? [13:11]