This document discusses how Christians can know that the Bible is true. It argues that God has revealed himself through prophets, his Son Jesus, and the Bible. The Bible's message comes from God's revelation and was inspired by the Holy Spirit to ensure it is without error. The document examines biblical passages that claim inspiration and inerrancy for Scripture. It defines key concepts like revelation, inspiration, and inerrancy and argues they show the Bible accurately communicates God's message to humanity.

1. Defend Your Faith
A Study in Christian Evidences

2. Lesson No. Six
Can I Know the Bible is True?

3. The Bible is one of the greatest
blessings bestowed by God on the
children of men. It has God for its
author; salvation for its end, and
truth without any mixture for its
matter. It is all pure.
- John Locke

4. First Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a
defense to everyone who asks you a reason
for the hope that is in you, with meekness
and fear.
(c) ESV

5. Second Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction and for training in righteousness.
(c) ESV

6. Has God Revealed Himself?
Hebrews 1:1-2 says:
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways,
God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but
in these last days He has spoken to us by His
Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also He created the world.”
(c) ESV

7. Has God Revealed Himself?
Of course He has. Wouldn’t it be contradictory
for God to create the world for mankind and
then leave him alone to figure out what to do
with it, how to rule over it, or how to share it?
The more important question we must ask is,
why would God reveal Himself? Because He
wants us to know Him and have a relationship
with Him.

8. The Method
God has spoken to mankind directly and
indirectly. Today we communicate with God
through prayer and He teaches us through the
Bible.
So the question must be asked, how did we get
the Bible? How did God’s message make its
way to each of us today? Through revelation
and inspiration.

9. Revelation
Revelation is the message given by God. It is
His thoughts, ideas, wishes, lessons, direct
commands, necessary inferences. It is God’s
message to humanity. That message is
consistent, truthful, cannot contradict itself,
and is divine.
See 2 Peter 1:21.

10. Remember
It is possible for God to reveal Himself to us
and it is necessary for God to reveal Himself to
us so that we can understand His will and
message.

11. Inspiration
The inexplicable power which the Holy Spirit
gave the authors of the OT and NT in order to
guide them (even in the choice of the words
they used) and ensure them from all error and
omission. Inspiration is the tool God uses to
proof-read mankind’s declaration of His
revelation.
See 1 Corinthians 2:7-12.

12. Inerrancy
The idea of inerrancy is that the Bible is
found without error. The basis for this is
found within this argument:
God exists.
God is infallible in all His attributes.
God has revealed Himself to man.
God inspired His revelation.
God’s Word is inspired and inerrant.

13. The OT Claims It
Exodus 4:10-12
420 mentions in Pentateuch that these are
the words of God.
Jeremiah 1:9
Isaiah mentions 80 times,
“Thus says the Lord.”

14. The NT Claims It
John 10:35; 16:13
1 Corinthians 14:37
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Revelation 22:18-19

15. Inerrancy
Does not mean:
Uniformity in all details (i.e. Gospels)
The exclusion of figurative language
Usage of Technical vocabulary
Completeness

16. Inerrancy
Means:
No contradictions.
The message is continuous + unified.
Prophecy is fulfilled accordingly.
We have the message (Word) of God.

17. What Do We Know?
Revelation is not Inspiration.
Revelation discloses; Inspiration guides.
The uninspired receive revelation.
No divine document is uninspired.

18. Defend Your Faith
A Study in Christian Evidences