Can I Trust the Bible?
Can I Trust the Bible?
The Bible is full of amazing stories. A sea splits in two. A shepherd boy defeats a giant. A man walks on water. Our logical side can easily lean toward the idea that these are just stories, meant to inspire us and nudge us toward better lives.
So let’s ask the question honestly: can we trust that the stories in the Bible are true?
You are allowed to ask. God is not threatened by honest questions. Let’s take them one at a time.
Is the Bible Historically Accurate?
It’s a fair question, and there’s more to stand on than many people expect. Archaeology and ancient writings outside the Bible confirm many of its people, places, and events. Pontius Pilate, who sentenced Jesus, is confirmed by an inscription discovered in Caesarea. King Hezekiah’s water tunnel in Jerusalem is still there to walk through. And ancient historians who weren’t followers of Jesus, such as Josephus and
Tacitus, wrote about His life and execution.
Some events, like the Exodus, are still debated among scholars. That’s okay. Faith in Jesus has never asked us to stop thinking. Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels, said he carefully investigated everything from the beginning so that his readers could be certain of what they had been taught (Luke 1:1-4).
Evidence can open the door, but trust is a step of faith. The God who wrote His story across history invites us to look closely, ask boldly, and then lean in.
Is God the Same in the Old and New Testament?
Many of us have heard that the God of the Old Testament is angry and vengeful, while the God of the New
Testament is loving and full of grace. If God never changes, why does it feel that way?
Here’s the surprise: the Old Testament introduces God like this:
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6)
That’s the same God. God didn’t change. Jesus changed everything.
God has always desired a relationship with you. From the very beginning, He has made a way for His children to stay connected to Him. In the Old Testament, that was through sacrifices and a temple. When He sent Jesus, that way was complete, and it was His final victory over everything that separates us from Him.
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
Jesus doesn’t show us a different God. He shows us exactly who God has always been.
Is Jesus Worthy of My Trust?
Even people who don’t know Jesus know He died on a cross. But why?
Because of a debt we could never begin to pay on our own. Jesus paid it in full. The cross was the only path to our salvation, the only way we could live with God as He intended.
Think about what that means. This is not a God who demands sacrifice from us. This is a God who gave Himself for us.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
A God who loves us so deeply that He would give up everything is a God worthy of your trust.
A Prayer for the Questioner
Father, thank You that I can bring You my honest questions. You’re not afraid of my doubts, and You never turn me away. Help me to seek You with an open heart. Where I struggle to believe, meet me there. Open my eyes to see Your faithfulness through history and in my own life. Thank You for Jesus, who paid a debt I could never pay. Help me to trust You more each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Word of Encouragement
If you’re wrestling with whether you can trust the Bible, you’re in good company. Questions don’t disqualify you. They often start a deeper journey. Keep reading, keep asking, and keep showing up. The God who has been faithful across thousands of years will be faithful to you.
You are loved, you are known, and you are never too far gone to ask.
