The Authenticity of the Bible

Do you know how to show a Mormon person the difference in reliability between the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Find out here.

The question of the authority of the Bible and its divine inspiration can be stated very simply: Is the Bible a book given by God to man, or is it a book produced by man--and merely by man--about God? Those are the only two options I think we're faced with. The Bible is either a divine product, or it isn't a divine product, but a mere product of human thinking. If it isn't a divine product, then human authorship is the whole story.

The way you can attempt to answer the question, "Is the Bible really inspired"--does it have a divine origin--is to see whether the Bible has marks of the supernatural.

Your Bible (is) a translation directly from the best Greek manuscripts we possess. It's a direct translation from the Greek to the English, a one-step process.

It isn't enough to simply assume the Bible's authority from the beginning. Christians assume from the get-go that the Bible is God's word, and frequently they won't take it any further than that. Unfortunately, that isn't going to be good enough for most people. Many non-Christians assume from the get-go the Bible's not inspired. They revere the book, or respect it in some fashion, but as for it being the word of God? No. It's written by men and men make mistakes. That's their view.

Now, I think somebody who takes this view has to at least acknowledge, first of all, that they didn't actually reason to the conclusion that the Bible was not inspired. Unless, of course, they thought it was reasonable to conclude that since men were involved, the Bible must have errors.

That certainly doesn't follow, that since human beings may be prone to err, they're necessarily erring in the things they write about God. It may be that they are, but it doesn't automatically mean they are. It seems to me you have to look a little further before you can draw that conclusion. You have to look at the information itself. You have to look at the evidence. Men can err, but did they err in this case?

Another thing that this view doesn't take into consideration is that the Bible itself claims to be God's word. Now, of course, that doesn't make it true, per se. We've got to go further than the mere claim. But it is significant that many who don't believe in Christianity still respect the Bible. This book they respect makes this claim about itself over and over again, and if the book is worthy of respect, then certainly the claim is worthy of respect. It's worthy of careful consideration.

I think the way to answer the question is to see whether the Bible has the mark of the supernatural--whether it has God's "signature" on it--or not, or whether it simply seems to be a book just given by man, having all the marks of natural human beings, and the limitations thereof, and no sign of the supernatural. That's the tact I take in my defense for the authority of the Scriptures. I give some reasons why I think the Bible is supernatural and not natural. It's a book given by God to man, not merely a book by man about God. But, inevitably, what's going to happen is, even if you make your case, someone is going to say, "All right, even if I accepted that in the originals--the autographs--we have an accurate representation of God's word, we don't have those documents anymore. In fact, they've disappeared and now we only have copies of copies of copies of copies." Or, sometimes people put it this way: "The Bible's been translated and retranslated so many times we can't trust what we have now." Well, that's not the truth of the matter. Your Bible--your New American Standard, New International Version, King James, New King James, etc.--is not a translation of a translation of a translation. It's a translation directly from the best Greek manuscripts we possess. It's a direct translation from the Greek to the English, a one-step process. So, they miscast the problem. But they still have a legitimate concern about the issue of change.

I addressed this issue in a talk this morning ("Has God Spoken?"), and afterwards a friend told me about his visit to a Mormon temple in Utah, how he was taken aside and interviewed about his own religious beliefs. It was a gentle attempt at evangelizing by a Mormon representative there.

My friend has used Stand to Reason materials and has heard the radio show, and he was ready with some very good responses to the Mormon woman about the authority of the Scriptures. One of the things she came back with is, "Yes, we believe the Bible is inspired insofar as it's properly translated."

Now, this is a key point Mormons make, and they make it over and over again. I'm not sure why it's so important to make that point because it's uncontroversial. As a Christian, I would have to agree with it. I don't believe in a Bible that's improperly translated; I believe in the authority of the Bible if it's properly translated.

But, you see, Mormons take a further step I don't take because I know better. They immediately presume, as does the man on the street, that the Bible has been changed down through the ages and that we can't trust what we have now.

I want to give you a couple of reasons why that objection is disingenuous coming from a Mormon. I want to give you some tools to respond to it.

The Mormons say that the Bible is God's word insofar as it is properly translated. Certainly, I agree with that. I don't know how anybody could disagree with it. Why do they make such a fuss over something as obvious as that? Because they're convinced it isn't properly translated because the texts we possess have been corrupted through transmission over the years.

Several years ago I was staying with a Mormon family for a couple of days and had an opportunity to check out their bookshelf. I pulled down a doctrinal book. This book wasn't a popular Mormon treatment, but one of their own theological works written by one of their chief theologians named McConkie I believe.

I paged through it and got to the section on the reliability of the Bible. There I found the rule just as I've quoted it above, but was stunned to also find the Bible summarily dismissed in the next sentence. This Mormon theologian claimed--totally contrary to fact--that the Bible has been changed so many times in its copying and recopying down through the years that no one knows what the original was like.

I was actually shocked to see a sophisticated theological work by a principle Mormon theologian offer such an academically lame response to this issue. This is a question in the field known as "lower criticism," or "textual criticism." The goal of the textual critic is to reconstruct ancient manuscripts from surviving copies.

The issue of biblical textual reconstruction has been discussed time and time again by secular scholars. The academic evidence shows it's an open and shut case, not in favor of the Bible's corruption, but rather in favor of the Bible's textual purity.

This Mormon theologian did no homework. None. Zero. Zip. Because any homework in this area reveals quite a different thing--99.8 percent purity of the Scriptures--far better than any other manuscripts from antiquity, bar none.

This misleading approach is appealing to Mormon's for a reason: They don't want the Bible passing judgment on their doctrine, because their doctrine doesn't come from the Bible. It comes from Joseph Smith. And it doesn't fit the Bible; it contradicts it.

So, the easiest way to deal with this conflict is to give lip service to the authority of the Bible, saying, "Yes we believe it is inspired," and then they take away with the left hand what they give with the right, "but that doesn't matter, because we don't have the inspired Bible anymore. We've just got a cut-and-paste version that's nothing like the original. We do have the Book of Mormon, and the rest of Joseph Smith's writings, though, and my heart tells me these are inspired by God." That's why you won't find Mormon doctrines in the Bible. You'll find them in the Book of Mormon , the Doctrine and Covenants , the Pearl of Great Price and the writings of Joseph Smith. And you won't hear Mormons quote the Bible very much, except when it helps their case. Then the Bible suddenly takes on authority. That's the first reason why I think Mormonism's qualifier about the authority of the Bible is disingenuous: When they have a verse that seems to make their case--never mind if they lift it out of context, which they do frequently--then they use it. Otherwise,

They'll point to the book of Ezekiel (37:19), for example, where the Lord talks about combining the stick of Judah with the stick of Joseph. This, they say, is a clear prophecy that the Bible ("the stick of Judah") is to be joined with the Book of Mormon ("the stick of Joseph") to comprise the full revelation of God. They ignore, of course, the context itself in which God actually gives the interpretation (v. 21), which has nothing at all to do with the Book of Mormon. Now, I guess they must believe that, even though the Bible in general can't be trusted, this particular verse has survived intact and has been translated properly, or else certainly they wouldn't be quoting from it. Odd. You see, this is cheating, ladies and gentlemen. When the text speaks against the Mormon view, they dismiss it as not being translated accurately. But when it speaks for their view--at least when they can make it look like it does, on first glance--well, then the Bible's accurate. That's cheating.

It's also cheating because they haven't shown academically that the manuscripts of the Bible can't be trusted because of the way they've been handed down. You'd think that if they were really concerned about God speaking through the Bible--that the only way to get at God's word is to have it translated accurately--they would do the homework. After all, if they say it's God's word, then you think they'd do the work to find out what has come down in tact and what hasn't survived. But they don't do that. In fact, when my friend pointed out to the Mormon that the Bible hasn't been changed and that it is authoritative, his information was just dismissed. She moved on to something else. It was just dismissed! You'd think somebody who doesn't trust the Bible because they think it hasn't been properly translated, when she's shown that it can be trusted because it is properly translated, would then say (if they were genuine in their concern here), "Well, I'm glad I've learned that! Now I can go to the Scripture with full confidence and draw the truth from it, and I can weigh the Book of Mormon against the Bible (since the Bible came first, after all)." But no, it's just ignored.

The Book of Mormon has been changed hundreds of times, as a point in fact.. . . So even by their own rule, the Book of Mormon is a fraud. But that doesn't matter because Mormons have a burning in their hearts.

You know, if you've talked with Mormons very much about the authority of their documents, when all of their quasi-apologetics for their books have been dismembered (and it's easy to do), they always fall back on an argument that you cannot dismember: "I believe in my heart that the Book of Mormon is really from God." We can respect such a belief. But can you see how, if that's what one ends up falling back on, it's disingenuous to pretend like there are evidences that really matter for your view and against the Bible's authority? If what you end up doing is ignoring contrary evidence, and you finally fall back on a defense that cannot be refuted, even in principle--because I can't change what you think is happening in your heart--then that shows you don't really care about the evidence at all. What you care about is protecting your own belief system, whether it's true or not. That is what's disingenuous. The evidence ultimately doesn't seem to matter.

By the way, there's one other point that could be offered here. When a Mormon says, "The Bible's inspired insofar as it has been properly translated," your first question should be, "Do you mean to say that if the Bible has been changed, it shouldn't be trusted?" They're going to say, "Of course it shouldn't be trusted if it's been changed." Then ask this question, "How many times has the Book of Mormon been changed?" The Book of Mormon has been changed hundreds of times, as a point in fact. This is very well documented. We do have the original documents of the Book of Mormon and we have the current ones and there are hundreds of changes. So even by their own rule, the Book of Mormon is a fraud. But that doesn't matter because Mormons have a burning in their hearts.

And that shows why it's so dangerous to depend on feelings alone when issues of eternal truth are at stake.

This is a transcript of a commentary from the radio show "Stand to Reason," with Gregory Koukl. It is made available to you at no charge through the faithful giving of those who support Stand to Reason. Reproduction permitted for non-commercial use only. ©1996 Gregory Koukl

For more information, contact Stand to Reason at 1438 East 33rd St., Signal Hill, CA 90755

"The Book of Mormon has been changed hundreds of times, as a point in fact.. . . So even by their own rule, the Book of Mormon is a fraud. But that doesn't matter because Mormons have a burning in their hearts."

I may be wrong, but I believe that in the Bible, somewhere, it says that, by faith alone are ye saved. Which should not be taken as meaning that all empirical evidence must be completely ignored. Simply that, one should not cherry-pick.

"The Bible's inspired insofar as it has been properly translated," your first question should be, "Do you mean to say that if the Bible has been changed, it shouldn't be trusted?" They're going to say, "Of course it shouldn't be trusted if it's been changed."

It is sad to see that instead of the studying the greek and seeing how much different some things are in translation people slander???? why??? You should not open your mouth in criticism if you have not yet even studied the scriptures, i am currently in the process to learn the greek differences in some passages and the differences are definitly not god inspired for the word says study to show yourself approved,,, if your ignorant of the scriptures through and through dont be a hypocrite and dessimate another human being for the same thing.
The greek quite clearly has seperate meanings and it is so heartbreaking to see a generation of cholars biblical theologians and considered christians not even studying the true word of god. If you want to know what to say you must know what it says,, there are no lies in God and he did the bible in greek for a reason... that those who are seeking truth will find it(IOW they will search the scripture. The generation coming is already thoughtless of what God truly has for all if they beleive.... its is a counterfit revival going on (meaning the devils revival is growing) and it is noones fault but their own. Please dont cast the first stone until you know what your saying about GOD.

I give some reasons why I think the Bible is supernatural and not natural.

Did I miss something? He didn't actually make those points in this talk, did he? Too bad.

I heard a series of four talks on the radio from this organization on abortion and the speaker made the point that abortion is killing a human being without mentioning the Bible once. Just using reason. I thought it was pretty impressive.

It just boggles my mind people can be so hate filled against another. It is so simple... Why the desire to slander a human are you better???? Have you gained the knowledge of eternal life yourself??? is it by your knowledge???????? Judge righteuous judgement,,, And study to show yourself approved... May the lord the Lord have mercy on our souls for our ignorance(iniquity) to seek him.. For the flesh shall be consumed and all that shall remain are your good deeds/words for all thoughts and deeds shall be judged(take into account) therefore be mindful of your thoughts towards one another,,, Now this person who beleives in morman is he more than a man???? Are you???? We are to be boastfull of our life in Christ Jesus not slanderous to others... you know this!!

Please show restraint,, For i did not slander this website only the comments made... Abortion is something to keep yourself from quit trying to control someone else... I would never have an abortion because I know it is wrong they do not or are you telling me they are given the knowledge of God to know Good and evil... Is not the Holy Spirit who convicts us, is he not the one whom reveals truth to our inner most beings ?????? Surely those who have not yet had their eyes opened by Holy Spirit are there for you to pass judgement.... How dare you

The Bible is accurate? Which one? The Wyckham, KJV, Revised Standard, Vulgate, whatever? Is the version that's accurate in English accurate in German? In Hausa?

Koukl just ignores the Mormons' story of the angelic source of the Book of Mormon, which would seem to make their claim to divine inspiration both more direct and more recent than any that can be made for the Bible.

I haven't got a God in this fight, but this is just silly; it's just somebody who disapproves of Mormonism preaching to his choir - and not making any sense.

So far as Mormons go, my experience is that the saved ones are good neighbors and the lost ones throw great parties. Beyond that, I have no opinion at all.

I may be wrong, but I believe that in the Bible, somewhere, it says that, by faith alone are ye saved.

Actually, it says the opposite - "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24)

God created us as rational beings. He does not expect us to deny our rational thought. Our faith in God does not mean we leave our intellect outside the church. If Mormonism had some sort of archeological evidence to back up the claims made within the Book of Mormon, perhaps it would be a more viable system. Mormonism expects the believer to have total blind faith in Joseph Smith's claims - which have NO historical evidence or proof.

Regards

While the author of the piece has a laudable goal--disabusing Mormons of their heresy (I am being charitable here in regarding Mormons as heretical Christians)--good goals cannot be attained by shoddy means. Another poster pointed to one false dichotomy, I would suggest that the author's entire approach to Scripture is based on a false dichotomy. Either the Bible is 'given' to man by God, or it's merely a human product?

No Christian authority until the reformation approached the Scriptures as a Christian Koran, which is what the first alternative of the false dichotomy would make the Bible out to be. Likewise no Christian until modern flourishing of heresies and apostacies (think Jack Spong) thought the Scriptures were merely human products.

What then? The Scriptures are indeed inspired of God, but written, editted, translated and interpreted by man. We Orthodox regard all grace as a matter of synergia or cooperation between God and man (hardly surprising since Our Savior is fully God and fully Man), and the Scriptures are no different. If you remember the selection process by which the modern Bible came into being, you are quite aware of the human hand--indeed for protestants, I would argue that the last step in the creation of their canon of Scripture (what is printed in most Bibles in America) *was* purely human: Luther decided to toss out some books because the Christ-denying Jews at the Council of Jamnia hadn't included them in their canon, in the process tossing out the only Old Covenant testimonies to the general resurrection and the only Scriptural testimony to creation *ex nihilo* (as distinct from creation from pre-existing material). (Protestants tell the lie that the Latin church 'added' those books at the Council of Trent. I know this is a lie because we Orthodox whom the Roman Patriarchate left in the 11th century have all those books, and have since the canon was fixed by the Council of Carthage and the 6th Ecumenical Council.)

Deuteronomy 4:19...And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

Malachi 1:11...For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

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