Why the Bible?
How is a book that is thousands of years old reliable to be believed and relevant to my life? Those are questions many people ask when it comes to the Bible. And they are good questions. God does not mind at all when we ask questions, in fact He is pleased when we are willing to wrestle to find the answers. The truth is the Bible is reliable. The Old and New Testaments are actually the most documented works of ancient literature in existence. No book has ever been more carefully and accurately preserved than the Bible. But not only is it reliable, it is also profitable. The Bible contains the wisdom of God, the very one who created the universe and everything in it. This amazing book is filled with principles for living – not only for this life, but also for the life to come. And that reveals the most important reality about the Bible. Not only is it reliable and profitable, it is living and powerful. The Bible is not just a religious book or even a book of principles about life. It is an invitation to know the God who wrote it and who reveals Himself in its pages. It is the story of His love for mankind and His desire to have relationship with you and me.
Start in one of the Gospels like Matthew or John. Let it tell you the story of God and His love for you, and how he sent Jesus into the world so you and I could know that love. The Psalms of the Old Testament are a great place to start as well, or to read alongside the Gospels.
The Bible is the most carefully preserved piece of literature of all time. The Hebrews, who wrote and compiled the Old Testament, were the most strict and accomplished record keepers of the ancient world, especially when it came to historical narratives and genealogies like those of the Old Testament. The New Testament is the single most documented collection of ancient writings in the world. We have more (literally tens of thousands more) reliable ancient copies of the New Testament than of any other ancient work.
The Bible is old, but its truths are timeless. The God who created the universe exists outside of time, and His words are as true today as when they were first written. Times and seasons change, but the truth will stand forever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
New King James Version (NKJV)
New Living Translation (NLT)
New International Readers Version (NiRV) for Kids