The Authenticity Of The Written Word

Excerpt from Fundamentals In The Faith
By Rev. Tim Osiowy

A.  Prophecy and Fulfilment Prove It

Numbers 23:19 - "hath he said, and shall he not do it?"

The prophecies concerning Christ, already fulfilled, prove the authenticity of the Bible.  His birth, death, and glorification were all foretold.  Prophecies concerning the Last Days which are fulfilled in our day give evidence that we are living in the last days before Christ returns.

Joel 2:28/Acts 2:16-21 - Peter brings it right into our day by implication.

Luke 21:25-33 - Evidence happening today makes it hard for us to deny the truth of prophecy.

B.  Preservation Proves It

It is a miracle that the Bible is still in existence considering all the opposition it has suffered.  Israel was taken into captivity under harsh dealings, yet the Word has preserved.

In early times, Bible-believers were killed, yet the Word of God remained.

C.  Popularity Proves It

Nearly every language has a version, and every continent has millions of copies.  It proves to be a popular book.  Sales are not dropping but increasing.

D.  Numerics Prove It

Throughout Scripture, there is a consistency in its numerology.  The number seven all through, even though the writers vary, portrays completion.  Example: Naaman was to dip seven times: Children of Israel marched around Jericho seven times: in the Book of Revelation there are seven churches, seven trumpets, 7000 men killed, seven plagues, etc.  Also, the word "Blessed: is used exactly seven times.

"Twelve" portrays government, and there were twelve elders, twelve tribes, twelve apostles.  This is not all coincidence.

Read the book "The Seal of God." by F.C. Payne, pp 94-120

E.  One Theme Proves It.
[Even though it was written by many.]

Jesus Christ as Saviour, [John 5:39] and man as sinful is the general picture of the Scriptures.  Men, thousands of years prior, wrote about Jesus, as did the recent apostles.  That proves there is one author who is God.

There are no contradictions in morals or standards.  It all fits very well.  The Bible is a unified book in spite of different writers at different times in history.  You won't find another book with forty authors who write the same theme.

F.  Relevancy Proves It.

Jesus Christ and God's Word still change lives.  The morality the Bible projects, even though it is ancient, fits a modern world.

Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."

People still find help, direction, and comfort in this eternal Book.  Because it is a Book, not of time but of eternity, it will always be relevant.

G.  Archaeology Proves It.

160 years after Babylon was prophesied to be destroyed, it was desolate, and archaeology discovered its ruins recently.  It was a city of about 150 square miles with a 100-foot wall.

The spade of the archaeologist has discovered the details of Scripture at Sodom where Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt.  Stones and trees were literally encrusted with salt.  "Remember Lot's wife," warns Scripture.

At Warba, the Pennsylvania University expedition found inscriptions relating to Creation and the Flood.

Recent findings show Mesopotamia as the cradle for mankind and strongly suggest that civilization only goes back a few thousand years, not millions of years.

H.  How The New Testament Complements The Old Testament, Proves It.

"The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed."

I.  True Science And Experience Prove It.

Discovery of the structure of the universe, and life in general, lead the honest scientist to the conclusion that God spoke the truth concerning life and this world.

Isaiah 40:22 - "the circle of the earth" - [round earth]

Job 28:25 - "To make the weight for the winds" - [air has weight]

Job 38:19 - "Where is the way where light dwelleth" - [light has a source]

To see the Table of Contents for Fundaments in the Faith, click here.  To request more information or to order go to our Christian Books page or the Vine Publications Facebook page.