The Unshakable Foundation: Evaluating the Reliability of God’s Word

By Jesse Jackson

When looking at the lives of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, we can identify the pillars of an effective believer and a healthy church: a commitment to the gospel, a willingness to sacrifice, a spirit of selflessness, and a deep seriousness regarding the Word of God. In this article, I want to focus on that final priority, having a deep seriousness for the Word of God and holding it in the highest possible regard. 

We often assume that everyone within “Christianity” shares a common view of the Bible. We take for granted the premise that the primary historical and spiritual authority for Christianity is the Word of God. Yet, current trends suggest a troubling shift. Statistics indicate that only about 25% of modern Christians believe the Bible is the literal, actual Word of God to be followed word-for-word. This marks a sharp decline from the 1980s when nearly 40% of the population held a high view of Scripture.

This forces us to ask a vital question: What kind of confidence do you really have in this book called the Bible?

It is one thing to say, "I believe the Bible is a reliable source of history or religious instruction." It is quite another to assert that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God—and that you believe it literally from beginning to end. The Bible is either trustworthy or it is not. If you are a Christian who wavers, thinking there are "holes" in it or that it is part man and part God, my question to you is: Why believe it at all?

A Sword That Pierces the Soul

To understand why we must hold the Bible in high regard, we need only look at its own claims. Hebrews 4:12 tells us:

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The Bible claims to be "quick"—which in the original language means alive. God is making a massive claim here. He is saying His Word is so alive and powerful that it can penetrate the deep recesses of a person and expose the inner heart. It has the ability to rip a person open, unveil what is inside, and convict them. At the same time, it can comfort and nourish those who believe it.

I don’t know any other book that makes that claim. If this is what the Word is capable of, why do so many Christians lay the book on the shelf after the Sunday service and never touch it? You have only two choices: either you believe this book and its amazing power, or you don’t. You cannot say some parts are relevant while others are not. Who are we to make that determination?

The Christological Argument for Scripture

The most compelling reason for a Christian to believe in the reliability of the Bible is the testimony of Jesus Christ. If we take Jesus seriously then shouldn’t we submit to His view of Scripture. There is no historical or theological debate regarding how Jesus of Nazareth viewed the Old Testament; He accepted it as the absolute, divine Word of God.

I recently talked with someone who said, "I believe the words of Jesus, but I don't believe the rest of the Bible." That is a contradiction. You cannot believe Jesus and reject the Bible, because the Bible gives us Jesus’ teaching about the Bible.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus affirmed the authority of the Word. In the wilderness, He rebuked the devil by stating that man lives "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In His high priestly prayer, He declared, "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). He even affirmed what we call "verbal inspiration," asserting in Matthew 5:18 that not even a "jot or tittle"—the smallest strokes of the Hebrew characters—would fail to be fulfilled.

If you claim to follow Jesus but reject the reliability of the Bible, you have created a massive logical contradiction.

If the Bible is full of myths, then Jesus was mistaken. If Jesus was mistaken about the nature of truth, then He was not the sinless Son of God, and His sacrifice on the cross was insufficient. To attack the integrity of the Bible is to pull the linchpin out of the entire Christian system. Jesus treated the accounts of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Flood, and Jonah as literal history. If He gave falsified information then His claims are also false, which is a sin, and therefore He would not qualify to save Himself or us.

External Evidences of God’s Word

While the Bible’s internal claims are powerful, God has not left us without external witnesses. No other ancient text has been subjected to more intense scientific, historical, and archaeological scrutiny than the Bible. Does the Bible give us external evidence for its reliability?

1. Preeminence in Literature

The Bible stands alone in its global impact.  It is preeminent in its circulation, having been read by more people in more languages than any other book. As of 2026, the full Bible is in over 795 languages, with portions in over 4,100. It is preeminent in its influence; more books have been written about it than any other subject. It is estimated that 11 million titles have been published with the Bible as a primary theme—roughly 10% of all books ever published. No other religious text—not the Qur'an, nor the Book of Mormon—comes close to this footprint.

2. Supernatural Preservation

Throughout history, the Bible has been the most hunted and hated book in existence. From the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s edicts to the medieval Council of Toulouse, organized efforts have been made to eradicate it. The French philosopher Voltaire once predicted that within a century, the Bible would be forgotten, confined to museums. However, within fifty years of Voltaire’s death, the Geneva Bible Society was using his former home and his own printing press to distribute the very Book he sought to destroy.

3. Manuscript and Archaeological Evidence

The manuscript evidence for the New Testament is staggering. We have nearly 25,000 early manuscripts, whereas Homer’s Iliad—the second most documented work of antiquity—has fewer than 2,000. Furthermore, there are over 25,000 specific archaeological sites and discoveries that correlate with biblical accounts.

Internal Evidence and Prophecy

Perhaps the most startling proof is the Bible’s consistency. It is a compilation of 66 books, written over 1,500 years by 40 different men. These authors came from vastly different backgrounds—kings, shepherds, tax collectors, and doctors—writing in different languages and on different continents.

Yet, when you bind these writings together, they dovetail perfectly with one another and tell one cohesive story with one central theme: the redemption of man through Jesus Christ. There are no contradictions in their message. Much unlike if you asked four people today to describe a single car accident, more than likely, you would get four different stories. But consider that God orchestrated forty men over fifteen centuries to produce one consistent revelation. This can only be the result of one original Author.

The Weight of Prophecy

The reliability of Scripture is also substantiated by fulfilled prophecy. Approximately 27% of the Bible was prophetic at the time it was written. There are over 300 specific prophecies regarding the Messiah alone. Mathematicians have noted that the probability of one man fulfilling just eight of these prophecies is 1 in 100 quadrillion.

Jesus fulfilled all of them. The Bible predicted His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14), His exact birthplace in Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2), and the specific way He would be honored by foreign dignitaries (Psalm 72). These were given centuries before Jesus and fulfilled to the letter. Out of the 2,500 prophecies in the Bible, about 2,000 have already been fulfilled. This separates the Bible from every other piece of literature.

The Practical Impact: A Life Transformed

Finally, we must ask: Does it work? Can the Bible make a practical difference in your life today? Psalm 19:7–9 provides six profound promises regarding what the Word will do for the soul:

1. It Converts the Soul: The Word is "perfect" or all-encompassing, capable of transforming a life from the inside out.

2. It Makes Wise the Simple: It is a "sure" testimony that provides clarity to those who feel lost or without direction.

3. It Rejoices the Heart: Following God’s "statutes" leads to a real joy that the world cannot provide.

4. It Enlightens the Eyes: God’s "commandment" is pure, it is not confusing; it provides clarity for life in a dark world.

5. It Endures Forever: Unlike the shifting theories of man, it tells us how to worship God truly and brings cleanliness to our souls.

6. It is True and Righteous Altogether: Every judgment and promise God makes can be trusted.

Notice the beautiful progression: the Word converts us, then it grants us wisdom, which leads to joy, which results in clarity, which ultimately brings us to a place of true, enduring worship.

Conclusion: A Call to Faith

If you still find yourself skeptical of the Bible’s power, I challenge you to put it to the test. God and His Word will never fail you. For those of us who have experienced its power, we can testify that it was the Word that took root in our hearts and brought us from death to life.

If you are reading this and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ personally, the Bible offers a simple yet profound promise: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). By faith, tell Him today that you believe in His sacrifice for your sins. If you turn to Him, He will save you, and His Word will become the lamp unto your feet and the light unto your path.

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