Can we rely on the Bible?

Some of our friends us ask the following kind of question: ‘Has there been any change or corruption of the Tawrat or the Injil?’ We are glad to be able to assure them that this idea has no foundation in reality and we would ask them to consider some firm proofs of the reliability of the Word of God in the Tawrat and the Injil.

Let us first of all reflect on the power of Almighty God who watches over His word.

He inspired the writers of the Tawrat and the Injil and in these books we can find all that is good and right for humanity. They are the message of God to the heart and life of man. By them He guides people to live in the way of righteousness. How could the Most High give permission to a mere man, to one He created out of the dust, to change His word? No indeed, for God watches over His word and protects it for ever.

Imagine a human father who wrote a message for the good of his children, to give them commands and valuable advice: ‘Don’t go near to the oven; don’t run into the street without looking to the right and to the left...’ Would this human, earthly father allow someone else to come along and change these instructions? But God is all powerful and no one can resist Him! He watches over His word.

Secondly, what did God’s prophets say about the words which He inspired them to write?

In the Psalms, David said:
‘Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.’ (Psalm 119:89-91)
And our Lord Jesus said in the gospel:
‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’ (Luke 21:33)

Thirdly, let us not forget the great love of the Jews and the Christians for the Tawrat and the Injil.

God commanded them to preserve His word with great care and complete accuracy. He warned them that anyone who corrupted His word would be destroyed.

Through the generations, the Christians became well known for their love of their book, and so became called the ‘People of the Book.’ Many of them were killed during times of persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities, because they refused to give up their faith and hand over their holy book.

The cruel emperor Diocletian (303 AD) ordered the destruction of churches and the burning of the Bible, but this kind of persecution never achieved anything. God who is faithful and holy watched over both the believers and His word and it is He who has preserved it to this day.

Fourthly, we would remind our friends of the existence of many very ancient manuscripts which bear witness to the reliability of the Bible.

Some of these go back to the year 125 AD, that is about 500 years before the time of Muhammad. Manuscripts that have been found in many different places are all in agreement with each other, so no doubt can remain about the reliability of the text of the Bible as God’s word.

Finally, dear friend, we are ready to provide more detail about all of the proofs we have mentioned. As you know, we are at your service in your study of the Bible. We ask all our friends to read the Bible for themselves, for no one can make a judgement about something he does not know, or about a book he has not read! And we are sure that you will find that the Bible is worthy of trust and that it contains the blessings of God most High and guidance and light for every heart.