Can I trust the Bible?

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy, scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

II Timothy 3:10-17

• Paul said it could be trusted and it is evident that Paul could be trusted.

• "Holy" means sacred, set apart, different, pertaining to God.

• “All” means all.

• “Scripture” means God’s written word.

• “Inspiration of God” means “God-breathed”.

• “profitable” means practical and valuable.

God spoke through men

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

Acts 4:24,25

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

II Peter 1:21

Peter trusted the Scriptures

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

II Peter 1:18-21

(Peter, who witnessed the transfiguration of Christ with his own eyes and heard God the Father’s words with his own ears, said that the scripture is more sure.)

Christ expressed absolute confidence in the Scriptures

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Matthew 5:17-18

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

John 10:35

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Matt 24:35

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Matthew 4:1-10

Christ referred to the events in the Old Testament as literally true:

Creation: Mark 10:6-7

Cain and Able: Matthew 23:35

Noah and the flood: Matthew 24:37-39

Abraham: John 8:39

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah: Luke 17:29

Lot’s wife turned to salt: Luke 17:32

Moses and the burning bush: Mark 12:26

Manna from heaven: John 6:31-32

Jonah and the whale: Matthew 12:39-40

All of the scripture is true

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalm 119:160

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:128

God’s words are preserved by God for man forever

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Psalm 12:7-8

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalm 119:160

What modern men have had to say

“Faith which is based on a clear promise is stronger than objections which are raised by our lack of information.”

Bruce Lackey

“As so few can read the original languages, God’s promise to preserve his word has no practical relevance if it does not extend to translations. The Scripture frequently affirms “that we are born again by the word of God” (James 1:18; I Corinthians 4:15; I Peter 1:23). If a translation cannot be equated with the actual word of God, then ultimately this leads to the situation that one must know Hebrew and Greek before they can be saved, or built up in the faith

(Romans 10:17; Matthew 4:4)

Things Hard to be Understood, David W. Cloud. Pages 297 & 298