Is the Bible Reliable? How I Learned to Trust Scripture When Doubt Creeped In

📖 Is the Bible Reliable? How I Learned to Trust Scripture When Doubt Creeped In

I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t always trust the Bible.

Yes, I read it. Yes, I quoted verses in Sunday school. But there were nights when I lay awake wondering: Is this really true? Or is it just an old book with nice stories?

One moment that sticks out happened during my college years. I was in a philosophy class where the professor, with a smirk, said: “You know the Bible was just written by men, right? It’s full of contradictions.” A few classmates chuckled. I sat there, suddenly sweating.

I didn’t have answers. But I had a question rising inside me: Can I really trust the Bible?

Maybe you’ve wrestled with the same question. Maybe you’re wrestling with it right now. If so, you’re in good company—because I did too. And I want to share how God patiently guided me from doubt to deeper confidence in His Word.

🤔 Why We Ask This Question

Asking if the Bible is reliable isn’t a sign of weak faith. It’s a sign of real faith seeking real answers.

The Bible makes big claims: that it’s God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), that it’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12), that it can make us wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). If those claims are true, the Bible deserves our whole trust.

But if it’s not reliable? Then the foundation of our faith crumbles. That’s why this question matters.

📚 What Helped Me Trust the Bible

As I dug into this question, a few truths became anchors for me:

1. 📜 The Bible’s Historical Reliability

The Bible isn’t a book that fell from the sky. It’s a collection of writings, preserved over centuries. And compared to other ancient texts, its manuscript evidence is unparalleled.

For example:

• The New Testament has over 5,800 Greek manuscripts and thousands more in Latin and other languages.
• By contrast, Homer’s Iliad (considered reliable by historians) has fewer than 1,800 manuscripts.

If we trust history classes teaching Julius Caesar existed, we can trust the Bible’s preservation even more.

2. 🔄 The Unity of Scripture

The Bible was written by over 40 authors on three continents in three languages across 1,500 years. Yet its storyline is unified: God’s creation, humanity’s fall, God’s redemption through Christ, and His coming restoration.

That unity isn’t random. It points to divine authorship weaving through human hands.

3. ✝️ The Reliability of Jesus

For me, the biggest shift was this: if I believe Jesus is who He says He is, then I can trust what He trusted.

And Jesus trusted Scripture. He quoted it often (over 80 times in the Gospels). In John 10:35 He said, “Scripture cannot be broken.”

If the risen Christ affirmed Scripture, then trusting Him means trusting the Word He endorsed.

4. 🌱 The Transforming Power of the Word

Evidence matters, yes. But so does experience. I’ve seen the Bible transform addicts into disciples, heal marriages, calm anxious hearts, and comfort the grieving.

Hebrews 4:12 says the Word is “alive and active.” I’ve lived that reality.

🌊 My Season of Doubt

Still, I want to be transparent. Even knowing those truths, I had seasons when doubt still crept in.

I remember sitting at my desk, staring at my Bible, thinking, What if it’s all just stories?

But here’s what happened: every time I brought those doubts honestly to God, He met me. Not always with instant answers, but with reassurance. Sometimes through a timely sermon, sometimes through a friend’s testimony, sometimes through a passage that spoke straight to my heart.

Over time, I realized doubt doesn’t have to destroy faith—it can deepen it.

🛑 Common Myths About the Bible

As I walked through my journey, I had to unlearn some myths:

• “The Bible is full of contradictions.” Most so-called contradictions dissolve with context. For example, differences in Gospel accounts often show different perspectives, not errors.
• “The Bible has been changed over time.” Manuscript evidence shows incredible consistency across centuries. Variations exist, but none alter core doctrines.
• “The Bible is outdated.” Its cultural settings differ, yes, but its truths about God, humanity, and redemption are timeless.

🌟 How Trusting the Bible Changed Me

Once I came to trust the Bible as reliable, it shifted my life in real ways:

• I began reading it with expectation. Instead of checking a box, I approached it as God speaking.
• I leaned on it in decisions. Instead of Googling everything first, I prayed with Scripture open.
• I shared it with others more boldly. Confidence grew into witness.

The Bible became not just a book on my shelf, but the voice of God guiding my steps.

🧭 Practical Steps If You’re Wrestling with Doubt

If you’re wondering whether the Bible is reliable, here are some things that helped me:

1. Pray honestly. Tell God your doubts. He’s not afraid of them.
2. Research wisely. Explore resources like The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel or Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter J. Williams.
3. Read the Gospels. Encounter Jesus firsthand. His words carry power.
4. Join a small group. Wrestling with others brings encouragement.
5. Test it in your life. Apply Scripture and see its fruit.

🙏 A Pastoral Word to You

If you’ve felt shaken by doubts about Scripture, I want you to know: you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Many faithful Christians have been there.

But don’t let doubt push you away from the Bible. Let it push you deeper into it. Ask hard questions. Seek trustworthy answers. And most importantly—listen for God’s voice through His Word.

The Bible is not just reliable; it’s indispensable. It is the living Word of God, pointing us to the Living Word—Jesus Christ.

🙏 A Prayer for Trust in God’s Word

“Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. When doubt creeps in, steady our hearts. Help us to see the beauty, truth, and reliability of Scripture. May it shape us, guide us, and point us ever closer to Jesus. Amen.”