Is the Bible Fiction, Or Urban Legend?

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

There are Bible skeptics out there. People who believe the Bible is a once-upon-a-time book, from a long past time of shepherds and scribes. It is not relevant to 21st century life. That story of how the Israelites emerged from their centuries of slavery in Egypt is a gripping account, but does it have any connection to my world of lightning fast e-mails and jet travel? The problems of a fish swallowing a disobedient prophet named Jonah and how to get Daniel out of a den of lions seem pretty far removed from finishing that report or how to pay for college. For a mom racing to get her kids to the dentist, is there any relevance to the story of how Noah built a huge ark? How can we relate at all to seemingly impossible, supernatural events. And more importantly, how do we know they were not just fabrications, or myths.

In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul explains that Jesus appeared to 500 people and makes a point that many of them are still alive. “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:6-8)

The apostle Peter was a fisherman who traveled with Jesus for more than three years, listening to His teaching and observing His life. Peter was one of Jesus’ first followers. In a letter Peter wrote to churches late in his life, he said, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16)

The Book of Acts (Acts 10:34-43), records a simple and clear presentation Peter gave about Jesus Christ to a Roman named Cornelius:

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Finally, Paul reminds the rulers in Acts 26:24-28, that Jesus’ miracles and ministry were not done in secret. Rather, they were done in plain view as a testimony to who Jesus was and to allow those eyewitnesses to accurately record what they had seen.

Then you have to consider the price paid by the disciples. Despite rebuke, beatings, prison, attempts on their lives, and eventual death, not one of the apostles ever recounted on their story. It is hard to believe that every man in that group would have been willing to be persecuted and eventually die for a lie. Furthermore, the Jewish authorities and Roman officials were concerned with the growth of this “sect” called Christianity. If they had any evidence to disprove the claims of the apostles and disciples, they certainly would have produced it if they could.

For thousands of years people have tried to discredit the Bible and never have. Proverbs 30:5 says it all. “Every word of God proves true…”

Discussion Question:

What is your favorite Bible story? Is it true? Why?
Is it possible to know for certain that God’s Word is true? How?
Isaiah 53 predicts 15 different things about the Messiah that came true in the life of Jesus. Fifteen of these prophecies came true from one chapter. The truth is, there are hundreds of prophecies about Jesus, countries, kings, and world events in the Bible—not one of these has been proven false yet! How do these predictions help demonstrate that the Bible is true?
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” What does that mean for our daily lives?