WHY TRUST THE BIBLE?
DATE TAUGHT: Friday, March
TEACHER: Thaddeus Maharaj
How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?
This REASON FOR HOPE WORKSHOP seeks to tackle this important question.
In our first workshop in this series, we saw that 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to always be prepared to make a
This next workshop is focused on the question, “Why
We’ve probably all heard some variation of this claim at some point that, “the Bible is just another book written by men.” People today have many pressing questions about the Bible:
- Is the Bible really reliable?
- Why do we trust the Bible over some other book?
- Isn’t the Bible full of contradictions?
- How can we know that the Bible is the Word of God?
- How did we get the Bible anyways, isn’t it full of mistakes?
This workshop aims to give an introductory overview
Video Slides with audio
Print out the worksheet PDF (below) and use these videos to follow along with the workshop.
(TIP: You can use the gear icon to speed up/slow down the video so you can follow better)
Workshop Audio MP3 (2 Parts)
You can listen to the audio of the workshop here – or download it to listen later.
WHY TRUST THE BIBLE? (PART ONE)
WHY TRUST THE BIBLE? (PART TWO)
NOTE: To download, on some browsers it may open in a new window where you can download the audio by clicking on the ‘three dots’ at the side of the audio player OR you may have to right-click the button links and choose Save As…
Print and Other Materials
These are the materials used during this workshop. Feel free to use them if you’d like to go through the workshop personally or together with a small group or Bible study.
WORKSHOP WORKSHEET
This workshop was designed to be used together with the worksheet. You can download and print this PDF to follow along with the lesson and make notes.
TEACHER'S NOTES
These are the teacher’s notes from the workshop. You can download and print the PDF here. This would be a good resource for leading a small group through the material in this workshop.
PRESENTATION SLIDES
These are the presentation interactive PDF slides from the workshop. To view it as a fullscreen slideshow presentation, you will have to download it on your computer to run it.
Further Resources
Below is a short list of recommended resources to help you go deeper into the question of “Why Trust the Bible?”
The Bible's Authority
Scripture Alone: Exploring the Bible’s Accuracy, Authority and Authenticity – A denial of the sufficiency of Scripture is at the core of almost every form of opposition to the Christian faith today. Scripture Alone is written to instill a passionate love for and understanding of the Bible. In this
Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible – In this book, several leading Reformed pastors and scholars unpack the meaning of the doctrine of Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”). They also explain where the attacks on the Bible are coming from and show how those who accept the Bible as God’s inspired Word should respond.
The Consistent Message of Scripture
The Whole Message of the Bible in 16 Words – This accessible overview of biblical theology traces the development of sixteen key themes from Genesis to Revelation, showing how each theme contributes to the one main storyline of Scripture.
Keeping Faith in an Age of Reason: Refuting Alleged Bible Contradictions – Each answer is as concise as possible, so that the book is not overly cumbersome. Many Christians have heard the claim that the Bible has contradictions and they would like to be better equipped to answer the critic. This book is for them!
Seeing Christ in All of Scripture – Interpreting the Bible can be a challenge. Seeing Christ in All of Scripture is designed to help people understand the beautiful, Christ-centered structure of the Bible. This concise compilation of essays provides a unique and practical tool for personal or group Bible study.
Fulfilled OT Prophecy in the NT
Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament: Exegesis and Interpretation – This concise guide by a leading New Testament scholar helps readers understand how to better study the multitude of Old Testament references in the New Testament. It focuses on the “how to” of interpreting the New Testament use of the Old Testament, providing students and pastors with many of the insights and categories necessary for them to do their own exegesis. Brief enough to be accessible yet thorough enough to be useful, this handbook will be a trusted guide for all students of the Bible.
The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament – Beginning with Adam and Eve and closing with the last of the prophets, Dr. Clowney takes a fascinating walk through the Old Testament, revealing Christ in places where he is usually overlooked.
A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New – In this comprehensive exposition, a leading New Testament scholar explores the unfolding theological unity of the entire Bible from the vantage point of the New Testament. Offering extensive interaction between the two testaments, this volume helps readers see the unifying conceptual threads of the Old Testament and how those threads are woven together in Christ.
The Faithful Preservation of the Bible
Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books – Exploring the history of the New Testament text from a theological perspective, Michael Kruger helps Christians understand the facts behind their faith and the legitimacy of the New Testament Scriptures.
The Canon of Scripture – This is the classic work on the canon of scripture by F.F. Bruce. This book is at once learned and readable. It is one of the most comprehensive accounts of the biblical canon taking into account modern discoveries and literature.
The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate – Unlike many books
Biblical Inerrancy
Inerrancy and Worldview: Answering Modern Challenges to the Bible – Groundbreaking, worldview-based
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy – R.C. Sproul’s handy little booklet Can I Trust the Bible? is a short exposition of the Chicago Statement and an excellent brief explanation. You can get it for FREE on Kindle/eBook or you can buy it as a paperback.
Thus Says the Lord (video lectures) – R.C. Sproul uses “The Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy” to explain the authority of Scripture. Loaded with helpful information on the implications of this core teaching, Thus Says the Lord can help believers understand and defend the
Experiencing Scripture's Truth
Taking God At His Word: Why the Bible Is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me – Is the Bible reliable, authoritative, or even necessary? DeYoung tackles these questions and more as he builds a compelling case for trusting and relying on Scripture as the Word of God for all of life.
A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness – examines the Bible’s “self-authenticating” nature and unique ability to showcase God’s unmatched glory that enlightens the eyes of our hearts to know that the Bible is the Word of God.
Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture – explores how to read the Bible in light of its unique ability to reveal God’s glory in a way that informs our minds, transforms our hearts, and ignites our love.
The materials for our REASON FOR HOPE WORKSHOP are offered through our website free of charge for personal use or in small groups for the edification of individuals in the body of Christ and the Church globally. Please, no editing or redistribution of this content without the expressed written permission of Hope Church Toronto West.
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