“For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18 NIV)

The Bible’s words have transformed murderers and tyrants, and even whole nations. It has changed the course of history, and its influence continues to this day.

But can we trust it? This question has plagued readers ever since the Enlightenment raised questions about scripture’s historicity. To answer it, we must examine three critical areas of eyewitness testimony.

Until Heaven and Earth Pass Away

In First-Century Israel, Jesus’ reference to “heaven and earth passing away” (Matthew 5:18) sounded like a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem’s Temple and the end of the Old Covenant. He used similar language to describe it in other places.

This is why it’s important to know that when Jesus said that not a jot or tittle would disappear from the Law, He wasn’t talking about the physical universe. He was talking about the divine Law that God communicated to Moses.

When Christians proclaim the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, they are saying that every word of Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. This is a good and necessary thing. But, exalting the Bible to near-divinity is dangerous for several reasons. It robs the Trinity of its supremacy and puts the Bible in the place of the Holy Spirit. It’s also idolatry.

God’s Word Will Never Pass Away

When Jesus spoke of His Word being steadfast, eternal, and enduring it meant that it would not pass away. He received it from His Father in eternity and returned it to His Father when He came into the world, so this Word had an intrinsic permanence to it.

It also possessed a power that is unique to it. It is able to transform the lives of those who believe it. Drug addicts have been healed, homosexuals set free, derelicts and deadbeats transformed, sinners rebuked, hatred turned to love—these are only some of the many ways that God’s Word has changed people’s lives.

Another external evidence is that the Bible has withstood vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it throughout history. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian to Communist dictators and modern-day atheists, they have all failed in their efforts to destroy this Book of truth. This is an excellent proof that it is truly God’s Word.

God’s Word Will Always Be Relevant

The Bible will always be relevant because the God of the Bible is the same today and forever. His Word is still “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

The fact that God’s Word has withstood the test of time should prove its authenticity. It has stood firm in the face of persecution, from early Roman Emperors to communist dictators and on to modern-day atheists.

It has survived countless attempts to destroy it and continues to be the best-selling book in history. If it were not the Word of God, it would be no more than a good read. But it is the very Word of God and that is why it has been so successful and powerful.

God’s Word Will Always Be Reliable

When we trust in people, their mistakes or failures can easily cause us to question their reliability. But when we put our trust in God, His perfect Word never disappoints.

It’s also important to note that the human authors of Scripture were honest and sincere, willing to die often excruciating deaths for their beliefs. This proves that they believed that what they wrote was truly the Word of God and that they were not writing fiction or perpetrating a hoax.

Furthermore, careful historical analysis has proven that the Bible’s claim of Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead is not a myth or mass hallucination. The fact that the Gospel writers included verifiable details of real-life historical events demonstrates that they weren’t spouting fiction or engaging in a deception. Additionally, the countless biblical prophecies have been affirmed as credible after much study and testing. As a result, all Scripture is “God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).