Greg Gilbert - Why Trust the Bible?

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Now more than ever, Christians need to know how to defend the truth of Gods Word in the midst of an increasingly hostile world. In this book for Christians and non-Christians alike, Gilbert sets forth compelling arguments in support of the trustworthiness of the Bibleequipping believers with an important tool for engaging a skeptical world.

Josh McDowell, author and speaker

This book fills a great need in a day when people raise all kinds of legitimate questions about the Bible and its trustworthiness before theyll even open it to take a look. Greg Gilberts Why Trust the Bible? answers that question by examining a series of issues people often raise in order to not take a look at this greatest of books. In everyday language, he shows why we can trust Scripture and pay attention to what it says about life.

Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director of Cultural Engagement, Howard G. Hendricks Center, and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Can we really trust the Bible? Its an important question to consider, especially in the face of our cultures skepticism. Greg Gilbert takes on this question directly, providing clear and convincing answers that will help the reader fully trust the Scriptures. Why Trust the Bible? is a great resource for equipping Christians to passionately defend the Bible, and it also challenges skeptics to rethink their position. I benefitted greatly from reading this book.

Christian Wegert, Senior Pastor, Arche Gemeinde, Hamburg, Germany

This outstanding book provides a magnificent summary of the evidence in support of the Bibles historicity. It is well argued, brief, thorough, highly readable, and compelling. I not only recommend it but will also seek to give it to many friendsboth believers and skeptics.

William Taylor, Rector, St. Helens Bishopsgate, London; author, Understanding the Times and Partnership

Many students I meet know that they should trust the Bible, but they dont know whyand so they often dont. This book tackles that question with clarity and ease. Well researched and accessibly written, this will be one of my new go-to resources for earnest seekers and new believers.

J. D. Greear, Lead Pastor, The Summit Church, Durham, North Carolina; author, Jesus, Continued... Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better Than Jesus Beside You

Greg Gilbert makes for a friendly, convincing guide along one important pathway to trusting the Bible. He lays out an amazingly simple strand of good sense that weaves its way right through the many complex arguments for Scriptures reliability as a historical document. For those investigating the Bibleand for those who love to share itthis book lights the way, not only to clear thinking about Scripture but also to meeting the risen Christ.

Kathleen B. Nielson, Director of Womens Initiatives, The Gospel Coalition

Why Trust the
Bible?

Greg Gilbert

Why Trust the Bible?

Copyright 2015 by Gregory D. Gilbert

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Matthew Wahl

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture references marked NRSV are from The New Revised Standard Version. Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-4346-3
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-4349-4
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-4347-0
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-4348-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gilbert, Greg, 1977

Why trust the Bible? / Greg Gilbert.

1 online resource.(9Marks books)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4335-4347-0 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-4348-7 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-4349-4 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-4346-3 (hc)

1. BibleEvidences, authority, etc. I. Title.

BS480

220.1dc23 2015016185

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To Mom and Dad.
You were the first to teach me that the Bible
and the Savior it reveals
are worthy to be trusted.

Dont believe everything you read. Everybody knows that.

Especially in our age of the Internet, only a misguided person takes as absolute truth everything he or she reads. From newspapers and magazines to tabloids and click-bait online news services, one of the most valuable skills we can learn is telling the difference between fact and fiction, truth and fabrication. We dont want to be dupes, and were right not to want that.

In my own family, my wife and I are trying very hard to teach our children exactly thatthe skill of reading and listening carefully, of not accepting everything they read or hear at face value but rather putting it to the test and seeing if it seems trustworthy. Even with our five-year-old daughter, were working on trying to teach her to recognize the difference between things that are real and things that are just a story. Shes gotten pretty good at it too:

• George Washington was the first president of the United States. Thats real, Dad.
• Uncle Matt got a new job and moved to a different city. Thats real too.
• Batman chased down the Joker and threw him in jail. No, thats just a story.
• Elsa built an ice castle with her special power of freezing thin air. Just a story.
• Superman flew into the air? Story.
• A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... ? Story!