by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts

Question by Archangel of Blasphemy: Why does a book prove itself by saying it is true?
The only “proof” for the bible I have ever heard was that the bible said it was true.
How can a book prove itself by saying that it is true.
And what non-strawman arguments can you give for the proof of Christianity.
Blind faith is worse than death in my eyes.

Best answer:

Answer by Agua Viva
First evidence of reliability: The Biblical texts correctly fit into their historical context. They mention real historical figures and events. This does not automatically make them reliable, but it adds credibility to the stories presented. An example is that the strange behavior of Pontius Pilate becomes immediately reasonable and understandable when one considers how the Sejanus conspiracy would have left him in an uneasy position in which he would have had to cave-in to the demands of a group of people that he despised.

Second evidence of reliability: The Biblical texts have been well-preserved(I’m speaking about the New Testament, but a case can also be made for the Old). The scholarly consensus is that the manuscripts that we now have reached us in nearly pristine form. While it is true that a few minor interpolations have been detected, they have been removed from modern editions of the Bible. What’s more, they were never of a variety that significantly altered Christian thinking to begin with. Historically speaking, the Bible is the best possible evidence of and source of information about Jesus Christ.

Third evidence of reliability: multiple witnesses. The Bible was written by numerous distinct authors yet remains remarkably consistent in its message. Even if it were somehow possible to completely discredit one or several of the Biblical authors, Christianity could continue. Some religions such as Islam or Mormonism cannot make this claim (since if either Mohamed or Joseph Smith were shown to be dishonest their religions would collapse).

Fourth evidence of reliability: Extra-Biblical testimony. Thousands of documents exist that corroborate the Christian account of Jesus’s ministry and the formation of the Bible. These texts began to be written in the late first century. No other book has so much documentation of how it was written and organized.

Fifth evidence of reliability: Prophecy. This is perhaps difficult for an outsider to buy into, but prophecy always played an important role in Jewish culture. Its fulfillment served to authenticate that the words of the prophets came from God. Many aspects of Old Testament prophecy have been fulfilled. A lot of the prophecy spoken by Jesus has also come to pass. For example, Jesus predicted that his message would not be understood by many, that it would be a cause of division, that his followers would be ridiculed and attacked, and that we would receive the Holy Spirit.

Sixth evidence of reliability: The Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, this form of evidence is completely inaccessible to non-believers. It is the manner in which we have contact with God. It convinces us of the truth and reality of the God of the Bible. It is what allows us to make the leap from belief to faith.

Give your answer to this question below!