If you are a believer, a follower of Jesus, and you read and appreciate the Bible, you may encounter others who want to disprove or disregard the Bible.
1- Ask the person why they are raising their question about the Bible.
A helpful quote, “Remember that every time you are answering a question, you are answering a person.”
The well-being of the person behind the question—and their soul—is most important.
Something in their life may be their real question, their biggest need.
2- While you may or may not have the answer to their question (and you may get the answer), ask the person if their question was answered, would they believe in the Bible and in Jesus.
That could make the conversation more real and honest and productive.
3- When someone brings up something they say is an error in the Bible, the best first step is to get a Bible and let them show you what they are referring to.
If they don’t know, then do not be critical or demeaning.
Take the opportunity to share something from the Bible that shows the singular message about sin and salvation.
You can also invite them to another conversation where they can show you from the Bible why they have the question.
A precious product of this—they had to open the Bible and study, even if with the wrong motive—many have come to faith in Jesus while trying to disprove the Bible.
4- Tell them you take their concern seriously.
Then refer to history filled with all kinds of mistaken ideas that were later corrected by additional information or discoveries.
There have been many disputed facts in the Bible that were proven true by archeology or literary technology.
At any point in time, we might not know everything to make conclusions about what the Bible says.
Have them consider how the Bible was recorded by 40 people over 1500 years, with astounding accuracy and continuity—consistent because it is God’s Word, inspired to be written down by people, to tell us what we need to know.
5- Try to shift the concern from less-important matters—questions that keep us from God—to all-important matters—our sin and our need for a Savior.
Consider the conversation with a person seeking answers, to be the hand of God putting you together to plant a seed in their life, for eternity.
Be honest and real about trying to answer their questions, or get the answers, while showing the greatest questions of life and death and eternity that the Bible answers.
ERRORS IN THE BIBLE
DEFENSE OF TRINITY
The Father
The Son
The Holy Spirit
God needs no defense.
We need to read, teach, preach what the Bible says about God.
Church leaders, theologians, have shifted from revering what the Bible says about God to emphasizing by constantly repeating what man says about God.
This is a fact in saying trinity over and over and over and over
—without explaining why they say trinity
—without stopping to tell listeners and readers what trinity means
—without ever telling how they came up with trinity
—without telling who came up with trinity
—without telling when they came up with trinity
—without considering if they didn’t have Tertullian inventing trinity (hundreds of years after Jesus)
—without considering whether anyone would come up with trinity on their own from reading the Bible now
—without telling how trinity helps tell the Gospel
—without telling how trinity helps anyone come to faith in Jesus
—without telling how trinity helps anyone grow closer to Jesus after salvation
—without ever considering that there is no defense of trinity
—without admitting that we have to keep saying trinity is an assumption, hollow, empty.
—without considering what a relief, what a freedom, what a power to experience if you just let go of trinity and preach The Word.*
The Bible is complete as written.
The Bible is self-defending.
The Bible is self-explaining.
The Bible is a “sharp, two-edged sword”.
The Bible is our weapon—our offensive weapon.
God clearly gave us exactly what He knows we need to know about Him, in writing.
God has a VERY DIM VIEW of any additions, deletions, corrections to what He has written.
*Practical suggestion:
Every time trinity might appear in your speaking, teaching, preaching, writing, study, preparation—search for a fitting Bible verse instead.