What about the Bible?
The Bible is a very unique book. Did you know that it was written over a 1,500-year span? It was written by more than 40 authors from every walk of life. It was written on 3 continents. It was written in 3 languages. It was written in a wide variety of literary styles. (McDowell, 20-23) The Bible presents a “single unfolding story” about God’s redemption of human beings. “The unifying thread is salvation from sin and condemnation to a life of complete transformation and unending bliss in the presence of the one, merciful, holy God.” The leading character of the story of the Bible is the “one, true, living God made known through Jesus Christ.” (McDowell, 23) Another interesting feature of the Bible is that “It is the only volume ever produced by men, or a group of men, in which is to be found a large body of prophecies relating to individual nations, to Israel, to all the peoples of the earth, to certain cities, and to the coming of One who was to be the Messiah.” (McDowell, 31)
Concerning the historicity of the Bible – “Much of the Bible is historical and as such is subject to verification. There are two main lines of support for biblical history: archaeological artifacts and specifically written documents. With respect to the first, no archaeological find has ever invalidated a biblical teaching. On the contrary, as Donald J. Wiseman wrote, ‘The geography of Bible lands and visible remains of antiquity were gradually recorded until today more than 25,000 sites within this region and dating to Old Testament times, in their broadest sense, have been located. In fact, much of the earlier criticism of the Bible has been decisively overturned by archaeological discoveries which have demonstrated the existence of writing in Moses’ day, the history and chronology of the kings of Israel, and even the existence of the Hittites, a people once known only from the Bible. The more widely publicized discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls illustrates a point less well known; namely, that there are thousands of manuscripts for both Old and New Testaments, compared with a handful of many great secular classics. This makes the Bible the best documented book from the ancient world. While no historical find is a direct evidence of any spiritual claim in the Bible, such as the claim to be divinely inspired, yet the historicity of the Bible does provide indirect verification of the claim of inspiration.” (Geisler & Nix, 57-58)
I have been seriously studying the Bible for the past 17 years. Through these years what I have come to greatly appreciate is the consistent theology that the Bible presents. It does not contradict itself. As a Mormon for 30 years, I read the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, the Doctrine and Covenants, and parts of the Bible. However, all of these “religious” texts taken together never presented a theology that was internally consistent. Joseph Smith’s doctrines were in conflict with parts of both the Book of Mormon and the Bible. When I began to study the Bible alone, I was able to see how it taught a theology about God and His redemption that was reasonable and consistent. I can now present specific biblical verses and support these verses with other biblical verses. The Bible is not in conflict with itself.
I think everyone should take a critical look at any religious texts they have been led to believe in. They should put them to the test. Who wrote them? Am I being led to follow a man, a woman, or God alone? When the Book of Mormon was put to the test, it failed. Its historicity did not hold up. There is no archaeological evidence for its existence. The research I did on its origin has led me to believe that it is a work of plagiarism with biblical verses added to it. The character of early Mormon leaders, especially Joseph Smith was not godly in any way, especially considering their criminal acts. For the Mormons who know now they have been lied to about the real history of Mormonism, I urge you to turn to the Bible and consider its truth claims.
The gospel of Mormonism is not the gospel of the New Testament. The gospel of Mormonism is a gospel of works mixed with grace. The New Testament gospel is salvation through faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and through His shed blood He brought about the New Covenant of grace. Adam, the first man created by God, disobeyed God and brought a death penalty on every one of us. Paul teaches in Romans – “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous. Now the Law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 18-21)
For more information check out the following articles:
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/KD-2009-Winter-How-Accurate-Is-the-Bible-410.pdf
https://makinghimknown.tv/the-bible-truth-or-fiction
https://blog.atriresearch.org/articles/defending-the-historical-accuracy-of-the-bible
RESOURCES:
Geisler, N.L. & Nix, William E. (1974). From God to Us: How We God Our Bible. Moody Press.
McDowell, J. 2006, Evidence for Christianity: Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith, Nelson Reference & Electronic.
