The question of why we can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God is foundational for every Christian. In a world where truth is often seen as personal to your preferences and opinions, the Bible claims to be from God and authoritative, regardless of your preferences and opinions.

The Scriptures are the divinely inspired revelation of God to His creation: humanity. This claim carries weight because the Bible speaks not only about history and morality but also about the nature of God, humanity, salvation and eternity.

To understand and trust the Bible’s authority, we must explore its inspiration, inerrancy, historical reliability, and transformative power.

The inspiration of Scripture

One of the most fundamental reasons we can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God is because of its divine inspiration. The doctrine of inspiration teaches that the Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). This means that while human authors wrote the individual books of the Bible, they were guided by the Holy Spirit to record God’s Word without error.

Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, elaborates on this concept: “Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

This passage underscores the belief that Scripture is not the product of human imagination or effort but the direct result of God’s communication through the Holy Spirit.

R. C. Sproul defines biblical inspiration as the process by which “God superintended the human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, styles, and cultural contexts, they composed and recorded without error His message to humanity.” This divine inspiration ensures that the Bible contains God’s perfect and complete revelation.

Furthermore, Jesus Himself affirmed the authority of Scripture. In Matthew 5:17-18, He said, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.”

Jesus affirmed the Scriptures were authoritative and unchanging, validating the Old Testament as the Word of God. His teaching, life, and death also fulfill the promises and prophecies within Scripture, further affirming its divine nature.

The inerrancy of Scripture

In addition to its divine inspiration, the Bible’s inerrancy is crucial to understanding its authority. Inerrancy means that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error in all that it affirms, whether in matters of faith, history, or morality. If the Bible is truly God’s Word, then it must be free from error because God Himself is perfect and incapable of lying (Titus 1:2).

In John 17:17, Jesus prays to the Father, saying, “Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth.” This statement reveals that the Bible is not only true in the sense that it contains truth but that it is truth itself. The Bible does not merely conform to a standard of truth outside of itself; it is the very standard of truth because it is the Word of God.

Norman Geisler explains that “since God is the ultimate author of Scripture and God cannot err, it follows that Scripture cannot err.” This reasoning is foundational to our trust in the Bible. If the Bible contained errors, it would cast doubt on its claim to be the authoritative Word of God. However, the consistent testimony of Scripture is that it is trustworthy in all it teaches.

The historical reality of Scripture

The Bible’s trustworthiness is also based on its historical reliability. The Bible records real historical events and people, many of which have been confirmed by archaeological discoveries and external historical sources. The historical accuracy of the Bible lends credibility to its claims of divine origin.

For example, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 provided substantial evidence for the accuracy of the Old Testament text. These ancient manuscripts, dating back to the second century B.C., closely match the Hebrew text we have today, demonstrating the careful transmission of Scripture over the centuries.

Additionally, numerous historical figures and events recorded in the Bible, such as King David, Pontius Pilate, and the destruction of Jerusalem, have been corroborated by external sources. Archaeologist Nelson Glueck stated, “No archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.” While archaeology cannot prove the divine inspiration of the Bible, it does confirm the Bible’s reliability as a historical document, which strengthens our confidence in its truth claims.

The New Testament, particularly the gospels, also stands up to historical scrutiny. The gospels were written within a few decades of Jesus’s life, which is an extremely short time frame for ancient documents. The authors of the New Testament, many of whom were eyewitnesses to the events they recorded, had firsthand knowledge of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

The apostle Paul, writing in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, recounts the appearances of the risen Christ to over 500 people, many of whom were still alive at the time of his writing, encouraging readers to verify the truth of the resurrection for themselves.

The transformative power of Scripture

Finally, the Bible’s authority is confirmed by its transformative power. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient writings; it’s the living Word.

The writer of Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Through the Bible, God speaks directly to His people, convicting them of sin, comforting them in suffering, and guiding them in truth.

The Bible’s power to transform lives is evident throughout history. Countless individuals, from Augustine to Martin Luther to modern-day believers, have testified to the life-changing impact of God’s Word. Charles Spurgeon once remarked, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” This analogy highlights the Bible’s power to defend itself by its transformative effect on those who read it.

Scripture has also played a central role in shaping cultures and societies. The principles of justice, human dignity, and morality found in the Bible have influenced legal systems, governments, and social movements throughout history. From the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement, the Bible’s teachings have inspired transformative social change, testifying to its authority as a guide for living.

The Bible can be trusted

We can trust the Bible as the authoritative Word of God because it’s divinely inspired, inerrant, historically reliable, and transformative. The Bible stands apart from all other books because it isn’t merely the product of human effort but is the very Word of God, breathed out by Him and preserved for us. Its teachings are true, its historical claims are reliable, and its impact on individual lives and society is undeniable.

As Christians, our faith is built on the solid foundation of God’s Word. In a world of shifting opinions and unreliable sources of truth, the Bible remains the unchanging, authoritative guide for our lives. As we study Scripture, we can be confident we are hearing the voice of God, who has revealed Himself to us through His Word. When the Bible speaks, God speaks.

It is through this Word that we come to know the real Jesus and understand what He calls us to be and do.

Editor’s note: The following was adapted from Hance Dilbeck’s recent book, A Psalm for Unseen Servants. All author proceeds from the book will benefit Mission:Dignity, a ministry of GuideStone that honors retirement-aged Southern Baptist ministers, workers, and widows struggling to meet basic needs through advocacy and financial assistance.

In the 2016 movie, Hidden Figures, we are introduced to three African American female mathematicians serving at NASA. During the peak of the space race between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, these women served as the brains behind getting John Glenn into space, becoming the first man to orbit the Earth, and bringing him safely home. They work diligently to help ensure NASA’s success in the 1960s, in fact. Sadly, most of us were unaware of their vital contributions for a half-century.

These human computers—Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Gobels Johnson—played an important role in the space race that ultimately led to the U.S. being the first to land a man safely on the moon and bring him back to Earth. Despite the racial challenges and hostility of that turbulent decade, they worked tirelessly to contribute to the success of that space race.

Their role was vital, yet unseen. “Unseen” is not a synonym for unimportant or unworthy.

When you go to the movies, do you ever sit in the theater to watch the credits? There are incredible stars who shine on the silver screen whose names appear immediately after the closing scene, but they could not exhibit their acting gifts were it not for the hundreds of men and women behind the scenes. Camera operators, sound technicians, extras, costume designers, directors, composers, editors, photographers, producers, writers, production managers, stunt doubles, choreographers, artists, composers, publishers, and even accountants and lawyers. These all get their names in the credits.

Why? Well, even though they’re unseen, that two-hour movie could not happen without them. While there may have been a handful of key actors, their work never would have been on the screen without the dedication of people who labor unseen.

The same is true for your church and mine.

When most members talk about a church service, they primarily think of the pastor and worship leader. They might consider an age-graded minister (children’s director or youth minister, for example). But if your church is one of size, Sunday morning worship relies on a host of people in the background—volunteers, of course, but also paid staff who serve behind the bright lights. They are often unnoticed unless there is a problem.

Most weeks, they serve unseen.

When I was a seminary student, I served a small, rural congregation in Oklahoma as their pastor. My wife and I were in our early 20s, and we lived in the parsonage next to the church. Our first son was just old enough to walk from the parsonage to church. Our lives were busy. She worked as a nurse nearby to keep food on the table while I commuted to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth to study three days a week. Most Saturday afternoons and early evenings, I found myself in my study at the church preparing for Sunday worship.

On Saturdays, only one other person was in the church building: Harold. Harold had retired from Dallas to a lake nearby. He was an active member of our little church and had agreed to be the custodian. We paid him a small amount each week, and he gave us far more than our money’s worth.

While I wrote my sermon and used a typewriter to create the Sunday order of service (yes, a typewriter—I am that old!), Harold set up chairs, vacuumed the carpet, and cleaned the bathrooms. His last task was very important. He spent a considerable amount of time cleaning the front door of the church, a glass door. Harold was meticulous when it came to that door. He wanted everyone who walked in the next morning to know that he had done his job. He felt it reflected properly on the importance of the entire gathering.

Well, Harold had a problem—the pastor’s firstborn son! When I stayed too late on Saturday, my son would toddle over to tell me it was time to come home. When he did, before his mother could intervene, he would invariably reach up and put his hand on that clean glass door. Now, Harold’s masterpiece was ruined with a handprint. It may have been a cute little handprint, but the culprit was obvious.

I can still see Harold’s smile in my mind’s eye. He would pat the preacher’s kid on the head and go to find his glass cleaner.

I have deep respect for Mr. Harold. Even as I write these words, I recall his hard work, as unto the Lord. He served well. He served in a vital role. And few people ever seemed to notice him even though he made sure our members had a clean, stocked, and sanitary place to gather in worship to the Lord.

These unseen servants can be found supporting every local church and Christian ministry. They are often unnoticed, in fact, most of them prefer to be out of the spotlight. They are too often unappreciated as their faithful work is taken for granted. Other times, it is forgotten.

I wrote A Psalm for Unseen Servants to honor for men and women like him.

This year, I had the pleasure of attending the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting for the first time.

I have to admit—prior to the convention, most of my exposure to the annual meeting had been influenced by the negative attention it sometimes gets. But I’m thankful God has placed men in my life over the years who helped dispel some of my preconceptions.

The late Mike Smith once said to me, “It’s like a big family reunion where I get to see all of my brothers and sisters in Christ,” and I was pleasantly surprised to see he was right. This reunion included my former youth minister and current executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Nathan Lorick, and my favorite Bible teacher on the planet, John Yates from Faith Bible Institute.

The scope of how large this event is hit me like a train when I first entered the auditorium of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas and praised the Lord alongside 18,000 other Southern Baptists. Just the sound of so many voices lifting up the name of Jesus in unison is an experience that left me in awe of how majestic a Savior we praise.

The exhibit hall was packed with booths and representatives from colleges, businesses, and ministries—all of which had tons of helpful information. I received materials, books, bags (thanks North American Mission Board!), pens, cards, and perhaps most importantly, ideas for some improvements I can try while ministering at my own church.

Clint Pressley, a North Carolina pastor who was elected to a second term as SBC president, gave an outstanding message and moderated the business incredibly well. He was humorous, bold, and emphasized the importance of the SBC and the work we participate in together.

The reports from NAMB and the International Mission Board were not only a joy to hear, but a reminder of the importance of our cooperative giving. Introductions via video from more than 50 missionaries were played for us to see. Many of those missionaries’ identities were hidden, providing a sobering reminder that some risk their lives to deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

While the business conducted at this meeting is an important part of the convention, I was surprised at how much more I enjoyed the worship and fellowship aspects, which were edifying and refreshing to me. I found it as true at SBC as my wife and I do at the SBTC’s annual Equip and Empower conferences that we try to attend each year—times we use to get away and be refreshed, renewed, and, most importantly to us, to spend some extra, deliberate time focusing on God.

While much of what I voted for at SBC turned out differently than I would have hoped, I still participated in the business of the convention and was glad to do so. While it could have been potentially disheartening for me to see votes not go my way, it wasn’t—the fellowship and brotherly love I experienced over those few short days overshadowed everything else.

This was a good lesson for me as our SBTC Annual Meeting nears in October. Here’s what I’ve learned: We all play a major part, and the future direction of our state and national conventions depends heavily on participation from each and every one of us.