The Bible is a unique book in many different ways. The information that follows will show that without a doubt. Now, it is up to the reader to decide whether or not the Bible is truely divine in its authorship. It is a matter of excersizing the will. God is Spirit. Therefore, it is impossible to prove or disprove His existense with empirical evidence, for or against.
So, on with the evidence.
The Bible is unique in its Continuity. It is the only book written over the span of 1,500 years(The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Josh McDowell, pg.4) It was written by over 40 different authors with starkly different backgrounds. It was written in different places including: wilderness, a dungeon, a hillside, a palace, prison, etc. It was written during war and peace, times of sacrifice and plenty, joy and despair, and, confusion and doubt. The Bible was written in the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe(pg.4) It was written in Hebrew (the Old Testament language of the Israelites), Aramaic (the common language of the near east until the time of Alexander the Great), and Greek (The language of the New Testament and also an international language at the time) [pg.5]. The Bible was written in a variety of literary styles includeing: poetry, historical narrative, song, romance, personal correspondence, memoirs, satire, biography, autobiography, prophecy, parable, and allegory.
Although the Bible is incredibly diverse it presents the unfolding of the single story of God's redemption of the human race through His Son, Jesus Christ. And although it has many books and many authors it is, in fact, one book with one story(pg.6).
The Bible is unique in that it has been translated into 2,2oo of the 6,5oo known languages on earth which represent 90% of the population of the world(pg.8).
No book of antiquity has been as well preserved bibliographically as the Bible. For example, the text of Shakespear, which has been in existence for less than 300 years, is largely in dispute regarding the very meaning of the passages. In every one of his 37 plays there are nearly 100 inconsitencies in the wording. This is not the case for the Bible. There are over 5,500 fragments and complete copies of the New Testament in the greek language dating between the third century A.D. and the 1300s A.D. and from these there are no variations in the text that materially affect the meaning on any of the passages (pgs.9&10) The case is the same for the Old Testament. The Bible has been maticulassly preserved over the melinia. It stands alone as a book of antiquity and modernity alike.
The Bible is the only book that claims divine inspiration that contains predictive prophecy (pg.12). There are over 300 prophecies that came true in Jesus Christ that the Bible predicted hundreds of years before He was born. The Bible also predicts the rise and fall of world civilizations and leaders, including Alexander the Great. And it predicts the return of Israel to palestine (Isaiah 11:11).
The Bible is also a book that does not try to make its proponents seem better than what they are. As a matter of fact, the Bible is crystal clear in stateing that mankind is desperately in need of a Savior and that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. The Bible is very frank in dealing with the sins of its characters. It covers nothing up. The Bible focuses on reality, not fantasy. It represents good and bad, sin and righteousness, right and wrong, and the best and worst in humanity (pg.13)
No other book has had the effect on literature that the Bible has had.
It was said by historian Philip Schaff that, "Jesus... without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without eloquence of schools, He spoke such words of life as were never spoken before of since, and produced the effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. (pg.15).
As I said, the evidence cannot prove that the Bible came from God. But for this guy... its mad a believer out of me.
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