The Basis for Judging the Bible

Having examined the limited value of both the believer's inward assurance and the scholar's reasoning and scientific evidences, on what basis, therefore, do I claim that just the Book itself, the Bible, offers proof of its own validity that is beyond reasonable rebuttal?

The first and necessary basis: Judge the Bible with fairness. Fair judgment never rests upon prejudice, and most especially prejudice that is based upon deliberate ignorance. Some reject the Bible unfairly because they have accepted, without any personal investigation or reasonable confirmation, the unfounded accusations of materialists. Fair judgment never rests upon philosophical speculation that has no factual foundation. Some reject the Bible unfairly because it does not conform to their theories. Fair judgment never rests upon deliberate rejection because of opposition to the Bible's unwelcome moral standards. Some reject the Bible unfairly because its standards condemn their evil life-style. Fair judgment requires an honest and open mind that is willing to accept the truth.

The second and necessary basis: Judge the Bible with facts. Intellectual honesty and common sense require, "Judge the Bible by the same set of facts by which any other book can receive fair and impartial evaluation." Temporarily turn aside from traditional claims about the Bible made by friend or foe. Depend upon irrefutable facts.

If the Bible is the Holy Bible, common sense declares that the fact of sanctity will reveal virtue in the content rather than by the believer's claim. On the other hand, if the Bible lacks sanctity, common sense declares that the content will vindicate the infallibility rather than the believer's claim. If the Bible contains mistakes and errors, common sense declares that specific examples rather than unsubstantiated cavil will confirm the presence of deviations from truth.

If the Bible has God, alone and separate from all human instrumentality, for its author, common sense declares that the content will reveal the divine Source untarnished by angel or human creature. If the Bible has God, but utilizing a human instrument, for its author, common sense declares that the content will reveal both the human personality and the inspiration of deity. If the Bible has only the human, alone or in concert but separate from deity, for its author, common sense declares that the content will rise no higher nor sink any lower than the talents and abilities of the human.

Let the Bible undergo the same factual judgment as any other book. Let facts rather than philosophic speculation or unsupported accusation determine the common sense decision. Academic speculation and popular imagination built on intellectual fantasy rather than fact afford no fair standard. Ignorance which fortifies its conclusions with the vigor of repeated denials or immorality which attempts to justify evil actions with rejection of standards affords no fair basis for judgment. Let the Bible face the court of intellectual honesty and receive judgment on the basis of universally accepted and irrefutable facts: size, sources, unity, accuracy, prophecy, cultural influence, and quality of message. The Bible, like other books, deserves an honest and fair judgment with common sense on the bench. On a fair and factual basis the Bible needs no other defender. On the basis of fact, the Bible will prove its own validity.

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