Why We Can Trust the Bible

Today, many people claim the Bible was changed, manipulated, or put together to deceive people. Questions about “missing books” and the canonization of Scripture are becoming more common, especially online. But when we honestly look at history, we find something very different than what many assume.

The Bible was not carelessly assembled.

In fact, the reason we have the canonized Bible we have today is because early believers were extremely cautious about what was included. The goal was not deception—it was authenticity.

The books included in Scripture were carefully examined. Early church leaders looked at questions like:

• Who wrote this?

• Can it be traced back to eyewitnesses or trusted sources?

• Does it align with the teachings already confirmed in Scripture?

• Has it been consistently recognized by believers over time?

This process was done carefully because they understood the importance of preserving God’s Word faithfully.

Why Were Some Books Left Out?

This is where many misunderstandings begin.

Some books and writings simply could not be verified. That does not automatically mean everything written in them was false. It means there was not enough evidence to confidently confirm their origin or authority.

Rather than including writings they could not fully authenticate, early believers chose caution.

A common example is the Book of Enoch. Many people ask why it is not included in most Bibles today. Historically, the issue was not necessarily that believers hated the book or feared it. The issue was that they could not fully confirm its source and authority at the time.

Interestingly, copies of the Book of Enoch were later discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the 1940s. These ancient writings had been hidden away for centuries, likely preserved during the Roman destruction of Jerusalem around 70 AD when many Jewish people hid sacred writings in caves near the Dead Sea.

Some of those scrolls survived for nearly 2,000 years.

The Bible Has Been Preserved Carefully

One of the amazing things about Scripture is how well preserved it is.

While we no longer possess the original handwritten copies, we do have thousands of ancient manuscripts that scholars can compare. This allows us to see how faithfully the text was transmitted over time.

Yes, there can be small translation differences or interpretation discussions, but the core message of Scripture has remained consistent.

God’s Word has endured generations of scrutiny, attacks, and criticism, yet it continues to stand.

Why Christians Share the Gospel

The idea that Christians created Scripture for power or deception also falls apart when we think about it honestly.

What do believers truly gain by sharing Jesus?

Following Christ often comes with persecution, sacrifice, and hardship. Christians share the Gospel because they genuinely believe Jesus brings truth, salvation, forgiveness, healing, and eternal life.

We do not share our faith to control people. We share because we believe God loves people deeply.

Final Thoughts

The canonization of the Bible was not about hiding truth. It was about preserving truth carefully.

The more we study Scripture, history, archaeology, and ancient manuscripts, the more we see that the Bible has an incredible foundation. God has preserved His Word through generations, and we can trust that what we read today faithfully points us to Him.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” — Isaiah 40:8 NKJV

Pastor Scott