why do christians believe the bible to be true?

There are a lot of reasons we believe it is the word of God. You have several valid reasons here. Prophecies is one. There are over 200 prophesies in the Old Testament about the coming of Jesus. These books were written over hundreds of years by different authors, and He fulfilled them all, with the exception of those referring to the second coming. What are the chances of one man doing that, unless He is the Son of God? Only God Himself could write a book about what He is going to do, and then do it. God can see over the fabric of time, and knows what is going to happen centuries in advance.

Another reason is archeology. The book of Mormon makes many claims to be true- yet there is absolutely no archeological evidence to validate any of the places or people it claims. Yet archeology has found nearly every city in the Bible. It has found coins that were mentioned there, and found the tombs of many of the people mentioned. Recently, an archeologist found proof of the existence of Pontius Pilate.

The Dead Sea Scrolls put an end to the arguments that scripture had been changed over the course of thousands of years of time; when studied, they found that there were only something like two small punctation errors from the original manuscripts compared with today. The fact that these scriptures have been so accurately recorded through time points to the fact that they have been supernaturally preserved.

Writings of the early Nicean fathers, who were disciples of the original apostles are still in existence. It is because of people like Polycarp that we can believe the things recorded in the scripture are true. Polycarp studied under the Apostle John, who was exiled to Patmos in his old age. His writings contain scriptural references found in other New Testament books, which validate them.

Also, the writings of Josephus, a Jewish historian, not a Christian, also records the existence of Jesus, and a group of followers called Christians who were making quite a stir in Jerusalem in the days before Rome came and conquered Israel. The Bible tells us that over 500 witnesses saw Jesus after He was resurrected from the dead. Many of them saw Him ascend. People gave their lives as martyrs because they believed that He was the Son of God, and that His teachings were true. You would not allow yourself to be fed to lions, killed by gladiators, put on poles and lit as a human torch by Nero or nailed to a cross simply because you refused to deny that Jesus was the Son of God- unless you were absolutely certain that it was true. These people were there when Jesus came back from the dead. That is why Christianity spread like wildfire, and changed the world so quickly. These people were willing to die for their faith- not as suicide terrorists- but as martyrs who proclaimed their faith in Christ even as they burned at the stake or were being stoned to death.

With such a great crowd of witnesses, and so much evidence, that's why we believe the Bible to be true.

The bible contains many things, and some of them are the words of God. The important thing about the bible is that it points to the Word of God, who is Jesus.

In addition to God's words, the bible contains history, the words of men, epic poetry . . . lots of stuff. You can tell them apart by context.

There are many proofs of the bible's authenticity. As for its veracity, the only thing possibly acceptable (and discernible) to the secular mind would be fulfilled prophecy. Long scholarly books (many of them) have been written on fulfilled prophecy. Detailing all this would first require that you have a knowledge and understanding of history and second, a desire to learn. This isn't the place for lengthy scholarly discussions. If you want something easy and fun, though, try bethlehemstar.net for a discourse on the star seen by the wise men. There's a video, but it's 65 minutes, and you have to purchase it (>$10). The info plus more, however, is there on the site if you care to take the time to read it.

We cannot bring some proof from some universities or from somewhere. The proof is our life. I was a lost person and total wreck. You know, how my life was changed. Now I have a family with two boys all god fearing and happy family. What a change Bible and Jesus brought in to my life. And what change my witnessing brought into many others life. These are the proof that Bible is God's word and Jesus is son of God.

Christians don't necessarily believe that what is written in the Bible is completely true, people who believe the word of the Bible (the Christian Bible, this includes the New Testament) are considered Christians. They only think that it's true, because they refuse to believe that there is a better explanation for how everything came to be. Having no proof is essentially what makes Christianity a religion.

The Bible is the reason of all Christianity is based on faith and belif. The Biible is true so I encourage people to believe it. Anyway......written by the very prophets who have saw these miracles happen is true, God had his chesn people to answer it. Aslo the Bible never contradicts itself, so there is no hypocracy in it. It is instructions for humans to obay before leaving earth.

ASLO THE PROOF:

Dr. Nelso Glueck, perhaps the utmost modern authority on Israeli archeology, said: "No archeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or in exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries."

To prove if the Bible is true, we don't need to look far. Hundreds of books with historical, scientific, and archeological data have supported the Bible's credibility. The studies for these truths are called apologetics.

After studying the Bible it does make a convincing argument, and if you acknowledge that when it comes to science you're usually taking someone else's word for it, if you research into what scientific findings are kept under wraps about some things that would force a major reconstruction of current scientific theory, then really believing the Bible doesn't look that bad of a move.

the only reason in believing the Holy Bible or the book of the LORD is the fact that all of the writings and prophecies in the book are now existing presently while some 2000 years back they are not even known by those who wrote them. e.g, Daniel 12: 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, "My Lord, what will be the outcome of these events?" 9 And He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will be increased." you my dear asker look around you now which is 2010 already are not there many going back and forth using modern means of transportation and communication such as the modern aircraft, land vehicles and water crafts also the satellites, the modern computers, the cellular mobile telephones, the ipod and the like as means of communicating from one country to another with videos and televisions. is this not the time of the end? people are now going back and forth and communications are not longer a problem which was the problem some 60, 70, 80 years back then. if prophet Daniel is alive now he will say "now I understand". but during the time he was writing the prophecy of God Daniel could not understand but now we are witnesses to what that prophecy is and since that actually happened now would you not believe that the Bible contains the truth prophesyed by God some 2000 to 3000 years back?

this is the main reason why the children of God at this time believe in the Holy Bible as the book of God containing His words which are all true and that it is impossible for God to lie Hebrews 6: 18 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, ...... and Titus 1: 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, .......

look around you what is happening now and you can read that from the Holy Scriptures as prophecies of God through His prophets and His Son Jesus Christ and His apostles and evangelists,like the tsunami, the earthquake, the strong hurricanes and typhoons, landslides and many other calamities and diseases and pestilences and famine. these were all written in the Holy Bible. you will read them in the pages of the Scriptures of God. these are only some of the various reasons why people should consider believing in the prophecies and truth in the Holy Bible if only to prepare themselves from the coming great tribulation prophesyed in Matthew 24: 21-22 you can read it yourself.

thank God for your question.

What is TRUTH? Many things are true without being THE TRUTH.

If you start the premise that, though written by over 40 authors across six hundred years, the bible as it exists now was done through the grace the of the holy spirit, guiding all the men who compiled the bible, than, yes the bible can be considered true, (even though most Christians DO NOT think they are literally true, but rife with allegory and parable).

However, it's still a leap of faith, and no rational explanation will suffice, especially for the zealots.

The Bible mainly consists of stories of people's lives and how God intervened in them. I could personally share stories of supernatural occurrences, but would you believe me? I believe it to be true because I read and follow it, and it has not lead me astray or caused me harm in my life. And the proof is in the believers, but many don't believe until they've experienced something for themselves. That's just how humans work!

Because it is called "faith" (faith is simply believing) and we have our faith in the bible, or as many Christians call it "the Word of God"...if you don't believe it...have you read any of it? Asked God about it? I would suggest you learn more and maybe, just maybe...one of these days (maybe soon?) you will understand why we put our faith in it. I am NOT being rude or cynical or judgmental or anything like that...really I am not...I am just simply speaking from my heart, that is all....