What does it mean that the Bible is self-authenticating?

Answer

Circular reasoning is an argument in which a person starts with the point they are attempting to prove. Well-intentioned Christians who aim to demonstrate that the Bible is God’s Word have frequently fallen into this fallacy. For instance, someone might assert, “The Bible is true because it declares its divine origin.” While the statement may be accurate, it does not constitute a valid logical argument as it uses the conclusion to support itself.

Conversely, claiming something is self-authenticating implies that it is considered true without requiring additional evidence. A prime example is a notarized document. Such a document can be presented as evidence in a court of law because its authenticity has already been verified in a different context. Some argue that the Bible is self-authenticating in a similar manner, as it has been corroborated through other means like external history or archaeology. While this holds some truth, it differs from a notarized document in essence.

To establish the self-authenticating nature of the Bible, we can explore various ways in which its truthfulness can be substantiated through external sources. There are two forms of logical reasoning: deductive and inductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning utilizes the premises of an argument to conclusively prove the truth of a statement, such as 2+2=4. Inductive reasoning, on the other hand, gathers evidence to demonstrate the probability of a conclusion’s truth. This method is more suitable for discussions regarding the accuracy of Scripture.

In providing inductive evidence for the reliability of the Bible, one can present numerous lines of evidence to enhance the probability of its truthfulness. This may encompass external historical support for biblical events, archaeological findings, early manuscripts, the consistency among manuscripts, and other forms of evidence. These avenues can offer substantial backing to establish the trustworthiness and precision of the Bible. However, the belief in the Bible’s inerrancy is rooted in a theological perspective.argument.

Biblically speaking, Scripture asserts that the Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If it is breathed by God, and God is perfect, Scripture must be perfect (Psalm 19). Another way to express this is that God is true «God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, And mightest overcome when thou art judged. », (Romans 3:4) and God breathed out Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17); therefore, the Scriptures are true. Many have argued from these and other passages that the Bible is self-authenticating, that it proves itself true within its own words. However, this is a deduction based on Scripture itself and is unacceptable to anyone who does not already agree with the accuracy of the Bible.

While a believer who is sharing with a skeptic of the Bible should be aware of these issues, it is important to use evidence with a skeptic that he would accept as credible. This approach will provide a common ground for discussion that can lead to further consideration of the reliability of the Bible without making assumptions rejected by non-believers.