Is the Bible True? Answering the Top 10 Questions About Scripture

Whether you are a lifelong believer or a curious sceptic, it is natural to have questions about the Bible. After all, it is a collection of 66 books written by 40 authors over 1,500 years.

In a world of "fake news" and information overload, people want to know: Can we really trust an ancient document? We’ve compiled the 10 most frequent questions and provided clear, historical, and honest answers.

1. How do we know the Bible hasn't been corrupted or changed?

A common myth is that the Bible has been changed over time, like a giant game of "Telephone."

The truth is the exact opposite. For most ancient books (like Homer’s Iliad), we only have a few dozen copies that were written hundreds of years after the original. For the New Testament, we have over 25,000 ancient manuscripts. When scholars compare these thousands of copies from different centuries and countries, they are 99.5% identical. We can say with absolute confidence that the Bible you read today is what was originally written.

2. Who decided which books belong in the Bible?

The "Canon" (the list of books in the Bible) wasn't decided by a secret committee or a political vote. It was a process of recognition by the early church.

They only accepted books that met three criteria:

1. They were written by an Apostle or a close associate (eyewitnesses).
2. They were universally accepted and used by the early churches.
3. They didn't contradict the established teachings of Jesus.

3. What about the "lost" Gospels, like the Gospel of Judas?

You may have seen documentaries about "missing" books like the Gospel of Judas or Thomas. These weren't "lost"—they were rejected. Most were written 100–200 years after Jesus died, meaning they weren't written by eyewitnesses. They contain "Gnostic" ideas (like the material world being evil) that completely contradict the earlier, authentic accounts of Peter and John.

4. Aren’t there contradictions in the Bible?

Most "contradictions" disappear when you look at the context. For example, one Gospel says there was one angel at Jesus' tomb, while another says there were two. If I go to a party with two friends but later tell you, "I saw Sarah there," I’m not lying—I’m just focusing on one person. The four Gospels are like four different witnesses to a car accident; they tell the same story from different angles, which actually proves they weren't conspiring to create a fake, perfectly synchronised story.

5. Is the Bible historically and factually accurate?

For decades, critics claimed people like King David never existed. But in 1993, archaeologists found the "Tel Dan Stele," which mentioned the "House of David." From the pool of Siloam to the walls of Jericho, archaeology consistently confirms that the Bible is grounded in real history, verified by both Christian and non-Christian ancient historians like Josephus and Tacitus.

6. Why does the Bible contain so much violence and war?

The Bible is a brutally honest book that records the reality of a broken world. Many of the "harsh" wars in the Old Testament were specific to a certain time and culture (the Ancient Near East). God was working with a tribal, violent people to eventually bring about a peaceful Saviour (Jesus). While the Old Testament shows the holiness of God, the New Testament shows the grace of God and the ultimate solution to violence through the sacrifice of Christ.

7. Why does the Old Testament law seem so harsh?

Many ancient laws (like those in Leviticus) seem strange today, but they were revolutionary for their time. They provided protection for the poor, rights for servants, and hygiene standards that were thousands of years ahead of their time. These laws were designed to set Israel apart as a holy nation and to point toward our need for a Saviour who could fulfil the Law perfectly.

8. Why do different manuscripts contain variations?

Critics point to "thousands of variations" in ancient manuscripts. While this sounds scary, 99% of these variations are minor: a misspelt word, a different word order, or a synonym (like "Jesus Christ" vs. "Christ Jesus"). None of these variations changes a single core Christian doctrine. Because we have so many manuscripts, scholars can easily identify where a scribe made a slip of the pen.

9. Why are there so many different Bible translations?

Because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, we need translations to read it! Different versions serve different purposes: the KJV or ESV are "word-for-word" (literal), while the NLT is "thought-for-thought" (easy to read). Having multiple translations is a blessing—it allows us to see the nuances of the original language from different angles.

10. How do we know the Bible was actually inspired by God?

The Bible’s unity is its greatest miracle. It was written by 40 different authors (kings, fishermen, doctors, and shepherds) over 1,500 years, on three different continents, in three languages. Yet, it tells one perfectly consistent story: God’s plan to rescue humanity. This level of harmony across centuries is evidence that a single Divine Mind was directing the process.

Find the Answers for Yourself

If you are a "questioner," don't feel guilty. The best way to handle your questions is to dive deeper into the evidence.

We highly recommend the CSB Apologetics Study Bible. It is packed with hundreds of articles specifically designed to answer the 10 questions listed above (and many, many more!). It transforms your Bible reading from a mystery into a masterclass in truth.

Browse our full range of Study Bibles here

If you aren’t sure which Bible to get, there are a few ways we can help.

1. Try the Bible Finder: We’ve put together a simple way to filter down to the perfect Bible for you. Just choose a translation, pick the features you want and select a comfortable text size. You can try the Bible Finder here.
2. Read more from the Blog: We are always adding new guides, insights and articles that explore ways of understanding the different Bibles available today, as well as how to make your decision. Read our Bible posts today
3. Read our Book: Over the years, we’ve explored hundreds of topics and questions about knowing which Bible to get. We’ve compiled all that information into an easy-to-read eBook that is completely free to download. Download our book “How to Choose Your Bible” today.