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130 How Can We Know the Christian Scriptures Are True?
resurrection that some five hundred eyewitnesses were still living, if any
should care to confirm the truth in that way. He said
that [Jesus] was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance
with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then
to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers
at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen
asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of
all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Cor. 15:4–8)
What turned my focus (not my approval or my interest) away from
historical reasoning as a support for faith was the realization that
most people in the world—especially in the less-educated, developing
world—have neither the training nor the time to pursue such detailed
arguments in support of their faith. And yet the Bible assumes that those
who hear the gospel may know the truth of it and may stake their lives
on it—indeed must stake their lives on it. “Whoever loves his life loses
it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life”
(John 12:25).
The Bible assumes that through the written word of the apostles, a
person may come to know that he has eternal life. “I write these things
to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know
that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). And the apostles themselves
knew this about others as well: “We know, brothers loved by God, that
he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction”
(1 Thess. 1:4–5). The truth of Christ’s teachings may be known by those
whose will is submissive to God’s will: “If anyone’s will is to do God’s
will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am
speaking on my own authority” (John 7:17).
This means that the Bible assumes there is a basis for firm and justified
knowledge that what it teaches is true. It assumes that everyone
who hears a faithful narration of the gospel is responsible to believe
it—not by leaping into the dark, but by seeing real and compelling
grounds for faith. According to Scripture, people don’t have to be educated
historians to know the historical truth of Scripture. This is utterly
crucial, since the vast majority of the people in the world who will hear