Why I believe the Bible (7 Reasons)

This is a question that I have asked myself several times.

Why do I believe the Bible?

I can think of about 7 Reasons

I believe the Bible because:

1. Stories: It is a Book of captivating stories that ring true. The characters are relatable, the message is clear and the words speak to me in ways that I cannot describe. I have read hundreds of books over my lifetime. And nothing cuts through my heart and soul like the stories of the Bible and the words and verses do.
2. Literary form: It is extremely well written. The Bible is a mix of poetry, narratives, metaphors etc. It delivers suspense, thrillers, drama etc. All of what you would expect from a compelling epic story. Its verses are so complete that sometimes you can engage on one for days and weeks - just pondering the meaning of it.
3. Origin story: It provides a back story to how we got here. I am fascinated by the story of beginnings and the fact that the Bible has an origin story for the universe is fascinating. (I know many books have this as well). But I find the Genesis story particularly compelling because it explains how chaos came into the world and also explains that the world was originally intended to be good and orderly and peaceful. The Bible also gives a sneak preview to things that happened before the world began. It explains that there is world behind that which is seen. This makes absolute sense to me as an African living in Africa. And also because there is a lot of phenomenon that is unexplainable by science e.g the out-of-body-experience, intuition or the ability to know things ahead of time or what is known as extra-sensory perception. For all that science knows and has taught us, there is a lot that is unknown.
4. Animosity around women: It explains why the world is so anti-women and how the hatred between the devil and the woman came to be. The Bible explains that the devil is ruler of this world and the system that is dedicated to evil and oppression on earth. This makes so much sense to me in the light of all that we see in the world today - where crime, violence, murder and oppression is ignored and rewarded and innocence and doing the right thing is punished.
5. The Messaiah: It explains the significance of Jesus as the Messaiah and Saviour of the world. And the New Testament explains that God has always intended to reconcile all men to Him and has shown His love for humanity through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. And that Jesus loved and died for all men and women from every race, tribe and tongue. And that there is a place in God's kingdom for people of every race and there is no discrimination. Everyone gets a white robe.
6. The Afterlife: It explains that there is life after death and there is a day when all men will be judged for their works on earth both good and bad. And regardless of what you do on earth, everyone will have to account for their works before God. And most importantly, life does not end here.
7. A way out: It affirms that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. It says that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Bible provides a way out from the despair, doom and oppression of the world. And that way is Jesus. By receiving Him in my heart, I receive the ability to become more than I could ever have been with my own abilities.

Most importantly, I have been able to situate my life in the words of the Bible, found wisdom in its pages, received deliverance through faith in its words, introduced into a relationship with the Word and Spirit of God. My life has become a modern day example of the stories in the Bible.

I also believe the Bible because it is written around real-life historical characters and accounts. Despite the fact that the Bible is considered a divinely inspired book by Christians, some of the historical details in its narrative accounts align with non-biblical sources that are listed as credible in scholarly historical non-Christian records. In many established examples, the Biblical accounts align with historical records on ancient kingdoms, great rulers, conflicts and the establishment of nations and empires in the ancient world.

The Bible is a collection of stories written by many different authors living in different times and spaces, yet it feels like a unified story leading to Jesus. It reads like it was one well crafted story written by one master author who defined its beginning and expertly decided its ending. Whereas by historical records, it was actually written over a period of 1,500 years by many different authors. The Bible affirms itself as a book that was written by inspiration and that the prophets of old wrote as inspired by God.

The Book of Psalms are my prayer book and in Proverbs I find wisdom for life's daily challenges. In the Gospels, I learn at the feet of Jesus and re-order my thinking towards higher values in life. In Romans 10, I learned to confess my sin before God and ask Him to come into my life. To save and heal me. And deliver me from all that holds me back. And seeks to overwhelm me.

I believe the Bible because it has helped me through life. It is not just a book of stories. It is a book that has changed my life.

Sola Abulu is the Principal Consultant of Sola Abulu & Associates (SA&A), a strategy and communications consulting and training firm based in Lagos, Nigeria. She is also the host of the Christian podcast - Musings with Jesus on anchor.fm/OYRIA (a monologue on faith, life and love). Sola is currently a Global Online student of Western Seminary (in the US) and is undertaking a Masters in Biblical Studies and Theology (MABTS). In October 2024, Sola published a compilation of 55 Biblical prayers and confessions of faith.