What did my Professor said about the Authenticity of the Bible

 

While I was studying at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, I took a class on the Old Testament. One thing I appreciated was that the professors were willing to discuss difficult questions honestly. At the same time, I couldn't help but wonder why many of these discussions were never mentioned in church. It felt like there was a gap between what was taught in the classroom and what was taught from the pulpit.

I remember one particular class very clearly. There was an elderly man in the room—if I remember correctly, he was a pastor. He raised his hand and asked the professor a question that immediately caught my attention. He said, "How do we know that these are actually the words of God? How do we know they weren't simply written by ordinary people writing about God?"

 

The room became very quiet because everyone wanted to hear the answer.

 

What surprised me most was the professor's response. He acknowledged that he didn't have answers to every question. He admitted that there were passages in the Bible that he personally found difficult to reconcile and that he couldn't always explain the discrepancies or apparent contradictions.

 

Then he said something that left a lasting impression on me. He explained that, in his view, it wasn't necessary for the Bible to be completely free of mistakes or textual changes in order for someone to believe in it. As I understood his explanation, he suggested that if the Bible had remained exactly as it was originally written, it might not have been as suitable for people living in later generations. He believed that God allowed the text to develop over time in ways that would help it remain relevant.

 

I was stunned by that answer. My immediate reaction was, "What do you mean?" If people were able to alter the text over the centuries, then how could I confidently distinguish between the original message from God and later human additions? If changes were made because they were considered appropriate for a particular time or culture, what assurance do we have that every part of the text truly represents God's original words rather than the decisions of later communities?

 

Those questions stayed with me long after that class ended. They didn't strengthen my confidence—they caused me to question it. I realized that I needed to investigate these issues for myself rather than simply accepting what I had always been taught.

 

Looking back, that conversation became a turning point in my journey. It motivated me to study more deeply, examine different perspectives, and begin exploring alternative explanations about revelation, scripture, and the preservation of God's message.