One of the joys (and complexities) of reading the Bible is learning to read, interpret, and apply it through the lens of its original context. When we study the Bible, we should be asking questions like, When was this written? Why was it written? Who was the original audience and how would they have understood this text?
When we ask the question, “Is the Bible true?” the answer must be viewed through the same lens. Today, the word “true” has a direct correlation to the word “factual.” We base our idea of truth on verifiable facts (e.g., Is the witness on the stand telling the truth? Is that news article true?) What we’re seeking to know is what actually happened physically.
But the Bible isn’t simply a book of facts. It’s a history book, yes. But it’s also a narrative on theology and anthropology. It’s poetry and wisdom literature; parables and allegories. When people ask whether or not the Bible is true, many of us assume the question is meant as, “Is every event in the Bible one that happened exactly as the book describes?”
When the Jewish people contemplated the idea of Scripture being true, they had a different connotation for the word. For them, truth was more equivalent to the idea of trustworthiness. To believe that God’s Word was true was to believe that the lessons, themes, and philosophies it presented were trustworthy and beneficial for them. Principles and ideas they could rely on to better understand their relationship with God.
From this framework, they were less concerned with answering questions like, “Was creation actually created in 7 literal days?” and were more concerned with asking, “How does the truth that all things were created by God speak into my life as part of His creation?” Instead of pondering, “Did a donkey actually talk to the prophet Balaam?” they were wondering, “What does God using an unclean animal to preach His Word teach me about the importance of obeying Him?”
So in short: Yes, the Bible is true. Every word of it. But what that meant for the original audience might be more nuanced than what we’re used to. Everything we read teaches us something true about God, reality, and our existence within the cosmos. When we read the Bible through that lens, we’ll find it much easier to experience every truth God has shared with us though His Word.
