Bible versus Other Religious Writings

by Terry Wane Benton

There are two ways to test the validity of a book's claims about itself. There is the external test, which considers the historical accuracy and archeological evidence in its favor. Then there is the internal test, which considers prophetic accuracy, unity, harmony, and unusual marks of foreknowledge or super-human knowledge. When these tests are applied, we find some glaring weaknesses in all other books but the Bible.

The Bible is unique in its characteristics. Additionally, the 39 books of the Old Testament were accepted and honored by the historical Jesus of Nazareth as "God's word". He further told that the Spirit would guide His apostles into "all truth" (John 16:13). His prediction aligned with Old Testament prophecies of a "new covenant" to be revealed by the Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31f; Joel 2:28f).

Since the apostles and prophets gave us the New Testament writings, being guided into "all truth", but they did not give us the Koran or the Book of Mormon, then those writings cannot be considered a part of "all truth."

Furthermore, they fail the external and internal tests that we mentioned. The Bible alone is unique and amazing. It reveals God to us, and those who are wise will diligently study it. Don't dismiss it without real, honest study and examination.