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Bible Reliability / Answer across Scripture
Scripture repeatedly connects God's word with truth, but the claim should be read within each passage's genre and purpose.
Study theme
Bible Reliability
Yes, the Bible claims that God's word is true, faithful, and reliable. Psalm 119 says the sum of God's word is truth, and Jesus prays in John 17, 'Your word is truth.' Those claims should not flatten the Bible's many genres into one style of writing. The Bible speaks through narrative, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, Gospel, and letter, and truth must be received according to what each passage is doing.
Psalm 119 speaks of God's word as righteous, faithful, and true, while Jesus prays that God's word is truth. This question belongs where Scripture describes its own character before readers move to broader debates about accuracy.
Psalm 119 celebrates God's word as trustworthy guidance. John 17 places truth inside Jesus' prayer for his disciples as they are sent into the world.
Key passages
137You are righteous, Yahweh. your judgments are upright.
138You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.
139My zeal wears me out, Because my enemies ignore your words.
140Your promises have been thoroughly tested, And your servant loves them.
141I am small and despised. I don`t forget your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth.
143Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.
144Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live. KUF
145I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes.
146I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.
147I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.
148My eyes stay open through the night watches, That I might meditate on your word.
149Hear my voice according to your lovingkindness. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances.
150They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law.
151You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth.
152Of old I have known from your testimonies, That you have founded them forever. RESH
153Consider my affliction, and deliver me, For I don`t forget your law.
154Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.
155Salvation is far from the wicked, For they don`t seek your statutes.
156Great are your tender mercies, Yahweh. Revive me according to your ordinances.
157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven`t swerved from your testimonies.
158I look at the faithless with loathing, Because they don`t observe your word.
159Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your lovingkindness.
160All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. SIN AND SHIN
14I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
16They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.
17Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
18As you sent me into the world, even so I sent them into the world.
19For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
A common mistake is to make truth mean only modern technical description. Another is to use genre as an excuse to dismiss the force of what a passage actually says.