The authenticity of the Bible has been a subject of both faith and scholarly interest. Central to this discussion is the role Jesus placed on the Scriptures, affirming their divine inspiration, indestructibility, infallibility, authority, historicity, and factual inerrancy (Matthew 22:43, 5:17-18, John 10:35, Matthew 4:4,7,10, Matthew 12:40; 24:37, John 17:17).

Furthermore, there are some important facts about the Bible that, when combined, make its divine origin obvious.

Unique authorship and Formation:

The Bible is a unique book written over a period of 1,500 years by approximately 40 different authors who represent over 19 different occupations (shepherds, soldiers, farmers, fishermen, tax collectors, medical doctors, kings, etc.).

The first 39 books of the Bible (Old Testament) were written in the Hebrew language over a period of about 1,000 years. Following this, there was a 400-year gap where no Scriptures were written. After that, the last 27 books of the Bible (New Testament) were written in the Greek language during a period covering roughly 50 years.

Though the authors did not live during the same era, their books still blend so perfectly as they describe God’s eternal plan for the redemption of mankind from beginning to end.

The final product is a book that fits together perfectly without contradictions / errors. If the Bible spoke about kings who never lived and battles that never happened, we would have had reason to doubt what it tells us. But this isn’t the case.

Claims of Jesus: 

Moreover, we also see statements by Jesus’ close disciples who acknowledged Him as God. Despite some of them taking a while to fully realize it, they finally discerned that behind His humanity dwelt the glory of His divinity.

• Thomas called Jesus God (John 20:28)
• John calls Jesus God (John 1:1; John 1:14)
• Mathew refers to Jesus as Immanuel in his book (Mathew 1:23)
• Peter recognized divine identity as the “Messiah, the Son of living God” (Mathew 16:16)

Historical Accuracy: 

The historical accuracy of both the Old and New Testaments has been strongly confirmed by many modern archaeological finds.

Nelson Glueck, a renowned Jewish archaeologist, remarked,

“It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries.”

Prophetic Statements: 

The prophetic statements recorded in the Bible also help support its divine authenticity and raises it on a class higher than any other book.

According to J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecies, there are 1817 predictions in the Bible (1239 in the Old Testament and 578 in the New Testament). Based on His calculations, 27% of the Bible contains predictive prophecy.

There are 191 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament that describe key events in Jesus’ life and ministry. We know that these prophecies were written before Christ (B.C.) was born because of recent copies of the Old Testament books found in the Dead Sea caves that date at least 100 B.C., if not even older.

The Bible stands out from all other religious texts, as no other religious text makes such improbable predictions in the name of God.

Conclusion: 

Lastly, one of the best answers to this question I heard was from a preacher Voddie Baucham where he stated the following:

“I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable collection of historical documents, written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses.  They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophesies and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.”

He obtains this response from the apostle Peter in the following scripture:

2 Peter 1:16-21 (NKJV)

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible, through its unique authorship, historical accuracy, and fulfilled prophecies, presents compelling evidence of its divine origin. Its consistent narrative, penned over centuries by diverse authors, and the corroboration of its historical accounts by archaeological findings, further underscores its credibility. Moreover, the precise fulfillment of biblical prophecies, particularly concerning the Messiah, highlights its predictive authenticity. These factors collectively make the Bible an extraordinary text, inviting deeper exploration into its spiritual and historical significance.