Chapter 2: The Reliability Question

Before we explore what the Bible reveals about your highest aim, let me show you something remarkable about this book’s design. When you see how it’s organized, how the pieces fit together, and how it has been preserved through history, you’ll understand why millions have found it to be a trustworthy guide for life’s biggest questions.

From Genesis to Revelation, through what appear to be separate stories, it weaves one coherent narrative—a love story between God and humanity.

A warning before we go further: Reading the Bible with an open mind and heart seeking to understand could radically change your path.

I know this from experience.

When Crisis Opens the Heart

Confession: I didn’t fully read the Bible until I was 29 years old. I’d tried before—pushed my way through Genesis and Exodus, found some interesting stories, then got bogged down in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The King James English was hard for me to understand at the time, the cultural context felt foreign, and honestly, I was prideful and arrogant about whether these ancient words had anything relevant to say to my modern life.

Then came a crisis that shattered my self-sufficiency.

In the early morning hours of a Saturday, the birth of our youngest daughter came with complications. A placental abruption occurred sometime after midnight—the early separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before delivery, which can cut off the baby’s oxygen and nutrient supply and cause severe blood loss for the mother. We rushed to the hospital immediately.

An emergency C-section was required. Ever the optimist, I was overcome by the same rush of pure love and joy upon seeing her that I’d felt when our first daughter was born. She looked healthy—fully developed and without blemish. But it didn’t take long to notice she was struggling to breathe. We were soon notified that she would need to be transported via ambulance to another hospital about an hour away where she could receive more advanced intensive care. With that, she was whisked away in the dark of night, leaving her mom and dad behind at the hospital.

Because of the C-section, my wife had to remain hospitalized. We were advised to wait the rest of the night and allow them to get our newborn transported and stabilized at the new hospital. Her doctor would call the next morning, at which time we could come see her.

I'll never forget that call.

“Mr. Brown, it’s not a matter of when she’s coming home. The next 48 hours will be critical. Your daughter has endured numerous insults (a term that didn’t fully register for me in the moment). We’ll just have to see how she recovers these next few days. But you can come and see her in the ICU.”

I prayed after that phone call in a way I had never prayed before. I was broken. Life had been great at that point—happily married, a delightful four-year-old daughter, a little sister on the way, we had just moved into what I viewed as our dream house. A goal I’d wanted to achieve before turning 30. And now this. Completely out of my control.

I authentically cried out to God. “I need you. I am not prepared for this. I want her to be healthy and okay. But if she doesn’t make it, I need you. If she does make it and there are long-term medical issues, I need you. Either way, I am broken and humble. I’m giving this to you. I trust you. But I need you, God.”

Things looked far more dire than they had the night she was born. There were tubes and wires running out of her everywhere. But one by one, she rebounded on each of the issues of concern from the various “insults” she had endured. As things turned out, we were able to take her home after about two weeks in ICU. From our perspective, we had received a miracle. And the experience opened my heart to God in a way I hadn’t allowed before. In an instant life had surpassed my capacity to handle it on my own, and in that moment I turned to God.

I didn’t rationalize the response to do that. I didn’t write down a list of pros and cons. It was just a sudden, heartfelt, emotional reaction—as if I had been pre-programmed to respond that way in just such a moment of crisis.

I had been humbled. It moved me to seek this God I had cried out to more earnestly.

I now wanted to know more.

Help Me Understand

I sought counsel from a Christian friend of mine. I started asking him questions about the bible. He ended up giving me a well-used Study Bible that included commentary and notes at the bottom of the pages to explain and add context to certain key passages. It was a New American Standard Version, considered very accurate to original manuscripts, yet understandable for me reading in modern English. I shared my previous struggles with starting at the beginning in the Old Testament. He suggested I start somewhere else, maybe the book of John in the New Testament, and keep going from there.

So that’s what I did.

Over the course of the next three months or so, I read the book of John and each book that followed through to the end of the New Testament. This time, it came alive with meaning and purpose for me. Especially the letters written by Paul. It made so much sense to me. It answered questions. It seemed so logical. Not at all what I had thought it was in many ways. It was very practical, very meaningful, extremely relevant.

It sounds silly, but I remember thinking to myself: “It’s as if everything the Bible says actually lined up with a lot of things my dad had taught me—the values, the wisdom, the best way to live.” Now I realize the Bible came first, but that was my perspective at that time.

Suddenly, this book made a whole lot of sense about a lot of things. It was not just ancient stories, it was sound doctrine and practical teaching on a lot of important fundamental issues.

I had been very wrong about the Bible. It suddenly came alive for me.

Finally, the student was ready when this patient friend pointed me in the right direction. My heart began to soften to the truth of God’s word. Reading the Bible at that time re-routed my entire life.

After that initial three-month journey through the New Testament, I was hooked—but I also realized how easy it could be to lose momentum.

The Bible is massive, and without some sense of its structure, it’s easy to feel lost. So let me do for you what my friend did for me: give you a roadmap of this library—one you can explore for the rest of your life.

The Structure of the Bible

Here’s what I discovered about the Bible’s design that filled me with awe: It’s not a single book—it’s a library of 66 books, written by around 40 different authors, in 3 languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic), across multiple countries, over 1,500 years.

These authors were remarkably diverse: kings and peasants, fishermen and physicians, poets and prophets, tax collectors and shepherds.

Most never met each other. Many lived centuries apart. And they wrote in different genres—history, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, personal letters, biography, apocalyptic visions.

Yet when you read it, you’ll find one coherent message woven throughout. Against all odds, these diverse voices tell one unified story: God’s relentless pursuit of relationship with humanity, from creation to fall to redemption to ultimate restoration.

It’s divided into two main sections: Old Testament (39 books) and New Testament (27 books).

Here’s how it’s structured.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament is not in chronological order—it’s organized by the type of book it is.

It has three parts: Historical (17 books), Poetical (5 books), and Prophetical (17 books). The symmetry is striking once you notice it.

Here’s something that sets the Old Testament apart: it doesn’t unfold in a fantasy realm “long ago in a galaxy far away.” Jerusalem is still Jerusalem. Egypt is still Egypt.

I’ve walked on ground where some of these accounts actually occurred—it’s an inspirational feeling to stand in a place and realize the story didn’t just happen somewhere abstract, but here.

The Babylonian kings show up in secular historical records. Clay tablets from ancient libraries mention the same events. Even small details—like the price of a slave or the design of a foreign temple—align with what historians know about those specific time periods.

The Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), or “Torah” (Hebrew) meaning “law” or “instruction” makes up the first five books. They provide the foundational story of God's relationship with humanity, establishing His character, redemptive plan, and desire for people who will trust, obey, and represent Him to the world.

The remaining 12 historical books (Joshua through Esther) chronicle Israel’s history from entering the Promised Land through the period of exile and return.

Together, they show Israel’s journey from promise to possession, from faithfulness to failure, from kingdom to exile, and finally to restoration—demonstrating God’s faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness.

The 5 poetical books express Israel’s worship, wisdom, and relationship with God. They address the heart, the head, suffering, and love—covering the breadth of human experience in relationship with God and others.

The 17 prophetical books contain messages from God’s prophets calling Israel and Judah to repentance, warning of judgment, and promising future restoration.

Common themes throughout—call to repentance, judgment for sin, hope of restoration, the coming Messiah and God’s sovereignty over ALL nations.

The New Testament

The New Testament books were written over a span of about 100 years by 8 different authors—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, and Jude.

These weren’t committee members coordinating their message. They wrote independently, from different locations to different audiences, often decades apart.

Yet their core message aligns remarkably. And these documents circulated while eyewitnesses were still alive—people who could have disputed false claims or corrected inaccuracies. Like the Old Testament, the books are organized by type rather than chronologically.

First, there are 5 Historical books, which provide the foundation on which the remaining New Testament books (letters) rest—The 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) + Acts, documenting the history of the early church from Jesus’s ascension to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome (roughly 30-62 AD).

Together, they provide the “what happened” that makes the “therefore, here’s how to live” of the letters meaningful. Without the historical foundation, the letters would be instructions without context. With it, they become the inspired interpretation and application of the most significant events in human history.

Then 22 Letters: 9 letters to specific churches, 4 letters to pastors addressing specific challenges and circumstances in the real first-century communities during the time they were written, and 9 letters by individuals. The letters aren't abstract philosophy—they’re practical applications and theological explanations of the historical events the Gospels and Acts document.

This progression—from Jesus's life and teachings, through the church's birth and expansion, to practical instruction for Christian living—creates the narrative backbone of the entire New Testament.

The Four Gospels present the life of Jesus from different perspectives to specific audiences:

Matthew writes to the Jews, showing deep familiarity with their law, customs, and expectations. He demonstrates how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecies, with his genealogy tracing back to Abraham.

Mark writes to the Romans, emphasizing Jesus’s powerful actions and authority—concepts Romans would appreciate. He explains Jewish customs and translates Aramaic phrases for his less familiar audience.

Luke, an educated physician and careful historian, writes to the Greeks with emphasis on Jesus’s wisdom, grace, and teachings. His genealogy traces Jesus back to Adam, highlighting universal significance for all humanity.

John writes to the whole world to proclaim Jesus as savior to all who believe. Written perhaps 30+ years after the other gospels, he offers profound theological interpretation through extended metaphors and “I AM” statements, emphasizing personal relationship with Jesus.

It’s instructive that four distinctive books are dedicated to Jesus—God the Son, who assumed human form to play the ultimate role in God’s plan for redemption. Multiple perspectives add depth and insight regardless of cultural background or position in life. You aren’t just getting the story from a single perspective.

The Book of Acts, written by Luke after his Gospel, documents how Jesus’s promise to “build my church” began to unfold. It shows the birth and early spread of the church.

The Letters address real issues in real churches and real lives. Here’s a snapshot of what each is about:

Romans – Core Christian doctrine from condemnation to salvation to glorification. It essentially covers the arc of God’s original design for righteousness, humanity’s deviation into sin, and the return to relationship made possible through Christ.

1 Corinthians – Correcting problems in a messy local church

2 Corinthians – Paul defending his apostleship to critics

Galatians – Grace vs. legalism

Ephesians – Your position in Christ and living by the Spirit

Philippians – Joy even in prison, encouragement toward unity and humility

Colossians – The preeminence of Jesus Christ in everything

1 Thessalonians – Faith and the return of Christ

2 Thessalonians – Clarifying misunderstandings about the Day of the Lord

1 Timothy – Requirements for church leaders and warnings about false teachers

2 Timothy – Standing strong in the face of hardship and spiritual warfare

Titus – Requirements for godly leaders and the importance of good works

Philemon – A personal letter about a runaway slave who became a Christian

Hebrews – The superiority of Jesus and the New Covenant

James – Faith must impact your works

1 Peter – Comfort for those suffering for their faith

2 Peter – Confronting false teachers

1 John – Deeper dimensions of fellowship with God and others

2 John – Commendation for steadfast faith in tough times

3 John – Gratitude for those supporting ministry

Jude – Exposing false teachers and predicting their downfall

Revelation – What Jesus reveals about future events

If you’ve never read the Bible before, read the Gospel that best relates to who you are first. Then the other three. Set the historical foundation with Acts, then continue through the letters in the order they come. The logic, clarity, and practical wisdom will astound you. Feel free to wrestle with some passages. Dig deeper. But don’t be afraid to set some things aside and come back to them later. Give yourself time to ruminate on what you’ve been reading.

One Consistent Theme

The Bible’s consistent theme is God’s redemptive relationship with humanity. That’s what’s happening in the narrative throughout. Once you see that you’ll understand it more clearly.

This theme continuously demonstrates God's persistent love, faithfulness, and desire to restore broken relationships despite human rebellion and failure.

It manifests in several interconnected ways:

Covenant relationship – From God’s promises to Abraham through the new covenant in Christ, the Bible consistently portrays God as one who initiates and maintains covenantal bonds with people, even when they break their end of the agreement.

Redemption and restoration – Whether it’s the exodus from Egypt, return from exile, or salvation through Christ, the narrative repeatedly shows God rescuing and restoring people from situations of bondage, brokenness, or separation.

God’s character – Throughout both testaments, we see God as gracious, merciful, just, and faithful—willing to forgive and pursue relationship even with those who turn away.

Hope beyond present circumstances – From the earliest promises to Abraham to the visions in Revelation, there’s a consistent thread of hope that points beyond current suffering or failure to God’s ultimate plan for restoration.

This theme unifies the diverse literary forms, historical periods, and human authors across the biblical compilation. While individual books emphasize different aspects—law, wisdom, prophecy, gospel—they all contribute to this overarching narrative of God’s redemptive work in human history.

Unity Across Time

Consider how both testaments point to the same reality, not bound by time as we know it. Look at the striking parallel between the beginning of Genesis and the beginning of John:

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

“In the beginning was the Word”—the Greek word Logos—refers to Jesus Christ, who existed with God before creation and is the divine agent through whom God created all things. This passage introduces Jesus as the divine, eternal, and incarnate Son of God, who came to reveal God to humanity.

Fifteen hundred years separate these two passages. Different authors, different languages, different audiences. Yet they speak with one voice about the same creative power, the same God, the same light overcoming darkness.

Consider this: Western civilization reset its calendar based on Jesus’s arrival. The world measures time by his life. Creation itself points to its Creator.

“The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1).

“God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident in His creation, making His attributes clearly understood by anyone who observes the world” (Romans 1:20).

The Bible describes itself as a “living word” (Hebrews 4:12)—not just historical information, but something that actively speaks to each generation. This isn’t theoretical.

For over two thousand years, across vastly different cultures and time periods, people have found that this text somehow addresses their deepest questions and transforms their lives.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Lee Strobel’s book, or a film by the same name, The Case for Christ. In 1980, Strobel was an investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune. He was an atheist. When his wife became a Christian, he set out to disprove the resurrection of Jesus using his investigative skills.

He interviewed experts in multiple fields—historians, physicians, psychologists, textual critics. One by one, his objections were answered. The evidence pointed in a direction he hadn’t expected. The case he built was for the very thing he set out to disprove.

His journey represents a pattern many have followed: approaching the Bible with honest questions, examining the evidence, and discovering it’s more trustworthy than they initially assumed.

Strobel could no longer remain an atheist when he concluded: “I just didn't have that much faith.”

Your Invitation

Fortunately, faith—childlike faith—does not demand a highly complex level of intellect. A relief to me. I’ve spent much of the last 35 years of my adult life studying this book and learning from a wide variety of scholars and teachers far more qualified than me. I still have questions. There remain mysteries to me. Yet the sense of wonder, awe and continual discovery about God only grows.

That said, I don’t know that I’d want to worship a God who I could fully understand. That would be setting the bar far too low. The fact that an infinite being exceeds our finite grasp is exactly what we should expect.

So here’s my invitation: Don’t take my word for it. Read it with an open mind and decide for yourself. Start with John. Move through the Gospels. Read the letters. See if what I’ve described matches your experience.

Because if this book is trustworthy—if it really does reveal your highest aim—then understanding what it says about your design, your brokenness, and God's solution for that isn’t just interesting. It’s essential.

Understanding the Bible's trustworthiness and design is one thing. But knowing how to engage with God—not just practice religion—is another. Many people have read the Bible and still missed the relationship it offers.

That’s where we’re headed next.