“You don’t actually believe that do you?”
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
“You don’t actually believe that do you?” Someone said that to me about the Bible and God, and I still remember it, years later. Not because it made me question whether I believe, but because it reminded me not only that many people don't believe it's truth, but that many people assume faith means believing without reason, evidence, or thought.
But that is not true.
Yes, I believe the Bible by faith. I believe God is real. I believe His Word is true. But faith does not mean closing our eyes to history and evidence. In fact, when we look at archaeology, ancient manuscripts, historical records, and real places connected to Scripture, we find that the Bible is not a book of myths floating outside of time. It is rooted in real history, real people, real places, and real events.
Historical evidence does not replace faith, but it can strengthen our confidence that the Bible is trustworthy.
One of the most significant discoveries supporting the reliability of Scripture is the Dead Sea Scrolls. Based on my research, these ancient manuscripts were discovered near Qumran beginning in 1947 and include portions of nearly every Old Testament book. One of the most famous is the Great Isaiah Scroll, which contains all 66 chapters of Isaiah and dates to around 125 BC. That means it is about 1,000 years older than many previously known Hebrew manuscripts. Why does that matter? Because when scholars compared these ancient manuscripts with later copies, they found remarkable consistency. This supports the careful preservation of the biblical text over time. In other words, the Bible we read today has not been carelessly passed down or wildly changed through the centuries. God’s Word has been preserved.
Another powerful discovery is the Tel Dan Stele, an ancient inscription that refers to the “House of David.” For years, some skeptics questioned whether King David was a real historical figure or simply a legendary character. But this inscription gives evidence outside the Bible that David’s dynasty was known in the ancient world. Why does that matter? That matters because David is central to the biblical story. He was Israel’s king, a man after God’s own heart, and part of the lineage leading to Jesus Christ. Archaeology cannot tell us everything about David’s heart or faith, but it does support that his royal house was historically recognized.
The Bible also names Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor involved in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. For a long time, there was limited archaeological evidence for Pilate outside the biblical text. Then an inscription was found at Caesarea Maritima bearing his name and title. This confirmed that Pilate was a real Roman official in Judea. Why does that matter? This is important because the crucifixion of Jesus is not presented in Scripture as a vague spiritual idea. It happened under a real Roman governor, in a real place, during a real period of history.
The Taylor Prism, also known as Sennacherib’s Prism, is another important artifact validating the historical accounts of the Old Testament found in 2 Kings and Isaiah. It records the Assyrian king Sennacherib’s campaign against Judah and mentions Hezekiah, king of Judah. This lines up with the biblical account of Assyria’s invasion during Hezekiah’s reign. Interestingly, Sennacherib boasts about trapping Hezekiah in Jerusalem, but he does not claim to have captured the city. Why does that matter? That detail fits with the biblical account, where Jerusalem was threatened but not ultimately conquered by Assyria at that time.
Then there is the Cyrus Cylinder, which records King Cyrus of Persia allowing displaced peoples to return to their homelands and restore temples. While the cylinder does not specifically mention the Jews, it supports the historical background found in Ezra (Ezra 1:1–4), where Cyrus allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Why does that matter? Again, this shows that the Bible’s historical setting fits what we know from the ancient world.
In the New Testament, the Pool of Siloam is another meaningful discovery. John 9 tells us that Jesus healed a man born blind and told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Archaeological work in Jerusalem has identified the ancient pool, confirming another real location mentioned in the Gospels. Why does that matter? That may seem like a small detail, but small details matter. The Gospel writers were not inventing a fantasy world. They wrote about actual places known to the people of their time.
There is also evidence connected to the apostle Paul. In Acts 18, Paul appears before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. Historical inscriptions confirm Gallio’s role and help scholars date Paul’s ministry in Corinth. Why does that matter?This shows that Luke, the writer of Acts, was careful with historical details.
Outside the Bible, ancient writers and historians such as Tacitus and Josephus also refer to Jesus, early Christians, and figures connected to the New Testament. These writers were not promoting Christianity, yet their records still support that Jesus was a real historical person and that His followers existed very early.
None of these discoveries force someone to believe. Archaeology cannot make a heart trust God. An inscription cannot save a soul. A scroll cannot replace repentance, faith, or a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
But these findings do matter. They remind us that Christianity is not built on wishful thinking. The Bible is not disconnected from history. The same Scripture that tells us about sin, salvation, grace, forgiveness, and eternal life also speaks into a real world with real kings, real cities, real rulers, and real events.
Faith is not blind. Faith is trust in the God who has revealed Himself. Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) says, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” We may not see God with our physical eyes, but we can see His fingerprints throughout history, Scripture, creation, and transformed lives.
So yes, I do actually believe that...I believe the Bible is true. I believe God is real. I believe Jesus died, rose again, and offers salvation to all who trust in Him.
And while my faith is ultimately rooted in God Himself, I am grateful that history continues to remind us of this truth: the Bible is not just a religious book. It is God’s Word, anchored in truth, preserved through time, and still speaking today.
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