Why Jesus Apologetics

Previously, we saw that confidence in the Bible is not a naïve leap into the dark, but a reasoned trust grounded in truth. In this second part, we turn to the historical and archaeological evidence that supports Scripture’s credibility—from ancient manuscripts to fulfilled prophecies that no human could have engineered.

The Unity and Internal Consistency of Scripture — Sixty-Six Books, One Divine Voice

The Bible is not a single book but a library of sixty-six books, written by more than forty different authors over approximately fifteen hundred years, in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), and across three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe). Its authors came from diverse walks of life: shepherds, kings, prophets, tax collectors, fishermen, physicians, and scholars. Yet, despite this vast diversity, the Bible displays a profound unity of message, purpose, and theology.

This extraordinary coherence is unique among all ancient religious texts. While other collections of sacred writings reveal contradictions or disconnected mythologies, the Bible weaves a seamless redemptive narrative—from creation to new creation, from the fall of man to the restoration of all things through Christ.

The Coherent Storyline of Redemption

At the heart of the Bible’s unity is a single unfolding drama: God’s redemptive plan for humanity. The Old Testament anticipates it; the New Testament fulfills it. The promise made to Abraham—that through his seed all nations would be blessed (Gen. 12:3)—finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true offspring (Gal. 3:16). The sacrificial system of Leviticus foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God (John 1:29). The messianic prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah converge in the person and work of Christ, who declared, “These are the Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

This overarching unity cannot be explained merely by human coordination. As evangelical theologian J. I. Packer observed,

“The Bible is not a random anthology but a single, unfolding story told by many human writers and one divine Author. Its coherence is the fingerprint of inspiration.”¹

From Genesis to Revelation, the central thread remains constant: God’s covenantal relationship with humanity and His purpose to redeem creation through His Son. This is why the early Church fathers often said, “The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.”

The Harmony of Theology and Doctrine

The unity of Scripture is not only narrative but also doctrinal. Themes such as sin, atonement, holiness, justice, and grace are developed consistently across centuries. The moral law revealed in Exodus aligns with Jesus’ ethical teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7). The faith of Abraham—“he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:6)—is cited by Paul to explain justification by faith (Rom. 4:3), showing that salvation has always been by faith, not by works.

Despite being written by numerous authors, the Bible maintains a remarkably consistent portrayal of the character of God: holy, just, merciful, and faithful. As Norman Geisler notes,

“The Bible was written in different languages, cultures, and circumstances, yet its theology forms a perfect mosaic. Such unity is inexplicable without a single divine Mind behind it.”²

Even the apparent tensions within Scripture—such as between faith and works, law and grace, or divine sovereignty and human responsibility—when studied in context, reveal a deeper harmony rather than contradiction. As Augustine famously stated, *“The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.”*³

The Consistency of Prophecy and Fulfillment

One of the most striking evidences of the Bible’s internal coherence is the accuracy of fulfilled prophecy. Over 300 messianic prophecies in the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth: His virgin birth (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22–23), birthplace in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1), betrayal for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12–13; Matt. 26:15), crucifixion (Ps. 22:16; John 19:18), and resurrection (Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:31).

The statistical improbability of one man fulfilling even a small fraction of these prophecies is astronomical. Mathematician Peter Stoner estimated that the chance of fulfilling just eight specific messianic prophecies by coincidence is 1 in 10¹⁷—a number comparable to covering the entire state of Texas with silver coins two feet deep and picking the marked coin at random.⁴

Such precise fulfillment over centuries demonstrates not human foresight but divine orchestration. As Old Testament scholar Walter C. Kaiser Jr. explains,

“Prophecy and fulfillment reveal a unifying divine purpose that transcends time and human agency. The Old Testament’s anticipation finds its telos in Christ, binding the entire canon into one theological whole.”⁵

This prophetic unity not only validates the Bible’s supernatural origin but also confirms that the same God who inspired the prophets guided history toward their fulfillment.

The Intertextual Web of Scripture

Another aspect of biblical unity lies in its intertextuality—the way later authors quote, allude to, and build upon earlier revelation. The New Testament contains over 300 direct quotations and 1,000 allusions to the Old Testament.⁶ This interdependence shows that later authors viewed earlier texts as authoritative and divinely inspired.

For instance, Matthew’s Gospel deliberately frames Jesus’ life as the fulfillment of Israel’s story, while the book of Revelation draws imagery from nearly every Old Testament prophetic book. Far from being disjointed, Scripture functions like a theological symphony, where each instrument contributes to a harmonious whole.

As N. T. Wright beautifully describes,

“The Bible is not a series of disconnected moral tales but a grand narrative of God’s faithfulness to His creation. Each book contributes a movement to the symphony of redemption.”⁷

The coherence between ancient Israel’s history, prophetic writings, the teachings of Christ, and the apostolic letters underscores the Bible’s divine authorship. Human writers could not have coordinated such a consistent message across centuries, cultures, and genres without divine guidance.

The Unifying Christological Center

Ultimately, the Bible’s unity is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ, who stands as the center and culmination of all Scripture. He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17), and the key to interpreting all revelation (Luke 24:27).

Christ is not merely one theme among many; He is the hermeneutical key that unlocks the Bible’s coherence. As Hebrews 1:1–2 declares, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.”

The Old Testament points forward to Christ; the New Testament reveals Him. Without Him, Scripture becomes fragmented and moralistic. With Him, it becomes a living revelation of God’s redemptive plan.

As theologian John Stott summarized,

“The unity of the Bible is the unity of a person—Jesus Christ. Every part, from Genesis to Revelation, bears witness to Him. The coherence of Scripture is the coherence of God’s purpose realized in His Son.”⁸

One Divine Mind Behind Many Human Voices

The Bible’s unity across its diverse authors, time periods, and literary forms is not a coincidence of tradition but evidence of divine superintendence. No human editorial board could have woven such theological harmony across a millennium and a half.

The same God who inspired Moses to write of the promised seed (Gen. 3:15) inspired John to see the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). From Eden’s promise to Calvary’s cross to the New Jerusalem’s glory, one story unfolds—a story no human imagination could sustain without contradiction unless guided by the Spirit of Truth.

Thus, the unity of Scripture stands as one of the most persuasive evidences that the Bible is not merely a human creation but the product of a single divine Author speaking through many human voices.

Stones and scrolls testify to the Bible’s truth—but the greatest evidence lies not in ancient ruins but in the hearts and lives it changes. In Part 3, we’ll discover how the Bible’s unity and transforming power reveal the hand of God behind every word.

Endnotes

1. J. I. Packer, God Has Spoken: Revelation and the Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979), 46.

2. Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix, A General Introduction to the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 196.

3. Augustine of Hippo, Questions on the Heptateuch 2.73, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol. 8 (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 380.

4. Peter W. Stoner, Science Speaks (Chicago: Moody Press, 1958), 106–107.

5. Walter C. Kaiser Jr., The Messiah in the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 23.

6. D. A. Carson and G. K. Beale, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), 9.

7. N. T. Wright, Scripture and the Authority of God (New York: HarperOne, 2013), 57.

8. John R. W. Stott, Understanding the Bible (London: Scripture Union, 1984), 22.