by Jeff A. Jenkins

In the most recent Newsweek magazine, Jon Meacham writes about the new movie, "The Passion of the Christ". Meacham raises questions concerning the accuracy of the Word of God when he writes, "the Bible can be a problematic source. Though countless believers take it as the immutable word of God, Scripture is not always a faithful record of historical events; the Bible is the product of human authors."

If Meacham is right, the Bible is no better than any other book. If the Bible is not always a faithful record of historical events, how can we know if Scripture is ever faithful and accurate?

The claim of Scripture is radically different from Mr. Meacham's point of view. The Bible claims to be the Word of God. The Apostle Paul states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16).

The word inspiration comes from the Greek word, "theopneustos". It is a word that literally means "God-breathed". The Biblical claim is, God spoke His Words to man. The Apostle Peter states that Scripture did not come from man. He claims that it came from God (2 Pet. 1:20,21). Jesus himself said the Word of God is Truth (Jn. 17:17).

Meacham and the Bible cannot both be correct. Either the Bible is historically accurate in every instance or it is not. Either the Bible is the product of human authors or it is the product of a Divine Author. I will take God's Word over the word of man every time (Jn. 12:34).