The Bible makes some bold claims. It claims to be the inspired word of God – revealed to prophets and apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible claims that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, who lived a sinless life, died an atoning death, and rose bodily from the grave. With claims like these, it’s understandable that some people view the Bible as mythology or fable rather than fact. However, there are good reasons to believe the Bible is much more than mythology.
1. The Bible has withstood intense scrutiny
If the Bible were merely a book of myths, it likely would not have withstood 2,000+ years of intense examination. The Bible has been analyzed, questioned, and critiqued by some of history’s greatest minds – skeptics and believers alike. It has been studied from virtually every angle: historical, literary, archaeological, scientific, theological, and more. While differences of interpretation remain, most scholars affirm the Bible’s integrity and value as an historical document.
Mythology simply does not stand up to that kind of scrutiny over that length of time. The epic poems of Homer and Virgil, while brilliant works of ancient literature, do not claim to be inspired or historically accurate. The Bible, on the other hand, stakes its reputation on accurately relaying historical events centered around real people, places, and cultures. So far, it has passed the test of time.
2. The Bible has been supported by archaeology
Over the past 150 years, archaeology has uncovered a wealth of historical artifacts and data supporting the accounts recorded in Scripture. For example, archaeologists have discovered ancient sites described in the Bible such as Shiloh (Judges 21:19), Jezreel (1 Kings 21:1), Lachish (2 Kings 14:19) and many more. Excavations in the ancient city of Jericho have revealed that the walls did indeed fall outward, supporting the record in Joshua 6 of the Israelite siege.
Archaeological finds such as the Tel Dan Stele have confirmed the existence of “the house of David,” verifying a historical King David. Evidence for New Testament figures such as Pontius Pilate, Herod the Great, and others has demonstrated that the biblical accounts are rooted in real history. Repeated archaeological discoveries continue to corroborate, not contradict, the details of Scripture.
3. The manuscripts were written too early to be legends
Myths and legends develop over long periods of time. For the New Testament specifically, the time gap between Jesus’ life (c. AD 30) and the first manuscripts (c. AD 125-175) is too short for myth-making legends to take hold. Most of the eyewitnesses would still have been alive when the New Testament books began circulating.
The early church father Papias (c. AD 125) stated he spoke with the apostle John directly, who affirmed the gospel accounts. Also consider 1 Corinthians 15:6, which claims that after Jesus’ resurrection, “he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive.” In other words, Paul knew people who could personally verify these events.
The New Testament accounts spread rapidly across the Roman world, corroborated by thousands of eyewitnesses. With so many people alive to confirm or contradict the manuscripts, legendary development would have been quickly exposed.
4. The writers believed they were writing Scripture
The biblical authors repeatedly affirmed they were recording God’s words and deeds by his Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). For example, over 3800 times in the Old Testament alone, the writers state, “And God said…” or “The word of the Lord came…” Their intent was not to write fables or myths.
Moses wrote the Pentateuch so future generations would know the certainty of what happened (Deuteronomy 1:5). Luke stated his gospel was a well-researched account of the truth (Luke 1:1-4). John said he witnessed Jesus’ miracles firsthand so readers would believe (John 20:30-31). The biblical writers understood they were writing Scripture – God’s authoritative words for all generations.
5. Jesus and the apostles affirmed the Old Testament
Skeptics may claim the Old Testament is mythological, but Jesus himself affirmed the Law and the Prophets as true revelation from God (Matthew 5:17-19). He referenced OT stories like Noah (Matthew 24:37-39), Sodom and Gomorrah (Matthew 10:15), Moses and the burning bush (Mark 12:26), and more. Jesus clearly viewed even the earliest OT as trustworthy history.
The apostles did the same. Peter referred to Noah and the flood as actual history (1 Peter 3:20). Paul cited Israel’s exodus from Egypt as historical fact (Hebrews 11:29). John called Exodus the “Law of Moses” (John 7:19). The truth of the Old Testament was foundational to the apostles’ teaching.
6. The genre is historical narrative, not mythology
Unlike mythological literature, the Bible presents itself as historical – recording the actions of real people in real places. The biblical authors did not write in the mystical, embellished style of mythology. Rather, they wrote in simple, sober prose recounting the facts as eyewitnesses.
When miracles occur, they are described as matter-of-fact events within history. The Gospel of John reads like an eyewitness memoir, deliberately distinguishing Jesus’ miracles from myth (John 20:30-31). The biblical genre from start to finish is historical narrative – even where figurative language is used. Scripture simply does not read like mythology.
7. The prophecies require divine knowledge
Mythology does not contain accurate predictions of the future. Yet biblical prophecy makes hundreds of specific predictions fulfilled sometimes hundreds of years later. For example, the Old Testament contains over 300 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ – his ancestry, birthplace, miracles, death, and resurrection. These predictions require divine knowledge of future events only God could reveal.
The prophet Isaiah predicted Cyrus the Great by name 150 years before he conquered Babylon and freed the Jews (Isaiah 44:28-45:1). Such accurate, fulfilled prophecies could never originate in myth or fable. They evidence that the biblical writers spoke and wrote what God revealed.
8. The witnesses were willing to die for what they believed
The apostles and earliest Christians suffered persecution, poverty, ridicule, deprivation, and martyrdom for advocating biblical truth. History confirms that many willingly died for proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection. Would so many sacrifice their lives for what they knew to be a myth? Their willingness to die affirms they knew the truth of Christ’s resurrection.
Joseph Smith, Muhammad, and other religious founders have graves or tombs honoring their deaths. Only an empty tomb and eyewitnesses authenticated Jesus’ conquest of death. His earliest followers wrote the biblical records, staked their lives on their testimony, and welcomed horrific deaths rather than deny what they had seen with their own eyes (Acts 4:20). Mythology could never inspire such belief.
9. Christianity exploded too rapidly to be myth
Myths develop slowly over centuries. But Christianity exploded immediately across the Roman world. The faith spread so quickly because eyewitnesses were still alive to share their testimony. The apostles and early preachers appealed constantly to the resurrection as empirical proof that others could verify firsthand if they wished.
Within 25 years, Christian communities had sprung up from Jerusalem to Rome. In just 250 years, Christianity was the Roman Empire’s predominant faith despite intense persecution. That growth among eyewitnesses could never have happened if the message were mythological. The rapid spread affirms the truth of the biblical records.
10. Christianity transformed history and the world
Unlike mythology, biblical truth has profoundly influenced history and human culture for 2,000 years. Billions of historical documents are dated based on Jesus’ birth year. Literacy, education, science, medicine, human rights – Christianity helped positively shape all of these. No mere mythology could so radically reform society. The Bible’s incredible impact on civilization supports its historical and spiritual authority.
Jesus Christ has been history’s most influential figure by far. His teachings converted the pagan Roman Empire and still transform lives today. No historical fact has been more verified than this carpenter from Galilee who claimed to be God and irrevocably changed the world. The Bible stands unique in its continuity, preservation, and transformative power.
In summary, the Bible withstands scrutiny, is supported by archaeology, contains early manuscripts, was written as Scripture, was affirmed by Christ, contains fulfilled prophecy, records historical facts, spread rapidly, and changed civilization. While differences in interpretation remain, the evidence overwhelmingly affirms that the Bible is far more than mythology. It is God’s word revealing Jesus Christ, the Lord of history who died and rose again “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).