If Someone Says—‘I don’t believe in the Bible’
- Edward D. Andrews
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
When confronted with the statement, “I don’t believe in the Bible,” Christians should not feel intimidated, unsettled, or forced into silence. Rather, such a statement presents an opportunity to give a reason for the hope that is within us, as commanded in 1 Peter 3:15. The goal is not to win an argument but to lovingly and persuasively demonstrate that disbelief in the Bible is not an intellectually or spiritually sound position. The Bible stands as the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, and disbelief in it is often rooted not in evidence but in presuppositions, personal biases, or misunderstandings.
To respond faithfully, we must understand what lies behind the rejection, answer objections with clarity, and affirm the absolute reliability of the Scriptures.
Identifying the Source of Disbelief
When someone says, “I don’t believe in the Bible,” that statement can stem from different sources. Some reject the Bible because they think it is merely a human book filled with myths and legends. Others have been taught from childhood to doubt its authority. Still others dislike what the Bible says about morality, judgment, and accountability before God. Romans 1:18-23 explains that unbelief is not neutral but a suppression of truth because fallen mankind does not want to submit to Jehovah’s authority.
Therefore, before providing evidence, one must discern the motivation behind the rejection. Is the person rejecting the Bible because of intellectual objections, moral resistance, or ignorance of what the Scriptures actually say? Recognizing this helps shape the response.
Affirming the Authority of the Bible
Christians do not defend the Bible as though it were a fragile book needing human validation. The Bible is self-authenticating, bearing the marks of divine inspiration. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”
When someone says, “I don’t believe in the Bible,” a good reply is: “That does not change the fact that the Bible is true. Whether one believes in it or not, the evidence remains.” Truth is not dependent upon acceptance. Gravity works whether or not one believes in it. The same is true of God’s Word.
Pointing to the Evidence of Reliability
One powerful response is to present concrete evidence of the Bible’s reliability. First, the manuscript evidence is unmatched by any ancient work. Over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament exist, some within decades of the originals. This makes the New Testament 99.99% textually pure and accurately preserved. The Old Testament likewise has been carefully transmitted, with the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrating its accuracy across a span of more than a thousand years.
Second, the Bible contains hundreds of fulfilled prophecies, proving divine authorship. Isaiah foretold the suffering and atoning death of the Messiah (Isaiah 53), written seven centuries before Jesus. Micah prophesied His birthplace (Micah 5:2). Psalm 22 describes crucifixion in detail a millennium before the practice even existed in Israel.
Third, archaeology has repeatedly confirmed the Bible’s historical accuracy. Excavations at Jericho, Hazor, Megiddo, Lachish, and Jerusalem demonstrate alignment with the biblical record. Names of kings, cities, and events once doubted are now substantiated by external discoveries.
When someone rejects the Bible, these evidences can help them see that disbelief is not based on the facts but on a presupposed denial of divine authority.
Exposing the Problem of Unbelief
When someone says, “I don’t believe in the Bible,” a useful reply is: “What do you believe, and why? On what foundation do you base truth, morality, and purpose?” Without God’s Word, there is no objective basis for truth or morality. Everyone appeals to some authority—human opinion, science, philosophy, or tradition. But only Scripture provides a consistent, sufficient, and eternal foundation.
Jesus declared in John 17:17, “Your word is truth.” To deny the Bible is to deny the only perfect source of truth and be left with shifting human speculation. Those who reject the Bible often trust fallible human reasoning while dismissing the infallible Word of the living God.
Responding With Grace and Boldness
When replying to someone who says they do not believe in the Bible, it is important to remain calm, gracious, and firm. One might say:
“You may not believe in the Bible, but the Bible does not depend on human belief for its truthfulness. It has been preserved with unmatched accuracy, confirmed by archaeology, fulfilled prophecy, and eyewitness testimony. If you are willing, I would be glad to show you why your disbelief does not undo the evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.”
Such a reply neither compromises the truth nor alienates the hearer. Instead, it points them to the evidence and challenges them to reconsider the foundation of their unbelief.
Calling to Personal Accountability
Ultimately, disbelief in the Bible is not merely an intellectual stance but a spiritual condition. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is living, powerful, and piercing, able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. When someone says, “I don’t believe in the Bible,” they are expressing a heart in rebellion against God. Yet the gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16).
Therefore, we do not merely defend the Bible as a book of history but present it as God’s message of redemption. Every individual must face the reality that “it is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The authority of Scripture is not subject to personal disbelief. God will judge the living and the dead according to His Word, whether people accept it or not.
When someone dismisses the Bible, we must remind them that disbelief does not eliminate accountability. Their rejection is not without eternal consequence. But we can point them to Christ, who alone provides forgiveness and eternal life.
About the author
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
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