New Testament Reliability

Can the New Testament be trusted? Is it a reliable guide to living?

These are valid and important questions, for if the New Testament cannot be relied upon, there is little point in the Christian faith.

Certainly, the authors of the New Testament considered these to be valid questions, as they answered them several times within the text.

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. -- 2 Tim 1:13

This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, ... -- Titus 3:8

but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. -- John 20:31

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life -- and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. -- 1 John 1:1-10

I testify to anyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. -- Revelation 22:18-19

I testify to anyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. -- Revelation 22:18-19

These are but a few examples illustrating that obvious fact that the authors of the New Testament did not take credibility for granted. Indeed, if we cannot trust the words of the New Testament, there is little point in reading them. If the New Testament cannot be relied upon as a guide for living, then Christianity has nothing to offer us.