Can We Still Believe the Bible? An Evangelical Engagement with Contemporary Questions

This monograph addresses contemporary challenges to biblical reliability from an evangelical perspective, engaging critical scholarship while defending traditional Christian confidence in Scripture. Blomberg examines six major areas where modern skepticism questions biblical trustworthiness: textual transmission, canon formation, translation issues, inerrancy debates, historical reliability, and the relationship between science and Scripture. Throughout, he argues that evangelical faith remains intellectually defensible despite these challenges.

The work responds to both popular-level skepticism, exemplified by Bart Ehrman's widely-read critiques, and scholarly objections from historical-critical methodology. Blomberg's approach combines detailed engagement with manuscript evidence, archaeological findings, and comparative ancient Near Eastern literature while maintaining commitment to evangelical theological frameworks. He contends that textual variants in biblical manuscripts do not undermine essential Christian doctrines, that the canonical process reflects divine providence rather than arbitrary human selection, and that modern translations adequately convey the original text's meaning despite linguistic challenges.

Regarding inerrancy, Blomberg advocates a nuanced position that accounts for genre, cultural context, and authorial intent while maintaining Scripture's fundamental truthfulness. He argues that apparent contradictions often dissolve when ancient literary conventions are properly understood. The discussion of historical reliability examines specific contested narratives, particularly in the Gospels, demonstrating how archaeological evidence and historical research frequently corroborate rather than contradict biblical accounts. On science-Scripture tensions, particularly regarding creation and miracles, Blomberg explores various evangelical interpretive options while insisting that biblical authority need not conflict with legitimate scientific findings.

The monograph's significance lies in its comprehensive yet accessible treatment of objections that trouble contemporary believers and seekers. Blomberg models an approach that takes critical scholarship seriously without abandoning evangelical convictions. His methodology combines rigorous academic engagement with pastoral concern, addressing doubts while reinforcing reasons for continued biblical confidence. The work functions as both apologetic defense and constructive proposal for how evangelicals can maintain intellectual integrity while affirming Scripture's divine inspiration and authority. By engaging specific criticisms rather than dismissing them, Blomberg demonstrates that evangelical biblical scholarship can participate meaningfully in broader academic conversations while retaining its distinctive theological commitments. This contribution matters particularly as evangelical communities navigate between fundamentalist anti-intellectualism and liberal accommodation to secular academic consensus.