Is the Bible Just a Story?

Read

Luke 1:3-4 “With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

1 Corinthians 15:3–6 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”

Think

One of the most common objections people have about the Bible is that it’s “just a bunch of stories.” It’s a comment that can sound dismissive, but often it’s rooted in honest confusion. How do we know the Bible wasn’t just passed down, changed, and embellished like an ancient game of telephone? If all religions have their sacred texts, how can we know this one is actually true?

At Fellowship Church this past Sunday, Cliffe Knechtle responded to this head-on. He reminded us that Christianity doesn’t begin with a book—it begins with a person. The early disciples didn’t die for a philosophy or a moral code. They died for a claim: Jesus Christ, who was crucified in Jerusalem, physically rose from the dead.

Think about that. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people, “most of whom are still living.” In other words, if you don’t believe it, go ask the eyewitnesses. That’s not mythology—that’s invitation. That’s not a metaphor—that’s history.

The Gospel writers never claimed to be inventing legend. Luke opens his account by saying he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” and wrote it down “so that you may know the certainty” of the story. These weren’t fairy tales told in whispers—they were public claims made in the middle of hostile cities.

And if the disciples were making it up, they did a terrible job. They included all the unflattering moments: Peter’s denial. Thomas’s doubt. The disciples falling asleep in Jesus’ greatest moment of need. You don’t fabricate a heroic movement and then cast your founders as cowards. But that’s what makes the Gospels so honest. So raw. So real.

Pastor Cliffe also pointed out something that’s important to note the Gospel writers left out opinions on key debates happening in the early church—like circumcision, women in ministry, or food sacrificed to idols. Why? Because they weren’t writing op-eds. They were recording facts. And facts are stubborn things.

Here’s another overlooked truth: the first Christians were devout Jews. They had every reason not to believe Jesus was the Messiah. He didn’t ride in on a war horse. He didn’t overthrow Rome. He didn’t affirm their expectations—he upended them. And yet thousands of them abandoned long-held religious practices like temple sacrifices and Sabbath laws. Why? Because they were convinced they hadn’t just heard a teacher. They had encountered the risen Son of God.

Yes, there are stories in the Bible. But don’t confuse “story” with “fiction.” The Bible is not a random scrapbook of moral fables. It’s a unified narrative with a central figure—Jesus Christ—and a singular purpose: to reveal the God who created you, loves you, and is calling you home.

It’s not myth. It’s not exaggeration. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s truth with names, dates, locations, and scars.

So the next time someone tells you, “The Bible is just a story,” you can say, “Yes. And it’s the truest story ever told.”

Apply

Next time you read a news article or scroll past a bold claim online, pause and ask, “What’s the source?” Now apply that same question to your faith.

Instead of relying on what others have said about the Bible—skeptics or even pastors—spend ten minutes this week reading it for yourself. Start with Luke 1. Write down one detail that surprises you or makes the story feel real. Then ask, “If this is true, how should I respond today?”

Truth doesn’t demand blind faith. It invites thoughtful attention.

Pray

God, thank you for not leaving me in the dark. Thank you for giving me your Word—not just to inform me, but to transform me. Forgive me for the ways I’ve ignored or doubted your truth. Teach me to read Scripture with fresh eyes and an open heart. Help me trust that what you’ve revealed is not just true—it’s for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.