"Why I Trust the Bible" by William Mounce

Mounce, William. Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have About the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2021.

Dr. William Mounce's new book, Why I Trust the Bible: Answers to Real Questions and Doubts People Have About the Bible, is a bit different than his typical work. This book is not specific to learning biblical Greek. Instead, it's a series of arguments for the reliability of the Bible with a much broader audience in mind.   Mounce addresses this historicity of Jesus, contradictions in the Bible, how we have the biblical canon, issues of textual criticism, aspect of translation, and how the Old Testament supports our trust in the Bible more than you might think.  

Why I Trust the Bible is an accessible introduction to a selection of apologetic matters but goes deeper and beyond an introduction. For one seeking to explore these topics--for the first time or deeper study--Mounce does an outstanding job with each of these arguments. Each chapter (corresponding to a question) is well-argued and contains an excellent bibliography of references. Even without any theological knowledge, the book is easy to read, and it stands upon excellent theological study and solid academic work. 

While I highly recommend Why I Trust the Bible, I found the scope of the "questions" and "doubts" limited. As a pastor, there are many questions about the historical Jesus, contradictions, how we got the revelation of God, and issues of translations. Sure. But they often come as more of an attempt to reject the Bible. Mounce's answers are excellent but address the reality of the situation rather than the questioner's heart. Therefore, this book is better suited for the person who handles the questions and doubts of others. It provides the foundation and information to the pastor, Sunday school, teacher, friend, or family member in doubt.  Why I Trust the Bible is also a helpful book for the seminary student, budding apologists, and preachers of God's Word. The chapters on textual criticism supply a fantastic framework (complete with charts and history). As we would expect from Bill Mounce, these chapters are a resource every pastor should have on his shelf, ready for when the tough challenges come.    

Here’s a video review with additional thoughts:

Why I Trust the Bible is new, and you can buy it wherever you purchase your favorite books. (Or you can click this link.)