Is it possible that a 2000-year-old book could be relevant to people today? Christians hold up the Bible as the ultimate source of truth… but why would anyone believe that a collection of stories and parables from ancient Mesopotamia would be a reliable source of information about God and the human condition?

On the surface, it sounds like a shaky claim—and when critics of Christianity lay out their cases against the faith, it’s often the reliability and accuracy of the Bible that they take special aim at. But there are solid reasons to believe that the Bible is more than just another piece of literature. Listed below are essays from around the Gospel.com alliance that tackle the question “How can we know that the Bible is true?”

• Is the Bible true? And if so, how could I possibly know for sure? from International Bible Society, who know an awful lot about the Bible.
• Why do Christians believe the Bible? There must be something more than just the Bible’s own claims to truth, right? What reasons do we have to believe in it?
• Why should I care about the Bible? What makes it different from the countless other books throughout history that have claimed to contain the ultimate truth?
• “And God Said” Thoughts about the Bible’s accuracy at Answers in Genesis.
• How can I be sure of the Bible’s moral and spiritual reliability? Another take on the question, from RBC Ministries.
• Isn’t the Bible just a bunch of fables? How do Christians respond to common criticisms of the Bible?

The question of the Bible’s accuracy and reliability have occupied theologians and everyday Christians for centuries—but these essays are a good starting place to think through the question for yourself.

We’re happy to announce that today we added the Macedonian New Testament to the Bible Gateway!

There are approximately 2 million people who speak Macedonian as their native tongue throughout the world, and we’re thrilled that now they can read God’s Word online. This Bible version joins about 80 other translations online at the Bible Gateway.

Here’s what John 3:16 looks like in Macedonian:

You can read more about the translation on the Version Information page.

Also, you might be interested in the Macedonian language page on Wikipedia.

Each week, Past the Popcorn offers a thorough look at the latest round of films opening on big screens.

The big story about The Dark Knight, says Greg Wright, is not Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker: it’s that the film may well prove a bellwether for the outcome of the Presidential election this fall. “At the core of The Dark Knight,” he says “is Harvey Dent’s observation that you ‘either die a hero or you live long enough to become a villain.’” Read the rest of this entry »