Trustworthy, Benjamin C.F. Shaw, 2024, 1st ed. 140 pages, Price: £19.33
Illinois: IVP Academic ISBN 1514007584
Around one month before Benjamin Shaw’s book Trustworthy was published, the YouTube
sceptic, Alex O’Connor, debated Christian apologist Dinesh D’Souza on the question Is the
Bible True? It was a debate that caused quite a stir. Many commentators, including many
Christians, felt that O’Connor put forward a very strong case against the proposition and that
D’Souza struggled to respond convincingly. The question of the reliability of Scripture is
foundational to the Christian worldview. The Bible claims to be God’s word and it tells us
everything we need to know about who God is and how we can know him. If the foundation is not strong enough to support the building then the whole building will topple. Attacks against the Bible come in all kinds of ways and Christians need to be ready to give an answer. Shaw’s book seeks to make a defence for the reliability of the Bible by giving reasons to believe its reliability.
In his introduction, Shaw explains that his book is aimed at both believers and sceptics and that he will be presenting his arguments, “as though it were the reader’s first time coming into contact with them”. [1] As such, this book provides an introduction to some of the many questions and challenges that are levelled against the Bible and begins to explore a Christian answer to them. It does not delve too deeply into any of the issues, but it does not intend to. Its target audience are those who are considering these questions for the first time. Shaw’s introduction to each topic is clear and concise and his treatment of the subject matter is enough to whet the appetite and provide good grounds for trusting the Bible without overloading the reader with too much information.
The book comprises thirteen chapters, each one contributing to a cumulative case for the
Bible’s reliability. In mapping out the direction in which the book will move, Shaw uses the
helpful analogy of Google Maps. If one looks at a map from a ‘zoomed out’ perspective, one will see the big picture but not the individual details which make up each place. Conversely, if one zooms in, the map will be filled with details such as road signs and buildings but will not show the whole picture. In the same way, Shaw argues, some of the questions he explores are ‘zoomed out’ and others ‘zoomed in’. Questions relating to manuscript evidence, for example, including the numbers of manuscripts and their proximity to the events they record, give a ‘big picture’ argument for the reliability of scripture. Questions of ‘undesigned coincidences’ between texts, or ancient creeds ‘zoom in’ by looking at specific events, individuals or beliefs that people held. This analogy is helpful in providing a certain direction and logical structure to Shaw’s argument as he moves from a ‘zoomed out’ to a ‘zoomed in’ perspective.[2]
The main body of Shaw’s book is made up of thirteen chapters which address a wide range of topics. The first four chapters introduce questions relating to manuscript reliability: textual
evidence, understanding genre, manuscript dating and evidence of authorship. The central
section of the book, chapters five to eight, address topics such as the historical criteria used by historians, undesigned coincidences between texts and archaeology. Shaw proceeds, in
chapters nine and ten, to consider non-biblical evidence - including non-Christian sources such as Josephus and extra-biblical Christian sources - before looking at the canon of scripture and how it was compiled in chapter eleven. The book finishes with a consideration of the life-changing power of scripture in chapter twelve and finally a look at the ‘minimal facts’ approach in chapter thirteen. This final chapter considers some of the events that are so well attested that virtually all scholars, whether believers or sceptics, accept them as historical. Such facts include Jesus’ crucifixion, the empty tomb and the changed lives of the disciples.
I found there was much to commend in Shaw’s work. His chapters were short and to the point. While this may not suit all people (those who have studied this subject matter before will likely find nothing new), the intended audience (those who have not looked at this subject area before) will be exposed to many of the key considerations without it going into too much depth. That is not to say that it would be of no benefit to those more familiar with the subject matter. It is often the way that a brief overview can give a helpful refresher. At the end of each chapter Shaw gives a helpful three point overview of the main points he has covered followed by a list of further reading for anyone who would like to explore further. The structure of the book was well thought out and the topics were relevant. One of my favourite chapters was chapter eleven in which Shaw explored the formation of the canon. This whole area is an example where a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. In a post-Da Vinci Code world, our culture is fully aware of extra-biblical “Gospels” like the Gospel of Thomas and so very often believes that the Bible is an arbitrary collection of books. Shaw does a good job of showing why this is not the case and dismantles such reasoning effectively.
Perhaps the least convincing chapter, for me, was chapter seven on ‘undesigned coincidences’. An undesigned coincidence occurs when two texts independently attest to the same fact, thus lending plausibility to the fact in question. This is an exciting idea to consider, and I was glad to see it included, but I found the examples slightly unconvincing. For example, Shaw mentions that, in Matthew 14:1-2, king Herod speaks to his servants, sharing his fears that John the Baptist had risen from the dead. Shaw wonders how we know that he spoke this way to his servants. In answer, he references Luke 8:1-3 which tells us that one of Jesus’ women followers, Joanna, was the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza. It may be that there is a link between these two texts but it is speculative. Furthermore, if one were to read the passage in Matthew in isolation, there may be all manner of ways in which Herod’s words to his servants became known, as the fearful matter spread through the king’s court and beyond. Although this is a minor criticism, and others may disagree with me, I felt stronger examples could have been used.
In our world of scepticism, in which many of the concerns surrounding biblical reliability are
readily available in popular culture and online, and in which misinformation and half-truths
abound, Trustworthy makes an important contribution to the conversation. It is suited to those seeking an introduction to the topic and it makes its case with clarity and force. For people familiar with the subject matter, this book will likely be a little basic. But for Christians who have not yet engaged with the reliability of the Bible, or for non-Christians asking honest questions, Trustworthy will be a reliable resource.
References
[1] Shaw, 2024, p. 3
[2] The book does not follow this pattern perfectly. For example, Shaw places his chapter on Archeology, which he describes as a ‘zoomed-out’ perspective, after his chapter on Undesigned Coincidences - a ‘zoomed-in’ chapter. Nevertheless, as a general progression, it was a helpful illustration.
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