by Barry Cooper

Sit in on any coffee-shop conversation focused on the Bible, and one of the questions which will inevitably be asked is, “Can I really trust the Bible?” In exploring Barry Cooper’s book of the same name, you will find that if you’re anything like me and have asked these questions, this short, 81-page book will provide answers for the non-believer, and solidify faith for the believer.

In a style that is refreshingly reader-friendly and non-exhaustive, the book focuses on three main questions: 

1.      “Does the Bible claim to be God’s word?”
2.      “Does the Bible seem to be God’s word?”
3.      “Does the Bible prove to be God’s word?”

Maybe you’ve thought to yourself, “Well, isn’t the Bible just some old book? Why do its claims matter for my life?” This book encourages us to think through this prevalent attitude by helping us explore what the Bible claims about itself. Simply put, if the Bible claims to be God’s word, then we are confronted with a decision to either receive it as such, or to reject it. Cooper’s book is helpful for getting us to a more informed place to make such a decision.

Maybe you’ve wondered, “Well, isn’t the Bible filled with mistakes, errors, and self-contradictions?” The second section of Cooper’s book is filled with scholarly and credible information stated in an easily digestible manner to help us truly wrestle with the modern-day attacks against the reliability of Scripture. As you read, you will find your thinking challenged, so you can ultimately decide for yourself the answer to these questions.

Throughout this book, although the information and research included is helpful, Cooper is doing more than merely presenting a “sledgehammer” answer to truly difficult questions. He writes, “One of life’s saddest ironies is that many who know their Bibles back to front do not know its Author (77).” His aim in writing this book is to assist his readers in strengthening their knowledge of, and relationship with, the author of the Bible.

I would recommend this book to anyone asking questions similar to these and seeking to know this Author, whether Christian or Non-Christian. In fact, it might be a good book to read along with someone who is asking these questions. Ultimately, we can trust that this little book will help us gain a better knowledge of the Scriptures and give us a greater love for Jesus. For the nonbeliever, it might just be answering all the right questions that then aids them in making the decision to follow Jesus for the first time. 

In Christ,
Brandon Smith
Parkside Middle School Youth Ministry Pastor

About the Author
Barry Cooper is an author and speaker. He’s the Director of Product Development at Christianity Explored Ministries.

About the Reviewer
Brandon Smith joined Parkside's pastoral team in 2014. He's a huge fan of all different types of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to today's current rock bands. Brandon's favorite flavor of ice cream is cookies 'n cream, and he enjoys creative writing in his spare time.