We must therefore begin by treating Scripture, not as a divinely given text, but as an empirically verifiable one. The results of modern scholarship indicate that it does. Textual criticism has shown that our text of the Bible is the oldest and best preserved of ancient texts. Hence its testimony is more likely to be trustworthy. And, because the text is uncorrupted, we can ascertain the Bible's internal consistency.
Literary criticism indicates that the biblical reports are historical.
The Bible does not engage in hagiography 4. The Bible is a basically reliable and trustworthy document. On the basis of the general trustworthiness of the Bible, we have sufficient reason to believe that Jesus really said and did the things attributed to him in Scripture. He claimed to be the unique Son of God. As the unique Son of God, He is an infallible authority.