Last updated: February 2, 2026
Truth welcomes examination.
Throughout the Bible, Scripture repeatedly invites examination and testing of claims. The biblical pattern shows encouragement toward verification and careful examination.
God invites us to reason together and settle matters.
"'Come now, let us settle the matter,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"
God challenges people to test His faithfulness.
"'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'"
God offered signs to convince the doubtful.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
God invited Ahaz to ask for a sign.
"Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 'Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.'"
God challenged false gods to prove themselves.
"'Present your case,' says the Lord. 'Set forth your arguments,' says Jacob's King. 'Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen.'"
Jesus said His works were evidence of His identity.
"If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Jesus offered evidence to John the Baptist's doubts.
"Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."
Jesus invited physical examination of His resurrection.
"Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Jesus provided signs to validate His authority.
"But I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me."
Jesus said even His enemies could examine His teaching.
"I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret."
Paul was confident that truth could not be defeated.
"For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."
Paul reasoned from Scripture with skeptics.
"As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead."
Paul presented evidence before authorities.
"The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner."
Paul appealed to eyewitnesses.
"After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep."
Peter said they were eyewitnesses, not following fables.
"For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
The Bereans tested Paul's teaching against Scripture.
"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
We are commanded to test all spirits.
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
We are to test everything and hold fast to what is good.
"Test everything; hold fast what is good."
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a public test.
"Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God."
Daniel's wisdom was tested by the king.
"In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom."
God tested Abraham's faith.
"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied."
Truth stands firm under examination.
"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal."
God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Those who seek truth with their whole heart will find it.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
The biblical pattern encourages examination and testing of claims. Scripture presents truth as subject to verification, with examples throughout showing figures who appealed to evidence, witnesses, and observable demonstrations.