God Has Spoken III Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 4:16-21

God Has Spoken IIIGod Has Spoken III

Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 4:16-21Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 4:16-21

How It All BeganHow It All Began

• Biblical books were written separatelyBiblical books were written separately

• Acts 1:1Acts 1:1

• In three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, In three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, GreekGreek


• Aramaic was the spoken language of Aramaic was the spoken language of JesusJesus

• The New Testament was written in The New Testament was written in koine koine (common) Greek(common) Greek

• Mark 5:41 - Aramaic from JesusMark 5:41 - Aramaic from Jesus


• Various materials usedVarious materials used

– Stone - Ten CommandmentsStone - Ten Commandments– Clay Tablets - inlaid with waxClay Tablets - inlaid with wax– Metal - gold, silver, copper, and bronzeMetal - gold, silver, copper, and bronze– Ostraca - broken pieces of pottery (scrap Ostraca - broken pieces of pottery (scrap

paper)paper)


• PredominantPredominant

– PAPYRUS - Used in Egypt from 3000 BCPAPYRUS - Used in Egypt from 3000 BC– Made from the plant (Ex. 2:3)Made from the plant (Ex. 2:3)– Thin strips crossed and pressed togetherThin strips crossed and pressed together– DriedDried


• PapyrusPapyrus

– Our word paper comes from this wordOur word paper comes from this word– Bible comes from Bible comes from biblos - biblos - Greek word for Greek word for

papyruspapyrus– Scrolls made by gluing together sheets of Scrolls made by gluing together sheets of

papyrus papyrus – NT first written on papyrus (2 John:12)NT first written on papyrus (2 John:12)


• Leather and parchment (or vellum)Leather and parchment (or vellum)

– Dried animal skinsDried animal skins– Tanned with chemicals or driedTanned with chemicals or dried– 2 Timothy 4:132 Timothy 4:13


• Scrolls gave way to the CODEXScrolls gave way to the CODEX

– Pages of papyri put together on top of one Pages of papyri put together on top of one another; folded and stitchedanother; folded and stitched

– Book form of todayBook form of today

How Has It Kept?How Has It Kept?

• The Old TestamentThe Old Testament

– Luke 4:17 - Jesus read from IsaiahLuke 4:17 - Jesus read from Isaiah– Isaiah had written 700 years before Jesus’ Isaiah had written 700 years before Jesus’

incarnationincarnation– Copied over timeCopied over time– Jesus knew it was what Isaiah wroteJesus knew it was what Isaiah wrote


• The Jews (scribes) copied the documents The Jews (scribes) copied the documents with great carewith great care

• Handout from Handout from Stories of the BibleStories of the Bible

• Documents same over hundreds of yearsDocuments same over hundreds of years


• New TestamentNew Testament

– We have papyri dating back to as early as We have papyri dating back to as early as 130 AD130 AD

– There is no other document from the ancient There is no other document from the ancient world as well preserved and kept as the New world as well preserved and kept as the New TestamentTestament


• Histories of Tacitus-Histories of Tacitus-4.5 copies4.5 copies

• Livy’s Livy’s History of History of Rome - 35 surviveRome - 35 survive

• Homer – Homer – Iliad-Iliad-643643

• New TestamentNew Testament

• 5,300 manuscripts5,300 manuscripts• 10,000 copies of 10,000 copies of

Latin Latin VulgateVulgate• 9,300 other early 9,300 other early

versionsversions

• >>24,000 total24,000 total