Testing the Text -
The Bible is True
Testing the Text -
The Bible is True
Txt Messaging
Familiar with texting Normally not very important Unfamiliar language No capitals, little punctuation Example:-
Hi cant w8 2 c u :-)
Txt Messaging
Familiar with texting Normally not very important Unfamiliar language No capitals, little punctuation Example:-
Hi cant w8 2 c u :-)
When the text does matter
Modern Challenge
“The Bible is 1000s of years old written by unknown authors with their own agendas. It has many errors introduced by copying and translation and it simply can’t be trusted.”
Counter this challenge
Modern Challenge
“The Bible is 1000s of years old written by unknown authors with their own agendas. It has many errors introduced by copying and translation and it simply can’t be trusted.”
Counter this challenge
What does the Bible claim?
The Bible Claim . . .
The Bible Claim . . .
God is the author
The Bible Claim . . .
God is the author 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Bible is inspired by God
God Caused Men to Speak
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:20-21
Important Point
2 Timothy 3:15 Holy scriptures make us wise unto salvation
through faith
Bible should be read as a whole It has repetitions - emphasize its teaching Context is essential for understanding Shouldn’t accept any doctrine based on just
one passage
Important Point
2 Timothy 3:15 Holy scriptures make us wise unto salvation
through faith
Bible should be read as a whole It has repetitions - emphasize its teaching Context is essential for understanding Shouldn’t accept any doctrine based on just
one passage
Don’t rely on 1 word or passage
Alleged Mistakes?
First accusation:- Errors introduced during copying:-
Intentional (to change meaning) Accidental (but errors nonetheless)
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscript
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscript
1300 yearsOpportunity for errors to
creep in
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscript
1300 yearsOpportunity for errors to
creep in
Answer to this problem?
Hebrew Scribes
“Masorite” from “MASORAH” = "tradition" Guardians of Jewish tradition 7th-11th century scribes
Passionate concern with their special statistics E.g. 1st letter on any line of any page of any scroll In all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible
Masorites systemised vowel pointing Hebrew contains no written vowels Helped fix the pronunciation of Hebrew words
Hebrew Scribes
“Masorite” from “MASORAH” = "tradition" Guardians of Jewish tradition 7th-11th century scribes
Passionate concern with their special statistics E.g. 1st letter on any line of any page of any scroll In all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible
Masorites systemised vowel pointing Hebrew contains no written vowels Helped fix the pronunciation of Hebrew words
What about before the Masorites?
Copying the Old Testament
Rules in Talmud for copying text:- Written on the skin of a clean animal Prepared by a Jew Fastened together with strings taken from clean
animals
The copyist must... Wash his whole body & sit in full Jewish dress Not begin name of God with a pen newly dipped in
ink If a king speaks to him while writing God’s name
he must take no notice
Copying the Old Testament
Rules in Talmud for copying text:- Written on the skin of a clean animal Prepared by a Jew Fastened together with strings taken from clean
animals
The copyist must... Wash his whole body & sit in full Jewish dress Not begin name of God with a pen newly dipped in
ink If a king speaks to him while writing God’s name
he must take no notice
If mistake made, not allowed to erase it or cross it out, but ruined page thrown away & started anew
Copy Requirements...
Each volume 48-60 lines & breadth =30 letters Whole copy must be lined No deviation from the original No word or letter to be written from memory Space of hair must intervene between every consonant Breadth of 9 consonants must intervene between every
new paragraph or section Between every book, 3 line spaces 5th book of Moses must end exactly on a line
Copy Requirements...
Each volume 48-60 lines & breadth =30 letters Whole copy must be lined No deviation from the original No word or letter to be written from memory Space of hair must intervene between every consonant Breadth of 9 consonants must intervene between every
new paragraph or section Between every book, 3 line spaces 5th book of Moses must end exactly on a line
Scribes took every care to ensure copy was perfect - as authoritative as original
A Discovery at Qumran
A Discovery at Qumran
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
~650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscriptPrevious gap
Isaiah>1500 years
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
~650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscript
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
~650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscript
Dead Sea scrolls Isaiah
Manuscript200BC
Old Testament Timeline
0 500AD 1000AD500BC1000BC
Old Testament completed
~650BC Book of Isaiah
completed
900AD Oldest Hebrew
manuscript
Dead Sea scrolls Isaiah
Manuscript200BC
Much closer to original
Reliability of OT Texts
“Astounding” correspondence between Isaiah 53 in MT & scroll of Qumran 166 words in Isaiah 53 Only 17 letters different to Hebrew Bible 10 letters changes in spelling 4 letters minor stylistic changes 3 letters extra - “light” (v11)
Supported by LXX “After the travail of his soul he shall see light
and be satisfied”
Reliability of OT Texts
“Astounding” correspondence between Isaiah 53 in MT & scroll of Qumran 166 words in Isaiah 53 Only 17 letters different to Hebrew Bible 10 letters changes in spelling 4 letters minor stylistic changes 3 letters extra - “light” (v11)
Supported by LXX “After the travail of his soul he shall see light
and be satisfied”
No change in meaning
Reliability of OT Texts
“Astounding” correspondence between Isaiah 53 in MT & scroll of Qumran 166 words in Isaiah 53 Only 17 letters different to Hebrew Bible 10 letters changes in spelling 4 letters minor stylistic changes 3 letters extra - “light” (v11)
Supported by LXX “After the travail of his soul he shall see light
and be satisfied”Old Testament text is reliable
No change in meaning
What about NT Texts?
Are the ancient Greek texts reliable? Yes they are and there are a lot of them! 5300 ancient manuscripts Compare with writing of Julius Caesar
10 manuscripts
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
1000AD
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
Codex Sinaiticus~340AD
1000AD
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
Codex Sinaiticus~340AD
1000AD
Codex Vaticanus~325AD
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
Codex Sinaiticus~340AD
1000AD
Codex Vaticanus~325AD
Codex ALexandrinus
~325AD
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
Codex Sinaiticus~340AD
1000AD
Codex Vaticanus~325AD
Codex ALexandrinus
~325AD
Chester Beatty Papyri ~250
AD
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
Codex Sinaiticus~340AD
1000AD
Codex Vaticanus~325AD
Codex ALexandrinus
~325AD
Chester Beatty Papyri ~250
ADBodmer Papyri II ~200 AD
New Testament Timeline
1500AD 2000AD500AD0
AD90 New
Testament completed
34 complete
Greek manuscripts
9th-15th Century
Codex Sinaiticus~340AD
1000AD
Codex Vaticanus~325AD
Codex ALexandrinus
~325AD
Chester Beatty Papyri ~250
ADBodmer Papyri II ~200 AD John
Rylands Papyri
117-138 AD
Uncial Codices
Codex Siniaticus
Uncial Codices
Codex SiniaticusHow it might look in English
FORTHEGRACEOFGDBRINGING
SALVATIONHATHAPPEAREDTOALLMNTEACHINGUSTHATDENYINGUNGODLINESSANDWORDLYLUSTWESHOULDLIVESOBERLYANDGODLYINTHISPRESENT
EVILWORLDLOOKINGFORTHAT(Titus 2:11,12)
Reliability of NT Texts
Most of papyri fragmentary Only about 50 manuscripts contain entire NT ~300,000 individual variations of NT text
Number is very misleading Most differences completely inconsequential
Spelling errors Inverted phrases
Scholars confident they can identify original text
Reliability of NT Texts
Most of papyri fragmentary Only about 50 manuscripts contain entire NT ~300,000 individual variations of NT text
Number is very misleading Most differences completely inconsequential
Spelling errors Inverted phrases
Scholars confident they can identify original text
Aunt Sally’s Recipe
Reliability of NT Texts
99.5% is absolutely accurate Text of 20,000 lines, only 40 lines in doubt (400
words) None affects any significant doctrine
Examples:- Mark 16:9-20 John 8:1-11
Reliability of NT Texts
99.5% is absolutely accurate Text of 20,000 lines, only 40 lines in doubt (400
words) None affects any significant doctrine
Examples:- Mark 16:9-20 John 8:1-11
NT Greek text is reliable
Next Question?
What about translations? Are they reliable representations of original
Hebrew & Greek?
Yes! Lots of scholars quick to point out errors
Different translations tested & compared Literal translations
Attempt to translate word for word Paraphrases can be useful
Next Question?
What about translations? Are they reliable representations of original
Hebrew & Greek?
Yes! Lots of scholars quick to point out errors
Different translations tested & compared Literal translations
Attempt to translate word for word Paraphrases can be useful
Translational errors are not a problem
Remember
“You have known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith”
Bible should be read as a whole It has repetitions - emphasize its teaching Context is essential for understanding Do not accept any doctrine based on just
one passage
Remember
“You have known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith”
Bible should be read as a whole It has repetitions - emphasize its teaching Context is essential for understanding Do not accept any doctrine based on just
one passage
Read the whole of the Bible
Tips on Reading
Prepare time to read the Bible A reading plan helps
Listen for echoes Ask questions during your reading session When you don’t understand
Be patient Use another translation Find out the historical setting Ask someone experienced
Tips on Reading
Prepare time to read the Bible A reading plan helps
Listen for echoes Ask questions during your reading session When you don’t understand
Be patient Use another translation Find out the historical setting Ask someone experienced
Your answers are in the Bible!
What’s stopping you?