"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work." (2
Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV)
The word inspiration literally means "God-breathed" in the original
Greek -- and God does not lie! (Num.
23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29; Titus
1:2; Rom.
3:3-4, NKJV). But what about the translations over the years?
Strictly speaking, only the "autographs" (the original documents penned
by the Biblical authors) are inspired. Copies of the original documents
are virtually inspired to the extent that they accurately
reflect the original documents.
The evidence -- bibliographical,
historical, and archaeological -- indicates that that they do
accurately reflect the original documents! For example, Homer's
Iliad
ranks second (643 copies) to the New Testament (24,000+) in possessing
the greatest amount of ancient manuscript testimony. Let's compare*
them:
|
Work
|
When
written
|
Earliest
copy
|
Time
span
|
#
Copies
|
|
Iliad
|
900
BC
|
400
BC
|
500
years
|
643
|
|
New
Testament
|
40
- 100 AD
|
125
AD
|
25
years
|
24,000
+
|
Applying textual analysis to all existing early manuscripts:
|
Work
|
#
Lines
|
#
Lines in question
|
%
in question
|
|
Iliad
|
15,600
|
764
|
5%
|
|
New
Testament
|
20,000
|
40
|
½%
|
Of the ½% New Testament variant readings, most involve nothing
more than a missing letter in a word, a misspelling, or a reversal of the
order of two words. Of the others, not one essential point of Christian
doctrine rests upon a disputed reading. A similar comparison of Old
Testament books to other ancient texts* is similarly conclusive.
Unlike any ancient text in existence, God has definitely guided the
hands of the men He entrusted to bring us His Scriptures!
Sources/ To learn more:
-
Harris, Glenn. Can I
Trust the Bible?
-
*McDowell, Josh. (1972) Evidence that Demands a Verdict.
Campus Crusade.
-
Perman, Matt. Historical
Evidence for the Bible
-
Ross, High. Fulfilled
Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible
|