Why should we trust the Church ??

Question

Why should we trust the Church which cannot even produce a set of manuscripts throughout the centuries which can be relied on instead of the guess work to find which reading is the original?

Answer 1

Of course not! Religion is fueling most of the violence that's happening in this world and it is slowing progress of science. It's time we shed our superstitions and grow up.

Answer 2

To bad you do not know what you are talking about.


Manuscripts relates to the tests used to determine the reliability of the extant manuscript copies of the original documents penned by the Scripture writers (we do not possess these originals). In determining manuscript reliability, we deal with the question: How can we test to see that the text we possess in the manuscript copies is an accurate rendition of the original? There are three main manuscript tests: the Bibliographic, Eyewitness, and External (a second acronym — BEE — will help you remember these).



The bibliographic test considers the quantity of manuscripts and manuscript fragments, and also the time span between the original documents and our earliest copies. The more copies, the better able we are to work back to the original. The closer the time span between the copies and the original, the less likely it is that serious textual error would creep in. The Bible has stronger bibliographic support than any classical literature — including Homer, Tacitus, Pliny, and Aristotle.



We have more than 14,000 manuscripts and fragments of the Old Testament of three main types: (a) approximately 10,000 from the Cairo Geniza (storeroom) find of 1897, dating back as far as about AD. 800; (b) about 190 from the Dead Sea Scrolls find of 1947-1955, the oldest dating back to 250-200 B.C.; and (c) at least 4,314 assorted other copies. The short time between the original Old Testament manuscripts (completed around 400 B.C.) and the first extensive copies (about 250 B.C.) — coupled with the more than 14,000 copies that have been discovered — ensures the trustworthiness of the Old Testament text. The earliest quoted verses (Num. 6:24-26) date from 800-700 B.C.



The same is true of the New Testament text. The abundance of textual witnesses is amazing. We possess over 5,300 manuscripts or portions of the (Greek) New Testament — almost 800 copied before A.D. 1000. The time between the original composition and our earliest copies is an unbelievably short 60 years or so. The overwhelming bibliographic reliability of the Bible is clearly evident.



The eyewitness document test (“E”), sometimes referred to as the internal test, focuses on the eyewitness credentials of the authors. The Old and New Testament authors were eyewitnesses of — or interviewed eyewitnesses of — the majority of the events they described. Moses participated in and was an eyewitness of the remarkable events of the Egyptian captivity, the Exodus, the forty years in the desert, and Israel’s final encampment before entering the Promised Land. These events he chronicled in the first five books of the Old Testament.



The New Testament writers had the same eyewitness authenticity. Luke, who wrote the Books of Luke and Acts, says that he gathered eyewitness testimony and “carefully investigated everything” (Luke 1:1-3). Peter reminded his readers that the disciples “were eyewitnesses of [Jesus’] majesty” and “did not follow cleverly invented stories” (2 Pet. 1:16). Truly, the Bible affirms the eyewitness credibility of its writers.



The external evidence test looks outside the texts themselves to ascertain the historical reliability of the historical events, geographical locations, and cultural consistency of the biblical texts. Unlike writings from other world religions which make no historical references or which fabricate histories, the Bible refers to historical events and assumes its historical accuracy. The Bible is not only the inspired Word of God, it is also a history book — and the historical assertions it makes have been proven time and again.



Many of the events, people, places, and customs in the New Testament are confirmed by secular historians who were almost contemporaries with New Testament writers. Secular historians like the Jewish Josephus (before A.D. 100), the Roman Tacitus (around A.D. 120), the Roman Suetonius (A.D. 110), and the Roman governor Pliny Secundus (A.D. 100-110) make direct reference to Jesus or affirm one or more historical New Testament references. Early church leaders such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, and Clement of Rome — all writing before A.D. 250 — shed light on New Testament historical accuracy. Even skeptical historians agree that the New Testament is a remarkable historical document. Hence, it is clear that there is strong external evidence to support the Bible’s manuscript reliability.

Answer 3

If we don't we will search by ourself. It can collapse the Universal vision. Some examples : So we will find out that all the Bibles are copies of the Septuagint. Wriitten in the Greek Language by 70 Very Learned Wise people in Alexandrië in Egypt. Next we will find out that they start counting Year 1, some Years later. Exactly 4. So now it should be 2010 . JESUS spoke the Aramese Language by the way. And December 25th has nothing to do with Christianity or JESUS. It was a Celebrating Day of The Roman GOD of the SUN SOL INVICTUS Sanctus.

Answer 4

the church is merely an institution for people to follow , ideally to a better life.true religion is in the mind of an individual.the goodness in ones heart and the will to do what one knows is right .the manuscripts such as the bible were not produced by the church only endorsed by the church.they were created by scholars who followed what the believed to be a supreme example of righteousness they found in Jesus Christ or other biblical figures.is simply a doctrine to live by that will reinforce the inherent goodness in people.almost every religion on earth shares this trait in one form or another.

Answer 5

Go to the link Sheperds chapel and they can give you a list of books where you can find copies of the original manuscripts,such as the masara etc,they are located in Ark.

Answer 6

Leo,

Place your faith and trust, in no man, in matters of the Spirit. Religion, is the pitiful attempt of men, to capitolize on God's love of mankind. God, has been at your side since your birth. That is what Jesus meant, when He said, "The Kingdom of God, is at hand". It is close enough for you to touch it. We only have to come to God, as humble children, and invite Him into our hearts, to be our Father. When we do, He sends His Spirit into us, and bonds with us. We become new creatures, part mortal, part Immortal. The old values of materialism and fear, fall away. Love and Wisdom, become the foundation of all our choices. We have become the Children of God, and we will never be the same again. I have been in the churches, and while they are fine places for fellowship with humans, I seek the fellowship of the Spirit of God. The fact that the churches are in conflict with each other, even within the same denominations, speaks volumes. God, doesn't have denominations, or churches. He has children. Those who have become the Children of God, are filled with the Spirit of Love, not the spirit of religion. No disrespect intended.

Answer 7

You don't have to, trust God and his Son Jesus Christ, everything else will be brought to light by the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit will help you discern the truth of the scripture.

You sit in a chair you have never seen, having faith that it will hold you up. You fly in plains that could fall from the sky at any moment. But you don't have faith in the one who created you.

Look around you, forget mans wisdom. Look with your own eyes at Gods creation, see it's wonder. Look at your own body, the simplest cells in your body which are more complex than NY cities infrastructure. DNA codes that could never have happened by accident.

Open your eyes and have faith in God. God sent his own Son to die for you.

Answer 8

You should NEVER rely on the church as it is a group of individual people. You must rely only on the word of God. Don't trust your pastor or anyone else's to spew words. I am sure if you asked him, the pastor would say the same thing...believe NOTHING he says, check it out for yourself.

Answer 9

Trust Jesus don't worry about what the Church is doing...Jim

Answer 10

You don't need to trust them or even go to one, any more than you need to go to a public school, which you often can't trust to teach you accurate history or American values.