what was the oldest biblical passage ever found?

Question

In terms of Archeology what is the oldest document/inscription ever discovered with a biblical passage

just curious

I am not sure but I think their are things older than Qumran

Answer 1

Archaeologically it looks like this reference:

"Numbers 6:24-26 :May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and grant you peace."

An archaeological discovery in 1979 revealed to be the earliest biblical passage ever found in ancient artifacts. Two tiny strips of silver, each wound tightly like a miniature scroll and bearing the inscribed words, were uncovered in a tomb outside Jerusalem and initially dated from the late seventh or early sixth century B.C. - some 400 years before the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/28/science/28scro.html?ei=5090&en=a60f957692e64020&ex=1254110400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&adxnnlx=1162357559-8k+ZSZSpCIuaMCJtghIQ4Q

As far as the oldest book of the Bible. Job -1500 B.C.

Answer 2

Not all of the current books of the bible were there in the beginning, for obvious reasons (the New Testament, for example) and many have changed depending on the current political structure of the times and Church. There are plenty of apocryphal works that do not show up in the bible but are attributed to prophets and other "inspired" writers of the time.

The actual oldest biblical text was the Codex Vaticanus from the 4th century. However, while the dead sea scrolls comprise some biblical texts, it doesn't really answer your question. In the DSS, there were the Testiments of Levi, the Book of Enoch, and the Book of Ester, to name just a few. While there isn't a "Genesis" book, there are allusions to the Ten Commandments. You also have the Nag Hamadi scrolls which contain Gnostic and other Christian writings that were not all considered heretical.

It's not really clear which is the actual oldest written book of the bible. Some people, in fact a great deal, believe it was actually the Book of Job. It was written somewhere between 2100 and 1900 BC - supposedly. It's certainly not Genesis, which was written at the time of several other books - just because it's first in the Old Testiment does not mean it was written first.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

Some 'versions' of the Bible aren't translated too well. They are just that, versions. But Bibles that are 'translations' should have NO contradictions what so ever, as they are 'translated' word for word. That's the difference. If you try a 'translation' you will immediately notice the difference. I think you'll like it if you are honest hearted. The Bible is easy to understand. If there are contradictions seemingly, it is usually because someone doesn't understand fully the circumstances of the situation, the year, the insodent background, etc and then they compare it to something else. Or possibly it was a parable and they compare it to something written that was a metaphor. These are where sometimes it may seem like there are contradictions, but they are not. Besides, there are two scriptures that I like in this case: Revelation22:18-19 18 “I am bearing witness to everyone that hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll; 19 and if anyone takes anything away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take his portion away from the trees of life and out of the holy city, things which are written about in this scroll." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work" You may email me any contraditions you are thinking of and I will be glad to explain if you like :)

Answer 4

I think the oldest nearly complete scroll is the Scroll of Isaiah the Prophet (part of the Dead Sea Scroll collection.

Not sure, but there may be Scripture portions from older scrolls.

And there are said to be some early inscriptions which refer to Biblical events.

Hezekiah's tunnel inscription would be one of the older items considered incontestable.

Answer 5

The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) is very old based on the structure of the Hebrew poetry.

An amulet has been discover, inscribed with Numbers 6:24-6, dating to the 6th Century BC

Answer 6

i'm going to take a wild guess here and say that the book of Genesis was the oldest passage ever found! it was the first book in the Bible and told how the world was created! can't get much of an older passage than that!

Answer 7

I was reading a translation of the Bible that included some notes about each book of the Bible before the verses and it was mentioned that the book of Job could be one of the oldest books of the Bible.

Answer 8

Dead Sea Scrolls...which by the way says that flying insects have only 4 legs...lol

Answer 9

Ebla (Tell Mardikh) cuneiform archives

Answer 10

no ne actually knows... but the "oldest book" where bible scolars believe is the first book of the prophet Isaiah..... so no one actually knows....