“In the number of ancient MSS. [manuscripts] attesting a writing, and in the number of years that had elapsed between the original and the attesting MSS., the Bible enjoys a decided advantage over classical writings [those of Homer, Plato, and others]. . . . Altogether classical MSS. are but a handful compared with Biblical. No ancient book is so well attested as the Bible.”—The Bible From the Beginning (New York, 1929), P. Marion Simms, pp. 74, 76.
A report published in 1971 shows that there are possibly 6,000 handwritten copies containing all or part of the Hebrew Scriptures; the oldest dates back to the third century B.C.E. Of the Christian Greek Scriptures, there are some 5,000 in Greek, the oldest dating back to the beginning of the second century C.E. There are also many copies of early translations into other languages.
In the introduction to his seven volumes on The Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri, Sir Frederic Kenyon wrote: “The first and most important conclusion derived from the examination of them [the papyri] is the satisfactory one that they confirm the essential soundness of the existing texts. No striking or fundamental variation is shown either in the Old or the New Testament. There are no important omissions or additions of passages, and no variations which affect vital facts or doctrines. The variations of text affect minor matters, such as the order of words or the precise words used . . . But their essential importance is their confirmation, by evidence of an earlier date than was hitherto available, of the integrity of our existing texts.”—(London, 1933), p. 15.
It is true that some translations of the Bible adhere more closely to what is in the original languages than others do. Modern paraphrase Bibles have taken liberties that at times alter the original meaning. Some translators have allowed personal beliefs to color their renderings. But these weaknesses can be identified by comparison of a variety of translations.
2007-11-22 09:08:47 · 12 answers · asked by Adamantium 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
they may try and jumble the words here and there but the message is the same. God wont let us be deceived by the bible, it is the word of God. i cant speak for modern translations i only speak for the KJV
2007-11-22 09:13:54 · answer #1 · answered by mg© - anti VT™ MG AM© Fundi4Life 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The changes in the Bible are small and mostly spelling errors.
There are texts that were purposely changed to fake trinity proof texts....such as 1 Timothy 3:16 and 1 John 5:7 in the King James and Old English Catholic Douay. These have been corrected in Protestant and Catholic modern language Bibles, but other falsified trinity proofs have been added to replace them.
If anyone wants to know more, they can email me.
Debbie
2007-11-22 17:15:16 · answer #2 · answered by debbiepittman 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good question and you have it right! Some books of the Bible such as Isaiah we have even predate Jesus and there is a copy of Isaiah in the Museum of the Book in Israel that dates from 250 BC.
Todd
2007-11-22 17:15:58 · answer #3 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible started out as oral traditions that were joined together and written down in varied scrolls that were joined together in to"books' which were discerned by Mosaic and Apostolic Tradition through the Synagogue and Church to be the Bible over aprocess of 1000s of years.
2007-11-22 17:15:22 · answer #4 · answered by James O 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has certainly been changed. Think about it, Jesus didn't speak English, or even Greek, Roman, and probably not even in Hebrew. Aramaic is more likely. There are no Old Aramaic texts for Scripture.
2007-11-22 17:12:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
It has been changed.
The Septuagint was changed due to the fact that Methuselah lived through the flood, dying 14 years after the event. Since he wasn't on the ark, St. Jerome had the text revised, producing the Vulgate.
2007-11-22 17:12:15 · answer #6 · answered by taa 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Phooy- I was gonna try to answer that.
The short answer is...there are just far too many ancient manuscripts from all over that match up.
2007-11-22 17:14:56 · answer #7 · answered by Poor Richard 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It has been changed inumerous times by other people. The only Holy book that hjas been unchanged is the Quran, check it out.
2007-11-22 17:12:40 · answer #8 · answered by NeeNa N 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Read ‘God To Us: How We Got Our Bible’, by Norman Geisler.
Plus, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.
2007-11-22 17:14:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think your question has been changed. I started reading it and before I got halfway through it had been changed. That's not funny.
2007-11-22 17:14:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋