Proof for the Bible part 5: Manuscript evidence

If we were to ask about manuscript support for the most ancient of writings, could we produce that? If I were to say, "I do not believe Homer wrote Illiad." would I not be thought foolish? Why? Because of manuscript support. Here are some interesting things to note about some of the most well known writings from ancient times. Please note, this is not my list but I am reiterating what has already been done by others.

Lucretius died around 55 or 53 B.C. We are not aware of the date for earliest copy, however, there is about 1,100 years between original and copy. We know of only 2 copies left today. We cannot give an accuracy of textual purity.

Pliny wrote around A.D. 61-113. The earliest copy from him is A.D. 850 so there is around 750 YEARS between the original and the copy and again we cannot give an accuracy of the textual purity.

Plato wrote 427-347 B.C. and the earliest copy we know of is A.D. 900, some 1200 years between the original and the copy. We have only 7 copies in existence. No ability to give an accuracy of the textual purity.

Demosthenes wrote around the 4th Century B.C. The earliest copy is about A.D. 1100 meaning there is some 800 years between the two. We have 8 confirmed copies but no ability to give an accuracy of the textual purity.

Herodotus wrote around 480-425 B.C. His copies were around A.D. 900 meaning there was 1300 years between original and copy and we have about 800 years between the two with 8 manuscripts around today.

Suetonius wrote around A.D. 75-160, and the earliest copy is known to be around A.D. 950. Therefore, some 800 years between the two and there are 8 manuscripts available. We, again, cannot determine the manuscript accuracy.

Thucydides wrote around 460-400 B.C. and his earliest copy is around A.D 900 so there are some 1300 years between the original and the copy. We have 8 manuscripts available and no way to know the accuracy.

Let us move to some that have more details we can give.

Caesar wrote around 100-44 B.C. and the earliest known copy was around A.D. 900. There is roughly 1000 years between the original and the copy, and there are 20 manuscripts available.

Aristotle who wrote around 384-322 B.C.. His earliest copy is around A.D. 1100 meaning there is some 1400 years between the original and the copy. We have 40 copies available and still cannot give an accuracy rating!

Remember how it was asked how someone would feel if I said I do not believe that Homer wrote Illiad? It was said I would be thought a fool? Why?

Homer wrote Illiad around 900 B.C. The first copy was around 400 B.C. and therefore only 500 years exist between the two. We have a major 643 copies available and we can say there is a 95% accuracy of the text! I would be foolish indeed to make a case Homer did not write it.

Imagine then how foolish it is to say the New Testament is fake and not what it says it is! Especially if someone says they believe Homer wrote Illiad but then deny the New Testament, I would say that is foolish indeed! Why?

The New Testament was written about A.D. 50-100 and the first and earliest copy (although this info is a little old) is around A.D. 130 (some newer references say we have some copies from the book of Mark from about 90 A.D. which means the copy was written about the same time the originals were still in use!) How many manuscripts? Not 8. Not 50. Not 600. Not 1000. If we were to put all known manuscripts, including the Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Aramaic, coupled with the Greek, we have over 24,000 manuscripts in existence! Couple that with the ability to say we have a 99.5% accuracy, the evidence is overwhelming!

Who would be more foolish? Those who say Homer did not write, or those who say the New Testament is fake?

Dear reader, the weight of the manuscripts alone gives hard proof for the validity of the Scriptures. Sadly, many still argue against the Bible. Every time truth, logic, and reason has been applied to study the Bible, it has come up validated and authoritative. Therefore, the challenge to those who may still doubt, give me evidence to show the Bible is in error or less than what it claims? I challenge anyone from a manuscript position to prove the Bible is false and illegitimate.

Consider this as well, if the argument is made that the Bible is false, even with the OVERWHELMING evidence to the contrary, we can also make the case that ALL ancient writings is false. This is a shaky foundation and would be impossible to defend. So how can one defend the ancient writings of these SECULAR writers, but ignore the Bible? It is a cognitive choice to ignore the truth.

Anyone can choose to ignore truth, but that does not change the fact that truth is still there. It does not negate the standards and the demands of the Scriptures, and all will still fall under its judgment, both good and bad, whether one accepts it or not. The challenge will be re-iterated, can anyone, using manuscripts, prove the Bible false? To date, that has never been happened, and it never will.