History of the Bible - Who Wrote the Bible - Why It's Reliable ? History Documentary

Introduction

This tutorial explores the history of the Bible, focusing on its authorship, reliability, and the significance of ancient manuscripts. Understanding these aspects can enhance your appreciation of the Bible as a historical document and its role in various cultures and religions.

Step 1: Understanding the Bible's Authorship

• The Bible is not simply a translation but is derived from ancient manuscripts.
• Key manuscripts include:
  • Hebrew Masoretic Text for the Old Testament.
  • Greek Textus Receptus for the New Testament.
• Translations like the King James Version are based on these original texts, not on prior translations or interpretations.

Step 2: Evaluating the Reliability of Manuscripts

• More than 14,000 Old Testament manuscripts exist, primarily found in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Europe.
• These manuscripts show remarkable agreement with one another and with the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament dating back to the 3rd century BC.
• The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in the 1940s and 50s, offer critical insights into the accuracy of the Jewish Scriptures prior to Jesus Christ.

Step 3: The Role of Scribes in Manuscript Preservation

• Hebrew scribes were dedicated to preserving the text's accuracy.
• Methods included:
  • Counting letters, words, and paragraphs against master scrolls.
  • Immediate destruction of a manuscript if even a single error was identified.
• This rigorous process ensured high fidelity in the transmission of texts.

Step 4: Assessing New Testament Manuscript Evidence

• There are over 5,300 known copies and fragments of the New Testament in the original Greek.
• Significant facts include:
  • Nearly 800 manuscripts predate 1000 AD.
  • Some texts date back to the early second and third centuries.
  • The gap between the original writings and existing copies is about 60 years.

Step 5: Comparing Manuscript Reliability Across Historical Texts

• The Bible's manuscript evidence exceeds that of other ancient works:
  • Julius Caesar's "The Gallic Wars": 10 manuscripts, 1,000 years after original.
  • Homer's "Iliad": 643 manuscripts, with 764 disputed lines.
  • Shakespeare's plays: each has gaps requiring scholarly interpretation.
• The New Testament, in contrast, has only 40 disputed lines across its manuscripts.

Conclusion

The Bible's reliability is supported by an extensive network of ancient manuscripts and a meticulous preservation process by scribes. This foundation provides a strong basis for its authenticity as a historical document. For further exploration, consider studying specific ancient manuscripts or the translations of the Bible to appreciate their historical contexts.