“How do you know the Bible is true?”
Phone Team Response:
First of all, we have far more surviving manuscript evidence for the New Testament than we have for any other ancient writings. Many New Testament historical writings were written within the life span of people who were present when the events took place. This makes it a trustworthy and reliable historical text. There are minor variances in the 5,800 existing New Testament manuscripts, but by comparing the manuscripts, it is normally easy to see what the real reading was.
The Old Testament, a much older collection of writings, has fewer surviving manuscripts. Yet the quotations of Jesus from the Old Testament Septuagint are very similar to the Old Testament texts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea. There is very little difference of any importance between them. Consider that the Bible was written over a 1,700-year time span, written at different locations, written by folks who were strangers to each other, written in different literary styles, written by people who didn’t intend to write a book, and includes plural accounts of the same events. In spite of this, the narrative is clear and coherent.
The evidence of genuine change in the lives of sinners who read the Bible and were converted is pretty well unquestionable. Murderers have become Sunday school superintendents. Thieves have become trustworthy citizens. Inner city gangsters have become meek proponents of Christ.
Connecting Bible verses: 2 Timothy 3:15, Hebrews 4:12
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