Justin Edwards asks: Hey there! Has the Bible been changed throughout history? I was in a study group in school, and I was listening to a Philosophy Major, a Mormon, and a Christian, talking to each other, and was surprised to hear the Philosophy Major telling the Christian that the Bible doesn't have any original manuscripts, while the Mormon was saying that the Bible has been changed throughout time. I'm new to Christianity, so I was kind of shocked at the fact that the Christian couldn't answer them. My sister told me about you guys, so I thought I'd place the question. Thanks in advance!

Hi Justin,

First off, we can start by saying that if we are going to denounce the Bible as authentic due to not having original manuscripts, then colleges and universities need to denounce a majority of ancient books they use, as they also do not have original manuscripts.

While many ancient writings don't have originals, Paleographers have been able to arrive at original writings through a process where they gather as many copies as they can, and use each copy to correct the errors of each other copy, thus arriving at the original writing. According to Paleographists, only a hand full of copies are needed to arrive at an original. Thus, the more copies they have available, the more certain they are of accuracy.

With this being said, the writings of Pliny carries 7 manuscript copies, Plato carries 7, Suetonious 8, Livy 20, Tacitus 20, Aristotle 49, Homer 643 and so on. Each with a span between 700-1500 years in between the original and the copy. None of these books are ever in question of being authentic, because of the hand-full of copies they have.

The Bible however, contains more than 66,000 manuscripts and scrolls, including Greek, Latin, and other ancient languages. With a span between a bit over 100 years between the original and the copies. As such, the Bible is considered the most vetted document in history, with more textual evidence than any other ancient document by a majority of scholars.

Lastly, as to the Bible having been changed throughout time. This has been an argument pushed by the Atheist community as well as other religions that use a book other than the Bible. This argument however, has been completely destroyed by the finding of the dead sea scrolls. In the mid 1900's, after the Bible had already been largely available and distributed to the public, the finding of the dead sea scrolls in the caves of Kumran (dating appropriately 2000 years old), proved that the Bible has never been changed nor altered, as these 2000 year old writings perfectly matched the Bible.

After this, the Atheist community and other religious organizations refrained for making these statements, as the evidence of the sea scrolls would continously destroy their argument. However, from time to time, as people tend to forget about this finding, the argument gets brought back up, only to be shut down again.

Hope this helps.

Ref.

1. https://www.imj.org.il/en/wings/shrine-book/dead-sea-scrolls

2. https://carm.org/manuscript-evidence (Christian Apologetics Resource Ministry)

Comments:

Justin Edwards: Yes, this definitely helps. That's definitely a lot of useful information. Thank you guys so much.

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: You're welcome! Glad we could help.

Jenny Mendez: I went to Israel on a vacation, and they have the dead sea scrolls in a museum. It was so awesome to see them in person and an eye opener.

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: Awesome Jenny, hope to go there one day and see them as well.

Justin Edwards: I will be studying more about the Bible, you all motivated me to study more. God bless!

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: Glad we could help. If you are placing your trust in God and in the Bible, it's definitely good to know why you believe. It's good to understand that the evidence does point to God. Be blessed!

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works".