Additional Proofs for the Authenticity of the New Testament
Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
There are many who deny that the New Testament is the inspired word of God. Then there are others who say that it has been distorted and mistranslated to the point that no one can tell what is true or what is not. There are numerous skeptics and even some religions who say one or both of those approaches are accurate. I cannot understand the reasoning of “both”, if the first proposition is true, then the second is of no consequence. But the fact is that they are both false assumptions.
The first is that of internal evidence. The numerous references to geographical are extremely accurate, even to the “going down to Jerusalem”, “going up to Antioch” phrases. None have been shown to be wrong. Likewise, the historical references have proven just as accurate. Times of rule of various kings and emperors. Prophecies both made and fulfilled. Quotations made accurately from Old Testament and other ancient writings.
There have been many papyri fragments found through excavations which verify portions of New Testament contents. Then there are writings of the early Christians, after the death of the Apostles which also strengthen and confirm many of the inspired writers remarks.
When most of the remarks of the New Testament writings have been thoroughly proven accurate and none have been shown to be inaccurate, there should be no question in any one’s mind that the book is authentic and is just what the writers claim it to be.
A slightly more daunting task is that of determining whether or not the book, as we have it today, shows us the precise meaning the original writers intended to portray. But it can be done. Fortunately, we have, and have had for many years, highly trained and highly educated men, and women, who have devoted their lives to resolving just this very task.
Although there are none of the signature originals of the New Testament writings in existence (or at least not yet discovered) but there are literally thousands of ancient copies and fragments from different localities and different times. Here are some brief quotes taken from New Testament Ancient Manuscripts, of the website biblefacts.org.
Codex Sinaiticus: Dates from the mid fourth century and originally included both Old and New Testaments plus the Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas, all in Greek. Sin. was found in a monastery library on the slopes of Mount Sinai in 1859 and brought to St. Petersburg. In 1933 it was sold to the British Museum in London where it currently resides.
Codex Vaticanus: Fourth century Greek codex of the Old and the New Testaments. The codex was brought to the Vatican from Constantinople as a gift to the pope in the fourteenth century. The Old Testament lacks Gen.1-46:28; portions of II Kings 2; and Psalms 105-137. The New Testament is missing Heb. 9:14; I and II Tim.; Titus and Revelation.
It was not available to open scholarship until 1889. The original is still in the Vatican.
Neither Sinaiticus or Vaticanus contain the last twelve verses of Mark (Mark 16:9-20). However, the verses are included in some earlier fragments, and in the writings of Church fathers, even ones cited by scholars as second century. These are the only two Greek manuscripts (Sinaiticus and Vaticanus), out of a total of 620 which contain the Gospel of Mark, that omit the verses.
There are over 5,300 known ancient Greek manuscript copies (MSS) and fragments of the New Testament in Greek that have survived until today.
Counting an additional 10,000 Latin Vulgate and over 9,300 other early manuscript versions in Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Gothic, and Ethiopic, totaling over 24,000 surviving manuscripts of the New Testament.
Small changes and variations in manuscripts affect none of the central Christian doctrines, nor do they change the message.
Tertullian stated that by 150 A.D., the Church in Rome had compiled a list of the New Testament books matching our list of today.
We have 32,000 quotes from before 325 AD, from Irenaeus (182-188 AD), Justin Martyr (before 150 AD), Polycarp (107 AD), Ignatius (100), Clement (96 AD) and many other second and third century fathers. All but eleven verses of the New Testament could be reconstructed through their writings alone.
The Muratonian Canon Fragment dating from 170 AD lists the same New Testament that we have.
See the Ante-Nicean Fathers, a 32 volume Encyclopedia of the writings of the Early Church, by Eerdmans Publishing. Or on the Internet see the Early Church Fathers.
There is no room for wrongly concluding that the New Testament is either an uninspired group of writings, that it has errors, or that it has been distorted and misinterpreted to the point of being unreliable. Only those with a prejudiced mindset can disagree with facts such as exists for the authenticity of either of the Testaments. .
Study of these books with an unbiased mind can show man the way to eternal life, while willfully rejecting it or willfully failing to investigate it, will result in eternal punishment. You can only find that in one book, the Holy Bible. It’s statements are accurate, It’s precepts are binding and it’s judgments are fair.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hi Joel. Nicely done. I was reading Romans yesterday and got side tracked with all the quotes from the Old Testament, then moved into the book of Galatians this morning and again was so blessed to see how everything Paul taught - or should I say expounded on came from the Old Testament prophets and then Jesus himself. Amazing. I'm reading Colossians tonight. I am looking forward to a renewed understanding and new insight as well. Going though John in my new believers class has been so beneficial to me - I think I am learning more than they are :-) The word of God is truly alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. Blessings to you! TeresaThanks Teresa, for your nice comment. I just wish everyone could become deeply involved in the study of his word. I'v always been impressed by Proverbs 8-17: "I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me."
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