1. How reliable is the Bible of today ? We have seen that the original gospels were very accurate and reliable (or else, they would be criticized) We don’t have the original version, but copies !!! How accurate are the Bible of today ?

2. How was the Bible passed down? Copy by HAND !!!

3. Are there copy mistakes ? Sure… Matthew 5:22, NIV: –But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement Matthew 5:22, KJV ("Received Text"): –But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement.

4. More copy mistakes… 2 Chronicle 36:9 –Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign 2 Kings 24:8 –Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign

5. What’s the effect of copy mistakes ? Bible textual analysis scholars who studied the evolution of the Bible text through history conclude that: –The Bible that we have TODAY is 99.5% the same as the one originally written –None of the copy mistake has affect any essential Biblical teachings (only minor details)

6. Perspective on Bible accuracy You will often hear that the Bible is more accurate than any account from similar period in history In fact, the Bible is more accurate than any account on the life of Caesar or on the life of Alexander the Great What exactly do people mean when they say that ?

7. Compare Bible with Julius Caesar Caesar died 44 BC Jesus died 30 AD Mark Earliest Surviving Copy Mark Tacitus 70 AD 60 AD 100 yrs 40 yrs 350 AD Earliest Surviving Copy Tacitus 950 AD

8. Compare Bible with Alexander Alex died 323 BC Jesus died 30 AD Mark Earliest Surviving Copy Mark Plutarch 70 AD 60 AD 400 yrs !!! 40 yrs 350 AD Earliest Surviving Copy Plutarch 950 AD

9. Conclusion on Bible accuracy The New Testament is written much quicker after the death of the main character of the account than MANY important ancient characters The New Testament is better preserved than ANY ancient historical document Therefore, the New Testament is more accurate than MANY historical accounts that you read, such as Caesar and Alexander !

10. Further evidence for Bible accuracy Before discovering the Dead Sea scrolls, the earliest surviving copy of Isaiah was written around 900 AD A copy of Isaiah was found in the Quran caves, that was written around 100 BC When the text were compared, they found very few and minor copy errors – and that between two copies from 1000 yrs apart !

11. Summary The Bible that we have today is 99.5% accurate Scribes have taken extreme care in copying the Biblical text –The copiers have developed tricks to check for copy mistakes ! –Count # words in a book, count # letters in each verse, and so on…