The Transmission, Reliability, and Authority of the Old Testament Scriptures

Описание: This collection of insights explores the historical journey of the Old Testament, from its composition between 1400 B.C. and 430 B.C. to its meticulous preservation over centuries. The sources detail the extraordinary fidelity of Jewish scribes, including the Tannaim and Masoretes, who employed rigorous rules—such as counting every letter and destroying pages with minor errors—to ensure scrupulous accuracy.
The reliability of these ancient texts is underscored by the abundance of manuscript evidence, including the tens of thousands of fragments and the landmark discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. These scrolls demonstrate that after 1,000 years of copying, the text remained 95 percent identical to later manuscripts, with virtually no changes in meaning.
Beyond textual mechanics, the sources emphasize the theological and historical significance of these records. They highlight how Jesus and the New Testament writers viewed the Old Testament not merely as a collection of stories, but as authoritative, inspired, and factual history. By treating figures like Noah and Abraham as historical persons and viewing the scriptures as a unified narrative pointing toward the Messiah, they established a foundation where the integrity of both the Old and New Testaments stands together. This synthesis of manuscript evidence and historical testimony provides a secure foundation for understanding the Bible's preservation and its role as a record of divine revelation.