Does the Bible corrupt over time?

[sarkazma]

I am a hardcore christian, I love my lord Jesus Christ. My brother on the other hand, as far as i know (asked him earlier today) does not even believe in a creater. Now, I was arguing with him on the topic of evolution vs. creationism. (go to www.drdino.com , also www.trueorigin.org , for great resources on that - christian bias though) I have picked up many facts (according to my sources) that carbon dating is extremely inaccurate beyond the range of a few thousand years, the distance of stars can not be measured using paralax beyond 100 lightyears and so on.... Well, anyway, after arguing on that subject, he brought up the question of bible accuracy and how it could become 'corrupted' over time, manipulated or changed perhaps to the authors liking. He also refered to the translations between languages, and how this may affect subtle meanings. How do you feal about this you guys, I mean, I have much faith our lord would not allow this to happen to the vast majority of bibles...

- Kris Simpson
Your friend in [GLOW=royalblue]Jesus Christ[/GLOW]

 

[Catchup]

Good question... I wish I had the answer. I am researching the early church history. The Bible has indeed been changed. At one point in time Bibles were collected and destroyed by fire. New Bibles were given as replacements. I believe the year was 553 A.D. At least one original teaching of the Christian Church was dropped. REINCARNATION
I have been told by a source, that is far more knowledgeable of God than I, that reincarnation is true. I was given factual ways to check it out... but I am hesitant to do anything against the word of God. The Church takes a stance on their decision similar to the one you voiced. That God would not let stand anything that was done to the Bible that was not of God. Time will tell

LOVE

 

[filosofer]

Let's compare works of antiquity and see about this problem of "changes."

[For definition: a manuscript is a handwritten document, not printed. Thus, manuscripts are generally dated prior to 1550, about 100 years after the invention of the printing press.]

Caesar's Gaullic Wars - only two manuscripts exist for this document, the closest being 900 years separated from the original.

New testament writings (27 individual writings) -

5,500 Greek manuscripts, dated from AD 125 to 1500, which means that at least one is within 50-75 years of writing (depending on the date given for John's Gospel)
30,000 translation manuscripts, in Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopic, etc.

1,000,000+ quotations from Church fathers

No other document in history comes close to such a massive amount of evidence.

And the amazing thing, is that when we examine all 5,500 Greek manuscripts and note any discrepancy between them, even down to one letter changes, the difference is less than 2% between all the manuscripts.

Now, keep in mind that these manuscripts come from 13 centuries, were discovered over many regions of the Mediterranean, were completed by many different groups, in many different circumstances.

The evidence for the unchanging nature of the New Testament is phenomenal.

Old Testament, 22 documents in Hebrew, separated into 39 in the English translations.

Until 1946 the oldest complete Hebrew manuscript was Leningradis, dated in AD 1007. In addition there were several Aramaic translations (known as Targums), and Greek translations, the most commonly identified one is called Septuagint, abbreviated LXX. With the beginning of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1946, manuscript evidence was pushed back another 1,000 years. The basic texts of the Old Testament had not changed, even with the addition of vowel pointing by the Masoretes in the 6-9th centuries, the consonant text was the same.

Again further proof of the unchanging nature of God's Word.

 

[goodnewsinc]

Hi, Sarkasma!
I do not mean to be sarcastic ..... but... is not the Word of God "manna" from Heaven? We were told not to eat of the manna when it is older than two-days, because it breeds worms. The words of the Bible are 2000 years old and older. As you know, one spiritual day with God is 1000 years. Your brother is partly right. Translators and redactors have changed words to fit their theology. As and example God's words to Cain were changed from their original meaning in most translations. Only the New English Bible and the New American Bible have God's Words translated accurately. Check out Genesis 4:5-7 in those versions and see how they make sense out of 1 John 3:8-9, and Romans 7:13-25. The "Accuser of the brethren" persuaded translators to change the words in Gen. 4:5-7 to make condemnation of man easier to do. The Judge's Words (verdict) to Cain puts the blame for sin squarely on devils' heads. Is not Jesus called "the Word of God"? John 1:1-5. Just as God allowed the devil to "mess" with Jesus and to kill him, He also allowed the devil to mess with the Word-Jesus (Word-record, tPsalm 40:6-10) and pervert parts of it, too! Because of this God placed 7 Seals on the Word so that men cannot understand it, Isaiah 29:10-14, Revelation 5:1-5. Now you understand why The Spirit could say the following, and it makes sense:

KJV 2Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation.

Now read about the Dead Sea Scrolls and notice that the translators found significant translation differences and errors in today's versions of certain texts when compared with the texts found at Qumram! Have a great day!

GOOD NEWS, Inc.

 

[sarkazma]

"As you know, one spiritual day with God is 1000 years."

Im not so sure about this, although I can't remember where you found this verse in the bible... I am fairly certain if you continue to read the rest of it, you will find that it states something like this: to god, one days is like 1000, and 1000 days is like one.

Gotta find where its located though.... it makes me uneasy to think that perhaps the bible has been tampered with, but knowing this, there is one thing that we can always be certain of.... Our Lord Jesus Christ is real!!

No way around that... later guys

 

[Catchup]

2 Peter 3 :8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Thanks guys! You have provided the answer to my other thread "Let there be Light." I was trying to find out what God meant by a day. Too many people have quit believing that Christ will return because of the delay. When people were composing the Gospels they believed that Christ would return shortly. Maybe to God our Day is not quite over. But it does appear to me… to be twilight.

LOVE

 

[goodnewsinc]

Yes it has been tampered with. Look at the evaluations of changes in text discovered in the Dead Sea Scrolls. I am surprised you do not know this! Use your search engine! There is plenty of information about the findings of the scholars on the Internet. You will be disillusioned and less naive! Not to worry ... Jesus FIXED IT for all! No matter what the devil does, "we have it made" because of Him! Isaiah 53:1-6, 25:6-8, 66:22-23. Praise God!

GOOD NEWS, Inc.

 

[goodnewsinc]

Check this out: http://www.goodnewsinc.net/v2gn/hiscomng.html

Thanks!

GOOD NEWS, Inc.