How can I know our Bible hasn't been tampered with?

[CushBabylonian]

Being new to the Word of God, I'm currently in a "research and understanding" phase. How can I know that the Bible isn't "altered". The reason I say so is because in my studies of European history, Greeks and such have a habit of taking what's not theirs and "altering" it to fit their objectives - especially if would be distributed to the masses. I cringe when I hear people say the Greeks invented math. No, it was the black Egyptians using it to survey the land for building and Nile River purposes. This is just one case. Europeans really didn't have any power until after the Renaissance (realizing how far behind they were in the world) and probably altered the Bible for inspiration. Seemed like Europeans, Americans, if it wasn't some "white" to it (that is from a Greek basis), they wanted nothing to do with it, and thus altered the Bible to fit their objectives (education, government, etc).

 

[DoomMoose]

Short answer " you can't"

 

[ceres]

First of all, let me say no one invented math. Many different cultures over the space of time have spent time discovering math that has always been present.

There are many answers to the question of how do we know the Bible is accurate, and what parts have possible editing how/why/when, and how does it fit with faith. I do not have time to write a good response now, sorry, but there are a lot of good books out there. You should run to the local bookstore and grab one. (if you want me to recommend a few let me know) A book will be more thorough than anyone on here can or will be. (not to mention accurate-- there are some hairbrained ideas out there-- sorry guys)

 

[Arikay]

What they said.

You cant know if people changed it. The farthest back we have for transcripts are the dead sea scrolls. I believe they have been dated to around the begining of A.D. (around 0 AD but im not sure of the exact date). The dead sea scrolls contain parts (im not sure if its all) of the OT. They are of course, not the original transcripts.

We do know that some things dealing with translations have been changed to fit the definition of what they want. For example, "Witch" is not witch as in the Celtic pagan kind, the original meaning was a "poisoner" (havoc can explain it much better).

Being new to the Word of God, I'm currently in a "research and understanding" phase. How can I know that the Bible isn't "altered". The reason I say so is because in my studies of European history, Greeks and such have a habit of taking what's not theirs and "altering" it to fit their objectives - especially if would be distributed to the masses. I cringe when I hear people say the Greeks invented math. No, it was the black Egyptians using it to survey the land for building and Nile River purposes. This is just one case. Europeans really didn't have any power until after the Renaissance (realizing how far behind they were in the world) and probably altered the Bible for inspiration. Seemed like Europeans, Americans, if it wasn't some "white" to it (that is from a Greek basis), they wanted nothing to do with it, and thus altered the Bible to fit their objectives (education, government, etc).

 

[TCapp]

short answer: textual criticism

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

i can give some things that indicate the scriptures are still valid - but i cannot give you anything to prove it.

as meantioned, their are the dead sea scrolls, however, the estimated time the OT was written began in 1500 BC, Jesus, does however, confirm the validity of the OT. that was around the same time period the dead see scrolls are from, and after the greek empire.

the dead sea scrolls are not perfectly acurate, however, the differences are VERY minor.

 

[Follower of Christ]

Well, of course it was ''tampered'' with.
Everytime somone sat down to translate it, it was tampered with.

 

[yajyu]

well we do know that the bible hasn't been tampered with, because we have some very early copies of the origenals. for instance the dead sea scrolls are copies of danial and other books of the old testiment that date back a long time before the new testiment. also, we have non biblical sources. like the jewish historian josephus i could go on for hours about this but its late here and i can type, im too tired, so please forgive the misspelling. later all

 

[Douglaangu]

I would be more worried about the kind of changes that went on when the OT was passed on through oral tradition.

 

[Arikay]

The dead sea scrolls do Not go back to when the OT was actually written, but they are the oldest known manuscripts.

Quite a bit of it you really do have to take on faith.

Here is an interesting article about who wrote the bible,
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbible1.html

 

[Follower of Christ]

Quite a bit of it you really do have to take on faith.

Why, Arikay, i think you finally have my attention.

Yes, on Faith.

thanks for the link.

 

[Arikay]

This is scary, and I agree with you that translations have hurt it.

I would say a majority of it probably hasn't been changed much since the begining of A.D. however we cant know for certain, but as I mentioned, there is a bit of faith involved too.

Why, Arikay, i think you finally have my attention.

Yes, on Faith.

thanks for the link.

 

[Doctrine1st]

Well, of course it was ''tampered'' with.
Everytime somone sat down to translate it, it was tampered with.

Hi CushBabylonian

There are some mistranslations that have been used to maintain Christian doctrines, which I consider "tampering" as well as out and out forgery in some of the epistles, which I guess one can consider "tampering" as well.

As far as taking what belonged to someone else and altering it to fit their objectives, the Bible and the culture that gave us the Bible is not alone in this act, everyone does it, even today.

 

[AnnMercy2]

*MOD HAT ON*

I am moving this thread to a Christian Only forum. I'm sorry to the ones who aren't Christian and were replying to this thread. I feel it would be better in a CO area. If anybody has any questions, pm me

Anna
CF Senior Moderator

 

[Rafael]

There will always be plenty of nay-sayers to attack the veracity of scripture, but to believe that there is a God with the awesome power to create all the things we wake to each day is to believe that He is at the very least able to preserve His own Word. Ofcourse this is by faith, and why we would ever think that faith is a bad or weak argument is just an indication of how much pressure the evil darkness of this world presses in on our lives. The Bible claims that all scripture is inspired by God and that is good enough for me. God is surely able or we are surely doomed.

 

[Follower of Christ]

just my personal opinion but, i honestly think that pursuing this topic WITH nonchristian imput would have been better.

My faith in God and in the scripture has only increased with the things i have found and the questions i asked due to my previous failing faith.

This should have been allowed to stay in GA where we could have tried to answer non believers questions and been able to what apologetics is for, defend of our faith.

just an opinion.........

 

[Mr.Cheese]

As a new Christian, I urge you to learn the scripture and learn to apply it to your life first. Then you can pursue deeper study.
The textual evidence for the new testament is profound, and we've got a good amount of early manuscripts. I firmly believe the integrity of the intent and message of the writers has been preserved for us. I don't believe we need to fear HONEST biblical criticism because I believe the bible can hold it's own. If it couldn't then I think we would have a problem on our hands.

As far as this thread, I believe moving it was a good idea. It was created by someone who says they are a new Christian.
But I do know what you mean. This would be a good topic in Apologetics as well.

 

[Mark W]

Check out the books by Josh McDowell; "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" and "Evidence that Demands a Verdict II" and "More than a Carpenter".

These should help.

Blessings,

Mark

 

[Mr.Cheese]

And remember. There was a bible long before 1611. It just wasn't in English. And the James' boys didn't do too bad a job with what they had.

 

[cyberwing]

What other book has been proven out by scrolls from ancient time to show they are 99% accurate??? Not only that but let's look at recent digs by Vendyl Jones and many OTHER archeologists who have used Biblical text to FIND things that verify the words written in the old testament. I suggest you go do a search on google for the Dead Sea Scrolls first, then go to the archeology thread I'm told exists here on CF. NO other book has had so many 'challenges', yet it always is proved out. I for one accept the KJV. It has been compared line for line (OLD TESTAMENT ONLY) to the scrolls and in nearly every case was WORD for WORD accurate! (A few words were different but they were translations of certain words which English had only a poor substitute for according to the scholars )
God preserved His Holy Word it is up to us to write it upon our hearts and live it. Blessings to you!
~DJ