Ancient Texts and Modern Translations
When discussing the accuracy of the biblical texts, scoffers sometimes refer to the "telephone game" or similar. In these, someone quietly says a word or phrase to the next person, who passes it along, and so on down the line. The last person seldom hears the real phrase. Frankly (mind if I call you Frank?), it is reasonable to ask if the biblical texts have changed over time.
God made sure that there were many manuscripts, and they were carefully copied. Were there discrepancies over all these years? Yes. There were some scribal errors and spelling errors (in some ancient languages, a particle of a word — a jot or tittle as rendered in the King James — can make a difference). In Bible manuscripts, the older manuscripts are usually better. This is mainly because they were written closer to the events the describe, and so on.
There was a remarkable vindication of the accuracy of textual transmission over the ages is the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Many of these were Old Testament texts, and some other historical documents were also found. Scholars also learned that we do indeed have the proper understanding of the historicity of the Genesis Flood.
 |
| Qumran Caves image credit: Wikimedia Commons / Grauesel (CC BY-SA 3.0) |
There was a remarkable vindication of the accuracy of textual transmission over the ages is the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Many of these were Old Testament texts, and some other historical documents were also found. Scholars also learned that we do indeed have the proper understanding of the historicity of the Genesis Flood.
Did you know that one of the greatest archaeological discoveries was just a stone’s throw away? In 1947 a Bedouin stumbled upon ancient scrolls when he tossed a rock into a cave opening and heard pottery shatter. This discovery led to the search for more scrolls. Between 1947 and 1956, some nine hundred manuscripts were discovered in eleven caves around Qumran, along the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. Over two hundred scrolls were portions of the Bible itself, dated 250 BC–AD 68. Amazingly, every Old Testament book except Esther was represented. These are the Dead Sea Scrolls.To finish reading, follow the link to "Dead Sea Scrolls—Timeless Treasures from Qumran".