Fruit of the Spirit

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

Summer 2002                                                            Volume 3, Issue 3


Where Did The Bible Come From? Part 2

THE NEW TESTAMENT

The New Testament contains 27 books giving the Bible a grand total of 66 books. The New Testament is written in the Greek language.

The New Testament we have today was written in the 1 st century A. D. One historian believes that there could be as many as 15,000 complete manuscripts and fragments available now to help scholars put together the 27 books we call the New Testament. For the purposes of our lesson we will discuss 3 sources used to verify the text of our New Testament: (1) Greek manuscripts; (2) Early versions (translations of the New Testament into other languages other than the Greek); (3) Quotes from uninspired writers (those who wrote letters or spoke of the New Testament).

Greek Manuscripts: It is believed that about 4,000 of these manuscripts are still in existence. Some of these manuscripts are complete while others were found in parts. These manuscripts may be broken down into 4 categories or divisions.

Papyri Manuscripts: These are a early group of manuscripts that used "writing material made from the papryus plant." These manuscripts were very fragile and are found mostly in fragments. Several of these dated back to the 2nd and 3rd century.

Uncial Manuscripts: The word uncial refers to a common style of writing used on certain manuscripts. This style of writing is similar to our print. Several of these manuscripts date back to the 4th century.

Minuscules Manuscripts: These manuscripts were written in a cursive style similar to our cursive style of writing today. Manuscripts of this type date back to the 8th century. More than 2,500 of these manuscripts have been catalogued.

Lectionaries Manuscripts: Manuscripts of this type were ancient reading lessons used in public assemblies

and in the churches. The majority of these manuscripts were uncials and were found beginning in the 6th century. More than 1,600 of these manuscripts are known to exist.

Early Versions: Another source used to determine the accuracy of the original New Testament text were the early versions of the Bible. These early versions of the Bible were translated from the Greek into other languages. The early versions are said to be very important in determining the accuracy of the text of the New Testament because several of them are dated before the uncial manuscripts. The early versions have been divided into 3 groups: (1) Syriac versions; (2) Egyptian versions; (3) Latin versions.

The Syriac versions have been dated as far back as 170 A. D. The Egyptian versions have been dated as early as 200 to 250 A. D. Some Latin versions were dated as early 386 A. D.

Post-apostolic Writers: One more bit of evidence used to verify the original text of the New Testament are those things written by those we call the "Church Fathers." Several of these writings were completed after the death of the apostles or what is called by some the "age of the apostles.". Several of these writers not only quoted a few passages from the original New Testament but many of them used several of the passages in their writings.

Tertullian was a early Christian whose early writings were known to defend Christianity. In 200 A. D. he used more that 3,000 quotations from what is known as the New Testament. Polycarp, who is believed to have been an elder/bishop for the church in Smyrna, referenced at least 36 passages in one of his letters. He lived during the 1st and 2nd century. Justin Martyr, called by some a "Christian Apologist," made several references to the New Testament in his writings dated 140 A. D. These men were not inspired, but were faithful men, and were

(continued on page 8)


Inside...
Page 1 - Wrong Is Always Wrong | Page 2 - Where In The Bible Will I Find...
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies | Page 5 - The Christian In Business
Page 6 - Where Did The Bible Come From? | Page 7 - Christian Evidences | Page 8 - Continuations
Page 9 - The Christian Home | Page 10 - Continuations | Page 11 - The Children's Page
Page 12 - Announcements

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