Where is the oldest existing Bible?
We have so many versions of the Bibke today. The different versions can vary so much and have been do severky altered that it sometimes makes me wonder about the credibility of my own. This has made me wonder where the oldest existing Bible now is? Do we use it as a reference?
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Asked October 07 2014
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Anonymous
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Lena Wms
I am so glad that this question was asked. There are many commentators that have attempted to answer this question but the best answer can be found in the scriptures themselves. "All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the MAN OF GOD may be perfect..." This answers where the Bible came from. Now let's look at who God used. Men that spoke and wrote ancient Hebrew and Arabic languages.
So what is the best way to study the Holy Scriptures? To study as close to the original language as possible. Let us consider this in another way. If a person came to the United States and wanted to study our Constitution would it not behoove him to go directly to the original document? Yes, there are several variations that explain the Constitution, make it seem simple to understand. Yet to understand the full impact of the words, the true meaning, the real substance of the document, one must come and read the Constitution for themselves.
Today, we do not have the tutoring and knowledge it requires to pick up ancient scrolls and read what Moses or Jeremiah recorded for us. However, we can pick up a near translation that is so close to these in the English and with Strong's Concordance look at the words in the Hebrew till our heart explodes with joyous rapture considering all Christ Jesus has done for us at His Cross. God Blessed King James in his quest for an English Bible for the common people. God's inspired Word rings true through the Hebrew words that the Jews so labored over
Consider the word heart. We have a lover heart and a worker heart. Both are translated as heart in the Bible but mean two totally different things. Without the Strong's Concordance as a backup to the KJV one would never know that there is a vast difference in loving God and working for God and which one must come first. (Many powerful ministries are put on hold while they learn to put their lover heart before their worker heart.)
In closing, if you are questioning, God, by His Holy Spirit is leading you to a higher place in Himself. Study to shew thyself approved a workman that need not be ashamed. Dig in, search out, find hidden treasure. God is bigger than the box we attempt to put Him in, and He LOVES to reveal His Darling Son Jesus!
Be Blessed,
Lena
Pat Roles
Today we have the best versions available as we have amazing technology and the Dead Sea scrolls as well as other ancient manuscripts that are revealing a more accurate rendering of words and meanings. Whenever someone comments to me that I can’t believe in the Bible because of all the different versions I always note to them that they all say the same thing. They all point to Jesus Christ as the savior