#STRask How Do You Know You Have the Right Bible?
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Apr 14, 2025 Explore the fascinating debate over the Catholic and Protestant Bibles and whether the original New Testament texts still exist. Delve into the historical context of biblical canonization and the significance of the Apocrypha's inclusion. Uncover the challenges of preserving biblical truth amid skepticism and the role of textual criticism in analyzing ancient manuscripts. Learn how discrepancies in texts often don't affect core doctrines, revealing the complexities of biblical authenticity.
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Canon Formation
- The Christian canon isn't a list of books deemed authoritative by an outside power.
- It's a list of books that were already seen as inherently authoritative by early Christians, primarily based on apostolic authorship and common acceptance.
Maintaining Truth
- God maintained truth over time, despite disagreements and dissent.
- Debates don't negate God's power, as humans have free will and can err.
Manuscript Survival
- Original New Testament manuscripts likely don't exist due to material degradation.
- The oldest surviving fragment is P52 from the Gospel of John, dating back to the early 2nd century.