Is the New Testament historically accurate?
![]() Let's look at the evidence of historical accuracy in particular the four Gospels , but also the New Testament in general.
There is an over whelming amount of evidence, but some people would question their validity.
So would those same people question the validity of Caesar's manuscripts on the Gallic War, or Thucydides' History of Peloponnesian War?
Let's see the evidence for these writings, compared with the four Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).
These four men were eye witnesses to the phenomenon that was going on. They wrote four separate accounts on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection from the dead.
[1]
![]() As the chart shows, the time difference between the originals of the gospels, and New Testament, and the oldest surviving documents is very favourable compared with the other historical books - of which people do not doubt that they are reliable texts.
The Gospels/New Testament has an even stronger case of accuracy than these other historic books.
![]() Key to numbers in both charts:-
[1] 'The Case Against Christ: Some Statements for the Defence.' John Young. Falcon, London. ISBN 0 85491 556 7.
[2] John Rylands Library in Manchester.
[3] 2 copies of N.T. including Gospels; one in British Museum, & the other in Vatican Library.
[4] Information from Tyndale House in Cambridge, who specialise in Biblical Research.
[5] Professor Bruce of Manchester University; "There are about 5000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in whole or part." 'The New Testament Documents: Are they Reliable?' by F. F. Bruce IVP.
So we can trust that the copies of the New Testament that we have today, are accurate with the originals that were written.
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