The Preservation of the Scriptures

Peter wrote in 2nd Peter 1 that the early followers of Christ were "eyewitnesses of His majesty".   Later in the same chapter, he wrote:
19And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,21for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

When you really stop and think about, the Word of God is an incredible work of God - the Scriptures have been preserved throughout the ages, from generation to generation, with phenomenal accuracy.   The church is built on a firm foundation of Biblical truth, and it has continued throughout the years.   Jesus was the Word who became flesh, and He testified to that truth.   And, He continues to speak to us directly today by the knowledge that comes through careful study and meditation on God's Word, and He gives specific direction for our lives based on it.   The preservation of the Word and survival of the church, the body of Christ, provide compelling evidence of God's sustaining hand.

I remember the words of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who addressed the Jewish council concerning the works of Peter and the early disciples.   He said in Acts 5:
35b "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.38And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;39but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God."

The Codex Washingtonianus, generally recognized as the third oldest Bible in the world, is now on display in the Freer Gallery of Art, which is one of the museums at the Smithsonian.   It features the four Gospels written in Greek, is over 1,500 years old, and consists of nearly 200 14-by-21-inch parchment pages, complete with a painted wooden cover.

According to ChristianNews.net, the Codex was first brought to the United States over 100 years ago, when wealthy Detroit businessman Charles Lang Freer purchased the Bible during a visit to Egypt.  While in Egypt, Freer also bought a manuscript which featured text from the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua.

Today, Freer’s document collection is considered one of the most valuable compilations of Biblical manuscripts in the world. The Codex Washingtonianus is of special importance, since scholars believe it to be the third oldest complete text of the four Gospels in the world. Only the Codex Vaticanus in the Vatican and the Codex Sinaiticus in London are older.

The manuscript was written just after Constantine legalized Christianity.  National Geographic is quoted as saying,  “Roman authorities persecuted Christian churches and their congregation. … The two scribes who transcribed the Washingtonianus likely copied from fragments of several Bibles—remnants perhaps from an attack on a Christian church.”

The pastor of a nearby church, Aaron Kraft of Franconia Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA, is encouraging his congregation to take in this limited showing of the Bible.   He writes:

When the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1940s scholars compared the Isaiah scroll which was probably written around the 2nd century BC and the Masoretic Text which was the copied version of the Old Testament that dates from between the 7th and 10th century AD. They found that the two were essentially the same in spite of the 9 centuries that lapsed between the their creations. With that in mind consider the fact that there are only three to four centuries since the life of Jesus Christ and the creation of Codex Washingtonianus.

My faith isn’t based on the existence of this artifact but it is certainly strengthened by it. Take advantage of such a rich treasure being located in right here in our backyard.

As we continue to focus at the beginning of the year on exploring God's Word, I think this story can call to mind certain aspects of the Bible itself.   For one thing, archaeological discoveries can really serve to remind us about the extraordinary preservation of the Word of God.   I think what the pastor wrote is incredible here - he said that there were 9 centuries between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Masoretic Text - and the manuscripts were essentially the same.   When you look at the smaller time frame between the life of Jesus and the Washington codex and consider that the manuscript could have been copied from a church under attack from the Romans, we can rejoice in how the words of Jesus were related and splendidly handed down.

It was certainly a thrill to observe the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in Mobile a few years ago.   To think that these historic texts survived the test of time is a testimony, I believe, to the way that the Lord desires to reinforce the authenticity of the Scriptures.   Remember the words of Gamaliel; he cited movements that had died out and warned the religious leaders of the day that if the movement of Christ-followers was of God, then they did not need to fight against it, because they would be fighting against God.  The preservation and survival of the Word of God and the growth of the Christian church provide solid evidence for us about the legitimacy of our faith.    His Word is solid and consistent, we can rely on His truth, and we add our lives to those who have come before who have been used of God to preserve that truth, which provides a solid foundation for us.