Biblical Evidence to show the bible existed before us

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Biblical Archaeology CFCI Bible College 2022
Zanele Ndiweni
Assignment question 2
BIBLE STUDY
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CONTENTS
1.
Pictures Illustrations
2.
Ancient Biblical Artifacts
3.
Discovery
Biblical References
4.
5.
Interpretation etc
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Prologue
Biblical archaeology is defined as the study of
the archaeological remains of the peoples,
cultures, and periods in which the biblical texts
were formed. While in the past biblical
archaeology was often seen as an ideologically
motivated field of inquiry, currently, a
balanced and scientifically advanced approach is
common among most practitioners.
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The Bible Manuscripts and Archaeology
Introduction In recent lessons we have looked at
a number of ways that strongly support the
historicity, reliability, and accuracy of the
Bible science and prophecy.These evidences
provide affirmation to what believers are already
convicted about that the Bible is the inspired
word of God. 2 Tim. 316-17 These evidences serve
as another witness attesting the truthfulness and
inerrancy of the Bible..
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FOREWOD
In this lesson we shall look other evidences that
serve as more evidence for the truthfulness of
the scriptures. Old and New Testaments
manuscripts. A few extra biblical archaeological
findings
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The Old Testament Manuscripts

• Dead Sea scrolls (DSS).
• Over 800 manuscripts 15,000 fragments found
• throughout the 11 caves.
• Dated 150 B.C. 65 A.D.
• Every O.T. book except Esther found.
• Merrill F. Unger This complete document of
• Isaiah quite understandably created a sensation
• since it was the first major Biblical manuscript
• of great antiquity ever to be recovered. Interest
• in it was especially keen since it antedates by
• more than a 1,000 years the oldest Hebrew texts
• preserved in the Masoretic tradition.

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The Old Testament Manuscripts
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Old Testament Manuscripts
Probably the Dead Sea Scrolls have had
the greatest Biblical impact. they have provided
Old Testament manuscripts approximately 1,000
years older than our previous oldest manuscript.
The Dead Sea Scrolls have demonstrated that the
Old Testament was accurately transmitted during
this interval. In addition, they provide a
wealth of information on the times leading up to,
and during, the life of Christ.--Dr. Bryant
Wood, archaeologist, Associates for Biblical
Research
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This limestone inscription from a burial cave in
Judah c. 800750 B.C.E. is written in
Paleo-Hebrew script and reads Cursed be Hagaf
son of Hagab by Yahweh ?ebaot.
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Septuagint (Tetragrammaton)

• According to scholars, no copies of the
• Septuagint dated before the mid-2nd century CE/AD
• substitutes the Tetragrammaton (Yahweh's name)
• with Kyrios (the Greek word Lord).
• Septuagint Greek Old Testament
• Many of the New Testament quotations come from
• the Septuagint version of the Jewish Bible.
• It was regarded by Jews as the Christian Old
• Testament.
• These copies are slightly older than the Dead Sea
• Scrolls. 250-65 B.C.

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The Old Testament ManuscriptsAn example of the
preservation of the Old Testament (Samuel
Davidson describes some of the disciplines of the
Talmudists in regard to the Scriptures)
A synagogue roll must be written on the skins
of clean animals, prepared for the particular use
of the synagogue by a Jew. These must be fastened
together with strings taken from clean
animals. Every skin must contain a certain number
of columns, equal throughout the entire
codex. The length of each column must not extend
over less than 48 or more than 60 lines and
the breadth must consist of thirty letters.
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The whole copy must be first-lined and if
three words be written without a line, it is
worthless. The ink should be black, neither red,
green, nor any other color, and be prepared
according to a definite recipe. An authentic copy
must be the examplar, from which the transcriber
ought not in the least deviate. No word or
letter, not even a yod, must be written from
memory, the scribe not having looked at the codex
before him Between every consonant the space of a
hair or thread must intervene---
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-between every new parashah, or section,
the breadth of nine consonants between every
book, three lines. The fifth book of Moses must
terminate exactly with a line but the rest need
not do so. Besides this, the copyist must sit in
full Jewish dress, wash his whole body, not begin
to write the name of God with a pen newly dipped
in ink, and should a king address him while
writing that name he must take no notice of
him. (numbering incorporated by Geisler and Nix)
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(No Transcript)
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There is no possible way that the copies of
the Old Testament manuscript could have been
written after Jesus was born. This means that the
prophecies as noted in the Old Testament Constant
in von Tischendorf Found nearly complete 4th
century (350 A.D.) New Testament manuscript in
1859 in Mt. Sinai. Hence the name of Old/New
Testaments Codex Sinaiticu
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• New Testament
• The number of manuscripts (Josh McDowell and Bill
• Wilson, A Ready Defense).
• There are over 24,000 existing manuscripts (5,700
• in Greek) of the New Testament.
• Copies in existence are as recent as 50-225 years
• from the time of the resurrection
• Comparison between New Testament manuscripts and
• other ancient manuscripts.

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Extra Biblical Findings The following are
archaeological findings independent from the Old
and New Testament manuscripts They are
independent because they are not the actual
writings of the scriptures. They include
information, however, found in the scriptures.

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The script is known as cuneiform, after the
Latin word (cuneus) for a wedge. The Sumerian
people developed this writing system, the oldest
yet known, in about 3000BC. The writing records
the names of the rulers of central and southern
Iraq. Also has the recording of a great
flood This Prism is believed to have been
written in 1800 B.C. in the city of Larsa by an
unknown scribe
SumeriansThe Weld-Blundell Prism
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• Numbers 624-26 May the Lord bless you and keep
• you may the Lord cause his face to shine upon
• you and be gracious to you may the Lord lift up
• his countenance upon you and grant you peace.
• (Scholars) concluded that the amulets probably
• dated back to the pre-Exile, First Temple period.
• Their findings don't prove that the Pentateuch
• dates back that far, but they do suggest that at
• least some portions of the Book of Numbers were
• in existence at that time.

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• The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III
• Jehu was king from about 841-814 B.C.
• The inscription on this particular section of the
• panel reads Tribute of Jehu, son of Omri,
• silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden beaker,
• golden goblets, pitchers of gold, lead, staves
• for the bed of the king, javelins, I received
• from him.
• The pillar was found in Nimrod (Babylon) and
• records Jehus tribute to Shalmaneser III.

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• Conclusion
• This sampling of evidences from archaeology is a
• continuance from so many other evidences in favor
• of the authenticity, reliability, and accuracy of
• the Bible.
• May our faith be ever strengthened in the God
• above who has given to us His word of salvation.