1. How reliable is the New Testament? 10/12/2014

2. When was the New Testament composed? All of the New Testament books were composed within the first century A.D. (50-100) Some scholars agree that the whole NT was composed before 70 A.D.

3. Acts--A.D. 62 1 Timothy--A.D. 62-64 Titus--A.D. 62-64 1 Peter--A.D. 64-65 2 Timothy--A.D. 66-67 2 Peter--A.D. 67-68 Hebrews--A.D. 67-69 Jude--A.D. 68-70 John--A.D. 80-90 1 John--A.D. 90-95 2 John--A.D. 90-95 3 John--A.D. 90-95 Revelation--A.D. 94-96 James--A.D. 44-49 Galatians--A.D. 49-50 Matthew--A.D. 50-60 Mark--A.D. 50-60 1 Thessalonians--A.D. 51 2 Thessalonians--A.D. 51-52 1 Corinthians--A.D. 55 2 Corinthians--A.D. 55-56 Romans-- A.D. 56 Luke--A.D. 60-61 Ephesians--A.D. 60-62 Philippians--A.D. 60-62 Philemon--A.D. 60-62 Colossians--A.D. 60-62 When was the New Testament composed? http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA176/when-were-the-bible-books- written

4. Terms to know Manuscript (MS) - Handwritten copy of the original writings Codex – manuscript in book form that contains sheets bound together (similar to our books) Extant - Currently existing (as opposed to extinct)

5. Terms to know Uncial Style of handwriting similar to our capital letters These manuscripts date to the 4 th century or later THISISHOWANUNCIALWOULDLOOK Minuscule Script with smaller letters (like our cursive style). Meant for the production of books Lectionary Early church service books containing selected Scriptures usually from the New Testament

6. Bibliographical evidence How well was the text transmitted?

7. Extant Greek Manuscripts Language of the New Testament Uncials307 Minuscules2,860 Lectionaries2,410 Papyri109 Total5,686

8. Extant manuscripts in other languages Latin Vulgate10,000+ Ethiopic2,000+ Slavic4,101 Armenian2,587 Syriac Pashetta350+ Bohairic100 Arabic75 Old Latin50 Anglo Saxon7 Gothic6 Sogdian3 Old Syriac2 Persian2 Frankish1

9. 9 New Testament

10. Comparison to other works AuthorBookDate WrittenEarliest CopiesTime GapNumber of Copies HomerIliad800 B.C.c. 400 B.C.c. 400 yrs.643 HerodotusHistory480-425 B.C.c. A.D. 900c. 1,350 yrs.8 ThucydidesHistory460-400 B.C.c. A.D. 900c. 1,300 yrs.8 Plato400 B.C.c. A.D. 900c. 1,300 yrs.7 Demosthenes300 B.C.c. A.D. 1100c. 1,400 yrs.200 CaesarGallic Wars100-44 B.C.c. A.D. 900c. 1,000 yrs.10 LivyHistory of Rome59 B.C.-A.D. 174th cent. (partial)c. 400 yrs.1 partial mostly 10th cent.c. 1,000 yrs.19 copies TacitusAnnalsA.D. 100c. A.D. 1100c. 1,000 yrs.20 Pliny SecundusNatural HistoryA.D. 61-113c. A.D. 850c. 750 yrs.7 New TestamentA.D. 50-100c. 114 (fragment)50 yrs.5,366 c. 200 (books)100 yrs. c. 250 (most of N.T.)150 yrs. c. 325 (complete N.T.)225 yrs. From New Evidence that Demands a Verdict

11. What’s the earliest Greek manuscript of the New Testament? John Rylands fragment (117-130 A.D.). Also called P 52 This fragment is written on both sides It contains verses from John 18:31-33, 37-38 2.5” x 3.5”

12. Chester Beatty Papyri Consists of 3 codices that make up most of the New Testament Dated to around 250 A.D.

13. New Testament citations from early church fathers WriterGospelsActsPauline Epistles General EpistlesRevelationTotals Justin Martyr286104363 (266 allusions)330 Irenaeus1,038194499236511,819 Clement (Alex.)1,107441,127207112,406 Origen9,2313497,77839916517,992 Tertullian3,8225022,6091202057,258 Hippolytus73442387271881,378 Eusebius3,2582111,59288275,176 Grand Totals19,3681,35214,03587066436,289

14. Even if every single manuscript and Bible ever written was destroyed, the entire New Testament (except 11 verses) could be reconstructed using the quotations from the early church fathers by the end of the third century.