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Case File · Oct 3, 2026 · 1:42

Look at the chart

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Look at the chart. The New Testament tops the list of ancient texts with about 5,600 manuscript copies. Homer's Iliad is a distant second at 643. Most other ancient documents have about 10 or fewer.

The gap between the original and the earliest copy is under a generation, about 30 to 40 years. The Iliad's gap is 500 years. The average for other ancient texts is about 1,100 years.
The copies agree at about 99.5%. The other half of 1% is spelling and small variations that do not change the narrative, such as "Jesus" versus "Jesus Christ."

Five copies of a letter agreeing is not that impressive. 5,600 copies agreeing is.

"The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." — Psalm 12:6–7

Full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZkQ1szEvLQ

#NewTestament #TextualCriticism #Manuscripts #BibleHistory #5600Copies #TestAllThings

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