THE BIBLE AS A RELIABLE SOURCE

In The Evidence for Classical Literature, Professor Barnes lists three standard tests used to determine the reliability of historical documents:
Three Methods

• The bibliographical test,
• An internal test, 
• An external test.

The Bibliographical Test looks at the number of manuscript copies of the original and the length of time between the writing of the original and the writing of the existing copies when none of the originals still exists.
Here is how the bibliographical test works:
Caesar wrote his history of the Gallic Wars between 100 and 44 B.C. The earliest copy that we have is one produced 1,000 years after his death, and we have only ten copies of that document.
Plato wrote from about 427 to 347 B.C.; the earliest copies of his writings that we have were produced around A.D. 900, nearly 1,200 years after the originals. And we have only seven copies.
Aristotle lived and wrote between 384 and 322 B.C. We have only five copies of his manuscripts today, the earliest copy being produced around A. D. 1100, over 1,400 years after the originals.
Tacitus, the Roman historian, wrote in the first century. The only copy that we have of his writings is from around A.D. 1100, over 1,000 years after the original.

AUTHOR	WHEN WRITTEN	EARLIEST	SPAN	NO. OF COPIES
Caesar	100-44 B.C.	A.D 900	1,000 years	10
Plato	427-347 B.C.	A.D. 900	1200 years	7
Aristotle	384-322 B.C.	A.D 1100	1,400 years	5
Tacitus	A.D.100	A.D. 1100	1,000 years	1

BIBLICAL NEW   TESTAMENT   SCRIPTS
Apostles of New Testament	A.D. 40 to A.D. 90	A.D. 130	40-50 years	More than 13,000

See & compare the above time span of Written & Earliest & Copies, For intentional human interaction, average span of reproduction of copies is ~1200 years for all. While Bible miraculously provide the success by few years, 40-50 years.

 

The Internal Test looks at internal consistencies and inconsistencies within the manuscript. Internal Inconsistencies are all answered successfully & answering now for who queried.

The External Test looks at other historical materials to determine if they confirm or deny statements within the manuscript, i.e., archaeological evidence. This is successful and ongoing process, continues with growth of science.


The New Testament Greek scholar J. Harold Greenlee adds: "Since scholars accept as generally trustworthy the writings of the ancient classics even though the earliest manuscripts were written so long after the original writings and the number of exact manuscripts is in many instances so small, it is clear that the reliability of the text of the New Testament is likewise assured."

Preserved Manuscript copies available:

The Chester Beatty I Papyrus (p45) contains all four gospels and Acts. It was copied 100-150 A.D.. (It was formerly thought to be late 2nd or early 3rd century A.D.) The Complete Text of the Earliest New Testament Manuscripts has a photograph showing part of p45 on p.146. A General Introduction to the Bible p.389 says the original scroll was about 220 leaves, of which we have 30 leaves preserved. On the preserved leaves are:

Matthew (2 leaves) 20:24-32; 21:13-19; 25:41-26:39)

Mark (6 leaves) 4:36-5:2; 5:16-26; 5:38-6:3; 6:15-25,36-50; 7:3-15; 7:25-8:1; 8:10-26; 8:34-9:9; 9:18-31; 11:27-12:1; 12:5-8,13-19,24-28

Luke (7 leaves) 6:31-41; 6:45-7:7; 9:26-41; 9:45-10:1; 10:6-22; 10:26-11:1; 11:6-25,28-46; 11:50-12:13; 12:18-37; 12:42-13:1; 13:6-24; 13:29-14:10; 14:17-33

John (2 leaves) 4:51,54; 5:21,24; 10:7-25; 10:30-11:10; 11:18-36,42-57.

Acts (13 leaves)

The Bodmer II Papyrii (p66) was copied c.175 or c.125-150 A.D.) It originally had 76 leaves (=156 pages) and has page numbers. Today we have preserved 104 leaves and fragments of 40 other leaves. A photograph of John 6:58-64 from the Bodmer II Papyrus is in the New International Dictionary of the Bible p.1003. It contains:

John 1:1-6:11, 6:35b-14:26,29-30; 15:2-26; 16:2-4; 16:6-7; 16:10-20:20; 20:22-23; 20:25-21:9; 21:12,17 (fragments of John 19:16).

Bodmer 14/15 Papyrii (p75) is typically dated 175-200 A.D., or 175-225 A.D. However, its handwriting is very similar to another document, Papyrus Fuad XIX, which is known to have been written 145-146 A.D. P75 originally had 114 leaves, and we have preserved 102 leaves. It has most of Luke and John. (A General Introduction to the Bible p.390) The Complete Text of the Earliest New Testament Manuscripts has a picture of part of it on p.496. Specifically, it has

Luke 3:18-22; 3:33-4:2; 4:34-5:10; 5:37-6:4; 6:10-7:32; 7:35-39, 41-43; 7:46-9:2; 9:4-17:15; 17:19-18:18; 22:4-24:53

John 1:1-11:45; 11:48-57; 12:3-13:1; 13:8-9; 14:8-29; 15:7-8

p90 (c.175 A.D.) of John 18:36-19:7

Manuscript evidence for the Bible and its transmission

The manuscript evidence for the Greek scriptures is overwhelming, far greater than for all other ancient texts. Over 20,000 manuscripts attest to them. Whilst there are copying errors, as might be expected from the hand of copyists, these are almost all comparatively minor and the basic integrity of the copying process is richly supported.

Furthermore, when Western Christians studies the Hebrew scriptures during the Renaissance, they found them to agree remarkably closely with their Greek and Latin translations which had been copied again and again over a thousand years. There were copying errors, and some other minor changes, but no significant fabrications of the stupendous scale which would be required to concoct the story of Jesus’ death.

Likewise when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered they included Hebrew Biblical scrolls dating from before the time of Jesus. These too agreed very closely with the oldest Hebrew Masoretic manuscripts of more than a thousand years later. Again, no fabrications, but evidence of remarkably faithful copying. 

Conclusion:
Authenticity is proven and Bible is Not a Myth!

courtesy http://www.biblequery.org/ See Section "Jesus is GOD"