BIBLICAL FINDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 26, 17 August 1949, Page 4

BIBLICAL FINDS

Sir, —A cable in Thursday’s paper under the title “Books of Bible in Hebrew” dealt with the discovery in 1947 of parts of the' Old Testament in ancient Hebrew, ’ “1,100 years older than any previously known texts.” Part has already been investigated, and the findings published in the “Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research” (February 1949). It says: “In the present state of available evidence it is, of course, unwise to be dogmatic regarding the dating of the Jerusalem scrolls; but it seems fairly certain that the Isaiah scroll is the earliest of the group, pedhaps from 125-100 8.C.” Then follow details of the other .scrolls found. “From these considerations it. follows that the Isaiah scroll is not only . the earliest Hebrew manuscript of the Bible and the first ancient Biblical manuscript to be found in Palestine, but it also becomes the oldest existing manuscript of the Bible in any language.” The most significant thing is stat_ ed to be “the degree to which it agrees with our traditional Hebrew text.” There is no “major addition or omission”; “no important dislocation or disarrangement of the text.”

When we remember that for over 2,000 years Scripture was copied entirely by hand, we must realise that these miraculously preserved records of the past declare plainly that the hand of God has been over his Bible to preserve it from error and corruption. Critics will be disappointed that no new reading is called for. Instead, we may rest with increased assurance in the Bible as the living Word of God, and. confidently order our lives by its divine principles, and claim its promises. Yours etc.

CHRISTIAN,