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Claim ID: BIB-IS03

Claim: SAVE - Inscripturation of God's Revealed Word

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Summary: *********** Draft

Description: ********* The following text needs to be reworked.
********* we also want to include text that identifies the margin of difference in the NT in terms of text variations.

Throughout history, we find many people committing what is called "pious fraud". This is when well-intentioned people exaggerate events or even make up stories that they think will "help God out" or promote their religious agenda. Many sectarian groups from later centuries (the Gnostics, for example) left behind writings that show just such motivation, making up stories that supposedly happened to Jesus or his followers and passing them off as history. The "Gospel of Judas" or "Gospel of Thomas" are examples of much later works (2nd to 4th century) that have gotten the attention of the mainstream media and are sometimes referred to as "lost gospels". When we examine the New Testament, we do not see evidence that its authors created stories to fit a preconceived belief. Instead, we find writers who have a deep concern for truth and accuracy, and a willingness to tell a story "as it is" even when it makes the people in it look bad or contradicts popular opinion.

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1–4

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. (1 John 1:1-3)

These writers knew the difference between exaggeration (myth) and reality, and they wrote first-hand accounts, based on first-hand experience. The stories in the Bible are incredible – but believable – because of the authors’ careful work recounting only what they could substantiate. The scribes who copied these texts carried on this practice. They left behind a legacy of detailed work and saw to it God’s Word was accurately transmitted down through the ages to us.