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Verse:The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times. You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever. —Psalm 12:6, 7
On November 23, 1947, E. L. Sukenik, the distinguished archaeologist of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, received a message from his Armenian friend Faidi Salahi, a dealer in antiquities. The next morning, the two met, and Salahi showed Sukenik a scrap of leather with old Hebrew characters like those on early Jewish funeral ossuaries. The documents had been discovered by chance the preceding winter (1946–1947) by two Bedouin shepherds near Qumran. The scrolls date to sometime between 200 BC and AD 70. They confirm that the original reading of the Old Testament has been accurately preserved throughout the ages. Some might question why, if the Bible is God’s Word, He didn’t preserve its autographs —the original documents written by the biblical prophets.
If He had, we would not need to rely on textual criticism to confirm the original reading of the biblical text. True, having the originals could expedite the whole process, but it might also generate other problems. Siegfried J. Schwantes saw the non-survival of the original documents as providential.
Given the human tendency toward idolatry, many would undoubtedly end up worshiping the documents rather than seeking the truth they contain.
Whatever the reason, we know that God cannot err. What really counts is that the Bible text we have today is reliable.
Critics challenge its trustworthiness.
For example, the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith Jr. claimed that “many important points touching the salvation of men, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled.”49 If this were the case, then the Bible could no longer be trusted, and its transforming power would be lost. But praise the Lord; He not only inspired the Bible text itself but also preserved the reliability of its original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Ellen White says, “Brethren, cling to your Bible, as it reads, and stop your criticisms in regard to its validity, and obey the Word, and not one of you will be lost.” Let us respect the Bible and be faithful to its message!