Counsel #2 — Preservation Of Scripture

Picture: Counsel #2 — Preservation Of ScriptureCCW 102.1

Though critics have made claims concerning the authenticity of parts of the Biblical text, today digitization has made possible comparisons of thousands of ancient manuscripts that show a remarkable similarity in wording, though they were copied by scribes many centuries before the Masoretes^{[158] The Masoretes (Masters of Tradition) were groups of Jewish scribe-scholars who worked from around the end of the 5th through 10th centuries CE, based primarily in medieval Palestine in the cities of Tiberias and Jerusalem, as well as in Iraq (Babylonia). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masoretes#:~:text='Masters%20of%20the%20Tradition'),as%20in%20Iraq%20(Babylonia} began their careful work. That the words of Scripture could be handed down without essential loss through the centuries can be attributed to the miraculous work of God.^{[159]https://ssnet.org/lessons/99a/less05.html}CCW 102.2

“The words of the Lord are pure words…. You shall keep them, O Lord, You shall preserve them from this generation forever.” Psalms 12:6, 7 NKJVCCW 102.3

“After having given His word to man, [God] had carefully preserved it from destruction by Satan or his angels, or by any of his agents or representatives. While other books might be destroyed, [the Bible] was to be immortal. And near the close of time, when the delusions of Satan should increase, it was to be so multiplied that all who desired might have a copy, and, if they would, might arm themselves against the deceptions and lying wonders of Satan.” Ellen White in Early Writings, p. 220CCW 102.4

Reflect: In what ways does the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947, containing part or all of every book in the Old Testament (except Esther), increase your wonder in the power of God to preserve Scripture?CCW 102.5