An interesting chart of the manuscript evidence of the NT compared to other ancient writings

[MisterE]

Take a look at other ancient writings and when they were written and how many years past from the time they were written until the first copy that exists today. Also, the NT has nearly 6,000 number of copies. This is what is called an embarrassment of riches supporting the NT manuscript tradition.

Author​	Date Written​	Earliest Copy​	Approximate Time Span between original & copy​	Number of Copies​	Accuracy of Copies​
Lucretius	died 55 or 53 BC​	​	1100 yrs​	2​	----​
Pliny	61-113 AD​	850 AD​	750 yrs​	7​	----​
Plato	427-347 BC​	900 AD​	1200 yrs​	7​	----​
Demosthenes	4th Cent. BC​	1100 AD​	800 yrs​	8​	----​
Herodotus	480-425 BC​	900 AD​	1300 yrs​	8​	----​
Suetonius	75-160 AD​	950 AD​	800 yrs​	8​	----​
Thucydides	460-400 BC​	900 AD​	1300 yrs​	8​	----​
Euripides	480-406 BC​	1100 AD​	1300 yrs​	9​	----​
Aristophanes	450-385 BC​	900 AD​	1200 yrs​	10​	----​
Caesar	100-44 BC​	900 AD​	1000 yrs​	10​	----​
Livy	59 BC-AD 17​	----​	???​	20​	----​
Tacitus	circa 100 AD​	1100 AD​	1000 yrs​	20​	----​
Aristotle	384-322 BC​	1100 AD​	1400 yrs​	49​	----​
Sophocles	496-406 BC​	1000 AD​	1400 yrs​	193​	----​
Homer (Iliad)	900 BC​	400 BC​	500 yrs​	643​	95%​
New Testament	1st Cent. AD (50-100 AD​	2nd Cent. AD (c. 130 AD)​	less than 100 yrs​	5745​	99.5%​

 

[Vaccine]

It's a shame this isn't common knowledge. That's quite a jump in extant documents between Homer and the new testament. It's also a shame all the details of the ancient scribes isn't common knowledge either.

The sheer number and proximity in time of the new testament documents is impressive. But so is the accuracy of the scribes work on new testament.

 

[Vaccine]

I should clarify, I don't mean anyone here. I'm sure ya'll know this. I mean in public schools and secular spaces where this information isn't getting passed around near enough.

 

[Dyonisius the Areopagite]

Take a look at other ancient writings and when they were written and how many years past from the time they were written until the first copy that exists today. Also, the NT has nearly 6,000 number of copies. This is what is called an embarrassment of riches supporting the NT manuscript tradition.

Author​	Date Written​	Earliest Copy​	Approximate Time Span between original & copy​	Number of Copies​	Accuracy of Copies​
Lucretius	died 55 or 53 BC​	​	1100 yrs​	2​	----​
Pliny	61-113 AD​	850 AD​	750 yrs​	7​	----​
Plato	427-347 BC​	900 AD​	1200 yrs​	7​	----​
Demosthenes	4th Cent. BC​	1100 AD​	800 yrs​	8​	----​
Herodotus	480-425 BC​	900 AD​	1300 yrs​	8​	----​
Suetonius	75-160 AD​	950 AD​	800 yrs​	8​	----​
Thucydides	460-400 BC​	900 AD​	1300 yrs​	8​	----​
Euripides	480-406 BC​	1100 AD​	1300 yrs​	9​	----​
Aristophanes	450-385 BC​	900 AD​	1200 yrs​	10​	----​
Caesar	100-44 BC​	900 AD​	1000 yrs​	10​	----​
Livy	59 BC-AD 17​	----​	???​	20​	----​
Tacitus	circa 100 AD​	1100 AD​	1000 yrs​	20​	----​
Aristotle	384-322 BC​	1100 AD​	1400 yrs​	49​	----​
Sophocles	496-406 BC​	1000 AD​	1400 yrs​	193​	----​
Homer (Iliad)	900 BC​	400 BC​	500 yrs​	643​	95%​
New Testament	1st Cent. AD (50-100 AD​	2nd Cent. AD (c. 130 AD)​	less than 100 yrs​	5745​	99.5%​

Years ago, when I studied these things, I was amazed at what you found here that you posted. If I recall correctly I was introduced to this line of evidence by Josh McDowell's books.
As the years went by and I further studied Church History, I realized that ALL of ancient western and much eastern ancient history depends upon the witness of the Church. Iow, if the clergy of the Church had not preserved ancient writers like Pliny, we would not even have the secular history of the ancient world.

 

[MisterE]

Years ago, when I studied these things, I was amazed at what you found here that you posted. If I recall correctly I was introduced to this line of evidence by Josh McDowell's books.
As the years went by and I further studied Church History, I realized that ALL of ancient western and much eastern ancient history depends upon the witness of the Church. Iow, if the clergy of the Church had not preserved ancient writers like Pliny, we would not even have the secular history of the ancient world.

I don't remember where I got this chart, I thought it was from Norman Geisler, but Josh McDowell is also a likely place.