Mrs. Clark’s 7th Grade Bible Class Discusses:
The Bible and the Telephone Game
The Variant Reading Myth
Some people think the Bible is similar to the telephone game. Like the telephone game, it is believed that the Bible is different than it was thousands of years ago.
The original copies of the Old Testament were so specific in detail that if one mistake was made, the copyist would have to throw it away.
One of these copying details was that “not even one letter could be written from memory; for example, one would not glance at the word to and write both of the letters t and o before glancing back at the original. Instead, every letter was copied one at a time.”
The Bible is completely reliable. There are over 24,000 manuscript copies of Scripture in the world.
As Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door says:
“[The Bible is] in a league of its own.”
Rebekah, age 12
When playing the Telephone game you think of it as a silly, fun game to do with your friends…maybe even a prank (by licking their ear, but please don’t — it is uncomfortable for both people!) But it can relate to real life in many different ways. Some good, others not so much. For example, gossip, and rumors, and so many other things.
But some people are very wrong…they say the Bible is untrustworthy (like the Telephone game).
This myth, however, is false.
First, the Bible may have been passed down for many, many years.
But with such caution, that each LETTER — not word — but LETTER, was copied down one, by one, by one.
We have proof of this. Sometime not too long ago at all, a cave was discovered along with many copies of books from the Bible, all exactly the same.
Also, the Bible has an absolute TON of copies. And not one is too different from the other. They all have the same story.
When you are in some sort of history class, let’s say, does your teacher tell you the historical documents you use may be untrustworthy? No, because they aren’t.
So why are standards different for the Bible? They shouldn’t be.
Campbell, age 12
God tells us to put faith in Him, so we should put faith in His word, also,
for it is a part of Him.
“Jewish copyists of the Hebrew Scriptures adhered to
detailed requirements in copying.”
(Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door, p. 46)
Know what you believe…and why you believe it.
- Does it really matter what you believe, as long as you have faith?
- Are there errors in the Bible?
- Was Jesus just a good teacher?
- Can anyone prove His resurrection?
- What does that have to do with me?
