Ancient Scroll Shows Bible Hasn't Changed

Monday, July 27, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff

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Bible

Last week archaeologists with the Israel Antiquities Authority announced the successful deciphering of a fully charred Torah scroll first discovered in the ruins of an ancient synagogue 45 years ago.

The scroll was unearthed in 1970 during excavations at Ein Gedi on the shores of the Dead Sea. It was found inside a Holy Ark situated in the remains of a synagogue dating to the 6th century AD.

For decades, the 1,500-year-old scroll sat in storage, far too burned to be legible.

But recently, Israeli archaeologists decided to throw caution to the wind and subject the delicate scroll to scrutiny using new advanced 3D imaging technology.

The gamble paid off, and the first eight verses of the Book of Leviticus were soon made clear.

Outside of the Dead Sea Scrolls, this scroll is the oldest fragment of the Bible to be found in modern times. It is significant for two reasons.

1. The scroll is yet more proof of the ancient connection between the Jewish people and this land, contrary to present-day claims that the Jews are invaders and usurpers;
2. As the Messianic blog One For Israel pointed out, the text on the scroll matches perfectly to modern Hebrew editions of the Bible. “This shows that the accusations flung from other faiths that the Biblical text has been corrupted are untrue: we have yet more proof that it hasn’t changed one iota! Not in 1500 years!”

PHOTO: Scroll fragment as it was delivered to The Lunder Family Dead Sea Scrolls Conservation Center (IAA)

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