In discussions about this topic, most are simply unaware of the massive amount of manuscripts and fragments the Bible has in its possession compared to other popular ancient writing (which no one questions).

Allow me to compare the manuscript evidence for the New Testament with some well-known ancient writings like Aristotle's works, Plato's works, and Homer's "Iliad":

1. New Testament Manuscript Evidence:

• The New Testament has a remarkable abundance of manuscript evidence, as previously mentioned. With over 24,000 manuscripts in various languages, it stands as one of the most well-attested ancient texts.

  • Some of the earliest fragments of the New Testament date back to the 2nd century (and some even to within 20 yrs of the original events - which is almost unheard of in ancient textual analysis), providing valuable early witnesses to the text.

  • This wealth of manuscript evidence allows for rigorous textual criticism and cross-referencing, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the New Testament.

2. Aristotle's Writings:

   • Aristotle's works, which cover a wide range of topics from philosophy to natural sciences, have survived through a variety of manuscripts.

   • While the manuscript tradition for Aristotle is significant, it doesn't approach the quantity or diversity of the New Testament. There are hundreds of extant manuscripts, but the earliest ones date to the 9th century or later.

3. Plato's Writings:

   • Plato's philosophical dialogues, including "The Republic" and "The Symposium," are key texts in Western philosophy.

   • The manuscript tradition for Plato is better than Aristotle's, with over 200 manuscripts, but it is still fewer in number compared to the New Testament. The earliest copies date to the late Middle Ages.

4. Homer's "Iliad":

   • Homer's epic poem "The Iliad" is a foundational work in Western literature.

   • The manuscript tradition for "The Iliad" is notable, with over 1,900 known manuscripts. Some fragments date back to the 3rd century BC, although complete manuscripts are generally later.

In comparison, the New Testament surpasses these ancient writings in terms of the sheer quantity and diversity of manuscript evidence. While Aristotle, Plato, and Homer's works have valuable manuscript traditions, they are generally later in dating and smaller in number compared to the New Testament, which has one of the most extensive and earliest manuscript traditions among ancient texts.

This extensive manuscript evidence is a significant factor in establishing the historical reliability and textual accuracy of the New Testament.