Facts to ponder

1. The New Testament that we have, is what was written 2000 years ago. Over 24,000 ancient manuscripts (in a variety of languages) exist, these point to the Bible being the most reliable document of antiquity. 
      
2. Many of the manuscripts are very ancient and date from as early as the 2^nd century. Many are on public display in museums and libraries around the world. The oldest is the John Rylands manuscript kept in the John Rylands library in Manchester which dates from 130AD. The Bodmer Papyrus (also 2^nd century) contains most of John's book and is kept in the Bodmer library of World Literature. Codex Sinaiticus is kept in the British Museum in London. Codex Vaticanus is in the Vatican Museum in Rome. These are just a small selection of the ancient manuscripts that exist.
    
3. Even if no manuscripts existed, scholars could construct large portions of the New Testament from the quotations of early Christians, from their writings to each other. 
    
4. Historical evidence in the New Testament is confirmed at a number of points by secular writers Tacitus and Josephus. A vast number of archaeological discoveries point to the historical reliability of the New Testament accounts.
    
5. The New Testament was written very close to the events it describes. Most of it was completed by AD70.
    
6. Multiple eye witness records attest to the same events. There are differences in their versions which testify to their independence from each other. Most seeming contradictions can easily be explained by proper research.

Extracted from 'Discovering Jesus' by Geoff Gertzen: June 2010