THE WORD OF GOD ENDURES FOREVER

 Can these so-called manuscripts be useful to the Bible students today? Undoubtedly! Take as an example the so-called long conclusion of the Gospel Mark, which in some Bibles follows Mark 16:8. It appears in the Greek Codex Alexandrinus of the fifth century, the Latin Vulgate, and elsewhere. However, the two authoritive fourth-century Greek manuscripts-Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus-both end with Mark 6:8.  The Sinaitic Syriac does not have this long conclusion either, adding further evidence that the long conclusion is a later addition and was not originally part of Mark's Gospel.

Consider another example. In the 19th century, almost all Bible translations had spurious Trinitarian addition at 1 John 5:7. However, this addition does not appear in the oldest Greek manuscripts. Neither does it appear in the Peshitta, thus proving that 1 John 5:7 is indeed a corruption of the Bible text.

Clearly, as promised, Jehovah God has preserved his Holy Word. In it we are given this assurance: "The green grass dries up he blossom withers, but the Word of our God endures forever." (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25) The version known as the Peshitta plays a humble but important role in the accurate transmission of the Bible's message to all humanity.

What Is Syriac?

Syriac is one of the dialects of Aramaic, and official language of the Persian Empire. It was spoken in the northern Mesopotamia and around Antioch, where many became believers of the good news in the first century C.E. As a written language, Syriac came into wide use in the second or third century C.E. 

Next time: Two Translators Who Restored God's Name to the New Testament

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