I was very pleased with the documentary, Fragments of Truth, which premiered one-night-only on April 24. This film, narrated by John Rhys-Davies, explored the New Testament’s authenticity by examining ancient manuscripts and other archaeological finds, addressed Biblical criticisms and disputes, refuted skepticism, and discussed how the 27 books of the New Testament came to be canon.

I was familiar with much of the material presented, but it was fascinating to see some of the ancient manuscripts brought to life through this well-researched visual representation, and I particularly enjoyed listening to various experts provide insight.

The authors of the New Testament primarily wrote on papyrus using the Greek language, and experts went into detail explaining what these manuscripts were composed of, how they were made, their durability, and how long they could survive the elements of time.

Christians consider the Bible to be God’s word- that he has revealed himself, his will, and our purpose throughout Scripture. And while this film wasn’t intended to convince atheists or unbelievers that the Bible is true (although some may be convinced), it was designed to address the skeptic’s claim that the Bible has been doctored to push a theological agenda, and to encourage and educate believers that the gospel message of Jesus Christ is authentic and reliable.

Dr. Craig Evans traveled to Israel and around the world collecting old manuscripts from museums and other sources to provide evidence supporting our understanding of the Bible.

I was surprised to learn that even though we don’t have the original manuscripts, it’s possible- and even likely- that we have discovered manuscripts that were written while the originals were still in circulation. If that’s true, then we have even greater assurance that the Bible is reliably accurate.

The film also provided extrabiblical evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, discussing an inscription on a drinking bowl from the late second century engraved with the words, “Dia Chrstou O Goistais,” which means, “by Christ the magician”. Many believe this is evidence that the influence of Jesus and his miracles had spread to other places.

Overall, this was an enjoyable film and very educational, and I’d encourage everyone view it as it becomes available. I’ll definitely be adding this to my library.