alterations to the Bible?

This article by the BBC claims that "For those who believe the Bible is the inerrant, unaltered word of God, there will be some very uncomfortable questions to answer. It shows there have been thousands of alterations to today's bible."

Several comments by readers rebutted this biased article:

[Frank Hill] "My understanding is that this codex was compiled by a Christian sect who even then was considered unorthodox and whilst it is the oldest complete bible many earlier copies of the gospels predate this codex. It is these gospels from which modern bibles are translated. They are both more numerous and closer in age to the events describe in the New Testament."

[Bob] "The current Bible is God's word. Of course it was written by man, but it was breathed into life by God. The way that it has over time, evolved into is present form is not important. Only those scriptures, in the form that God intended, have presently become the Bible. What is important is that the message that God intended is there for us all, and it has the power to change lives."

When I share the gospel with Muslims on the internet, they inevitably ask about the "many versions" of the Bible to try and prove that it was corrupted and that there is only one version of the Koran.

What people miss out is the third person of the God Trinity - the Holy Spirit. The gospel was preached and spread by the Holy Spirit, using men and women.

In A.D. 325, Christian leaders gathered at the first council of Nicea. They prayed and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, gathered together the 66 books that comprise the Word of God.

There were many manuscripts, some forgeries, some deceptions, some material not from God. The Holy Spirit directed them to discard these false books. It is important to remember that the same Holy Spirit who did miracles in the book of Acts, compiled the Bible, and still directs us today.