Muslims often claim that the New Testament documents are unreliable and have been altered over time.

The reliability of the New Testament documents is crucial for affirming the historicity of the resurrection. With over 24,000 manuscript copies available, including 5,300 Greek manuscripts, the New Testament stands unparalleled in terms of textual evidence compared to other ancient texts. For instance, the earliest copies of works by historians like Herodotus and Thucydides date back over a millennium after their original compositions, while New Testament manuscripts date within 15-20 years of the original writings. Additionally, significant manuscripts such as the John Rylands Papyri, dated to around AD 130, provide evidence that the New Testament was written and circulated among eyewitnesses. This close temporal proximity to the events described enhances the credibility of the accounts of Jesus' life and resurrection. Moreover, archaeological findings and scholarly research continue to support the early dating of these manuscripts, which further solidifies the argument for their reliability. The New Testament's manuscript evidence not only exceeds that of other ancient writings but also demonstrates a consistency in the message that has been preserved through the centuries. Thus, the claim of unreliability is unfounded when examined against the wealth of evidence available.