Hi Jeff,

To answer your questions ...

- Yes, the OT does predate Jesus. I don't think anybody would seriously dispute that.

- Yes, I would generally accept them to be accurate, and that the various translations we have today are as close to the original as is possible.

An example of this might be the more or less complete text of Isaiah that is contained within the dead sea scrolls. That dates to roughly 100 years before Jesus. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Scroll It does contains variations to later texts, but I don't think it is anything major. The above link has a section that discusses it. Interestingly enough modern translations such as NIV lean more upon this earlier text.

Rather obviously within your opening comment you make it clear that you hold a view that does not align with mine (which is fine, I'm OK with that). You meanioned that the reason is evidence-based - prophecy that verifies that the Bible has had a supernatural influence.

Now that's fasinating, hence I'm curious enough to ask for the very best example.

Where this most probably goes is that we will not see a changing of minds, but a decent enough outcome might be this ...

- I gain a better understanding of why you believe what you believe

- You gain a deeper appreciation why I don't believe what you believe.