(Prisy says it like it is)

Reliability in religion is sometimes a difficult thing to discuss. Take Hinduism for instance. Most Hindus believe that the events, which take place in their legends, are only symbolic and it is the essence of the stories that count. Christianity and the Bible is another matter. It is absolutely vital that as Christians we believe that every tiny particle of the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

Some question the authenticity of the Bible from the fact that it is 2000-3500 years old. How can we believe that it is still accurate and undisturbed by time? The answer lies between the time the books were composed and the earliest known manuscript.

Take for example: The earliest known manuscripts of some of Sophocles’ plays date around 1400 years after they were written. But they are still believed to be accurate.
This is true with so many manuscripts.

“In no other case is the interval of time between the composition of the book and the date of the earliest extant manuscripts so short as in that of the New Testament.” Sir Frederic G. Kenyon

This is where the Bible has an incredible advantage. The earliest known manuscripts of the New Testament date to about 300 years after they are written. So we can assuredly say that the New Testament we hold is our hands is accurate to the original.

(Reference: History and Christianity by John Warwick Montgomery)