OneWorldInsight.com Christian “Textual Criticism”

OneWorldInsight.com What is Textual Criticism? This is the science of restoring original words of a manuscript that have been altered.

OneWorldInsight.com Why is textual criticism important? The original manuscripts of the first Christian experiences were all written in Greek. The first Latin version was written 400 years later. Our popular English translation of the King James Bible was based on a poor Latin manuscript. The Question remains: What were in the original Greek manuscripts and do they contain different ideas than our common English translations?

OneWorldInsight.com Tools of Textual Criticism Age of the manuscript Age of the manuscript Family grouping of copyists Family grouping of copyists Word selection & style Word selection & style Smooth clarity versus difficult passage Smooth clarity versus difficult passage Social commentaries on women Social commentaries on women Deliberate shifts in social commentaries Deliberate shifts in social commentaries Christology: human, divine, both at once Christology: human, divine, both at once

OneWorldInsight.com New Testament Timeline 150 CE – Marcion makes first attempt to pull writings together, one gospel & 10 epistles 150 CE – Marcion makes first attempt to pull writings together, one gospel & 10 epistles 220 – Church Father, Origen complains that the negligence of copyists is perverse and, “…they make additions or deletions as they please.” 220 – Church Father, Origen complains that the negligence of copyists is perverse and, “…they make additions or deletions as they please.”

OneWorldInsight.com Three Different Christologies in the Second Century Adoptionists – Jesus fully human, blood & sweat, adopted by God at baptism Adoptionists – Jesus fully human, blood & sweat, adopted by God at baptism Docetists – Jesus only appeared to be human but was not Docetists – Jesus only appeared to be human but was not Separationists – Jesus was both human and Divine at the same time Separationists – Jesus was both human and Divine at the same time There were many changes and copying errors in the first two centuries There were many changes and copying errors in the first two centuries

OneWorldInsight.com Emperor Constantine Constantine conquers what remains of the Roman Empire in 313 CE. He Makes Christianity the religion of Rome and orders 50 Bibles in 331 to start the first professional copyists in Christianity.

OneWorldInsight.com 4 th Century Efforts Athanasius compiles 27 books to complete the first New Testament Athanasius compiles 27 books to complete the first New Testament Codex Sinaiticus – today’s oldest surviving manuscript, no punctuation or spaces Codex Sinaiticus – today’s oldest surviving manuscript, no punctuation or spaces Codex Vaticanicus – one of the oldest, found in the Vatican library Codex Vaticanicus – one of the oldest, found in the Vatican library

OneWorldInsight.com St. Jerome 390 CE - Pope Damasus hires Jerome to create a Latin translation from all the Greek manuscripts. It becomes the Latin Vulgate. 390 CE - Pope Damasus hires Jerome to create a Latin translation from all the Greek manuscripts. It becomes the Latin Vulgate. For the next thousand years in the west the Latin Vulgate assumes the status of the original teachings For the next thousand years in the west the Latin Vulgate assumes the status of the original teachings

OneWorldInsight.com Poor Scholarship… 1500 CE - Erasmus attempts to translate Vulgate back into Greek without consulting the original Greek manuscripts CE - Erasmus attempts to translate Vulgate back into Greek without consulting the original Greek manuscripts. This becomes the source for the King James Bible. This becomes the source for the King James Bible.

OneWorldInsight.com John Mill – Textual Criticism enters 1707 CE – John Mill publishes 30 years of work examining early Greek manuscripts and comparing them to the English versions CE – John Mill publishes 30 years of work examining early Greek manuscripts and comparing them to the English versions. He found 30,000 variations, errors, citations, deletions, additions comparing the Greek to the popular Latin version. He found 30,000 variations, errors, citations, deletions, additions comparing the Greek to the popular Latin version.

OneWorldInsight.com Examples of Differences Woman taken in adultery in John 7:53 Woman taken in adultery in John 7:53 It is not found in earlier manuscripts, its style is different, and the words and phrases are alien to the rest of John. It is not found in earlier manuscripts, its style is different, and the words and phrases are alien to the rest of John. Conclusion: this story was not in Gospel but added later by scribes. Conclusion: this story was not in Gospel but added later by scribes.

OneWorldInsight.com Gospel of Mark – last 12 verses Mark 16:4 – “But the women flee the tomb and say nothing to anyone…” This is where the earlier texts end. Mark 16:4 – “But the women flee the tomb and say nothing to anyone…” This is where the earlier texts end. Later translations added 12 verses: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, upbraids them for failing to believe, signs of believers will be casting out demons, taking up snakes, drinking poison, etc. Later translations added 12 verses: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, upbraids them for failing to believe, signs of believers will be casting out demons, taking up snakes, drinking poison, etc. Conclusion: Last 12 verses were added later by scribes. Conclusion: Last 12 verses were added later by scribes.

OneWorldInsight.com Doctrine of the Trinity Earlier Greek manuscripts use “…the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one.” Earlier Greek manuscripts use “…the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one.” Modern Trinity uses,”…the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and these three are one. Modern Trinity uses,”…the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and these three are one. Conclusion: The Trinity theology was added later by scribes. Conclusion: The Trinity theology was added later by scribes.