Textual Criticism

Perhaps you have heard the statement, “Well, only a fool would believe the Bible. It contains so many errors.”
How do you answer?
Notice there are several parts to the statement. 1. The derogatory and completely arbitrary portion about fools. 2. A measurable assertion stating that the Bible contains many errors.
You can provide them with some more proof of the first assertion depending on your response. That is why we will focus on the second.
Let’s be honest about several things right from the start.
  1. To our knowledge, we do not have any original manuscripts. We only have copies.
  2. In the copies that we do have, there are many variants, perhaps between 300,000 to 400,000 of them. (Patton)
How do we know that what we have is really God’s Word? The short answer that I would give is: Abundance. God has blessed us with an incredible abundance of manuscripts.
Here is the break down.
We have somewhere between 5,800 catalogued hand copied manuscripts from the 2nd to 15th century. This includes fragments, books, large portions of the NT, and complete NT. The majority of these come from the 2nd millennium and the average is 450 pages.
Not only do we have manuscripts, but also quotations by church fathers (over 1 million have been tabulated)
In comparison,
  1. There are 643 copies of Homer’s Iliad
  2. There are 8 copies of Herodotus’ History, the earliest from 900 A.D., 1,350 years after the original
  3. There are 10 copies of Caesar’s Gallic Wars, the earliest from 900 years, 1000 years after the original
  4. “The average classical author’s literary remains number no more than twenty copies” (Wallace)
So, back to those pesky variants. There are four different kinds of variants:
  1. Spelling and nonsense readings – 75%. Most are from a movable nu
  2. Changes that can’t be translated; synonyms – word order is different (ex. “Jesus Christ” to “Christ Jesus”)
  3. Real changes, but not likely to be the original – there is significance to what is being said, but there is really no chance that it could be the original wording (because there are older and more trustworthy text against it)
  4. Real changes, and possibly the original – less than 1%, with no cardinal belief at stake.
    1. The largest ones are John 8 and Mark 16
    2. Christ’s virgin birth, sacrificial death, resurrection, and return are not questioned. We are still sinners, saved by grace alone, through faith alone.
So how do critics choose? (Patton)
  1. Date. As a general rule, the earlier the date, the better. 
  2. Geographic Distribution. When there is wide geographic distribution (i.e., the manuscript has representation in multiple areas), this adds to its authenticity since it evidences multiple early attestations through its wide geographic distribution.
  3. Number of manuscripts. 
  4. The harder reading is usually closer to the original. Scribes would normally smooth out difficulties rather than add them.
  5. The shorter reading is usually closer to the original.
So, what does that mean?
Sir Frederic Kenyon’s statement, “The interval then between the date of original composition and the earliest evidence become so small to be in fact negligible, and the last foundation for any doubt that the Scripture have come down to us substantially as they were written has now been removed. Both the authenticity and the general integrity of the books of the New Testament may be regarded as finally established.”
So here is how should you respond to that original statement, “Well, only a fool would believe the Bible. It contains so many errors.”
  1. “What do you mean by that?” – They probably are repeating someone else’s idea and would struggle to put it in their own words.
  2. “How did you come to that conclusion?” -They need to give some proof for their conclusions. 
  3. “Can I should you some other evidence?” – If they say no, you haven’t made them angry. If they say yes, they have committed themselves to hear you out.
Two blog posts that are very helpful, and are quoted above are:
For a good look at how to diffuse a statement like this, see Greg Koukl’s book, Tactics

The Most Precious Treasures Are in the Most Difficult Things by Jon Bloom

Here is an excellent and encouraging post by Jon Bloom:

“Hebrews 11 is there to remind you that God is doing far more than you can see in your agonies, these things that are so, so hard and at times seem unbearable. You plead for God to deliver you from them and you wonder why he just keeps letting them go on.

You are in good company. This is how your brothers and sisters throughout history have also felt, most of who are now in the great cloud of witnesses encouraging you to hold on and not give up (Hebrews 12:1). And what they are encouraging you to do mainly is trust God’s promises for you over your perceptions. Faith is “the conviction of things not seen.” Promises will hold you up; perceptions will likely sink you.1px_trans

Read all of here: The Most Precious Treasures Are in the Most Difficult Things

Bible Studies

Five of the many reason I am thankful that Crystal is part of a women’s Bible study:
1. I have seen her dive deeper into the Word

2. I have seen her become more like Christ as she studies the Word

3. I have seen her meditate on the significance and application of the Word, opening good discussions between us

4. I have seen her encouraged and strengthened as she hears the thoughts of others on the Word

5. I have seen her blossom in her relationship with godly women around the Word
I am extremely thankful to God that she has had the opportunity to be part of the Women in the Word Bible studies over the past years. May God bless those women, and all who participate with them.

Four Marks of Fruit-Bearing Christianity « J.C. Ryle Quotes

I read this at Four Marks of Fruit-Bearing Christianity « J.C. Ryle Quotes:

The Christianity which I call fruit-bearing, that which shows its Divine origin by its blessed effects on mankind – the Christianity which you may safely defy unbelievers to explain away – that Christianity is a very different thing. Let me show you some of its leading marks and features.
(1) Fruit-bearing Christianity has always taught the inspiration, sufficiency, and supremacy of Holy Scripture. It has told people that God’s Word written is the only trustworthy rule of faith and practice in religion, that God requires nothing to be believed that is not in this Word, and that nothing is right which contradicts it. It has never allowed reason, a person’s mind, or the voice of the Church, to be placed above, or on a level with Scripture. It has steadily maintained that, however imperfectly we may understand it, the Old Book is meant to be the only standard of life and doctrine.
(2) Fruit-bearing Christianity has always taught fully the sinfulness, guilt and corruption of human nature. It has told people that they are born in sin, deserve God’s wrath and condemnation, and are naturally inclined to do evil. It has never allowed that men and women are only weak and pitiable creatures, who can become good when they please, and make their own peace with God. On the contrary, it has steadily declared a person’s danger and vileness, and their pressing need of a Divine forgiveness and satisfaction for their sins, a new birth or conversion, and an entire change of heart.
(3) Fruit-bearing Christianity has always set before people the Lord Jesus Christ as the chief object of faith and hope in religion, as the Divine Mediator between God and humanity, the only source of peace of conscience, and the root of all spiritual life. It has never been content to teach that He is merely our Prophet, our Example, and our Judge. The main things it has ever insisted on about Christ are the atonement for sin He made by His death, His sacrifice on the cross, the complete redemption from guilt and condemnation by His blood, His victory over the grave by His resurrection, His active life of intercession at God’s right hand, and the absolute necessity of simple faith in Him. In short, it has made Christ the Alpha and the Omega in Christian theology.
(4) Fruit-bearing Christianity has always honored the Person of God the Holy Spirit, and magnified His work. It has never taught that all professing Christians have the grace of the Spirit in their hearts, as a matter of course, because they are baptized, or because they belong to the Church, or because they partake of Holy communion. It has steadily maintained that the fruits of the Spirit are the only evidence of having the Spirit, and that those fruits must be seen, – that we must be born of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit, and feel the operations of the Spirit, – and that a close walk with God in the path of His commandments, a life of holiness, charity, self-denial, purity, and zeal to do good, are the only satisfactory marks of the Holy Spirit.
Summary  Such is true fruit-bearing Christianity. Well would it have been for the world if there had been more of it during the last nineteen centuries! Too often, and in too many parts of Christendom, there has been so little of it, that Christ’s religion has seemed extinct, and has fallen into utter contempt. But just in proportion as such Christianity as I have described has prevailed, the world has benefited, the unbeliever has been silenced, and the truth of Divine revelation been acknowledged. The tree has been known by its fruit.

~ J.C. Ryle

How to Backslide in 9 Easy Steps by Tim Challis

How to Backslide in 9 Easy Steps:
A few days ago I shared John Bunyan’s wisdom on why some who profess faith in Christ eventually backslide. Today I want to follow him a little bit farther. Having covered the why, I’ve now drawn from Pilgrim’s Progress instruction on the how. In each case I’ve given my short summary followed by Bunyan’s own words. Here is how to backslide in nine easy steps:

  1. Stop meditating on the gospel. “They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come.”
  2. Neglect your devotions and stop battling sin. “Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like.”
  3. Isolate yourself from Christian fellowship. “Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians.”
  4. Stop going to church. “After that, they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like.”
  5. Determine that Christians are hypocrites because they continue to sin. “They then begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming color to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmities they have espied in them) behind their backs.”
  6. Trade Christian community for distinctly unChristian company. “Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose, and wanton men.”
  7. Pursue rebellious conversation and fellowship. “Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example.”
  8. Allow yourself to enjoy some small, sinful pleasures. “After this they begin to play with little sins openly.”
  9. Admit what you are and prepare yourself for everlasting torment. “And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.”

Ancient Manuscripts

If the words “textual criticism” make you yawn, but you have read a portion of the Bible, you should read this helpful post by Daniel Wallace.
The truth is – there was no version of the Bible which was handed down from heaven in a nice leather binding and with Scofield’s notes (sorry to burst any bubbles).
However – we have an “embarrassing amount of manuscripts” available which allow us to have God’s Word in our hands.
Please take a few minutes to read this article, and then thank God for what he has given to us.

James 1:19-21

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 

I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels. —John Calvin

Anger

JAMES 1:19-20
KNOW THIS, MY BELOVED BROTHERS: LET EVERY PERSON BE QUICK TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO ANGER; FOR THE ANGER OF MAN DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD REQUIRES.

 Here are two resources available to you for better understanding and handling anger. I would recommend that you read through the overview sheet and a few of the books noted on the back. The principles found in the heart journal ought to be employed after any sin.
    Crystal compiled the overview sheet and has added some helpful books on the back. Much of the information was taken from those books.