Christian Christian “Textual Criticism”“Textual Criticism”

What is Textual Criticism?What is Textual Criticism?

This is the science of restoring original words of a manuscript that have been altered.

Why is textual criticism Why is textual criticism important?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?

Tools of Textual CriticismTools of Textual Criticism

Age of the manuscriptAge of the manuscript Family grouping of copyistsFamily grouping of copyists Word selection & styleWord selection & style Smooth clarity versus difficult passageSmooth clarity versus difficult passage Social commentaries on womenSocial commentaries on women Deliberate shifts in social commentariesDeliberate shifts in social commentaries Christology: human, divine, both at onceChristology: human, divine, both at once

New Testament TimelineNew Testament Timeline

150 CE – Marcion makes first 150 CE – Marcion makes first attempt to pull writings attempt to pull writings together, one gospel & 10 together, one gospel & 10 epistlesepistles

220 – Church Father, Origen 220 – Church Father, Origen complains that the negligence complains that the negligence of copyists is perverse and, of copyists is perverse and, “…they make additions or “…they make additions or deletions as they please.” deletions as they please.”

Three Different Christologies Three Different Christologies in the Second Centuryin the Second Century

Adoptionists – Jesus fully human, blood Adoptionists – Jesus fully human, blood & sweat, adopted by God at baptism& sweat, adopted by God at baptism

Docetists – Jesus only appeared to be Docetists – Jesus only appeared to be human but was nothuman but was not

Separationists – Jesus was both human Separationists – Jesus was both human and Divine at the same timeand Divine at the same time

There were many changes and copying There were many changes and copying errors in the first two centurieserrors in the first two centuries

Emperor ConstantineEmperor 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.

44thth Century Efforts Century Efforts

367 - Athanasius compiles 27 books to 367 - Athanasius compiles 27 books to complete the first New Testamentcomplete the first New Testament

Codex Sinaiticus – today’s oldest Codex Sinaiticus – today’s oldest surviving manuscript, no punctuation or surviving manuscript, no punctuation or spacesspaces

Codex Vaticanicus – one of the oldest, Codex Vaticanicus – one of the oldest, found in the Vatican libraryfound in the Vatican library

St. JeromeSt. Jerome 390 CE - Pope 390 CE - Pope Damasus hires Jerome Damasus hires Jerome to create a Latin to create a Latin translation from all the translation from all the Greek manuscripts. It Greek manuscripts. It becomes the Latin becomes the Latin Vulgate.Vulgate.

For the next thousand For the next thousand years in the west the years in the west the Latin Vulgate assumes Latin Vulgate assumes the status of the the status of the original teachingsoriginal teachings

Poor Scholarship…Poor Scholarship…

1500 CE - Erasmus 1500 CE - Erasmus attempts to attempts to translate Vulgate translate Vulgate back into Greek back into Greek without consulting without consulting the original Greek the original Greek manuscripts.manuscripts.

This becomes the This becomes the source for the King source for the King James Bible.James Bible.

John Mill – Textual Criticism John Mill – Textual Criticism entersenters

1707 CE – John Mill publishes 30 1707 CE – John Mill publishes 30 years of work examining early Greek years of work examining early Greek manuscripts and comparing them to manuscripts and comparing them to the English versions.the English versions.

He found 30,000 variations, errors, He found 30,000 variations, errors, citations, deletions, additions citations, deletions, additions comparing the Greek to the popular comparing the Greek to the popular Latin version.Latin version.

Examples of DifferencesExamples of Differences

Woman taken in Woman taken in adultery in John 7:53adultery in John 7:53

It is not found in earlier It is not found in earlier manuscripts, its style is manuscripts, its style is different, and the words different, and the words and phrases are alien and phrases are alien to the rest of John.to the rest of John.

Conclusion: this story Conclusion: this story was not in Gospel but was not in Gospel but added later by scribes.added later by scribes.

Gospel of Mark – last 12 Gospel of Mark – last 12 versesverses

Mark 16:4 – “But the women flee the Mark 16:4 – “But the women flee the tomb and say nothing to anyone…” tomb and say nothing to anyone…” This is where the earlier texts end.This is where the earlier texts end.

Later translations added 12 verses: Later translations added 12 verses: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, upbraids them for failing to believe, upbraids them for failing to believe, signs of believers will be casting out signs of believers will be casting out demons, taking up snakes, drinking demons, taking up snakes, drinking poison, etc.poison, etc.

Conclusion: Last 12 verses were Conclusion: Last 12 verses were added later by scribes.added later by scribes.

Doctrine of the TrinityDoctrine of the Trinity

Earlier Greek manuscripts use “…the Earlier Greek manuscripts use “…the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one.”these three are one.”

Modern Trinity uses,”…the Father, Modern Trinity uses,”…the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and these the Word, and the Spirit, and these three are one.three are one.

Conclusion: The Trinity theology was Conclusion: The Trinity theology was added later by scribes.added later by scribes.