john stevenson, 2013 revelation. can our copies of the bible be trusted?

© John Stevenson, 2013

RevelationRevelation

Can our copies of the Bible be Can our copies of the Bible be trusted?trusted?

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Original ManuscriptOriginal Manuscript

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Scholarly work with available manuscripts Scholarly work with available manuscripts aimed at the recovery within the limits of aimed at the recovery within the limits of

possibility of the original text.possibility of the original text.

Looks at outside factors of the bookLooks at outside factors of the book

• Who wrote the book?Who wrote the book?• Where was it written?Where was it written?• What outside factors influenced What outside factors influenced

its writing?its writing?• Why was the book written?Why was the book written?

Also known as “Textual Criticism”Also known as “Textual Criticism”

• What does the passage say?What does the passage say?• Examines all available Examines all available

manuscriptsmanuscripts• Origen’s Hexapla did such a Origen’s Hexapla did such a

study of the Old Testament in study of the Old Testament in 250 A.D.250 A.D.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (NAS).those who are in Christ Jesus (NAS).

There is There is therefore now no condemnation to therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (KJV).not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (KJV).

Unintentional Errors

• From Faulty Eyesight

Intentional Changes

God (Qeoj) was manifest in the flesh

He (Oj) was manifest in the flesh

Unintentional Errors

• From Faulty Eyesight• From Faulty Hearing• From the Mind

Intentional Changes

Mark 14:65Mark 14:65• They struck (They struck (elabonelabon))• They received (They received (eballoneballon))

Unintentional Errors

• From Faulty Eyesight• From Faulty Hearing• From the Mind• Additions due to personal

notes

Intentional Changes

Unintentional Errors

• From Faulty Eyesight• From Faulty Hearing• From the Mind• Additions due to personal

notes

Intentional Changes

• Spelling and grammatical updates

• Modernization of names and places

• Attempted harmonization

Original TextOriginal Text

BabylonianBabylonianFamilyFamily

OldOldPalestinianPalestinian

FamilyFamily

EgyptianEgyptianFamilyFamily

RabbinicRabbinicFamilyFamily

MassoreticMassoreticFamilyFamily

LateLatePalestinianPalestinian

FamilyFamily

SeptuagintSeptuagintSamaritanSamaritanTextsTexts

Textual Family Description Dates

Proto AlexandrianProto Alexandrian Siniaticus, Siniaticus, VaticanusVaticanus

22ndnd – 4 – 4thth CenturyCentury

AlexandrianAlexandrian Ephraemi Ephraemi RescriptusRescriptus

33rdrd – 12 – 12thth CenturyCentury

WesternWestern LatinLatin 33rdrd – 13 – 13thth CenturyCentury

ByzantineByzantine Textus Receptus, Textus Receptus, KJVKJV

55thth – 10 – 10thth CenturyCentury

““It thus develops that we do not It thus develops that we do not have an embarrassing welter of have an embarrassing welter of

three thousand manuscripts three thousand manuscripts disagreeing in confusing ways, disagreeing in confusing ways,

but that these manuscripts have but that these manuscripts have been copied with considerable been copied with considerable

care from a few old and care from a few old and standard editions.”standard editions.”

(Dr. Laird Harris, Inspiration and (Dr. Laird Harris, Inspiration and Canonicity of the Bible; Page Canonicity of the Bible; Page

91).91).

• The Early Text is to be Preferred.The Early Text is to be Preferred.• The Shorter Text is to be Preferred.The Shorter Text is to be Preferred.• Diverse Geographical Reading is to Diverse Geographical Reading is to

be Preferred.be Preferred.• The More Difficult Reading is to be The More Difficult Reading is to be

Preferred.Preferred.