The texts of the Bible—the New Testament in particular—have undergone alteration at various levels, each driven by its own rationale and justification. Often, these changes were not born of malicious intent; rather, those who altered the texts sought to present them in a form they deemed superior to the version available to them. This process began with the first hands to record the text—the authors of the Gospels themselves—and continued through the work of scribes, correctors, and even heretics who sought to anchor their own doctrines in scriptural texts. Subsequently, certain Church Fathers adjusted the text to align with what they considered to be a more accurate version. Translators, meanwhile, encountered passages containing prophecies or statements they found troubling, and consequently obscured them to conceal the original meanings they deemed undesirable. Finally, commentators employed symbols and allegories to mitigate the impact of passages that proved difficult to interpret in their literal, unadorned form.
Here we answer the famous question: Who really corrupted the Holy Bible? In this foundational lecture, we examine the six historical levels of distortion in the New Testament: the Gospel writers themselves, copyists (scribes), heretics according to their sects, early Church Fathers, translators, and commentators.
Focusing on the first level in this episode, we uncover documented textual examples showing how Matthew and Luke modified the Gospel of Mark to elevate Christ's status, how New Testament authors misquoted or altered Old Testament prophecies, and how Greek Hellenistic philosophy (Plato and Philo of Alexandria) was woven directly into the Gospels and Pauline epistles.
Through this channel, we discuss concepts and practical issues in biblical and textual criticism. We travel through historical events and conflicts during the early formation of the biblical canon and the settlement of the Christian creeds. We hope to see your active subscription, follow, comments, and fruitful discussions.
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