Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: Godzilla
Hmmmm...not really.

Despite the foregoing criticisms, my sympathies often lie with Ehrman. The rigidity of the fundamentalism in which I grew up far exceeded anything he has described concerning his own experience. His inveighing against homogenizing the distinctive messages of biblical authors for the sake of historical harmony strikes in me a resonant chord. And at an early stage of my doctoral research on Matthew's use of the Old Testament, what increasingly seemed to count as misquotations—the usual suspects: reversing Micah's description of Bethlehem as small into a strong denial of that description (2:5–6), quoting Hosea's reference to Israel's exodus from Egypt as though it predicted the Messiah's stay in Egypt and exit from there (2:15), and so on—led me at one point to say aloud in the privacy of my study, "God, it's not looking good for you and your book." So why didn't I arrive at Ehrman's "dead end"? I have no explanation except to say that "by the grace of God" (the phrase Ehrman judges a textual corruption in Hebrews 2:8–9) I was spared a hardening of the categories through which Scripture is perceived. Or since they were already hard—unreasonably hard—I should rather say that the Spirit of God softened my categories so as to give them an elasticity that accommodates the human features of Scripture without excluding its ultimately divine origin. I pray that Ehrman and all others like him may enjoy such a softening.

NT textual criticism is just pointing out the facts. How we deal with those facts is important. Some cling to false traditions about the Bible and others throw it out altogether. Gundry believes the human alterations to the Biblical text could be divinely inspired. Personally, given the nature of the alterations, I wouldn't think so in most cases. I think the books of the NT were divinely inspired when originally written and in spite of human alterations over the centuries continues to serve the purpose of testifying that Jesus is who he said he is, our Savior and Redeemer.

99 posted on 02/19/2010 3:18:43 PM PST by TheDon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies ]


To: TheDon
Gundry believes the human alterations to the Biblical text could be divinely inspired.

That is not what that passage is saying. Gundry was pointing out that since PEOPLE were involved as well as God, the whole extant documents are still inspired.

AFA citing ehrman as a favorable source, you may well pay heed to Gundry's summary

Earlier, I mentioned Ehrman's purpose "in part" to introduce lay readers to New Testament textual criticism. He makes quite clear his further and ultimate purpose to dysangelize them— in other words, to proclaim New Testament textual criticism as bad news to all who believe the Bible to be God's word.

And that includes mormons.

104 posted on 02/19/2010 3:38:06 PM PST by Godzilla (3-7-77)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies ]

To: TheDon
How we deal with those facts is important.

Interpret...

105 posted on 02/19/2010 3:44:50 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies ]

To: TheDon; Religion Moderator

You forgot to source that.


141 posted on 02/20/2010 1:04:15 AM PST by reaganaut (- "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson