1997-12-31 An insider's look at the forces impacting modern NT versions

My first Bible was the King James (or Authorized) version. I read from it, studied it and cherished it as my most prized possession. Unfortunately, I also found much of it hard to understand. Naturally, as many Christians do, and have done, I started looking at more modern translations of that noble Book, and what I discovered was disturbing.

Though I found many of the newer translations to be much easier to read, I discovered that certain verses were missing. Not translated differently, but MISSING! I wondered what was going on. After reading further, I discovered that other verses were added, and, once in a while, entire historical accounts were either entirely missing, significantly changed or noted to be of doubtful originality. I had to get to the bottom of WHY these changes were made, and WHO made them-- so I began what to this day has proved one of the most rewarding studies of my life: the study of New Testament textual criticism.

Textual criticism is the science that attempts to reconstruct the purest, most original form of text from the many thousands of, at times, conflicting and divergent documents that span, in the case of the New Testament, many centuries. This volume, actually a compilation of seventeen studies, provides a fascinating, insightful look into the discoveries, and the theories that attempt to accommodate them, that have impacted the very form of today's New Testament.

Authored by two experts in the field, this volume will serve as an excellent introduction to the science of New Testament textual criticism. You will learn the basic terms and ideas endemic to this field of study, and survey the varying methods (and underlying theories) used to determine the most original form of the Christian New Testament. I highly recommend this valuable book-- with an important qualification.

The potential reader should be advised that this volume is written by two individuals who, though recognized authorities in the field, represent a particular theoretical approach, popularly known as reasoned eclecticism, that is only one among several currently taken. As with any historical science, differences of opinion exist among the experts, so proceed with an open mind, and enjoy!