Consider these quotes from five different, prominent biblical scholars affirming the reliability of the biblical text despite variations in ancient manuscripts:
1. Bruce M. Metzger:Quote: "The quantity of manuscript evidence for the New Testament is far greater than that for any other work of ancient literature. There are about 5,700 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages (Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, etc.). The sheer number of manuscripts and the relatively short time span between the original compositions and the extant copies provide a high degree of confidence in the reliability of the text of the New Testament."
(Source: Metzger, Bruce M., and Bart D. Ehrman. The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51.)
2. F.F. Bruce:
Quote: "The variant readings about which any doubt remains among textual critics of the New Testament affect no material question of historic fact or of Christian faith and practice."
(Source: Bruce, F.F. The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? InterVarsity Press, 2003, p. 15.)
3. Craig L. Blomberg:
Quote: "The vast majority of these variants involve a single letter, the omission of a single word or phrase, or an obvious slip of the pen that could hardly have affected the overall meaning of a passage. The remaining variants that are of significance for interpretation and that affect more than a word or two, are noted in most modern translations in the margins and, if they are particularly significant, discussed in the footnotes. Few, if any, affect more than a verse or two in any document, and none affect any significant Christian doctrine."
(Source: Blomberg, Craig L. The Historical Reliability of the New Testament: Countering the Challenges to Evangelical Christian Beliefs. B&H Academic, 2016, p. 19.)
4. Daniel B. Wallace:Quote: "There are about 300,000 individual variations among all the manuscripts, and while this may sound like a lot, it is a small number when one considers the wide range of documents, the long period of time involved, and the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the differences are completely insignificant, involving spelling or style."
(Source: Wallace, Daniel B. Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic, and Apocryphal Evidence. Kregel Publications, 2011, p. 29.)
5. N.T. Wright:
Quote: "The Christian claim was not that God had given a set of dictation, but that God had guided and directed the writing of these books so that they would be trustworthy witnesses to the great events that had happened."
(Source: Wright, N.T. Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today. HarperOne, 2013, p. 71.)
These quotes from biblical scholars highlight the consensus across diverse backgrounds and beliefs that while variations exist in ancient manuscripts, they do not undermine the reliability of the biblical text for understanding historic facts, Christian faith, and practice.
Consider these quotes from five different, prominent biblical scholars affirming the reliability of the biblical text despite variations in ancient manuscripts:
1. Bruce M. Metzger: Quote: "The quantity of manuscript evidence for the New Testament is far greater than that for any other work of ancient literature. There are about 5,700 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages (Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, etc.). The sheer number of manuscripts and the relatively short time span between the original compositions and the extant copies provide a high degree of confidence in the reliability of the text of the New Testament."
(Source: Metzger, Bruce M., and Bart D. Ehrman. The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 51.)
2. F.F. Bruce: Quote: "The variant readings about which any doubt remains among textual critics of the New Testament affect no material question of historic fact or of Christian faith and practice."
(Source: Bruce, F.F. The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? InterVarsity Press, 2003, p. 15.)
3. Craig L. Blomberg: Quote: "The vast majority of these variants involve a single letter, the omission of a single word or phrase, or an obvious slip of the pen that could hardly have affected the overall meaning of a passage. The remaining variants that are of significance for interpretation and that affect more than a word or two, are noted in most modern translations in the margins and, if they are particularly significant, discussed in the footnotes. Few, if any, affect more than a verse or two in any document, and none affect any significant Christian doctrine."
(Source: Blomberg, Craig L. The Historical Reliability of the New Testament: Countering the Challenges to Evangelical Christian Beliefs. B&H Academic, 2016, p. 19.)
4. Daniel B. Wallace: Quote: "There are about 300,000 individual variations among all the manuscripts, and while this may sound like a lot, it is a small number when one considers the wide range of documents, the long period of time involved, and the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the differences are completely insignificant, involving spelling or style."
(Source: Wallace, Daniel B. Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic, and Apocryphal Evidence. Kregel Publications, 2011, p. 29.)
5. N.T. Wright: Quote: "The Christian claim was not that God had given a set of dictation, but that God had guided and directed the writing of these books so that they would be trustworthy witnesses to the great events that had happened."
(Source: Wright, N.T. Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today. HarperOne, 2013, p. 71.)
These quotes from biblical scholars highlight the consensus across diverse backgrounds and beliefs that while variations exist in ancient manuscripts, they do not undermine the reliability of the biblical text for understanding historic facts, Christian faith, and practice.