I mentioned early that bible corruption was a very interesting topic that I like to get my teeth in. I had a busy day so I had to cut it sort.I had mentioned a Book written by a praiseworthy Christian scholar who rather than had an axe to grind was actually defending Christianity.His name was John William Burgon and I was reading one of his books lately.Here is part of the Bio of John Burgon:
Defense of the Scriptures. Over a hundred years ago there was a warrior and fighter for the Scriptures. His name was John William Burgon. This champion was from a different time and century from you and me; nevertheless, he was a staunch defender of Bibliology. As you know, this discipline is the bedrock of all theology. [Bibliology refers to the doctrine of the Bible.]
It is interesting to note that Burgon not only pointed out what the Word of God said, but also defended the Word of God against all errors within his own church.
Lack of Promotion. John William Burgon was a battler. He applied what he knew, and it cost him something. He did not get promoted. He was not on the English Revised Version committee of 1881. He was not made a professor, canon, or Bishop of his church. Neither was he made the head of a college. Why? Because he "rocked too many boats"! He loved the Book!
So we see he was a staunch defender of the Bible although he did not make it big.His book Corruptions talks about the Corruption of the Bible and I don't need to misquote as his words are clear.he calls a spade a spade where he needs to.
He says about bible corruptionon page 70 of his book
"The Causes of the Corruption of the Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels"
CHAPTER VII.
CAUSES OF CORRUPTION CHIEFLY INTENTIONAL.
I. HARMONISTIC INFLUENCE.
[IT must not be imagined that all the causes of the depravation of the text of Holy Scripture
were instinctive, and that mistakes arose solely because scribes were overcome by personal infirmity, or were unconsciously the victims of surrounding circumstances. There was often more design and method in their error. They, or those who directed them, wished sometimes to correct and improve the copy or copies before them. And indeed occasionally they desired to make the Holy Scriptures witness to their own peculiar belief. Or they had their ideas of taste, and did not scruple to alter passages to suit what they fancied was their enlightened judgement.
It cannot be clearer than that now can it? So as I said in my earlier post the scribes delibeartely changeed the texts.He carries on with some examples of what ismentioned above,a bit long to post here.But he explains how words were erased.
The next chapter he writes is:CHAPTER VIII.
CAUSES OF CORRUPTION CHIEFLY INTENTIONAL.
II. ASSIMILATION.
So again we see that there were the Intentional Corruptions of the bible.
THERE results inevitably from the fourfold structure of the Gospel,.from the very fact that the story of Redemption is set forth in four narratives, three of which often ran parallel,this practical inconvenience: namely, that sometimes the expressions of one Evangelist get improperly transferred to another. This is a large and important subject which calls for great attention, and
requires to be separately handled. The phenomena alluded to, which are similar to some of those which have been treated in the last chapter, may be comprised under the special head of Assimilation.
and on this he comments that in order to harmonise the text between the three texts were tampered with,It will I think promote clearness in the ensuing discussion if we determine to consider separately those instances of Assimilation which may rather be regarded as deliberate attempts to reconcile one Gospel with another: indications of a fixed determination to establish harmony between place and place. I am saying that between ordinary cases of Assimilation such as occur in every page, and extraordinary instances where per fas et nefas an enforced Harmony has been established,which abound indeed, but are by no means common,I am disposed to draw a line.
further he says:
CHAPTER X.
CAUSES OF CORRUPTION CHIEFLY INTENTIONAL.
IV. OMISSION.
[WE have now to consider the largest of all classes of corrupt variations from the genuine text257,the omission of words and clauses and sentences,a truly fertile province of inquiry.
Omissions are much in favour with a particular school of critics; though a habit of admitting them whether in ancient or modern times cannot but be symptomatic of a tendency to scepticism.]
§ 1.
Omissions are often treated as Various Readings. Yet only by an Hibernian licence can words
omitted be so reckoned: for in truth the very essence of the matter is that on such occasions nothing
is read. It is to the case of words omitted however that this chapter is to be exclusively devoted.
And it will be borne in mind that I speak now of those words alone where the words are observed
to exist in ninety-nine MSS. out of a hundred, so to speak;being away only from that hundredth
copy.
There is more and much much more.I mean you have the
Chapter XI. Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional. VI. Substitution.. .
Chapter XI. (continued). Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional. VII.
Addition.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter XII. Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional. VIII. Glosses..
Chapter XIII. Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional. IX. Corruption by
Heretics.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter XIV. Causes of Corruption Chiefly Intentional. X. Corruption by
the Orthodox.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
So how can any Christian in his right mind now claim that the bible is the undisputed , unadulterated word of GOD.This is just the tip of the iceberg I di not go into Detail. The book is there go to ccel.org and read it for yourself.And it was not written by a muslim nor a heretic but a revered Christian writer who defended the Bible.
Peace
Yaqovzadeek
aka James the Just