With an Emphasis on New Testament Texts
Presented by: Andrew Jamieson MDiv. TMS 2001
Summary
How We Got Our Bible is a series of approximately 8 lectures showing how the Bible has been handed down through two thousand years of history. The primary events considered span from the 2nd century to the 16th century reformation, and deals heavily with events in Europe and England in particular. This is much more of a history course than a theological one. It is a story that requires in depth explanations and some technical discussions. Attention will be given to understanding why scribal errors crept into ancient biblical texts and what has been done to correct and restore the original readings. The Bible did not just descend out of heaven in a basket for man to revere and obey but passed through the hands of sinful men who make mistakes both intentionally and unintentionally. God worked through fallible men to preserve, preach, and practice his Holy Word. Rather than be threatened by this reality, the student of this course will likely come away with a new and enhanced appreciation for how God sovereignly and perfectly (if mysteriously) moved in history to bring His true word to every generation. Practical discussion will be applied to evaluating modern English translations and the impact they have had on creating Western Civilization as we know it today.
I pray this course will be used by God to encourage lovers of Christ and His Word to greater devotion to Him and the work of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
Andy Jamieson – April 2016
Individual Lectures
subject to change
Session 1: The Transmission of the Text: How the Bible was copied through the ages. Key New Testament Manuscripts. Key historical dates. Key People.
Session 2: The transmission of the text: Textual Criticism. Is it good? Is it bad? Pitfalls: How liberals misuse textual criticism, and how to recognize it. Various forms of liberal criticism of the Bible. How to evaluate a textual variant with appropriate controls. What is a textual apparatus and how to use it. Introduction of text families: Byzantine, Western, and Alexandrian.
Session 3: The Transmission of the text: The Canon of Scripture. Why is the Canon of Scripture closed? What historical factors (extrinsic) and theological factors (intrinsic) contributed to a closed Canon? When did this take place?
Session 3.5: The Davinci Code and Apostasy: The Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Gnostic Gospels, Marcion Canon etc. Various extra-biblical writings: what they are and how to handle misguided arguments in favor of their inclusion in the Canon. (this is an optional session time permitting).
Session 4: The Bible in Pre-Reformation England. Who was John Wycliffe and why is he called the “morning star of the reformation”? Who were the forgotten poor priests known as Lollards? Why was a Bible translation in English so slow to come to fruition? What role did the Roman Catholic Church play in its suppression — and why?
Session 5: Toward an English Translation. How Conceited Kings, Corrupt Clergy, and Gifted Godly Men birthed the reformation and the first English Bible translated from the original languages. This is a story every English speaking Christian should be familiar with.
Session 7: The Textus Receptus and the King James Bible. A short History lesson on the formation of the most influential book known to western civilization.
Session 7.5: Modern English Bibles: The King James and other translations. Is the King James Bible the only legitimate English translation? If one believes in the inerrancy and infallibility of scripture, why are there different translations and why are there two somewhat different Greek texts that underlie them? How different are they? What are the key arguments for and against the King James Only position, and how can one answer these concerns? Are all modern translations equally good and useful?
Session 8: In Pursuit of the Truth: The X-files of The Bible and Western Civilization. A Christ centered, Bible informed, Spirit illumined view of history is the only one that makes sense. Christ is the rock upon which a stable life, church, and society is built. I will commend to you a book that will help crystallize the “Big Picture”.