Summary

We have over 5500 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. These manuscripts were written in various places and in different time periods. How do we know what the words in our Bible should be? This question is solved by the field of textual criticism.

Outline

What is textual criticism?

What is a textual variant?

Three textual variants every Christian should know about.

Closing thoughts

Resources

NET Bible

YouTube Video: Nestle Aland Critical Edition of the Greek New Testament

Debate: Bart Ehrman vs Daniel Wallace: Can We Trust the Text of the New Testament?

Bart Ehrman quote

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

I discuss the authorship of the New Testament canon and address some of the common skeptical arguments regarding those authors.

Resources

Jesus and the Eyewitness by Richard Bauckham

Richard Bauckham Lectures on Jesus and the Eyewitnesses

Michael Kruger on the Titles of the Gospels

For basic notes about New Testament authorship, most study Bibles will have information at the beginning of each book.

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

Why does the New Testament include certain books and not others? I discuss the Gnostic Gospels and historical evidence in the early church concerning the canon of the New Testament.

Resources

Michael Kruger's Website

Ten Facts about the New Testament Canon Every Christian Should Memorize

Ten Misconceptions about the New Testament Canon

The Heresy of Orthodoxy

Surviving Religion 101

Canon Revisited

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

Lots of stuff regarding the New Testament. This episode lays some ground work for the next 3 to 4 episodes all about the New Testament.

Resources

Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts

The above website provides free high quality photos of thousands of New Testament manuscripts. Check out Codex Siniaticus!

YouVersion Bible App

Use the above app to read and listen to many different translations of the Bible. It's free!

ESV Reader's Edition Bible (Kindle Version)

Read the Bible without the distraction of verse numbers, footnotes...

The Heresy of Orthodoxy

The above book is a refutation of some of the ideas promoted by Dr. Bart Ehrman.

Debate: Bart Ehrman vs. Daniel Wallace (Can We Trust the Text of the New Testament?)

Be ready to think if you watch the above debate. I mentioned it in this episode so I'm providing the link, but you will likely follow the arguments better after I cover some of the basics over the next few weeks. Both of these men are experts of the New Testament in a field called "textual criticism".

Bart Ehrman Website

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

I discuss basic questions regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls. Who? Where? When? What? Why? The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most important discoveries of all time. Many people have heard about them, but know very little details. I hope this episode provides an interesting overview.

Resources

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Dead Sea Scrolls sections)

The Table Podcast: The Dead Sea Scrolls illuminate Scripture

Craig Evans is a Christian scholar with expertise in the Dead Sea Scrolls. He is featured in the above podcast, but also has authored a few books involving the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Dead Sea Scrolls: Uncovering their secrets (Podcast)

The above podcast is a panel of experts on the various aspects of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

I discuss the basics of how the Old Testament was written, and discuss passages within the Old Testament which are evidence the text was revised and updated over time. I also explain why the Hebrew Bible is called the Tanakh and some differences between the Tanakh and the version of the Old Testament in my Protestant Bible. A basic historical timeline is also provided for the composition of the Old Testament.

Resources

The article I mentioned.

Although I did not specifically mention the below resources in the episode, these resources helped guide my research in this area.

Making of the Bible. Tim Mackie from The Bible Project

How We Got the Old Testament by Michael Heiser from The Naked Bible Podcast

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

This is an introduction to a new series of episodes on the Bible. In this upcoming series I will discuss how we got the Bible, various translations, manuscript evidence for the Bible's reliability...

Bubble Gum Prank Video

I mentioned a video in a special segment of the show called, "A Bear in the Woods." Here is the link for the video. (Some podcasts apps may not allow me to hyperlink the video. Simply copy the link below into your web browser.)

1995 World Series Game 1 Bubble Gum Prank

Bear's Book Recommend

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

I give a list of common objections to the Trinity and share a Christian based response to these objections.

Why is the Trinity not mentioned in the Old Testament?

Why is the doctrine of the Trinity not taught in the New Testament?

Why did it take 300+ years to develop the doctrine of the Trinity?

Did Jesus eat, sleep, and die? If so, then how can He be God?

Why does Jesus pray to the Father?

Why did Jesus say, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" on the cross?

Why does Jesus say, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."

Connect with Me

[email protected]

@the_real_bear_martin

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

I explain the basics of the Hypostatic Union. This is the belief that the one Person of Jesus has two Natures (Divine and Human). Next, I give some reasons why the Hypostatic Union is important as we read the Bible, and I finish by examining two common objections to the Trinity.

A Bear in the Woods

“Bear, what’s the most overrated or overhyped experience or destination that you’ve visited?"

Connect

[email protected]

@the_real_bear_martin

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)

Music by JuliusH from Pixabay  (A Bear in the Woods)

Summary

I wrap up a few loose ends from the previous episode and then spend the majority of the time giving Bible verses which support the 3 Foundations of the Trinity from Dr. James White's book, The Forgotten Trinity. At the end, I honor my father in law, Michael Edwards, who passed away 10/8/21.

Bear's Books

The Forgotten Trinity by James White

The Triune God by Fred Sanders

Salvation Belongs to the LORD by John Frame

Articles

King Follet Discourse by Joseph Smith (Founder of Mormonism)

Music

Music by MichaelKobrin from Pixabay (Intro/Outro)