NOTR - Codex Sinaiticus Revisited - 10.4.16

Today's Show: CODEX SINAITICUS REVISITED

Chris reviews some of the important details surrounding the Codex Sinaiticus in light of new research being done by others who have been investigating the controversy -- in particular, author David Daniels.  Many Christians today are unaware of the great importance of the Sinai manuscript in the history of the Bible, and how so many modern theories about the text of the New Testament are derived from its pages, along with those of the Codex Vaticanus.  If (as a growing number of researchers have come to believe) the codex proves to be a nineteenth century creation, rather than an ancient work, it would undoubtedly turn the world of modern textual criticism upside down.

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NOTR - The Syrian Recension Theory - 9.16.16

Today's Show: THE SYRIAN RECENSION THEORY

Chris discusses the very heart of the critical text theory -- the alleged recension (or revision) of the New Testament that is said to have occurred between 250 and 350 A.D. in ancient Syria, according to Westcott and Hort's hypothesis.  The result was a series of longer readings of the text of Scripture that then became (eventually) the Received Text.  The theory itself was apparently engineered for the purpose of explaining why the Codex Vaticanus contained shorter readings than the Textus Receptus.  Yet it was opposed by leading scholars of the nineteenth century, such as Charles Henry Waller and Canon Cook -- whose comments are explored.

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NOTR - The Hand of Heresy - 9.14.16

Today's Show: THE HAND OF HERESY

Chris discusses the Revision Committee of 1881 from the perspective of Dean John W. Burgon and one of his associates, a renowned minister named H.P. Liddon.  The Committee, led by Westcott and Hort chose to include in its company a Unitarian named Dr. Vance Smith.  His inclusion was considered a scandal that caused an uproar among believers in England.  Liddon wrote to Burgon that because of the influence of an unbeliever, they should "expect to trace the hand of heresy" in the passages of the 1881 revision of the English Bible.

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NOTR - Older is better for Gnostics - 9.8.16

Today's Show: OLDER IS BETTER FOR GNOSTICS

Chris continues his discussion of the components of the Critical Text argument, this time focusing on the argument that older manuscripts are supposedly "better" because they are closer to the originals.  But does this argument stand upon closer investigation?  Nineteenth century scholar John Burgon specifically addressed the controversy, along with his contemporary, F.H.A. Scrivener.  The chief problem with the "older is better" belief is that the worst corruptions of the New Testament occurred within the first two hundred years after they were first written.  Early church fathers warned of the influence of heretical groups, generally referred to as the "Gnostics" and who were concentrated in Alexandria, Egypt.  What does history tell us about their influence?

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NOTR - Obeying the Gospel of Christ - 9.6.16

Today's Show: OBEYING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

Chris continues his discussion of the new film "Bridge to Babylon," and the potentially damaging impact that skeptical scholarship can have on the preaching of the Gospel.  The apostle warns that when the Lord returns, He will take "vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel ..."  As such, our obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is of the utmost importance, especially in this era in which universal theology (i.e. the teaching that all religions are somehow one and the same) is often promoted.  But the question is asked: has the handling of the Scriptures by modern critics weakened confidence in the Bible and, as a result, opened the door to apostasy?

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NOTR - The Critical Text - 9.2.16

Today's Show: THE CRITICAL TEXT

Chris continues his discussion of the new documentary, "Bridge to Babylon," this time exploring the indefensible arguments in favor of the Critical Text as somehow representing the inerrant Word of God.  By the admission of leading scholars, the chief critical editions of the Greek text disagree more than 30% of the time, showing a variant rate that calls much of the New Testament into question.  Is it this element of modern textual criticism that has put many sincere Christians in the position of defending the indefensible?  While attempting to convince others that the Scriptures are inerrant, Critical Text believers must also justify the overwhelming number of inconsistencies found in what is called the "oldest and best" manuscript evidence.  Yet among traditional text manuscripts (which represent the overwhelming majority) the rate of agreement is better than 99%. 

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