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    What's this?
Bible's New Testament filled with forgeries
New book by a former evangelical Christian says that nearly half of the Bible's New Testament has been forged.

By

Bryan Nelson
Wed, May 18 2011 at 8:26 PM
 56
Page from the New Testament

Photo: Doug1021/Flickr

The Bible might be the best-selling book in history, but it may also be full of lies. At least, that's the claim being made by biblical scholar and former evangelical Christian, Bart Ehrman, in a new book titled, "Forged: Writing in the Name of God — Why the Bible’s Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are."
 
According to Ehrman, at least 11 of the 27 New Testament books are forgeries, while only seven of the 13 epistles attributed to Paul were probably written by him. None of the writings attributed to the Apostle Peter could have been written by him, and even the authenticity of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John can be questioned. The book is the focus of a recent report by Discovery News.
 
"The Bible not only contains untruths of accidental mistakes. It also contains what almost anyone today would call lies," writes Ehrman, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
 
Ehrman builds his case by noting scores of inconsistencies in the writing styles among authors of the New Testament. Discrepancies in the language and content among books attributed to Paul are particularly glaring. Ehrman points to one example from the book of Ephesians, which is written in long Greek sentences, not the short Greek sentences used in Paul's other writings. 

Meanwhile, Ehrman claims that the authenticity of any book attributed to Peter should be doubted since Peter — like most other fisherman raised in rural Palestine at the time — was probably illiterate.
 
So the question remains: Who wrote these books and why did they attempt to conceal their identities? Ehrman says early Christian sects, struggling to legitimize themselves, would have had plenty of motivation to fabricate their religious texts.
 
"If your name was Jehoshaphat and no one had any idea who you were, you could not very well sign your own name to the book," said Ehrman. "No one would take the Gospel of Jehoshaphat seriously. If you wanted someone to read it, you called yourself Peter. Or Thomas. Or James. In other words, you lied about who you really were."
 
Ehrman's book has created a firestorm in the Christian community. In a review of the book, the Catholic Herald concedes "some New Testament books probably were not written by the people traditionally assigned as authors." But the Catholic website was also was quick to dismiss Ehrman's analysis: "the book is more provocative than insightful."
 
The Herald also said that Ehrman's book "barely mentions the concept of oral tradition. So even if a specific letter was not done by Peter or Paul, it could well have been written by someone drawing from the oral tradition passed down by one or the other."
 
But in Ehrman's view, a forgery is a forgery. If such a writing method were practiced today, it would be looked upon as deceitful and inappropriate.

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anonymous
Steve Jul 29 2012 at 7:17 PM

The (Walter) Bauer/ (Bart) Ehrman hypothesis has been debunked and should no longer be even considered scholarly. See The Heresy of Orthodoxy, Kostenberger & Kruger, Phds, Crossway press

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anonymous
john Jun 11 2012 at 10:34 AM

There are nearly 500 contradictions in the Bible. Count 'em,

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anonymous
Ina Mar 06 2012 at 8:33 AM

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever shall believe in him shall have life, and life everafter. Hes just a prayer away.... and God Loves You, yes you.

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anonymous
Guest Jun 12 2012 at 10:24 AM

You're cute.

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anonymous
Nick Jan 05 2012 at 11:06 AM

You mean a religious text ISN'T completely fact?

Stop the presses!

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anonymous
Austin Lechner Dec 25 2011 at 12:31 PM
First off...Writers like Paul, had scribes for part of the time he wrote these books, thus proving the first statement of Paul's writings changing inaccurate. Second, a persons writings can change. For example when I was younger I use to write my 2s with the loop at the end, however, I no longer do that. I make them look like a like this, (2). Does this make my old writings from grade school a fraud? That maybe I had someone else do them? Or maybe someone else does them now? No, I changed my writing
.... More
habits. Everyone changes, as you progress in your writing your style will change. There are some who doubt Paul wrote the book of Acts because it was written in Koine Greek, which is more of a historic or traditional greek. This style somewhat favors Luke's writings who was for a scribe for Paul. Paul dictated the story or book and Luke wrote or 'scribed' it down on paper. I would also like to mention Peter was a Jew. If you look in the history of the Jews. All Jews were educated at that time. After they went through their education they were given a trade. Such as Jesus, before his ministry, he followed his fathers trade as a carpenter. The statement of Peter being uneducated is not researched out completely. Yes, it does state in Acts people marvel the Peter and John were with Jesus as they were uneducated men. That does no mean they could no read or write. That means they did not have the education of most Jews. If you look at Colossians 4:18, 2 Thessalonians 3:17, and 1 Corinthians 16:21 they all state Paul is writing in his own hand writing; and why? Because he did not always write himself these books but dictated them a having a scribe write them down. Finally, I would like to point out you can see John wrote the books of John, 1,2, & 3 John, and Revelation just by they style and some of the words he used.
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anonymous
Amy Garrison Dec 14 2011 at 6:04 AM

Regardless, the Bible has served its purpose (brought many closer to God) and will continue as well. Check the statistics. NO ONE can deny or critique that...christian or atheist.I feel confident God edited the Bible exactly how he wanted it to be. Gods will be done.

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anonymous
Guest Jun 12 2012 at 10:32 AM

It's more appropriate to say that many people (those who have actually read and understood the bible) have been abruptly separated from "god" by reading the bible. It's such a simple a local interpretation of unexplainable events, and phenomenon from scared and power hungry primitives. Even worse most of the important events are completely uncorroborated in history. Don't embarrass yourself any longer by espousing this childish nonsense.

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anonymous
Guest Jan 13 2012 at 12:07 AM
Yes the bible does serve a purpose however you cant say that God edited the bible to say what he wanted. If you concede that the bible was changed by humans then you must also concede that the Bible's meaning could be flawed, for God gave humans free will and therefore DOES NOT control peoples actions (the act of changing words in this case). And because men are sinners and not flawless then the actual text of the Bible is flawed as well because it has the influences of the editors personal feelings
.... More
towards a subject and not God's.
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anonymous
Austin Lechner Dec 25 2011 at 12:32 PM

Amen

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anonymous
Lubiana Dec 20 2011 at 10:54 AM

I agree with you completely. The Bible is God's Word. He wrote it.

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anonymous
Guest Feb 26 2012 at 9:33 PM

He wasn't much of a writer, was he? (she?) Certainly couldn't keep his story consistent.

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anonymous
martin cruz Nov 01 2011 at 7:41 PM
Ehrman, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is definitely just one of the innumerable wise and prudent human beings who read the Bible and never came close to understanding its true, profound and divine revelations. Like the rest, he read the Bible for one purpose: to find flaws he expected to discover and then write about it to prove himself a wise eclectic truth-seeker. People like him will never receive the Wisdom of God which only His Word imparts.
.... More
And the Bible is the written Word of God. How can God allow His book to contain lies and forgeries?
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anonymous
Guest Feb 26 2012 at 9:35 PM

If God wanted to write a book he didn't want edited to serve the petty desires of men, why didn't he write it on the moon, for all to see? If it brings you closer to your ideal of God, more power to you, but the book was obviously written by men, not by supernatural deities.

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anonymous
Guest Nov 02 2011 at 3:16 PM

But God isn't real...

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anonymous
Sarah Oct 24 2011 at 8:43 PM

To anyone who has followed critical biblical scholarship for the last two hundred years this is not news. The only people who will find this shocking is biblical fundamentalists, and they won't believe it anyway.

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anonymous
god Aug 22 2011 at 11:18 PM

Thou art god. Grok? All are god. As god, i condemn worshiping me. Do good works, accept others as you and me, have compassion, experience love towards all and come home to me. Otherwise, you are off track, but still welcomed home when you get here. Thank you.

Much love,

me...you...us...one...

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anonymous
Sarah Aug 22 2011 at 12:56 PM

If only people put as much effort into disproving the Quran.

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anonymous
Yusuf Hernandez Nov 13 2011 at 4:13 PM
Really? Well to comment on your statement, "If only people put as much effort into disproving the Qur'an"-simply put- then there would be a whole lot more Muslims in this world. One can try to debunk it, but will fail miserably. Then that person will question their faith, and hate themselves for it, and either appreciate Islam and practice their own religion, and/or convert to Islam. Trust me, thats what happened to me. Scientist and scholars have great respect for this Holy book, and so should you.
.... More
Don't let your ignorance and pride blind you from the truth. It is your duty as a human being, God's creation, to know how to worship your creator the correct way. Peace and love.
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anonymous
Jeannie Aug 07 2011 at 9:09 AM

It is quite simple, Jesus is either in your heart or he isn't. period. Since when do you need a book to tell you the feelings you have within yourelf...

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anonymous
LCV Jun 13 2011 at 11:17 AM
... the bible is quite obviously a book filled with metaphorical stories to teach lessons, which mix in history and (what was thought to be) science from and for the times it was written. Allot of them are pretty good lessons- some are horrifying- but most (the big ones) tend to be alright. Just use stories to relay the point across. I completely get that. BUT, then you have these people who take every word literally- these people say bible is the word of "God"... it's written by men people! No
.... More
way to get around that! Whether forged or not, fake names, real names- whatever... still... Men. People. Flawed, Ignorant, Biased, and Real people wrote the book. And, it has been edited, changed, re-translated sooo many different ways that the version you or I get at the local bookstore or hotel room is not going to be anywhere close to the real words. The only way to do that is to take the original text, and then translate it yourself (which also invariably will be based on your OWN PERSONAL OPINION, since as anyone who has dealt in foreign languages and translations know- none of it is EVER exact to the native writing.) I am perfectly fine with folks having their belief in "God" or the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" or "Great Spirit" etc and so forth- I just get annoyed when people don't use their brain- common sense. Believe in what you want, but logic and reason is going to trump faith in every argument (well, I guess til the last one- and that's when it'll be real interesting! Or... not)
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anonymous
Guest Jun 13 2011 at 1:52 PM
I like the attitude you portray that people can believe whatever they want (to an extent) however the main point in the bibles messages are not nice. If you dont believe in me you will be forever in pain. This as we know is not the exact message but along those lines. The point that people should or do know that it was written by man why should it be respected believed. I do think that people who do take it to the word are very damaging to society, it was not until people challenged these that after
.... More
a while it was the acceptable to believes these things. It says that its okay to try to murder your son if the voice in your head tell you to do so. And you should not respect peoples beliefe just becasue, it has to earn it in a sence, you vote right wing? why? left? why? but if you believe as many do that circusinsing a child is ok no these should not be respected.
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anonymous
digital atheist Jun 02 2011 at 12:35 PM

somone finally had the guts to say that "the bible" is what it is... a collection of lies, forgeries and out and out fairy tales.

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anonymous
brickbat Jun 01 2011 at 8:35 PM

well, thats all...just read it.

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anonymous
Mark May 30 2011 at 10:27 PM

The fact is that the New Testament is the Good News that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God Almighty and he was born of virgin Mary and became man. He suffered, died a horrific death. On the 3rd day HE rose from death (defeated death that we have hope of not dying the ultimate death..separation from God Almighty. debates among simple men and women here is simply stupidity. If you want to know the truth then follow Jesus plain and simple.

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