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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.
Wed, May 18 2011 at 8:26 PM
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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Romans3: 3,4
Keep regurgitating. It's not really necessary to form your own thoughts.
But if the Bible, claimed to be infallible by Christians, IS fallible, then Christianity has nowhere to stand. Yahweh exists because the Bible says He does, as this is the only proof we have of Him, and the Bible is true because He says it's His word. If the Bible isn't true, then Christianity is built on a shaky and crumbling foundation.
Perhaps, then again, perhaps not. You can't prove the existence of your particular version of God, nor can anyone disapprove it. It shouldn't matter. Believe what you will or disbelieve, whatever. Still, in the end, wouldn't any God welcome questions and exploration..... an open mind?
Genesis 6:4 "when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown."
"There were giants in the earth in those days." 6:4
Which of the two were greater, i wonder? The sons of gods or the giants in the earth.
God decides to kill all living things because the human imagination is evil. 6:5
So, the sons of gods were killed for their imagination was evil but not the giants in the earth? I guess the giants in the earth are far greater than god made men. God aint much. Giants for the win.
If you want to follow me then sell everything you own. That includes your nice house, iPod, your golf clubs, and your gas guzzling SUV you drive. Give all the money to the poor, whether you think they deserve it or not. Spend less money on yourself and your children and more helping people that need help.
I don't think the word 'fact' means what you think it means.
INCONCEIVABLE!!!
you keep using that word, i dont think it means what you think it means
Mankind will not be free until the last king has been strangled with the entrails of the last priest...
Literally, and immediately. Ignorance is not bliss, it is vile and putrid and full of hate like the minds it infests.
A lively debate is welcome and encouraged at Mother Nature Network but personal attacks on other members don't make for a good debate. They also violate our Terms and Conditions, so we do remove those posts.
wow. makes sence to me
Look at all the progressives getting their hate on! Be patient communist soldiers and soon you will be able to eradicate everyone that doesn't think the way you want them to think. Your time has come!
Communist soldiers? Just because someone doesnt believe in god and thinks that the bible is rubbish? Were you around during the time the events of the bible happened?(obvious answer) So everything you go to church for is based off of all BELIEFS and FAITH. There is no way around that. I respect peoples religions even though being an atheist myself. But i see reading the bible(Which i have) as being a fiction/fantasy book.
You are incorrest. The Council of Nicea never used rounds of VOTES (common misconceptiom). Read your history.
Nicea, 325: There were 320 bishops, and they confirmed or denied that JC was "Begotten", and was not "created" by god, as was believed by followers of Arius of Alexandria. 318 confirmed, 2 did not. If you call that a vote, fine, but it changed nothing, and was not relative to what would or would not be included in the cannon.
Long Greek sentences vs. short one? Pretty flimsy and biased. I come from a family of Bible scholars (with Doctorates), and this story really misrepresents the Bible. Almost always, it has to do with people trying to bash Christians or justify their atheism. Blah, blah, blah. Tired of the intolerant attitude toward Christians.
...it's a forgery. The entire book is a forgery. It's attributed to a non-existent supernatural entity.
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