show_no_mercy

har har hardy-har har

gentleexit

Surviving manuscripts are one source for a "text" (unlike the new, few survive of the old testament right?). Quotations in other works - apologies, commentaries - are another source and there are a lot of variations in the "quotes" of different Church Fathers.

The question of preserving an original presumes there was one. It's more likely that an oral tradition built and remodeled, writing took versions and then writings were honed. Eventually the "correct" one emerged. So it's not a matter of preserving an original. "God" had to direct selection, editing.

When exactly the precise (hebrew) words of Torah were chosen and by who, I don't know. But I'd like to.

Johnny Skeptic

Of course, and there is nothing wrong with that.

But my intentions go well beyond this forum, and well beyond the FRDB. The few fundies at this forum are a good testing ground for debating fundies at other forums, and at other web sites.

Regardless of my intentions, this thread has obviously attracted a good deal of interest, including your interest.

bacht

Then I must defer to your wisdom, Inquisitor

Exciter

LOL, look who replied first and foremost, Hey you aren't calling Johnny a troll are you? That isn't very nice of you Mr.


Well the original texts of this thread were in GRD, don't know if it's complete or if it's been preserved without any changes, but I'm not about to complain about it. In the Grd there are a lot of people that take the Bible literally so Johnny may have been trying to catch a fundie there.

Message to Johnny Skeptic:

If the fundie hollers [and I don't mean says hello, y'all] let him go, or Santa will leave you a lump of coal in your stocking, lol.

mountainman

Dear Johnny,

(1) Call in Scotland Yard, and the fraud squad, and conduct an investigation regarding who benefited the most from the first large and public edition and publication of the bible in antiquity. (2) Do some more carbon dating of NT related documents and be prepared for more 4th century signposts. (3) Stop the bombing in the middle east so that the existent museums cease being openly pillaged, and so that archaeological research can recommence.

Best wishes,


Pete

Roger Pearse

Additions of extra material during or soon after the process of composition are not the same as errors in transmission, tho. With any text there is always some question as to what is the one true original text -- think of the folios and quartos of Shakespeare -- but I think that it is best not to mix that up with the damage that can occur during copying down the years. Otherwise we get statements of the kind that would mean that we don't actually have the works of J.R.R.Tolkien on the grounds that he edited the 2nd edition slightly. That's absurd, in my view.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

CreamFilledGiraffe

Are you reading the Bible? Have you read it to the end?

CreamFilledGiraffe

Sorry, I don't follow?