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Articles by John D. Meade
What Does a Little Silver Amulet Say About Early Christian History?
From the beginning, Christians have confessed that our faith is rooted in history. The events of Christianity’s founding in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ Jesus are of chief importance to us. God’s people have always affirmed both the truth and value of history. Biblical writers regularly recorded not only the facts of what happened but the significance for our faith.
The First Parallel Bible
Last month, the papers from the Text & Canon Institute’s first academic colloquium were published as The Forerunners and Heirs of Origen’s Hexapla. Thanks to our supporters, the book is available open access. This article is written to introduce Origen’s work and to celebrate this milestone. Sound Bible study often requires careful comparison of different translations.
I’ve Heard It Said the Gospels Are Full of Contradictions
A Challenge to Think More Deeply It is often said that the Gospels are full of contradictions. And I think that’s often said in a context where there’s a sort of battle between two sets of ideas, and people are trying to use whether or not there are contradictions in the Gospels as part of that battle.
The Bible's Development Is a Messy Story, but It Can Bolster Our Faith
What does history have to do with faith? Everything. As Paul attests in 1 Corinthians 15, Christ died. He was buried. He was raised on the third day. And then "he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve," and then "to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time (vv. 5-6). Because Jesus' work for his people unfolded on earth for everyone to see, the apostles proclaimed historical events. What, then, does faith have to do with history? Again, everything.
Our Year in Review
As we close the books on another year at the Text & Canon Institute, we’re grateful that readers like you found our website by the hundreds of thousands through Google searches, social media posts, and of course, by subscribing to our email list.
How Were the Books of the Bible Chosen?
Old Testament “Bible” is a singular word, but we of course know that the Bible contains many books, multiple books. So how did Protestants, for example, get the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament? That story starts before the period of Christianity—before the time of Jesus Christ. Christians actually rely on the Jewish canon for the Old Testament. Some think maybe the Old Testament just sort of fell out of the sky.
How Did We Get Our Bible?
Copying, Canonizing, and Translating We get our Bible, first of all, because God has chosen to reveal himself to humans. If it weren’t for that first step, of course, there would be no Bible. But from there, then we could talk about the incredible work of humans that God has used to bring us the Bible. And the first step of that, of course, is God choosing to speak through human authors. He inspires the authors of the Bible to write what’s in the Bible.
Why Didn’t the New Testament Authors Use God’s Name? Part 3
We know that the inhibition for pronouncing God’s name came before Christianity, although we don’t know how widespread it was. It’s possible that rendering the divine name as “Lord” (kurios) had already been a strong tradition for centuries by the time we get to Jesus and the apostles. What’s clear is that the New Testament manuscripts we have all follow the tradition that the Septuagint set, which was to substitute the title “Lord” (kurios) for God’s name (YHWH).
What Makes a Bible Translation Really Bad?
If you find an English Bible translation on your Christian bookstore shelf, it’s almost certainly good. Buy it. Read it. Trust it. But there are some “bad Bibles” out there, Bibles you won’t find careful evangelical biblical scholars recommending. In my last article I discussed Bible translations that give in to sectarian impulses. In this article, I discuss the second major category of bad Bibles: crackpot translations.
What Makes a Bible Translation Bad?
If you find an English Bible translation on your Christian bookstore shelf, it’s almost certainly good. Buy it. Read it. Trust it. But there are some “bad Bibles” out there, Bibles you won’t find careful evangelical biblical scholars recommending. Consider this article to be like the list of possible adverse side effects that are rattled off in monotone at the end of drug commercials on TV. Hopefully you’ll never need this information.
How Was the Pronunciation of God’s Name Lost? Part 2
It’s important to recognize right up front that we simply do not know with absolute certainty how God’s name was originally pronounced. The common English pronunciation of “Yahweh” is an educated guess, but we’ll never know for sure how it sounded when God spoke it to Moses.
The Most Objective Textual Critic You’ll Ever Meet
For many of us, spelling was not our favorite subject in grade school. Getting up in front of class for the annual “spelling bee” filled us with dread. And yet, not all cultures and languages have “spelling bees” like English does. For many languages, in which the alphabet or script is essentially phonetic, a “spelling bee” would be quite boring. The reason it works in English is because the history of sound changes in the language has made correct spelling such a difficult thing to learn.
Is the Earliest, Most Complete Hebrew Bible Going on Auction?
Usually, those of us who work on mediaeval Hebrew Bible manuscripts sit quietly in our libraries and try not to get under anyone’s feet. However, once in a blue moon we get our moment in the sun (if you’ll forgive the mixed metaphor), and one of our treasured manuscripts captures the public’s attention. Usually that’s because it is being sold. Such is the case with the recent flurry of interest in the Sassoon Codex, due to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in May of this year.
How Bible Software Solves Differences in Versification for You
Back in the mid-1990s, before the internet was everywhere, I worked in the telephone sales department at Logos Bible Software (now known as Faithlife). In those pre-internet days, companies would run advertisements in magazines with 1-800 numbers that people could call to learn more or get help. I was at the other end of that line and talked with many people about studying the Bible and how Logos Bible Software could help them.
The Legacy of the First Revised Bible Translations
Many Christians today read the Bible through revisions of original translations. We read the Revised Standard Version (RSV), a revision of another revision of the King James Version; English Standard Version, a revision of the RSV; the New King James Version, another revision of the King James and on and on.
Scribal Blunders in Biblical Numbers
Ancient scribes faced many challenges when they copied books, but they seem to have had an especially difficult time with numerals. A survey of the numbers in the Bible shows that copyists often misread and miscopied them, leading to a variety of textual variants among existing manuscripts. This is more significant than we might think at first. Remember that numbers play a significant role throughout the New Testament.
Four Ways Scholars Date Early Hebrew Bible Manuscripts
In recent years, some scholars have argued that the Psalms were still being collected into the Psalter late into the 1st century AD, well after Jesus’ death. But what if there was a copy of the book of Psalms written much earlier than that? In fact, that seems to be the case with 4QPsa, a Psalms manuscript from the Dead Sea Scrolls dated to the late 3rd or early 2nd century BC that must surely play an important role in determining when the book of Psalms was compiled.
3 Reasons We Can Trust the Bible
Curiosity about how we got the Bible has led many in our churches to wonder whether they can trust it. Here are three reasons we know we can. by John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry If you’re like us, you were probably not informed about how we got the Bible early in your Christian life. But later, you read or heard something about the Bible’s history that piqued your curiosity.
Four Lessons from Medieval Illustrated Bibles
Among the treasures housed in the British Library is the Luttrell Psalter. It is a lavishly illustrated early 14th century manuscript commissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell. Inside the front cover someone has written the name of Sir Geoffrey followed by the Latin words me fieri fecit. Loosely translated this means, “Sir Geoffrey Luttrell brought me into existence.” This is interesting for at least two reasons.
How Tall Was Goliath? A Textual Dilemma
The Need for Textual Criticism Sherlock Holmes said, “There is nothing like first-hand evidence.”1 Unfortunately, the original documents (technically called “autographs”) of the Old Testament books all perished due to time and natural causes. But they did not disappear before scribes copied them, and then later scribes copied those copies, and on and on. We, therefore, possess only copies of the originals. And what is more, our copies differ to varying degrees when compared to one another.
Should Protestants Read the Apocrypha?
How Should We Think about the Apocrypha? When I was young, I was privileged to watch both my grandmothers read their Bibles. But one had a “New Catholic Edition” with seven extra books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus [also known as Sirach or Ben Sira], 1–2 Maccabees, and Baruch) and additional chapters to Daniel and Esther, while my other grandmother read her Protestant Bible which lacked those books and additions.
Should Protestants Read the Apocrypha?
How Should We Think about the Apocrypha? When I was young, I was privileged to watch both my grandmothers read their Bibles. But one had a “New Catholic Edition” with seven extra books (Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus [also known as Sirach or Ben Sira], 1–2 Maccabees, and Baruch) and additional chapters to Daniel and Esther, while my other grandmother read her Protestant Bible which lacked those books and additions.
5 Myths about How We Got the Bible
This article is part of the 5 Myths series. History’s Most Important Book When it comes to books, none is more famous than the Bible. It’s the most sold, most translated, and arguably the most influential book in history. As a result, it occupies a vaulted place in our shared cultural conscience. When American presidents want to raise their rhetoric or filmmakers want to add gravitas, they reach for a biblical reference.
Four Benefits of Reading Greek Manuscripts
There is nothing lovelier than a work created by the hand of a true artisan. This is especially true of ancient artifacts since they were, by necessity, hand-made. In many cases, people were not satisfied with a utilitarian object. Whenever possible, they put in extra effort to make it beautiful. This is the first of four benefits I have found in teaching students to read Greek biblical manuscripts. 1. They are beautiful The oldest copies of scripture, as we will see below, were indeed utilitarian.
Providence and Preservation
Christians believe that all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). But what has God done to preserve his written word? In particular, what is the relationship between God’s work of preservation and the work of sometimes sleepy scribes, whose pens might slip, and whose parchments might disintegrate? The concept of “providence” can help us here. What does it mean to say that God has preserved the text of Scripture “providentially”?
The Extraordinary Hebrew Text behind Your English Bible
Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew (with a little Aramaic, mainly in Ezra and Daniel). The New Testament, on the other hand, was written in Greek. When you read your Bible in one of the modern English translations, that translation will have been made directly from editions based on the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and the Hebrew manuscripts of the Old Testament.
The Bible and Slavery in Colonial America
As difficult as it is now to imagine, widespread debate over the morality of Black-only chattel slavery—including consideration of the subject from Scripture—arose only late in Western history. While popes and a few others insisted on the humanity of enslaved peoples, European territorial expansion presupposed a racial hierarchy that slid easily into enslavement of the peoples encountered in that expansion.
The Jefferson Bible and the Faith of an American Founder
The “Jefferson Bible” is arguably the most controversial religious text in American history. Perhaps the other most obvious contender is Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon. But while the Book of Mormon has become one of the most printed and widely distributed books in world history, Thomas Jefferson never published his Bible in his lifetime. Indeed, the Jefferson Bible never got published at all during the 1800s, despite publishers’ offers to do so.
A Case against the Longer Ending of Mark
This is the second article on Mark’s ending. It responds to an argument for the authenticity of Mark 16:9–20. I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to James Snapp’s article. He argued that we should regard Mark 16:9–20 as the ending of Mark’s Gospel. I will be arguing instead that we should regard Mark 16:8 as the ending of Mark’s Gospel.
A Case for the Longer Ending of Mark
This is the first of a series on Mark’s ending. The next article offers a case against 16:9–20. “Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include Mark 16:9–20.” That’s how the ESV introduces Mark 16:9–20 in its heading between Mark 16:8 and 16:9. The ESV also features a footnote, stating, “Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9–20 immediately after v.
Recovering an Erased Gospel
Two hundred years ago, a nobleman on the Greek island of Zakynthos presented a visiting British soldier with a handwritten copy of the readings from the Greek gospels used in church services. On his return to London, General Colin Macaulay gave this manuscript, Codex Zacynthius, to the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Part 5: The Servant Who Sees Light after Anguish
During Holy Week, Christians often turn their attention to the servant songs of Isaiah, and to Isaiah 53 in particular, because these passages depict the work of God’s salvation through a coming servant, a servant the New Testament writers identify as none other than Jesus (1 Pet. 2:22; Luke 22:37). In this series, we have reflected on several textual issues related to the servant’s identity and work.
Part 3: The Servant’s Burial according to the Scriptures
Isaiah’s fourth servant song is by far the most famous, not least because Christians have long read it as one of the greatest Old Testament prophecies about the heart of the Christian faith, the death of Jesus. In this Easter series, we are focusing on major textual problems in Isaiah 53 as a necessary step in identifying the suffering servant. Christ was buried according to the Scriptures.
Part 2: Does Isaiah’s Servant Really Die for the People?
Isaiah’s fourth servant song is by far the most famous, not least because Christians have long read it as one of the greatest Old Testament prophecies about the heart of the Christian faith, the death of Jesus. In this Easter series, we are focusing on major textual problems in Isaiah 53 as a necessary step in identifying the suffering servant. In our Easter series on major problems in the text of Isaiah 53, we now come to the end of Isaiah 53:8.
Part 1: The Servant Sprinkles Many as Anointed Priest
Isaiah’s fourth servant song is by far the most famous, not least because Christians have long read it as one of the greatest Old Testament prophecies about the heart of the Christian faith, the death of Jesus. In this Easter series, we are focusing on major textual problems in Isaiah 53 as a necessary step in identifying the suffering servant.
A New Series on the Text of Isaiah 53
The Text and Canon Institute has launched a new series of articles on several of the crucial textual problems in Isaiah's Fourth Servant Song (Isaiah 52:13–53:12). The series will focus on the problems that affect translation such as the following: Does the servant startle the nations because he is disfigured or sprinkle them after being anointed? (Isa. 52:14–15) Is the servant stricken to death for the people’s rebellion, or are they? (Isa. 53:8) Is the servant’s death or his tomb with the rich?
A New Series on Isaiah’s Suffering Servant
As Easter approaches, many Christians will be remembering the gospel of Christ, that he died for our sins, was buried, and was raised “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4). No doubt, one scripture that many will read during holy week will be Isaiah 52:13–53:12, also known as the fourth servant song. This passage is a crucial text for understanding the events that took place in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago.
Scribes and Scripture
By John D. Meade, Peter J. Gurry ... Show All Format: Crossway+ members receive 30% off books. Learn more. Retail Price: $19.99 Availability: In Stock By John D. Meade, Peter J. Gurry ... Show All Answers to Common Questions about the Writing, Copying, Canonizing, and Translating of the Bible There are many common questions and misconceptions surrounding the formation and history of the Bible: Why is the Bible composed of the current 66 books instead of others? Why are there so many translations?
Why Are Protestant and Catholic Bibles Different?
Why do Catholic Bibles contain more books than Protestant ones? Few questions provoke more curiosity (and angst) about the history of the Bible than why and how the two major western branches of Christianity have different books in the Book. The Roman Catholic Bible has 73 books, while the Protestant Bible contains 66. Both groups claim the Bible functions as their authority for doctrine, though admittedly in different ways.
Two Reasons There Are Variants in Our Copies of the Bible
To err is human; to forgive, divine” is surely the most famous line of the English poet Alexander Pope. Written when he was only 23, the first line presents a truism that explains why our English Bibles have notes about differences in our copies of the Bible. We can take an example from the venerable King James Bible.
The Bible Jesus Read
Have you ever wondered if the Bible you take down from your shelf, or pull up on BibleGateway.com, is the same as the Scriptures Jesus would have read? We tend to think of what Christians term the Old Testament as the Bible of the Jewish people, but are the 39 books of today’s Protestant Old Testament synonymous with what Jesus would have considered Scripture? And what would Jesus’ Bible-reading experience have been like?
SBJT 24/3 (Fall 2020) Archives — Southern Equip
Editorial: Defending Biblical Authority on the Textual Front Stephen J. Wellum Discipleship and the History of the Bible John D. Meade Some Missteps in Narrating the Bible’s History John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry From a Smoking Canon to Burning Hearts: The Making of the Hebrew Bible Stephen G. Dempster Chaos Theory and the Text of the Old Testament Peter J. Gentry Where Inspiration is Found: Putting the New Testament Autographs in Context Timothy N.
The Council of Nicaea did not Create the Canon of Scripture
Written by John D. Meade | Thursday, October 22, 2020 As our culture becomes increasingly secular, many will continue to cast doubt on the Bible’s origins and especially on early Christianity’s role in the canon’s formation. Although the history of the canon is a bit messy at junctures, there is no evidence it was established by a few Christian bishops and churches convened at Nicaea in 325.
The Council of Nicaea did not create the canon of Scripture — Southern Equip
Ideas have consequences. One idea that has yielded dangerous consequences is the notion that the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), under the authority of Roman emperor Constantine, established the Christian biblical canon. Did the Bible originate from a few elite bishops selecting which books to include? Should we credit a Roman emperor with creating the Bible? No. This falsehood has been used to cast suspicion on the origins of the canon, which undermines the Bible’s authority.
No, Nicaea Didn’t Create the Canon
Ideas have consequences. One idea that has yielded dangerous consequences is the notion that the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), under the authority of Roman emperor Constantine, established the Christian biblical canon. Did the Bible originate from a few elite bishops selecting which books to include? Should we credit a Roman emperor with creating the Bible? No. This falsehood has been used to cast suspicion on the origins of the canon, which undermines the Bible’s authority.
Origen and the Hexapla: the Text & Canon Institute Interviews Dr. Peter Gentry
Several months ago, I and Peter Gurry had the chance to sit down and talk with Peter Gentry about Origen as philologist, his Hexapla, and the Text & Canon Institute’s upcoming colloquium (now rescheduled for March 11–12, 2021). In just over 20 minutes we touch on Origen, his great scholarly editions (the Hexapla and the Tetrapla), and also modern efforts to reconstruct the remains of Origen’s work. Also, I’m told I’m quite distracting in the video (but in a good way!). So enjoy that at least :).
The resurrection really happened: textual criticism and Easter — Southern Equip
In the past few weeks and months, ancient biblical texts have made their way into major news outlets. Recently, National Geographic revealed that all of the newly discovered “Dead Sea Scrolls” in the Museum of the Bible’s collection are forgeries. On the New Testament side, there was much made of a sensational “First-Century Mark Fragment” which was sold to Hobby Lobby that was later shown not to be from the first century, although it will remain an important fragment and witness of Mark.
New Critical Edition: Ecclesiastes for Gӧttingen Septuaginta Series
Septuaginta Series (began in 1908) has been published: Peter J. Gentry, ed., Ecclesiastes, Septuaginta Vetus Testamentum Graecum, Vol. XI, 2 (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2019). Here is the description from the publishers' website: Die Herausgabe der großen kritischen Edition des ältesten erreichbaren Septuaginta-Textes ist Ziel des 1908 gegründeten Septuaginta-Unternehmens der Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen.
The Origins of the Reformation Bible
But fourth-century Christians themselves disagreed on precisely which books constituted God’s authentic revelation. Especially with regard to the books most in dispute in the sixteenth century—the so-called deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament—the fourth century could provide no assured guide because even those ancient luminaries, St. Jerome and St. Augustine, disagreed particularly on the status of these books.
The Origins of the Reformation Bible | OUPblog
One of the side effects of the Protestant Reformation was intense scrutiny of the biblical canon and its contents. Martin Luther did not broach the issue in his 95 Theses, but not long after he drove that fateful nail into the door of the Wittenberg chapel, it became clear that the exact contents of the biblical canon would need to be addressed.
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