Misquoting Jesus by Bart D. Ehrman

If you’re looking for an introduction to criticism of historical text then Misquoting Jesus by Bert D. Ehrman is your winner. Ehrman weaves complex arguments with simplistic evidence, leaving no doubt that further research is necessary, but maybe that’s the point.

Aside from revealing his personal journey (read: struggle) with the Bible, the beginning is “Reading History 101,” which could bore some readers. However, it is important in that it lays the base from which the rest of his thesis is built. Simply put, changes were made to the Bible throughout time. We know this from manuscript differences. Ehrman’s book goes through the basics of these differences by comparing documents and looking at the language in the context of the times.

The final part of Misquoting Jesus discusses why these changes took place. He acknowledges simple mistakes and even pulls out a college-level word (Homoioteleuton) to explain them. The other reasons, varying from theological disagreements to social acceptability (namely women in power), are shallow and undeveloped.

I use my training as a historian to approach every primary and secondary source as objectively as possible. Part of this involves identifying where my biases may lie. In this case, I am (more than) open to the possibility that the Bible was changed to support a misogynic society. It is sad, then, that Ehrman’s revelations didn’t excite me. If you are new to the argument then they may, but for me it was same ‘ol same ‘ol.

Misquoting Jesus is a quick read and fairly interesting to the unacquainted. Ehrman offers the basics of a complex thesis. The reader, depending on her level of commitment, might be satisfied. Might be…