How We Got the Bible

Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to biblical texts and their origin.
Review: Dr. Lightfoot (Ph.D., Duke University) serves as Frank Pack Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Abilene Christian University. In his preface to this, the 3rd edition, he states (p. 9):

"This study seeks to be a factual and honest account of how the Bible has been preserved and handed down to our generation. The subject is vast and at times complex. It has been my constant aim, therefore, to simplify the material and to state it, so far as possible, in a nontechnical manner. On the other hand, I have tried to get down to the heart of the question, for too many studies of this kind have been content with the mere citing of superficial facts about the Bible. These facts are important and interesting, of course, but they do not tell us how we got the Bible."

The author has delivered on his stated aim, balancing interesting details concerning the origin and preservation of the biblical text with simplicity of presentation. Significant emphasis is placed upon describing the various important manuscripts (Hebrew, Greek, and Latin) which are behind the biblical text we have today. The text is never dry and includes fascinating descriptions of significant archaeological and manuscript finds which make the journey through the text read somewhat like a detective novel at times.

The text is especially well-suited as an introduction to all matters surrounding the discovery and preservation of the biblical text-covering topics such as early alphabets, writing materials, writing techniques (of early scribes and the Massoretes), as well as substantial descriptions of the most important manuscripts which are given priority in textual translation in our day.

A helpful section on textual variations explains the types of textual differences found among manuscripts and provides guidance in assessing their significance in an understanding of the reliability of what we have today as our Bible. This includes an assessment of the Hebrew (Massoretic) text and the Septuagint in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

A helpful aspect of this work is the author's greater emphasis--relative to other popular treatments of the topic--on understanding the earliest manuscripts, with relatively less text devoted to describing the English language translations which spring from them.

Slight detractions, from this reviewer's point of view, are the author's obvious preference for the few Alexandrian manuscripts and a perhaps overly-simplistic representation of textual criticism as an exact science rather than an art guided by fallible heuristics. No consideration is given to the possibility that the few oldest manuscripts, which appear to have been restricted in circulation, may not in fact represent the most reliable (best) text. Also, some comments by the author seem to argue against verbal inspiration (p. 91). But these are relatively minor criticisms among an overall excellent treatment of the subject matter by an author who is obviously himself a devoted man of faith.

We recommend this text to anyone who is interested in the subject of the discovery and analysis of manuscript evidence supporting the reliability of the Word of God.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource. Not enough detail for academic research.
Review: How We Got the Bible is an excellent overview of the process by which we have received the text of the Bible. It is highly readable, and at the same time, remarkably complete in its overview of the subject. This thin book is supported by the deep knowledge and research of a recognized scholar in the field.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource. Not enough detail for academic research.
Review: How We Got the Bible is an excellent overview of the process by which we have received the text of the Bible. It is highly readable, and at the same time, remarkably complete in its overview of the subject. This thin book is supported by the deep knowledge and research of a recognized scholar in the field.

Rating:
Summary: Approachable, Helpful, Readable
Review: Straightforward and easy to read, How We Got the Bible is most helpful because it so important to know the background and historicity of the Bible. If we are to defend the truths we learn in Scripture, we have to know why Scripture is credible. I will return to this text, because, although I highlighted the heck out of it, I still find myself struggling during conversations with skeptics,--nable to remember when the Sinaitic manuscript was made, and the exact chronology of the canon's development.

Lightfoot's work has whet my appetite for the history of the Bible. I will soon go back through the book, making notes of some of the most important points made. Items such as:

"The Massoretes...sought ways and methods by which to eliminate scribal slips of addition or omission. This they achieved through intricate procedures of counting. They numbered the verses, words and letters..."

"Copies of Thucydides are thus about 1,300 years later than the date of their original composition, yet no effort is made to discount these copies in spite of such a wide interval of time."

Also, Lightfoot's sound explanation of the weaknesses of the King James Version was quite timely. I recall a recent conversation with a fellow who is of the "KJV only" persuasion. While I was initially sympathetic to him, assuming it to be simply a matter of taste, I have come to realize that the profound shortcomings of the KJV make it inappropriate for regular use in worship and instruction. And, worse, some people even seem to use the KJV as a form of legalism and fencing of the Scripture, keeping anyone who speaks modern English from a true understanding of the text.

Rating:
Summary: Great introduction and overview for the lay person
Review: This book focuses on the manuscripts that have been used as sources for the Biblical text and the textual criticism process that is used to make the best reproduction of the original texts. There are also brief discussions of canonization, apocryphal literature, and the origins of recent English translations. I was hoping for a longer discussion on canonization and the councils involved, which are not mentioned at all. Overall, I enjoyed the book because it is brief and yet thorough for a non-academic reader. For the reader who wants to do more study, many additional references are mentioned throughout the book.

Rating:
Summary: Great introduction and overview for the lay person
Review: This book focuses on the manuscripts that have been used as sources for the Biblical text and the textual criticism process that is used to make the best reproduction of the original texts. There are also brief discussions of canonization, apocryphal literature, and the origins of recent English translations. I was hoping for a longer discussion on canonization and the councils involved, which are not mentioned at all. Overall, I enjoyed the book because it is brief and yet thorough for a non-academic reader. For the reader who wants to do more study, many additional references are mentioned throughout the book.

Rating:
Summary: A good scholarly overview
Review: Wondering how the Bible came to be?
Wondering about translation issues?

This is the book for you. Lightfoot gives a good explanation of how the Bible was created and transmitted down through the centuries. The book covers the history of the written language, writing materials, Biblical archaeology, textual criticism, and translational issues.

The book has pros and cons.

Pro: The research is top notch. The author has gone to great lengths to investigate the textual transmission of the Bible.

Pro: The material is explained in an easy-to-understand manner. One need not have a Masters in History or Archaeology to understand this book.

Pro: The book includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

Con: Though the book is well footnoted, the footnotes are all listed in the back of the book by chapter. I prefer footnotes to be either at the bottom of the page that references them or at the end of each chapter. Placing them at the end of the book makes research difficult.

Con: The research and information presented is quite brief. The book presents an excellent overview of the topic but does not go into extensive detail on each topic. Likely, this is not the author's intent but a little more wouldn't have hurt.

I recommend this book for anyone who is wanting to study Bibliology. It's a good place to start.