4-Transmission & Preservation of Text,pt3 (Canonicity & Textual Criticism)

In the introductory pages of the MacArthur Study Bible we read, "Since the Bible has frequently been translated into multiple languages and distributed throughout the world, how can we be sure that error has not crept in, even if it was unintentional? As Christianity spread, it is certainly true that people desired to have the Bible in their own language which required translations from the original Hebrew and Aramaic languages of the OT and the Greek of the NT....[Yet] through the centuries, the practitioners of textual criticism, a precise science, have discovered, preserved, catalogued, evaluated, and published an amazing array of biblical manuscripts from both the Old and New Testaments...By comparing text with text, the textual critic can confidently determine what the original prophetic/apostolic, inspired writing contained." In this week's Bible study we will finish up another installment of our journey through THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE, as we move from canonicity (why we have the 66 books of the Bible) to textual criticism and the great confidence we can have, not only in the many surviving manuscripts, but also the Bibles we hold in our hands. Before moving next week to the translation of Scripture and how to choose a good English translation, join us for "Transmission & Preservation of the Text: 2 Distinct Processes of Canonicity & Textual Criticism",pt3.