AGAINST EHRMAN: Misquoting Paul and the Heterodox Corruption of Scripture

Recently I have been researching in the field of Textual Criticism. Much of my reading has led me again and again to Bart Ehrman of UNC. He is a renowned New Testament Textual-critic, albeit a theologically rank-liberal one. His two popular books, which he wrote largely for what he calls a "lay audience," are titled: "Misquoting Jesus" and "The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture." Therefore, my title is a play-on-words. Misquoting Paul instead of Jesus, since the three passages I'll be dealing with are Pauline. Instead of the Orthodox Corruption, I've called Ehrman's analyses the Heterodox Corruption (Heterodox- not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, especially in theology -dictionary.com-). It doesn't take long to realize you're dealing with someone who does not hold Scripture in very high regard. In some areas of Textual Criticism, Ehrman is brilliant. However, his humanistic bent has skewed his understanding of truth. Below is an outline of a paper I am writing in order to research three Pauline passages, which Ehrman believes were not in the original autographs, even though multiple times he claims that no one knows that could have been in the autographs. However, in this case, dealing with the rold of women in the church, he apparently knows what was in the autographs (the original manuscripts written by New Testament writers). His research is highly subjective and he picks and chooses the passages he would like to use and exlude very convieniently for his position. I will attempt to use text-critical principles in order to refute what I have termed the Ehrmanian Heresy of Ecclesiology.

Kelly
p.s. my outline below




AGAINST EHRMAN: MISQUOTING PAUL AND
THE HETERODOX CORRUPTION OF SCRIPTURE

A Seminar Paper
Submitted to Dr. David Shackelford

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Seminar
New Testament Textual Criticism (GR 9383)

by
Kelly A. Seely
March 9, 2011

CONTENTS


INTRODUCTION

Ehrman in Popular Life

Purpose of This Study

GALATIANS 3:27-28

Ehrman’s Analysis

Text-critical Analysis

Biblical Significance

Exegetical Interpretation

1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15

Ehrman’s Analysis

Text-Critical Analysis

Biblical Significance

Exegetical Interpretation

1 CORINTHIANS 14:33-36

Ehrman’s Analysis

Text-Critical Analysis

Biblical Significance

Exegetical Interpretation

CONCLUSION

Negative Outcomes of Ehrmanian Interpretation upon Ecclesiology

Positive Outcomes of Orthodox Interpretation upon Ecclesiology

APPENDIX 1

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY