For almost 1,500 years, the New Testament manuscripts were copied by hand––and mistakes and intentional changes abound in the competing manuscript versions. Religious and biblical scholar Bart Ehrman makes the provocative case that many of our widely held beliefs concerning the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, and the divine origins of the Bible itself are the results of both intentional and accidental alterations by scribes.

In this compelling and fascinating book, Ehrman shows where and why changes were made in our earliest surviving manuscripts, explaining for the first time how the many variations of our cherished biblical stories came to be, and why only certain versions of the stories qualify for publication in the Bibles we read today. Ehrman frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultra–conservative views of the Bible.

Frequently bought together

Total price: CDN$63.97

Buy the selected items together

This item:Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why by Bart D. Ehrman Paperback CDN$23.99
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About… by Bart D. Ehrman Paperback CDN$19.99
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Forged: Writing in the Name of God--Why the Bible's Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are by Bart D. Ehrman Paperback CDN$19.99
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Product details

Publisher : HarperOne; 1st edition (Feb. 6 2007)
Language : English
Paperback : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 0060859512
ISBN-13 : 978-0060859510
Item Weight : 214 g
Dimensions : 15.24 x 1.63 x 22.86 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #27,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Religious History (Books)
- #53 in Christian Criticism & Interpretation (Books)
- #67 in Christian Commentaries (Books)

Customer Reviews:
1,084 ratings

Product description

Review

“Offers a fascinating look into the field of textual criticism and evidence that Scriptures have been altered.” (Charleston Post & Courier)^“Whichever side you sit on regarding Biblical inerrancy, this is a rewarding read.” (Dallas Morning News)^“One of the unlikeliest bestsellers of the year.” (Washington Post)^“Misquoting Jesus is a godsend.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

About the Author

Bart D. Ehrman is one of the most renowned and controversial Bible scholars in the world today. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is the author of more than twenty books, including the New York Times bestsellers How Jesus Became God; Misquoting Jesus; God’s Problem; Jesus, Interrupted; and Forged. He has appeared on Dateline NBC, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, CNN, History, and top NPR programs, as well as been featured in TIME, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and other publications. He lives in Durham, North Carolina. Visit the author online at www.bartdehrman.com.

More items to explore

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Customer reviews

5 star		67%
4 star		21%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

aldo violo

Great price and book

Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

Fast delivery great condition. 5outa5 stars

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2017

Verified Purchase

Another hit by Ehrman. Thought provoking material and well worth the read. One for the personal research library.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ilafad8087

Good service

Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

Quick and the book is in good condition

Helpful

C E.

I can safely say that I enjoyed the book

Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

Without going into details, I can safely say that I enjoyed the book. The content is broad, however, so insufficient by itself for an in-depth study. It does offer remarkable insights on Bible study and text textual criticism. While some would condemn its repetitiveness, I found myself wishing he had gone deeper into certain points. I would recommend it, still.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ted Mallar

mini-review of misquoting jesus

Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is a very readable and lively introduction to the biblical study of textual-criticism. It shows the importance of the work of these scholarly text-men, and the impact that it has upon the making of modern english versions. It also shows how textual-criticism is often necessary to a proper interpretation and understanding of entire NT books, as well as the specific verses therein. The book is not flawless, to be sure; but the few errors it has are generally of a minor nature. For example, at one point he says something about the sources that the author of John's gospel used; including imaginary documents that recall the offensive spectre of the so-called Q-document.
.
Even so, this book is a marvelous introduction to the art/science of textual criticism; the goal of which is to bring us to a better understanding of what the earliest texts actually said (ie. before all the various changes crept in). There are plently of examples to illustrate how and why the texts were changed over time, and these are all both fascinating and informative. This book is also an excellent antidote for those inclined toward bibliolatry (ie. via doctrines of inerrancy and verbal inspiration). But my favorite part of the book is the opening paragraph of the last chapter where professor Ehrman speaks about what it means to be a text-man:
.
"In many ways, being a textual critic is like doing detective work. There is a puzzle to be solved and evidence to be uncovered. The evidence is often ambiguous, capable of being interpreted in various ways, and a case has to be made for one solution of the problem over another" (p.207). Herein lies the glory - and the frustration - of textual criticism; for the "iron-clad proof" that most people (irrationally) demand is beyond the reach of the text-men (ie. owing to the sad fact that the original autographs of the NT-documents are simply not available to us). ~ textman ;>

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Federico

Honest but we want more examples

Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

Perhaps not as stimulating as his "Lost Christianities', Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus" suffers from some repetitions (mostly towards the end of the book) and a lack of solid examples. Sure, we get a few and they're exciting to read. But the book consists mostly of descriptions of the various sorts of tricks, voluntary or not, that New Testament copyists used over the centuries, and the techniques that New Testament critics must today employ to decipher them. There are ample indexes for a researcher to explore, but the main text does not offer enough meaty examples. For exemple, we would like him to say more often than he does: "This particular segment of, say, the Apocalypse is probably wrong because...., etc. etc." Nevertheless, I admire Ehrman's respect for the scriptures he exposes, and his qualms over shaking the faith of Bible readers. It's good, in other words, that this book chooses to be a positive, studious enquiry rather than a shocked exposé complete with drumrolls.

7 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Could of been a lot shorter

Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2013

Verified Purchase

No doubt Ehrman knows his stuff but this book repeats the same theme over and over. It could have a lot shorter.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Terrence LeBlanc

A bit repetitive

Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2014

Verified Purchase

Ehrman's thesis was quite clear half way through the book. He made his point with an abundance of evidence that was similar in nature and hence somewhat repetitive. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read that answered many of my questions. I would recommend this book to open minded individuals who are interested in the bible/religion.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

nobody

An Interesting Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2014

Verified Purchase

As a born again, Bible-believing Christian this has certainly given me food for thought. I see Ehrman is a scholar who has attempted (more or less) to deal honestly and scientifically with the text.

I have learned a great deal about the problems of textual criticism, and it was fun to read how early scribes may have altered the text in such a way that our modern reading has been affected by it. And how modern scholarship is attempting to recover the originals.

But it's the "more or less" that I have problems with. It is clear that Erhman has a slant, an agenda. I do not mean this in a derogatory fashion. We all have our slants and our agendas. And this has coloured his opinions. There were parts of the text where I really felt he was stretching it. It's hard to remember all of the areas i felt he was doing this, but just this morning I finished up the last chapter where he delves into the anti-Semitic reasons as to why early scribes may have changed the text. He speaks with such certainty, but like so much in this field his opinions are only conjecture. Perhaps very good and logical, but sitting there reading I was able to come up with other possible scenarios (using the principles he gives) as to why the text may have changed.

Ehrman tries to portray himself as a disinterested scholar, but it is clear he dislikes Christianity even though he has given his life to the study of it. That's fine. But one should be aware that this will affect the way one looks at the evidence and how one interprets it.

I believe Christianity is primarily about a relationship with Jesus Christ, which is why I am not too bothered by the idea that textual variants have appeared in the manuscripts. Fundamentalistic religion balks at the idea and squirms around it, but the Word is a Person, not ink on a page.

36 people found this helpful

S P Mead

a good introduction to the ways in which the New Testament has changed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a very interesting and well written book, that examines how the manuscripts of the New Testament have been altered and adapted over time. The author, a biblical scholar, examines the historical process which has changed the New Testament. The original manuscripts - written during the latter part of the 1st century and the first part of the second century, no longer exist ... nor do the first copies that were made during the second 2nd century. Nor, indeed, do the initial copies of the copies - as made during the 3rd century. What we have access to are copies of the copies of the copies of the copies ... And the earliest such documents that still survive are from the 4th century. These manuscripts, written centuries after the originals, contain many differences. As such, we simply don't possess - and can't access - the originals. And what we do possess clearly show that many changes have been made.

Given that so many changes were made during the initial centuries following the writing of the original New Testament manuscripts, we can't know what those originals actually said. All we know is what later writers offer us ... and, as these later documents are so very different from each other, we've no idea which - if any - is more authentic. What's more, still later versions of the New Testament - such as the King James - are is various ways different from the earliest existing manuscripts. So further changes - throughout the second half of the first millennium, and during the first half of the second millennium - have been made. Sentences in the text have been altered; new sentences have been added!

What Ehrman does is provide us with a fascinating account on who changed the New Testament. This is a book written with a popular audience in mind, and it's straightforward to understand. I found it an enjoyable read ... But it is rather short (at some 218 pages), and it goes into little detail as regards what the alterations and changes actually are. Ehrman points out that such adaptations have been made, but says too little about their specifics. I would have enjoyed a more in-depth study. Fortunately, the author has written such a book - The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture: The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament .

14 people found this helpful

Pie Master

Essential for anyone with an interest in religion

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2020

Verified Purchase

For a non-christian absolutely fascinated with the Bible, the lasting resonance it has imbued mankind with is a constant source of great interest to me.

I've never truly understood how it came to be, and why it seems to be a confused collection of separate works, as opposed to a clear dictation from the all mighty. This book not only explains the origins, but it also does so with clarity and ease, and that's greatly appreciated.

Let me say this was an excellent book. The author it seems is a brilliant teacher. Clear explanations and written in a style that is vivid and engaging especially for what could be a slightly dour and dusty subject if you're not specifically into the history of the biblical text. Which I'm not really in any meaning full way.

My mind is dancing with curiosity even more so after reading. Yes, this book clearly demonstrates the Bible isn't divinely inspired as such, with so many glaring sometimes embarrassing examples of openly human intervention. But it's more than just those examples or errors alone for me.

I now want to know more, the original traditions that the first authors used to craft this most important of books, where did they come from? More questions, I want to dive deeper, which is a good thing as the author has written several books on this, and i now crave more!

Bart D Ehrman has found a new fan in me, this being the first book of his I've read. I will already be deep into the next one following on from this, probably finished it, by the time you read this.

Misquoting Jesus is essential reading for Christians and anyone outside of that with evem a slight interest in religion. It's great.

3 people found this helpful

Mr. A. R. Mcmahon

The Bible is not the book it started out as...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

Bart Ehrman has a consistent and convincing position on the reality of Jesus and the New Testament. Having read several of his books, it boils down to the story of a first century messianic preacher who was elevated to godhood in the generations that followed his death. In "How Jesus Became God", Ehrman examines that process and the external religious influences that spurred it on. In "Forged", he looks at how large parts of the New Testament were fraudulently attributed to Paul in particular to support the emerging orthodox Christian position against rival Christian views like Marcionism and Gnosticism. With "Misquoting Jesus", he's in the same territory but this time taking a closer look at the role of scribes and translators in accidentally and intentionally altering texts. This book spans a much longer time period from the Romans to the Enlightenment.

I think it's fair to say it complements his other works but if you were starting out on the works of Bart Ehrman, I'd try some of his other writings first - particularly the recent "How Jesus Became God". Ehrman is much heavier going than Reza Aslan ("Zealot"), but ultimately more rewarding. He may lack Aslan's fast paced story telling ability, but the analysis is more rewarding and deeper. That's not to diminish Aslan who has clearly gone for a more populist approach.

What Ehrman forces Christians to face up to is a combination of amateur, blundering scribes in the first centuries, deliberate alterations and "improvements" to the texts and a total absence of copyright law in the ancient world. Thousands of changes have wormed their way into the New Testament including accounts of Jesus's life and works that were inserted into the gospels from other sources. Theological agendas have removed offending words from the original texts and mistranslations have been repeated and accepted.

A fascinating book.

8 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

His Orignal title ‘lost in transmission’ would have been clearer

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

Good overview and introduction to the subject, I am some what versed in the region and exeptected it to be more scholarly and more about the ancient feather then modern manuscript editions which I did learn from but wouldn’t be strikingly new information. The quality of the publishing was good and amazon was great in delivery that I give 5 stars. The book as a whole could be more scholarly but Erhman intended this for people not so knowledgeable so as an introduction I’d give 4 to myself it wasn’t the best matirial.

See all reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Warehouse Deals Open-Box Discounts

	Whole Foods Market We Believe in Real Food	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust	Amazon Second Chance Pass it on, trade it in, give it a second life