Misquoting Jesus - by Bart D Ehrman (Paperback)

About the Book

Now in paperback, this "New York Times" bestseller explores the mistakes and changes that ancient copyists made to the New Testament that greatly impacted the Bible used today.

From the Back Cover

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.

Review Quotes

"One of the unlikeliest bestsellers of the year." - Washington Post
"[Ehrman's] absorbing story, fresh and lively prose, and seasoned insights into the challenges of recreating the texts of the New Testament ensure that readers might never read the Gospels or Paul's letters the same way again." - Publishers Weekly (starred 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
"An accomplished scholar of early Christianity, Ehrman . . . ventures out of the ivory tower in this accessible lay introduction to New Testament textual criticism." - Library Journal
"Misquoting Jesus is a godsend." - Philadelphia Inquirer