Misquoting Jesus with Bart Ehrman Did Ancient Scribes Alter Jesus' Words? Evidence from the Gospel of Matthew
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Dec 30, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Bart Ehrman, a renowned New Testament scholar and author, delves into the intriguing alterations of the Gospel of Matthew over centuries of copying. He reveals how scribes’ choices, both accidental and intentional, affected crucial text meanings, including variants that could undermine the virgin birth. Ehrman also examines changes to key phrases and discusses New Testament themes like forgiveness and early Christian preferences for texts like John and Revelation. This insightful exploration sheds light on the complexities of biblical transmission.
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One Letter, Big Theological Shift
- A single-letter change in Matthew 1:18 alters 'genesis' to a word meaning 'was born,' affecting theological implications about Christ's origin.
- Many manuscripts reflect the born-reading, suggesting scribal theological sensitivity.
Treat Doctrinally Sensitive Omissions Cautiously
- When a variant implies later doctrinal discomfort, consider deliberate omission as a likely cause.
- Compare manuscript families and translations to judge whether removal was accidental or intentional.
Line Order Guards Theology
- Scribes rearranged lines in Matthew 17:12–13 to avoid implying John the Baptist was the Son of Man.
- Small order changes could prevent theological misunderstandings among readers.
