BOOK REVIEW: Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John Meade and Peter Gurry

I think every Christian has come across a few things in their English Bible’s that have caused them to pause and wonder what is going on. Textual notes about alternate readings. The longer ending of Mark or the addition of a half chapter in the middle of the Gospel of John. Or we have come across KJV only people who tell us that this translation, and only this translation, gives us the proper word of God. In addition, there are many unbelievers who have attacked Scripture as being a human book filled with inconsistency, historical and scientific issues and flat out errors of all sorts. They assume that a book written over a thousand year period by multiple authors, most of which who didn’t know each other, which was copied by hand, translated and transmitted over centuries cannot possibly be the inerrant, infallible, authoritative word of God.

Into this milieu steps an important book written by John Meade and Peter Gurry intended to ease the Christian angst that may arise from the above challenges. This book does not retreat into a mere biblicism that arises from fideism, but deals truthfully and honestly about the issues that transmission, canon, and the doctrine of inspiration bring forth. In three well organized sections Meade and Gurry seeks to answer some of the basic and most common questions that arise regarding the writing, copying, canonizing, and translating of the Bible. A tall task to be sure.

The authors are perfectly suited to deal with these issues. They are both biblical studies professors and codirectors of The Text and Canon Institute; Meade is an Old Testament scholar and Gurry specializes in New Testament studies. They have written a book that is a comprehensive, yet readable, introduction to the history of the Bible and how we got it. 

Part one deals with issues of transmission. Beginning with the earliest development of the written word Meade and Gurry trace how the Bible was copied, collected, and transmitted throughout its development. One chapter each outlines the actual copying of the Old and New Testaments. Meade and Gurry advocate a positive use for textual criticism, “a discipline that seeks to discover the original wording of an ancient book by examining the remaining copies of that book.” These three chapters provide an excellent introduction to the development of the text and how scholars sift through history to find the best reflections of the original texts of the biblical authors.

The second section speaks about the development of the canon. Once again Meade and Gurry separate their examination of Old and New Testaments with two chapters dedicated to the former and one to the latter. Theirs is a clear and concise examination of canonization which reveals that the church has always had a canon. Yet they are honest, yet again, about how this process was truly an endeavor of the entire church over many years. They remind us that no one person or council or geographical location of the church was able to establish canon. Instead, “[t]he canon of Scripture has always been a matter related to the great majority of churches having recognized the books in which God spoke through his prophets and apostles.”

Finally, our author’s review how translation is done. Meade and Gurry are, not surprisingly, focused on the development of the English Bible and its current translations. The last chapter in this section focuses on modern translations offering much wisdom regarding translation philosophies and a helpful guide to choosing a modern English translation.

What is ever present in this work, underlying and informing Meade and Gurry’s examination of all topics, is their belief that God is sovereign over the entire process by which we have received his word in written form. They understand that we cannot divorce God’s work from human work as we examine the origin and transmission of Scripture. God is at work in history and thus providence must be factored into any discussion of these issues. Too often God’s work is overemphasized to the detriment of the human side, or the human side is overemphasized to the determinant of God’s work, leaving the discussion lopsided and thus lacking in honest examination of the issues. 

The Bible is God’s book yet it doesn’t come to us in a magical or mystical manner. Scripture is given by divine initiative, yet was brought from revelation to current day by the work of many, many humans. But this should not upset us because, as they write in their conclusion,

If God’s providence is over all, couldn’t he work through the formation of alphabets, the writings of canon lists, and even the work of sleepy scribes and the inconsistencies of Bible translators? Of course he could. There is no reason to let human activity preclude the divine. There is every reason not to. Providence is not a zero-sum game.

Given the overview nature of this book you will not find all the answers to all the issues that some may raise against the Bible. But it does recognize the complexity of transmission, canon, and translation and offer replies that are faithful to the divine and human contributions to the Scripture we now possess. Meade and Gurry give us confidence that whatever issues may be raised, they are not overwhelming and do not defeat our belief in and confidence in our Bible as the inspired and inerrant word of God written. 

Soli Deo Gloria