Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus on 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Recently I've been reading through the book Misquoting Jesus by Bart D. Ehrman. For the most part, it's an interesting read. Not that I agree with it—I don't. But from the standpoint of textual criticism, I wanted to see what arguments he uses against the Scriptures so that I can better defend the Christian faith against those who don't believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. 

   
One of the things that caught my attention early on as I read through the book was that ironically, Ehrman is guilty of Misquoting Jesus on 1 Corinthians 15:3-4! I kind of couldn't believe it because it was such an obvious misquotation, but there it was, plain as day. Here's the full quote:

"It is not clear how much Paul used scripture (i.e., the writings of the Jewish Bible) in trying to persuade his potential converts of the truth of his message; but in one of his key summaries of his preaching he indicates that what he preached was that 'Christ died, in accordance with the scriptures . . . and that he was raised, in accordance with the scriptures' (I Cor. 15:3-4). Evidently Paul correlated the events of Christ's death and resurrection with his interpretation of key passages of the Jewish Bible, which he, as a highly educated Jew, obviously could read for himself, and which he interpreted for his hearers in an often successful attempt to convert them."[1]

   
Yes, the apostle Paul could obviously read for himself. And so can I, thank God. And when I read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 in God's Word it doesn't read the way Ehrman has misquoted it. Now I'm not saying it's a misquote because of the ellipsis, no problem there really. But check out what Ehrman blatantly removed from the text. Paul doesn't merely say "Christ died, in accordance with the scriptures" but rather, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3). And similarly, Paul doesn't merely say "that he was raised, in accordance with the scriptures" but rather, "that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:4).

Insignificant, you might think.  Really?

Who else misquoted the Scriptures? The devil![2]

In contrast to Bart Ehrman, notice how Irenaeus quoted 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. In his book Against Heresies, Irenaeus quotes the passage accurately: "He [Christ] was likewise preached by Paul: 'For I delivered,' he says, 'unto you first of all, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.'"[3]

Addendum:

How is Bart Ehrman "Misquoting Jesus on 1 Corinthians 15:3-4" if the apostle Paul is the one who wrote it? The answer is because Paul says he received his gospel (1 Cor. 15:3ff) directly from Jesus! (See Galatians 1:11-12.)

ENDNOTES:

[1] Bart Ehrman, Misquoting Jesus (New York: HarperCollins, 2005), p. 21, ellipsis his. Note: This is the hardcover edition without the appendix.

[2] In Luke 4:9-11, the devil misquoted Psalm 91:11-12.

[3] Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III. See The Ante-Nicene Fathers.

No Tampering with the Gospel!

"To tamper with the gospel is to trouble the Church....Indeed, the Church's greatest troublemakers (now as then) are not those outside who oppose, ridicule and persecute it, but those inside who try to change the gospel....Conversely, the only way to be a good churchman is to be a good gospel-man. The best way to serve the Church is to believe and to preach the gospel."  (John Stott, The Message of Galatians [Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1968], "The Bible Speaks Today.")

A Biblical Definition of Lordship Salvation

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

A few years ago I was involved in a brief discussion on the topic of Lordship Salvation, and I will include my comments here in order to elaborate more on the subject of this post. 

   
In an Amazon discussion started April 4, 2012 by Steven R. Cook and titled "Lordship Salvation or Free Grace Salvation?", Mr. Cook posted a comment which he subsequently deleted. But before he deleted it, I responded to it and said:

Steven,

You said: "Lordship Sanctification is biblical, Lordship Salvation is not."

Don't let the non Free Grace position define the terms. We DO believe that Lordship Salvation is biblical in the sense that one must "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:31). The question in the debate is not whether or not the Savior is Lord (We all agree that He is!). The question in the debate is whether or not a person has to submit / commit / surrender / forsake / promise / etc. to "the Lord Jesus Christ" in order to be eternally saved? The Free Grace position says "no"; the non Free Grace position says "yes".

I don't know if I'll be able to get back to this discussion, but I think this point is important to make.

In a follow up comment I added this:

I might add that Dr. Charlie Bing has written an excellent explanation of Acts 16:30-31 from a Free Grace perspective - making the same basic point as I've made. See: Charlie Bing, Lordship Salvation (Xulon [Press], 2010), pp. 108-110 [where he says in part: "The acclamation of Jesus as Lord is an acclamation of His sovereign position as God over all and not a demand for individual submission. The objective truth must be distinguished from the subjective requirement" (p. 109)].