Into The Word: "Where Does John 7:53-8:11 Fit, Or Does It Fit?" by Bart Warren

Equipped Workshop hosted by Lehman Avenue church of Christ

April 20, 2024 - Saturday 9:00AM MPR 4 Speaker

Speaker: Bart Warren

John 7:53 - 8:11 (ESV) [THE EARLIEST MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT INCLUDE 7:53–8:11.] The Woman Caught in Adultery 53 [[They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]] Problem: Why are these brackets and footnotes here? No missing verses controversy

• Those searching the ancient manuscripts and trying to be faithful
• In year 1611, KJV was made with about 25 manuscripts
• Now we have about 5,000 manuscripts
• Thankful for those who have found these manuscripts
• 2 Peter 1:3
• Psalm 19:7
• Proverbs 30:5
• Acts 24:14

Where does it fit historically?

• Textual criticism
  • Original manuscripts were copied by hand on perishable material
  • Seeks to retrieve original texts from manuscript descendants
  • We have so many manuscripts, experts believe the original text can be found
• A few things that sound ominous
  • NIV archeological study Bible - no early New Testament text or early church father includes this text
    • Incorrect
  • Daniel Wallace - inclusion of this text is a tradition of timidity should be removed
    • Incorrect
• This passage found 5 different places in ancient manuscripts
• Possible explanations to stay
  • Widely believed to be a true story about Jesus that was preserved through oral tradition then written down later
  • David Chapman - while earliest Greek manuscripts omit, some testimony of early fathers includes
  • Bruce - has all earmarks
• Case for inclusion
  • Decasalia (sp?)
  • Ditimis the Blind - story of the adulterous found in certain gospels
  • Codex D includes
  • Greek orthodox includes
  • Catholic includes
  • Leon Morris - can profitably study
  • Wayne Jackson - widespread evidence

How does this passage fit theologically?

• Does not mention how many caught her?
  • Need more than one witness
• Insincere accusers are trying to test Jesus
• Where's the man caught in the act?
  • Unfair trial
• The trap is:
  • If execute - violates Roman law
  • If doesn't execute - violates Old Testament law
• Jesus' First response is quiet time
  • Let them think
• What does it mean - let him without sin, cast the first stone
  • Does not mean No one can charge because we are all sinners
  • Take the plank out of your own eye
  • The sick need a physician
  • Jesus didn't forgive her here but opened the door for forgiveness
  • We don't know what happened to the woman.

Video: https://youtu.be/IPVyod_goZA?feature=shared

Duration 39:27