ALTERED NEW TESTAMENT: THE “STONING”

ALTERED NEW TESTAMENT: THE “STONING”

Hugh Fogelman

Can Christians step back a little, and reexamine what they are reading, their New Testament? Are they really reading what Jesus wanted them to know? Or are they reading what some men on a mission want them to read?

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The Abingdon Bible Commentary¹ (pg. 1076) readily admits they have no idea where the story of the woman caught in adultery (reported in John 8:3-7) came from, saying;

“It is certain that this story does not belong to this gospel. It breaks the continuity of 7:52 and 8:12; the style and language are Synoptic and not Johannine. The textual evidence is against its authenticity as part of the Gospel.”

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Jesus stoning the adulteress woman in the Christian NIV (New International Version) Study Bible says:

The earliest and most reliable manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11.

John 7:53 Then each went to his own home.

John 8:1-11 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?""No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

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The Living Bible admits “most ancient manuscripts omit John 7:53-8:1-8:11.”

However the publishers of this bible still have the chutzpah to quote Jesus’ words in red.

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Christians should follow the methods employed by professional gamblers. They will:

1. Study and examine all possibilities and odds;

2. Will see who is betting with them and against them, and

3. Carefully set their money bet.

But what do Christians do? They blindly bet their souls on what they have been told by mere mortals pushing their new religion; no study, no sincere search for wisdom, just their “feelings.”

The Christian way will always produce a looser, both in gambling and in the game of eternal life!

Christians should no doubt be referred to as sheeple since they act like sheep. This is why their leaders are called shepherds. The sheep, like Christians, blindly go wherever their leaders tell them.

As Jade Koay wrote: “It is widely known and acknowledged that the whole incident thingy about ‘Jesus’ saying the words ‘he who is without sin cast the first stone’ never happened...In fact it was added to our bibles...Even my bible, right down at the bottom is footnoted as saying that this incident never appeared in the majority of ancient texts...”

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The Abingdon Bible Commentary has a lot to say about the “ascension,” especially to those who try to read between the lines. For example:

The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20) is not mentioned by either Matthew or John; NOTHING! It is mentioned in Luke 24:51 and in Acts 1:9-11. The Abingdon Bible Commentary cautions “The words must not be taken too literally.”

What? Christians steadfastly claim that the Holy Ghost told Luke what to write; as well as Mark, Matthew and John? So, the Holy Ghost told Mark and Luke to write of the ascension and did not tell Matthew, John or Luke anything about it! Hello Christians!!! THINK! Think for yourselves and stop being sheeple.

One more small point for you to consider. The Abingdon Bible Commentary also says that in “Matthew 28:9-10 An appearance of Jesus to the woman is recorded only in Matthew; and many modern interpreters regard it as a late addition.” What? Another late addition?

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Christians who do step back and honestly study Christianity, using their God given mentality are the ones leaving the Church to become Noachides, or convert to Judaism, God’s only religion. This reminds me of Mark Twain’s observation:

"A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows."

And to think that Christians are betting their souls on such fiction―how sad!

FOOTNOTE:

The Abingdon Bible Commentary is used for practical and evangelical purposes,[ copyright in 1929 by the Abingdon Press, Inc.] says that it “reaches out to the “thoughtful pastors, intelligent laymen, and teachers in Sunday and Week-Day schools of religious education.”

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