How We Got the Bible (Hardcover)

by Neil R. Lightfoot (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This is a factual account of how the Bible has been preserved and handed down to our generation. This volume, a profitable study of the numerous translations of the Bible, is necessary to understand the heritage and origins of varying versions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: MJF Books; 3rd, Revised and Expanded edition (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567317227
• ISBN-13: 978-1567317220
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #340,712 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Reference, October 24, 2006

By	Lou Heron "lou" (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

Lightfoot has written the definitive study of the origens and development of the canonical Scriptures. He is forthright, honest, and faithful in his description of what is known and, just as important, what is not certain about the writing and collection of the Bible. I have examined a number of other sources, and this one is without peer. A very strong plus is that Lightfoot is exceptionally economical without stinting at all. As a result of this and his authorial abilities, the book is very short and very complete.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gift, December 2, 2008

By	K. Keepper "RnRDH" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was recommended to me by a Bible Professor. I briefly looked at it; I purchased it as a gift for my father.

10 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This could be better; needs editing., March 19, 2006

By	John Paul (Oklahoma City, USA) - See all my reviews

I am giving this book 2 stars. The author includes much that is valid concerning textual criticism and the three main "families" of texts for the Bible: "Alexandrian," "Syrian/Byzantine", and "Western." His strengths in this work lie in the middle of the book, especially relating the history of the New Testament documents and modern discoveries. I found his chapters 6 through 11, especially chapter 11 "Manuscripts from the Sand," quite insightful and entertaining.

The weak part of this book has to be his chapters on the Old Testament. The copy I have is Lightfoot's 3rd Edition, published in 2003, but he apparently has not revised his views on Catholics since the 1st Edition in 1963. Chapter 14, "The Canon of the Scriptures," deals not at all concerning the very early councils--Catholic councils, by the way---that dealt with the Canon of the Scriptures. You will find no mention in his book concerning the Decree of Pope Damasus in 382 AD (also sometimes referred to as the council of Rome), nor the council of Hippo in 393, and Carthage in 397 and 419 AD. All four councils, or synods, dealt specifically with the canon of Scripture, yet Lightfoot mentions exactly none of them. He also fails to mention the ecumenical Council of Florence, also called Basel, 1431-1445 AD. These councils of the Church settled the canon of Scripture, both Old & New Testament books. The 46 Old Testament books, including the deutero-canonicals, as well as the 27 New Testament books, were all mentioned by name in each of these synods. The Council of Florence occurred a century before the Reformation began in 1517 AD, so how could the Council of Trent, in 1545 AD have "added" the 7 books to the canon of the Old Testament? All the books had been recognized as canonical for over 1,000 years before any of the "Reformers" had been born.

The author takes some swipes at Catholics in this book. He says on pages 169-170:
"Objections to these books (the deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha) cannot be overruled by dictatorial authority. On 8 April 1546 in the fourth session of the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church pronounced the Old Testament Apocrypha (except 1 & 2 Esdras, and the Prayer of Manasseh) as authoritative and canonical Scripture....and that "holy Mother Church" alone maintained the right to give the true interpretation of Scripture. But this action was not unnatural for a religious body whose whole structure is framed according to traditions and whose faith is derived equally as much from the interpretations of the church as from the Scriptures. Indeed, according to the Council of Trent, the Scriptures are and mean what the church says. Yet Rome, which in such matters claims infallibility, cannot make the fallible Apocrypha infallible."

I appreciate a man that can cut to the chase, even if his pen is dripping with sarcasm and undisguised venom. At least he has shown his true colors towards the Church; the same Church, by the way, that preserved and passed on the canonical Scriptures, though he & those of his ilk have arrogated to themselves the power to excise those portions of Scripture that they find objectionable. This same Catholic Church declared from earliest times which writings were Scripture and which were not. It did not even take an ecumenical council to do so! The councils of Rome 382 AD, Hippo 393 AD, and the councils of Carthage 397 & 419 AD settled this question, with, of course, the approval of the pope!

Lightfoot uses the term, "Romanists" (on page 178), though he must know that this is a derisive term to use of Catholics. He says, on page 153: "No church council by its decrees can make the books of the Bible authoritative." Yet, he really does not provide an authoritative replacement. He just argues in a circle. Read all of Chapter 14 "The Canon of Scripture," and see if you can find an adequate authority in lieu of a "church council." On page 180, Lightfoot writes: "on an October morning in 1536, Tyndale went to the stake. He was strangled and burned, crying out, `Lord, open the king of England's eyes.'" He fails to mention that it was the good king, Protestant Henry VIII, who burnt Tyndale, not the Catholic Henry. Henry VIII broke with Rome in 1534. Check your history books & check it out yourself. In 1534 the breach with Rome was completed by the Act of Supremacy, which made the king head of the Church of England.

I will give Neil R. Lightfoot 4 stars for his positive contributions in his middle chapters, and (0) no stars at all for his weak treatment of the development of the canon of Scripture, and his swipes at the Catholic Church.
Let's hope he can amend these weaknesses in time for his 4th Edition.