Bart Ehrman

Well, that's the only time the word occurs anywhere, that time period. And so how do you know what it means? Right, exactly. And so there are places where you can't really even tell. You know it's some kind of probably a four-legged animal of some kind, but you don't know what.

Well, that's the only time the word occurs anywhere, that time period. And so how do you know what it means? Right, exactly. And so there are places where you can't really even tell. You know it's some kind of probably a four-legged animal of some kind, but you don't know what.

Well, that's the only time the word occurs anywhere, that time period. And so how do you know what it means? Right, exactly. And so there are places where you can't really even tell. You know it's some kind of probably a four-legged animal of some kind, but you don't know what.

And so with Greek, it's not that way because, I mean, there are Greek words that we aren't really quite sure what they mean, even in the New Testament. Right. But most of the time, the words are used so many times in so many pieces of Greek literature that you can analyze how they're being used in the context.

And so with Greek, it's not that way because, I mean, there are Greek words that we aren't really quite sure what they mean, even in the New Testament. Right. But most of the time, the words are used so many times in so many pieces of Greek literature that you can analyze how they're being used in the context.

And so with Greek, it's not that way because, I mean, there are Greek words that we aren't really quite sure what they mean, even in the New Testament. Right. But most of the time, the words are used so many times in so many pieces of Greek literature that you can analyze how they're being used in the context.

And you can use the context in order to establish the basic meaning of the word and how it's used variously. And so that's a luxury that you get with Greek, and you also get that with Latin. But you don't get it so much with Hebrew or Coptic, which is another language that people might field study, or Syriac.

And you can use the context in order to establish the basic meaning of the word and how it's used variously. And so that's a luxury that you get with Greek, and you also get that with Latin. But you don't get it so much with Hebrew or Coptic, which is another language that people might field study, or Syriac.

And you can use the context in order to establish the basic meaning of the word and how it's used variously. And so that's a luxury that you get with Greek, and you also get that with Latin. But you don't get it so much with Hebrew or Coptic, which is another language that people might field study, or Syriac.

But Greek and Latin, which is what the classicists do, we're really well set with those in comparison.

But Greek and Latin, which is what the classicists do, we're really well set with those in comparison.

But Greek and Latin, which is what the classicists do, we're really well set with those in comparison.

There are inscriptions, for example, in Greek. So an inscription would be things written out on stone that are not religious. In Hebrew? Yes. Okay. And some of the – there have been other discoveries of texts that are in Hebrew from – there aren't very many of them, but like they'll find a cache of letters, for example, written in Hebrew.

There are inscriptions, for example, in Greek. So an inscription would be things written out on stone that are not religious. In Hebrew? Yes. Okay. And some of the – there have been other discoveries of texts that are in Hebrew from – there aren't very many of them, but like they'll find a cache of letters, for example, written in Hebrew.

There are inscriptions, for example, in Greek. So an inscription would be things written out on stone that are not religious. In Hebrew? Yes. Okay. And some of the – there have been other discoveries of texts that are in Hebrew from – there aren't very many of them, but like they'll find a cache of letters, for example, written in Hebrew.

And so there are some things, but not for the Hebrew Bible period itself. The Dead Sea Scrolls are much – Later than the – I mean the Hebrew Bible period dates basically from – it's debated when the first texts were written, 10th century maybe BCE up to maybe the 2nd century BCE. But the Dead Sea Scrolls are more around the time of Jesus. And so it's a different period. Right.

And so there are some things, but not for the Hebrew Bible period itself. The Dead Sea Scrolls are much – Later than the – I mean the Hebrew Bible period dates basically from – it's debated when the first texts were written, 10th century maybe BCE up to maybe the 2nd century BCE. But the Dead Sea Scrolls are more around the time of Jesus. And so it's a different period. Right.

And so there are some things, but not for the Hebrew Bible period itself. The Dead Sea Scrolls are much – Later than the – I mean the Hebrew Bible period dates basically from – it's debated when the first texts were written, 10th century maybe BCE up to maybe the 2nd century BCE. But the Dead Sea Scrolls are more around the time of Jesus. And so it's a different period. Right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's not important as evidence. So that's the first thing to say. And no really good scholar ever uses it as evidence. In other words, the fact that everybody says so doesn't make it so. The reason people say that, and I say it as well, is because if you have a counter opinion, then it needs to be examined. And you need to look at it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's not important as evidence. So that's the first thing to say. And no really good scholar ever uses it as evidence. In other words, the fact that everybody says so doesn't make it so. The reason people say that, and I say it as well, is because if you have a counter opinion, then it needs to be examined. And you need to look at it.