What Is Textual Criticism?

From viral TikTok claims to skeptical arguments popularized by comedians and progressive influencers, Christians are constantly told that the Bible was rewritten, corrupted, edited by kings and popes, and passed down like a giant game of telephone. But is any of that actually true?

In this conversation, I sit down with New Testament scholar Dr. Dan Wallace as he explains what textual criticism really is, how New Testament manuscripts were copied and preserved, what textual variants actually mean, and why the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament is far stronger than most people realize. 

We discuss:

Whether the Bible was changed over time

The “telephone game” objection

Bart Ehrman and textual variants

How scholars determine the original wording of Scripture

Why manuscript differences don’t threaten core Christian doctrine

The history of canonization and transmission

Viral skeptical claims circulating online today

Why this conversation matters for Christians raising kids in a skeptical culture

If questions about the reliability of Scripture have ever unsettled you—or someone you love—this episode offers both historical depth and practical clarity.

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