Data Over Dogma Immaculate Apologetics?
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Dec 8, 2025 The hosts dive into the controversial claim that Jesus' crucifixion is better attested than events involving Julius Caesar, challenging historical narratives. They scrutinize manuscript evidence, exposing the limitations in proving the New Testament's historicity. The conversation shifts to the Immaculate Conception, clarifying common misconceptions about its meaning and exploring its historical development. They also discuss Mary's significant cultural impact and veneration through the ages, making for a thought-provoking blend of theology and history.
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Quantity ≠ Historical Certainty
- Manuscript quantity doesn't prove the New Testament's historical accuracy or supernatural claims.
- High copy counts mainly let scholars trace transmission, not validate events.
Manuscript Dating Matters More Than Count
- Most early New Testament Greek manuscripts are fragmentary and few pre-300 CE.
- The bulk of manuscripts date many centuries later, reducing proximity to originals.
More Copies, More Variants
- More manuscript copies create more opportunities for scribal error and interpolation.
- Early divergent manuscripts can overturn readings that appear universal later.
