The Received Text - A Field Guide

by Taylor DeSoto

The debate over which Bible to use and why has been ongoing for decades. It sometimes appears only to be a discussion of translations, but the topic is actually much more involved.



Any Christian who begins to research this topic-technically called bibliology-will quickly discover that each English Bible is translated from Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic sources and that there is a wide variety of opinions on which original language "text base" is best. Further, once a "text base" is chosen, there are just as many opinions regarding translation methodology. 



Sadly, discussions on these topics are typically riddled with pejoratives, reductionism, and straw-man arguments. Because of the mischaracterization that often occurs, it is exceedingly difficult to engage in meaningful conversations. 



In The Received A Field Guide, Taylor DeSoto surveys the spectrum of opinions that exist within the context of the ongoing discussion of text and translation within the Protestant churches, offers a critique of these positions, and presents the reader with a clear and persuasive argument in favor of using the Received Text and translations based upon it. 

Because he once considered himself a Critical Text advocate, he is able to bring an honest and informed perspective of all sides of the discussion. 



The purpose of this book is not to analyze individual textual variants, but to simplify and summarize a nuanced and often over-complicated topic to the level that anyone can understand. May it bring clarity to those seeking truth on the topic and steady the resolve of those already convinced of the position DeSoto advocates.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 25, 2024

Reviews

[John Waldrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is your primary interest? Is it the confirmation of your biases or an unsettled but closer to the truth position that demands precision of thought and reflection of your assumptions? Surprising to many (if not most), the truth does not lie at the extremes. At one extreme is the notion that God's Word was not available until the arrival of the KJV, At the other extreme is the notion that the eclectic Greek text has not yet and will never completely reconstruct the original. I am persuaded this is the best book on the question I have ever read.

May God be praised for a concise, tightly reasoned, and well-researched little book addressing the question "Which Bible should I read and why?" This book is delightfully without any hint of the immoral influences of thrice-married arrogance and the accompanying distortions resulting from astonishing pride of intellect that, while having no grasp of Hebrew or Greek has resolutely concluded knowledge of Biblical languages is useless. Really?

Concerned from the earliest days of my Christian walk, and put off by those who had decided (without investigation) their position and sought to demand my compliance without discussing the matter, I embarked on a half century of personal study. I took Greek, went to seminary and enrolled in classes using only Greek texts, and enrolled in textual criticism courses, to see for myself with my engineering education and experience background that Wescott & Hort (and Bruce Metzger) and their successors have built their professional careers on untested and unverified assumptions about how manuscript copyists' mistakes were made back in the day, an easily remedied situation for anyone honestly seeking the truth.

While enrolled at Talbot School of Theology in textual criticism courses, I came across a book written by a former Talbot dean named Harry A. Sturz, who authored a wonderful work that modern translation advocates pretend was never written, "The Byzantine Text-Type & New Testament Textual Criticism." Not only was the book eye-opening, but the lack of intellectual honesty in the academic community pretending the book (and the position) were non-existent was disheartening.

Among the other books read along the way was the work by former Scotland Yard chief inspector Alan J. Macgregor, "400 Years On: How does the authorized version stand up in the 21st century?" It is a thorough and logically straightforward product of an experienced investigator.

And finally, the book just finished and new reviewed, "The Received Text: A Field Guide." The author is new to me, but he has written a most unusual book, with mostly declarative assertions and land like hammer blows. I recommend the book without reservation.

[Dylan Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great primer on The Confessional Text position. While clearly biased, Soto frames the discussion quite well, showing how the modern critical text methodology can’t stand on its on premises. Recommended to those new to the discussion or those wrestling through these questions.

[Joelsmith1990 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It brings up some great points, but is clearly biased in its construction.