What is Anglicanism?. Urban T. Holmes III

woman taken in adultery was added to John’s Gospel at a later date (John 7:53-8:11), for example, are questions of historical interest, but do not gainsay the authority of the Scriptures. They illustrate in a dramatic way the living form of handwritten manuscripts and the attitude of the copyists.

      It is evident, as well, that the books of the Bible reflect the various literary genre of the time and that many contemporary anecdotes and aphorisms found their way into the account. For example, when Paul writes, “Bad company is the ruin of good character” (I Corinthians 15:33), he is quoting a Greek playwright, Menander (342-291 B.C.). Some of the sayings attributed to Jesus are from the common wisdom of the times. The Gospel stories of the star of the magi, the visit of the young Jesus to the Temple, and the changing of water into wine are examples of folk motifs commonly found in contemporary tales told of other heroic or divine figures. The writers had no idea that what they were doing required “all new material.”