WASHINGTON — Museum of the Bible will host New Testament scholars Elijah Hixson and Peter Gurry for a virtual discussion of their new book, “Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism,” in which they explore the history and current state of the New Testament text. The event will take place on Thursday, Mar. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

A renewed interest in textual criticism of the Bible has led to myths and mistakes in the understanding of the text of the New Testament, which Hixson and Gurry seek to correct. At this event, they will discuss their book, variants in New Testament manuscripts and what these different versions mean for modern Bible readers.

“We are fortunate to have these two eminent scholars join us for what promises to be an exciting evening of discovery,” said Jeffrey Kloha, chief curatorial officer at Museum of the Bible. “This event is for everyone — not just pastors, scholars or professors. We all have something to learn from Hixson and Gurry, and I am confident we will conclude the event with a deeper appreciation for and understanding of the history of the New Testament than when we began.”

Hixson earned his doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and is a research fellow at the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts and a research associate at Tyndale House, Cambridge. He has served as a tutor in biblical studies at the University of Edinburgh, a lecturer at Edinburgh Bible College, visiting lecturer for London School of Theology and an external professor for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of “Scribal Habits in Sixth-Century Greek Purple Codices” and has published articles on manuscripts, textual criticism and Charles Haddon Spurgeon in several journals, including Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Theological Studies, New Testament Studies and Novum Testamentum.

Gurry earned his doctorate from the University of Cambridge and is assistant professor of New Testament and co-director of the Text & Canon Institute at Phoenix Seminary. He is the author, with Tommy Wasserman, of “A New Approach to Textual Criticism: An Introduction to the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method (SBL)” and the author of “A Critical Examination of the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method in New Testament Textual Criticism.” His writings have appeared in Didaktikos: Journal of Theological Education, Novum Testamentum, Tyndale Bulletin, JETS, New Testament Studies and The Gospel Coalition’s website. He has worked with the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts and Museum of the Bible to digitize and publish New Testament manuscripts.

Paul Foster, professor of New Testament and Christian origins at the University of Edinburgh, says of “Myths and Mistakes”:

“Combining care, caution and rigorous scholarship, the contributors place before readers the latest research and an accurate account of the state of the text of the New Testament. For those seeking to be reliably informed there will be no better guide than this book to understand the origins, manuscripts, transmission, collection and translations of the writings that form the New Testament. This book replaces ignorance with knowledge, foolishness with wisdom, and angry argument with irenic debate. Anybody who cares about the text of the New Testament must read this book.”

Tickets are $9.99 for the general public and $4.99 for Museum of the Bible members and students and are available here.

More information on the event is available here.

More information on Museum of the Bible is available here.