How did the New Testament actually come to be?

In this episode, we explore the transmission of the New Testament—how early Christian communities preserved, shared, interpreted, and ultimately trusted these texts as Scripture. Rather than treating the Bible as something that appeared fully formed, this episode traces the long and careful process through which the New Testament was carried through oral tradition, written texts, communal discernment, and historical transmission.

We examine how Christian faith existed before the New Testament, how oral culture shaped the earliest Jesus movement, why variation does not undermine authority, and how the canon formed through use and recognition rather than decree. Along the way, we address common questions about manuscripts, textual variants, and what it really means to call Scripture “authoritative.”

This episode explores:

• Oral tradition and memory in the early church

• Inspiration and human participation

• Manuscripts, copying, and textual variation

• How and why the New Testament canon formed

• Authority that endures history rather than denying it

This is a long-form, teaching-style episode designed for listeners who want a historically grounded and theologically honest understanding of Scripture. Whether you’re studying theology, preparing for ministry, or rethinking how you’ve been taught to read the Bible, this episode invites you to see the New Testament as a living tradition carried faithfully through time.