The Adulterated Adulterer

FICTION

Once upon a time, a beautiful woman was running towards her lover's house.

"Are you alright? How did you escape?" said the lover as he opened the door.

"There was a kind preacher who saved me. He talked to the crowd who took me, and they let me go."

"That's wonderful! Amazing! Oh, honey. . ." answered the lover while he attempted to kiss her.

"But we must stop this," said the beautiful woman nonchalantly. "I must go back to my husband."

"Why?"

"Because that's what the preacher said to me. I must stop sinning."

"But I love you. I love you more than anything."

"I love you too," she said sadly while she looked away.

"There must be some other way," said the lover while holding her hand.

"But everybody knows about us! There is nothing else we can do,"

"Then you must leave your husband. Who is this preacher anyway?" he demanded.

"His name is Jesus," answered the woman.

Ladies and gentlemen, that beautiful story in John 8:1-11 is fiction. It's not part of scriptures. Unfortunately.

FACT

From the Codex Sinaiticus:

Translation:

They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet (John 7:52).
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying (part of John 8:12),

It is very clear from that manuscript, JN 7:53 - 8:11 is not there. Therefore, the story of the adulteress, however inspiring, was an invention and was inserted by an unscrupulous greek scribe on a much newer greek manuscript.

The absence of JN 7:53 - 8:11 is confirmed by the Codex Vatincanus:

Translation:

Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet (part of John 7:52).
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).

THE MOTIVE

Well, if you are a malicious greek scribe and if you would make-up a story and squeeze it in the holy scriptures, what story would you come up with?

A story about Jesus' wife? Apparently someone already did that.

Why a story about adultery? Well, the only rational reason I can think of is that the scribe was an adulterer. He created this fantasy perhaps so he can persuade the faithful to be more lenient towards him or people like him. He that is without sin, let him first cast a stone, right?

Well, that's just only my unsolicited opinion. I thought of that because a former member of our Church was excommunicated due to adultery. And as retaliation, he fabricated a simple story and he charged the presiding minister of our Church with libel and attempted murder. Which, thank God, have all been dismissed (the libel case was just dismissed recently this year):  

http://latestnewsphilippines.com/top-stories/bro-eli-cleared

Anyway, those charges, just like the story of the adulterer in John 8, are nothing more than a Walt Disney production. They are fairy-tales.

The end.

To God be the glory!