Augustine mentioned that minor textual variations don't undermine Scripture's authority

Augustine of Hippo (13 November 354 – 28 August 430) addresses the issue of textual variations in Scripture and their impact on its authority in his work "De Doctrina Christiana" (On Christian Doctrine), specifically in Book II, Chapter 12. Here, he acknowledges the existence of manuscript discrepancies but argues that such variations do not undermine Scripture’s core truths or divine authority. 

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1. From De Doctrina Christiana (Book II, Chapter 12):

He wrote that a diversity of interpretations is useful.

https://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Augustine%20doctrine.pdf

• Augustine acknowledges that scribal errors or variations exist due to copying mistakes, but he advises readers to prioritize reason and context to resolve ambiguities:

"When, however, a word is ambiguous... we must either consult the original language or compare various translations. If the same ambiguity exists in all of them, we must rely on the context... For the truth of the Scriptures is so divinely supported that even such variations do not hinder the devout reader."

• He emphasizes that minor textual issues do not obscure the Bible’s overarching message or its divine inspiration.

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2. In His Letters (e.g., Letter 71 to Jerome):

• Augustine corresponded with Jerome, who was translating the Old Testament from Hebrew into Latin (the Vulgate). Augustine defended the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament used by early Christians), despite its differences from the Hebrew text:

"For the very same Spirit that was in the prophets when they spoke was present also in the seventy translators... so that they too could also say something else, just as divinely, as if the prophet himself had said both."

— Letter 71, Section 5

• Here, Augustine argues that even divergent translations can be divinely guided, trusting that God preserves Scripture’s essential truths despite human imperfections.

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From Augustine’s View:

1. Tolerance for Minor Variations: Augustine accepted textual diversity as inevitable in a pre-printing-press world but insisted that core doctrines (e.g., Christ’s resurrection, God’s love) remain intact.

2. Divine Providence: He believed God ensured Scripture’s reliability despite human errors, as the Holy Spirit guided both the original authors and later translators.

3. Focus on the Message: For Augustine, Scripture’s authority lay in its ability to inspire faith and love, not in mechanical precision:

"Whoever, therefore, thinks he understands the Scriptures… but does not build up the twin love of God and neighbor has not yet understood them."

— De Doctrina Christiana, Book I, Chapter 36

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Why This Matters:

Augustine’s approach reflects a pastoral and theological perspective: Scripture’s authority is rooted in its transformative purpose, not textual perfection. His writings remain foundational for understanding how early Christians navigated textual diversity while maintaining confidence in Scripture’s divine inspiration.