The idea of the phone game is usual brought up by someone in my class discussions as a way to try and understand how the New
Testament manuscripts came into existence. But, as much as it seems to apply at first, it is actually a lousy comparison.
If we were to us a 'phone game,' there would need to be some important adaptations. Let me give you a more realistic way to look at the 'phone game' in comparison to how the early manuscripts were written. OK, try to keep up with me here...
Instead of having one line of people to begin the game, think of a theater. You would begin with seats 10 rows deep beginning closest to the stage (A-J) and let’s say 10 seats across (#1-10) in each row. The people in rows A and B all the way across already know the phrase (in our example, what was said "on the stage"). Working together, they will pass this on to the others in row C. But, before that, those in row A worked together with those on the stage ensuring each line is correct. Then those from the stage and row A both help row B learn and write it down. Remember, there are 10 people in row C all learning together with the previous 20 people to write down the lines so others will be able to remember what they were. So, row A, with those on the stage start passing on the lines as those in row B write the phrase down on paper. So any of those in row A or B could stand up and say, “This is not what we were taught,” and correct what was being written. Also, those from the stage are still alive for the next few rounds. So, they could correct anything that anyone tried to alter.
Now, before the guy in row B passes on the written phrase, he makes a copy and hands the copy to row C. After learning the phrase, row C makes a copy of the copy and sends a copy to row D, and so on, until we arrive at those in row J--all the while at least two whole rows are working together to pass on the lines.
By the time the game ends, some of the copies are torn, smudged, have other notes written on them; some are unreadable except for a few letters. And, seemingly at first, what is most devastating is that no one knows where the originals are that the those in row A first wrote. At the end of the game, all of the copies and copies of copies are spread out on a table. And, experts from all around the world analyze these copies to determine what the original manuscripts might have said.
Those on the stage would be the Apostles who learned from Jesus directly.
Row A would be the Apostles' associates and scribes.
Row B would be Scribes and the Church Fathers, etc. etc.
You can see it is obviously a much more detailed process than The typical 'phone game.' In the game, just a few people sending a relatively meaningless oral message from short-term memory down the “generational” line (and changes can happen without others knowing it). In reality, texts and messages worth dying for were passed down after much study, and with many witnesses to the same message. So, changing the meaning of any one text would be quite difficult. In our day, imagine what would happen if someone tried to pass off a wrong version of the "Pledge of Allegiance" or "The Star Spangled Banner." It would be virtually impossible for even a minor change to take hold on the people.
In fact, in reference to the Scriptures, we are still discovering more manuscript pieces, yet they have always confirmed what we already have in our modern New Testament translations. To date there has never been any new findings that have changed what we have in our Bibles today. Pretty amazing!
