That such was the case in a vast number of cases is in fact demonstrable.

[Inaccuracy in the apprehension of the Divine Word, which in the earliest ages was imperfectly understood, and ignorance of Greek in primitive Latin translators, were prolific sources of error.

The influence of Lectionaries, in which Holy Scripture was cut up into separate Lections either with or without an introduction, remained with habitual hearers, and led them off in copying to paths which had become familiar.

Acquaintance with 'Harmonies' or Diatessarons caused copyists insensibly to assimilate one Gospel to another.

And doctrinal predilections, as in the case of those who belonged to the Origenistic school, were the source of lapsing into expressions which were not the _verba ipsissima_ of Holy Writ.