A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible presents, in plain language
and with ample illustration, an overview of the history and methods, aims and
results of textual criticism. In the process, the readers gain an appreciation
for the vast work that has been accomplished in preserving the text of Scripture
and find a renewed confidence in its reliability.
"Here, at last, is a well-written, succinctly stated, wisely selected history
and wonderfully illustrated textual criticism guide that covers both testaments
in one volume. Where others have often made this science sound arcane and obtuse,
Paul Wegner has skillfully described textual criticism in plain but ample and
interesting ways. I highly recommend it to all serious Bible students, but
especially to seminary faculty who must juggle book budgets and who up to now
have had to order a separate text in this area for each testament."
— Walter C. Kaiser Jr., President and Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor
of Old Testament, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
"No introductory textbook to textual criticism of the Bible measures up to A
Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible. It uniquely combines Old
Testament and New Testament textual criticism into one handy, delightfully
illustrated volume. Paul Wegner writes for students, successfully guiding them
through the text's long and complex journey by his clear style, objectivity and
arresting photographs. General readers of the Bible will appreciate this
introduction to the textual notes in their Bibles."
— Bruce K. Waltke, Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary,
and Emeritus Professor of Old Testament, Regent College
Table of Contents:
Abbreviations
Preface
PART I Introductory Material
1 Introduction to Textual Criticism
1.1 Definition of Textual Criticism
1.2 Importance of Textual Criticism
1.3 Differences Between Old Testament and New Testament Textual Criticism
1.3.1 Old Testament Transmissional History
1.3.2 Different Starting Points
1.4 Goal of Textual Criticism
1.4.1 Goal of Old Testament Textual Criticism
1.4.2 Goal of New Testament Textual Criticism
Further Reading
2 Transmissional Errors Occurring in the Bible
2.1 Unintentional Changes
2.1.1 Mistaken letters
2.1.2 Homophony
2.1.3 Haplography
2.1.4 Dittography
2.1.5 Metathesis
2.1.6 Fusion
2.1.7 Fission
2.1.8 Homoioteleuton and Homoioarkton
2.1.9 Other Omissions or Additions
2.2 Intentional Changes
2.2.1 Changes in Spelling or Grammar
2.2.2 Clearing Up Other Difficulties
2.2.3 Harmonization
2.2.4 Euphemistic Changes
2.2.5 Theological Changes
2.2.6 Additions and Glosses
Further Reading
3 Transmission of the Biblical Texts
3.1 The Old Testament Text
3.1.1 The Old Testament Text Prior to 400 B.C.
3.1.2 The Old Testament Text 400 B.C. to A.D. 100
3.1.3 The Old Testament Text from About A.D. 100 to 500
3.1.4 The Old Testament Text from About A.D. 500 to 1000
3.1.5 The Hebrew Text After A.D. 1000
3.2 The New Testament Text
3.2.1 The New Testament Text Prior to A.D. 100
3.2.2 The New Testament Text After A.D. 100
3.2.3 The Transmission Process
Further Reading
PART II Old Testament Textual Criticism
4 A Brief History of Old Testament Textual Criticism
4.1 Dead Sea Scrolls
4.2 Septuagint (LXX)
4.3 A Unified Text by the First Century A.D.
4.4 Origen’s Hexapla
4.5 Latin Vulgate
4.6 Masoretes
4.7 Printed Hebrew Bibles
4.8 Polyglot Bibles
4.9 Hebrew Editions with Textual Apparatuses
4.10 Diplomatic Editions
4.11 Present State of Old Testament Textual Criticism
Further Reading
Excursus 1: Modern Diplomatic Editions of the HebrewBible
Further Reading
5 Determining the Most Plausible Original Reading
5.1 Where Do We Start?
5.2 Collecting the Evidence
5.3 Evaluating the Internal and External Evidence
5.4 Determining the Most Plausible Original Reading
5.5 Specific Examples
Further Reading
6 Getting to Know the Sources of Old Testament Textual Criticism
6.1 Primary Sources (Hebrew Texts)
Further Reading
6.2.1 Samaritan Pentateuch (SP)
Further Reading
PART III New Testament Textual Criticism
7 A Brief History of New Testament Textual Criticism
7.1 Irenaeus
7.2 Origen of Alexandria/Caesarea
7.3 Jerome
7.4 Erasmus of Rotterdam
7.5 Brian Walton
7.6 Other Greek Texts
7.7 Johann Bengel
7.8 Johann Jakob Griesbach
7.9 Karl Lachmann
7.10 Constantin von Tischendorf
7.11 Brooke F. Westcott and Fenton J. A. Hort
7.12 Present State of New Testament Textual Criticism
Further Reading
Excursus 2: Modern Eclectic Editions of the Greek Bible
8 Determining the Most Plausible Reading
8.1 Where Do We Start?
8.2 Collecting the Evidence
8.3 Evaluating the Evidence
8.4 Specific Examples
8.5 When Should I Use Textual Criticism?
Further Reading
9 Getting to Know the Sources of New Testament Textual Criticism
9.1 Biblical Papyri
9.2 Important Uncials
9.3 Minuscule Manuscripts
Further Reading
PART IV Additional Ancient Versions for Old and New TestamentTextual Criticism
10 Examining the Ancient Versions
10.1 Early Eastern Versions of the Bible
10.2 Early Western Versions of the Bible
Conclusion
Glossary