A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible

by Wegner, Paul D.

• ISBN13: 9780830827312
• ISBN10: 0830827315
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-30
• Publisher: Ivp Academic

Summary

The Bible has been on a long historical journey since its original composition. Its texts have been copied and recopied. And despite the most careful and painstaking efforts of scribes and publishers down through the centuries, errors of one sort or another have crept in and have been reproduced. Sorting out the errors and determining the original wording is the task of textual criticism. In fact, the task of textual criticism is so daunting and detailed that it is divided between Old Testament textual critics and New Testament textual critics. That is why nearly every book on the subject focuses on the textual criticism of either the Old or New Testament. But if you are one of those interested in a general understanding of textual criticism, this book introduces you to textual criticism of the whole Bible--the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament. In plain language and with ample illustration, Paul D. Wegner gives you an overview of the history and methods, aims and results of textual criticism. In the process you will 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.

Author Biography

Paul D. Wegner is professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	13	(3)
List of Figures, Tables and Maps	16	(3)
Preface	19	(4)
PART I: INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL
1 Introduction to Textual Criticism	23	(21)
1.1 Definition of Textual Criticism	23	(1)
1.2 Importance of Textual Criticism	24	(2)
1.3 Differences Between Old Testament and New Testament Textual Criticism	26	(3)
1.3.1 Old Testament Transmissional History	26	(3)
1.3.2 Different Starting Points	29	(1)
1.4 Goal of Textual Criticism	29	(15)
1.4.1 Goal of Old Testament Textual Criticism	29	(8)
1.4.1.1 Final Form or Forms of the Old Testament Text	32	(2)
1.4.1.2 Fluidity of the Old Testament Text	34	(2)
1.4.1.3 A Complex Goal	36	(1)
1.4.2 Goal of New Testament Textual Criticism	37	(7)
1.4.2.1 The Current Debate	37	(2)
1.4.2.2 The Goal	39	(5)
2 Transmissional Errors Occurring in the Bible	44	(14)
2.1 Unintentional Changes	44	(6)
2.1.1 Mistaken Letters	44	(1)
2.1.2 Homophony	45	(1)
2.1.3 Haplography	46	(2)
2.1.4 Dittography	48	(1)
2.1.5 Metathesis	48	(1)
2.1.6 Fusion	48	(1)
2.1.7 Fission	49	(1)
2.1.8 Homoioteleuton and Homoioarkton	49	(1)
2.1.9 Other Omissions or Additions	50	(1)
2.2 Intentional Changes	50	(8)
2.2.1 Changes in Spelling or Grammar	52	(1)
2.2.2 Clearing Up Other Difficulties	52	(1)
2.2.3 Harmonization	52	(1)
2.2.4 Euphemistic Changes	53	(1)
2.2.5 Theological Changes	53	(1)
2.2.6 Additions and Glosses	54	(4)
3 Transmission of the Biblical Texts	58	(31)
3.1 The Old Testament Text	58	(20)
3.1.1 The Old Testament Text Prior to 400 B.C.	59	(4)
3.1.2 The Old Testament Text 400 B.C. to A.D. 100	63	(7)
3.1.2.1 Preserving the Text	63	(1)
3.1.2.2 Revising the Text	64	(6)
3.1.3 The Old Testament Text from About A.D. 100-500	70	(4)
3.1.4 The Old Testament Text from About A.D. 500-1000	74	(4)
3.1.4.1 Masoretic Notations	74	(3)
3.1.4.2 Masoretic Families	77	(1)
3.1.5 The Hebrew Text After A.D. 1000	78	(1)
3.2 New Testament Text	78	(11)
3.2.1 The New Testament Text Prior to A.D. 100	79	(1)
3.2.2 The New Testament Text After A.D. 100	80	(2)
3.2.3 The Transmission Process	82	(7)
PART II OLD TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM
4 A Brief History of Old Testament Textual Criticism	89	(31)
4.1 Dead Sea Scrolls	89	(4)
4.2 Septuagint (LXX)	93	(1)
4.3 A Unified Text by the First Century A.D.	93	(2)
4.4 Origen's Hexapla	95	(1)
4.5 Latin Vulgate	95	(2)
4.6 Masoretes	97	(1)
4.7 Printed Hebrew Bibles	97	(1)
4.8 Polyglot Bibles	98	(1)
4.9 Hebrew Editions with Textual Apparatuses	99	(1)
4.10 Diplomatic Editions	100	(3)
4.11 Present State of Old Testament Textual Criticism	103	(3)
Excursus 1: Modern Diplomatic Editions of the Hebrew Bible	106	(14)
5 Determining the Most Plausible Original Reading	120	(20)
5.1 Where Do We Start?	121	(1)
5.2 Collecting the Evidence	121	(4)
5.2.1 Examining the Masoretic Tradition	122	(1)
5.2.2 Examining Other Sources	123	(2)
5.3 Evaluating the Internal and External Evidence	125	(7)
5.3.1 Internal Evidence	127	(1)
5.3.2 External Evidence	127	(2)
5.3.2.1 Language of the Witness	128	(1)
5.3.2.2 Date of the Witness	128	(1)
5.3.2.3 Reliability of the Witness	129	(1)
5.3.2.4 Provenance (Origin/Source) and Purpose of the Text	129	(1)
5.3.2.5 The Interdependence of the Witnesses	129	(1)
5.3.3 Quality of the Sources	129	(3)
5.4 Determining the Most Plausible Original Reading	132	(3)
5.4.1 Consider the Strength of the Textual Tradition	132	(1)
5.4.2 Examine Internal Evidence	132	(1)
5.4.3 Examine External Evidence	132	(1)
5.4.4 Evaluate the Evidence	132	(3)
5.4.5 Possible Emendations	135	(1)
5.5 Specific Examples	135	(5)
5.5.1 1 Chronicles 6:40 (MT 25)	135	(1)
5.5.2 Hosea 7:14	136	(4)
6 Getting to Know the Sources of Old Testament Textual Criticism	140	(67)
6.1 Primary Sources (Hebrew Texts)	140	(26)
6.1.1 Silver Amulets	140	(2)
6.1.2 Dead Sea Scrolls	142	(6)
6.1.2.1 The First Isaiah Scroll	145	(1)
6.1.2.2 The Second Isaiah Scroll	146	(1)
6.1.2.3 The Habakkuk Commentary	146	(1)
6.1.2.4 The Psalms Scroll	146	(2)
6.1.3 Nash Papyrus	148	(1)
6.1.4 Murabba'at Manuscripts	149	(2)
6.1.5 Manuscripts at Masada	151	(3)
6.1.6 Naha/Hever Manuscripts	154	(1)
6.1.7 Cairo Genizah Manuscripts	155	(2)
6.1.8 Important Hebrew Manuscripts of the Old Testament	157	(4)
6.1.8.1 Ben Asher Manuscripts	157	(2)
6.1.8.2 Leningrad (Formerly Petersburg) Codex of the Prophets	159	(1)
6.1.8.3 Damascus Pentateuch	159	(2)
6.1.8.4 Codex Reuchlinianus of the Prophets	161	(1)
6.1.8.5 Erfurtensis Codices	161	(1)
6.1.9 Important Printed Hebrew Editions	161	(5)
6.2 Secondary Sources (Non-Hebrew Texts)	166	(41)
6.2.1 Samaritan Pentateuch (sP)	168	(4)
6.2.2 Aramaic Targums (or Targumim)	172	(4)
6.2.2.1 Pentateuch	173	(1)
6.2.2.2 Prophets	174	(1)
6.2.2.3 Writings	175	(1)
6.2.3 The Septuagint (LXX)	176	(11)
6.2.4 Other Greek Recensions	187	(14)
6.2.4.1 Aquila	188	(1)
6.2.4.2 Theodotion	189	(2)
6.2.4.3 Symmachus	191	(1)
6.2.4.4 Origen's Hexapla	192	(4)
6.2.4.5 Other Recensions of the LXX	196	(4)
6.2.4.6 Kaige Recension	200	(1)
6.2.5 Philo's Quotations of the Old Testament	201	(6)
PART III NEW TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM
7 A Brief History of New Testament Textual Criticism	207	(22)
7.1 Irenaeus	208	(1)
7.2 Origen of Alexandria /Caesarea	208	(1)
7.3 Jerome	208	(1)
7.4 Erasmus of Rotterdam	209	(1)
7.5 Brian Walton	210	(1)
7.6 Other Greek Texts	211	(1)
7.7 Johann Bengel	212	(1)
7.8 Johann Jakob Griesbach	212	(1)
7.9 Karl Lachmann	213	(1)
7.10 Constantin von Tischendorf	214	(1)
7.11 Brooke F. Westcott and Fenton J.A. Hort	214	(3)
7.12 Present State of New Testament Textual Criticism	217	(6)
Excursus 2: Modern Eclectic Editions of the Greek Bible	223	(6)
8 Determining the Most Plausible Reading	229	(27)
8.1 Where Do We Start?	231	(1)
8.2 Collecting the Evidence	231	(8)
8.2.1 External Evidence	231	(7)
8.2.1.1 New Testament Greek Manuscripts	231	(4)
8.2.1.2 Versions	235	(1)
8.2.1.3 Patristic Citations	236	(2)
8.2.2 Internal Evidence	238	(1)
8.3 Evaluating the Evidence	239	(10)
8.3.1 Manuscripts Must Be Weighed, Not Merely Counted	240	(1)
8.3.2 Examine the Textual Tradition	241	(5)
8.3.3 Determine the Reading That Would Most Likely Give Rise to the Others	246	(1)
8.3.4 The More Difficult Reading Is Preferable	247	(1)
8.3.5 The Shorter Reading Is Generally Preferable	247	(1)
8.3.6 Determine Which Reading Is More Appropriate in Its Context	247	(2)
8.4 Specific Examples	249	(5)
8.4.1 Ephesians 1:1	249	(3)
8.4.2 Romans 15.7	252	(2)
8.5 When Should I Use Textual Criticism?	254	(2)
9 Getting to Know the Sources of New Testament Textual Criticism	256
9.1 Biblical Papyri	257	(2)
9.1.1 Chester Beatty Collection	257	(1)
9.1.2 John Rylands Library	258	(1)
9.1.3 Bodmer Collection	258	(1)
9.2 Important Uncials	259	(5)
9.2.1 Codex Vaticanus	259	(1)
9.2.2 Codex Sinaiticus	260	(2)
9.2.3 Codex Alexandrinus	262	(1)
9.2.4 Codex Ephraemi	262	(1)
9.2.5 Codex Bezae	263	(1)
9.3 Minuscule Manuscripts	264	(7)
9.3.1 Ferrar Family	264	(1)
9.3.2 Lake Family	264	(1)
9.3.3 Minuscule 33	265	(1)
9.3.4 Minuscule 16	265	(4)
PART IV ADDITIONAL ANCIENT VERSIONS FOR OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM
10 Examining the Ancient Versions	269	(29)
10.1 Early Eastern Versions of the Bible	271	(16)
10.1.1 Syriac Versions	271	(5)
10.1.2 Coptic Versions	276	(4)
10.1.3 Armenian Version	280	(2)
10.1.4 Ethiopic Version	282	(2)
10.1.5 Georgian Version	284	(2)
10.1.6 Arabic Versions	286	(1)
10.2 Early Western Versions of the Bible	287	(11)
10.2.1 Old Latin Versions	287	(2)
10.2.2 The Latin Vulgate	289	(3)
10.2.3 The Gothic Version	292	(3)
10.2.4 The Old Slavonic Version	295	(3)
Conclusion	298	(4)
Glossary	302	(9)
Permissions	311	(3)
Names Index	314	(5)
Subject Index	319	(13)
Scripture Index	332