Textual Criticism

About this Class

 

 

Lecture 1:
Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism

Since the original autographs of the Bible no longer exist, the primary goal of Biblical Textual Criticism is to determine the exact wording of the original inspired text dispatched from the author with as much accuracy as possible. As a secondary goal, we desire to trace changes to the text and get a window into ancient Christianity.

 

Lecture 2:
How to Count Textual Variants

Contrary to popular textual critics, the wrong way to record textual variants is to count each unique variant and multiply by the number of existing manuscripts, rendering millions of variants. On the contrary, the correct method is to count the same variant that occurs across all manuscripts as one variant, rendering not millions but hundreds of thousands of predominantly minor variants.

 

Lecture 3:
The Number of Variants

Compared to other ancient literature, the field of Biblical textual criticism possesses “an embarrassment of riches.” New Testament TC absolutely dwarfs the resources of other ancient literature, not only in number of manuscripts and the recent time in which they were produced, but also confirming quotations by extra-biblical writings.

 

Lecture 4:
Weighing the Discrepancies

The vast majority of NT Variants are minor, easily explained scribal errors that don’t affect the meaning of the text. Among 400,000 textual variants of the NT, over 99% make no difference to the meaning, and less than 1% are both meaningful and viable.

 

Lecture 5:
Recent Attempts to Change the Goals of NT Textual Criticism

Recent attempts to change the goals of NTTC such that critics no longer seek to obtain the original autographs in favor of understanding a writer’s historical contexts undermine the original goal of NTTC. However, faithful textual critics must not subscribe to the notion of a “multivalence” of the original text, but instead pursue the primary goal: to get as close as possible to the original autographs.

 

Lecture 6:
Materials and Methods in Making Ancient Books

The vast majority of all copies of the New Testament were probably recorded on scrolls, but copied in codex format. This may lend to the theory that Christians used cutting-edge, easier-to-use media technologies to further the word-based faith.

 

Lecture 7:
The Materials Used for Making a Codex Manuscript

Various materials were used in creating NT MSS. Wallace discusses papyrus, parchments, and paper, each with advantages and disadvantages for transmitting text faithfully.

 

Lecture 8:
A Brief History of the Transmission of the Text

There are three fundamental issues that significantly affect the transmission of the NT Text: early copies and causes of corruption, the role of canon in shaping the text, and the emergence of localized text forms.

 

Lecture 9:
The Role of the Canon in Shaping the NT Text

Because of the radical nature of Christianity, it took some time for OT-based Jews to accept the NT as canonical. But over time, coinciding with the progressive development of a certain “canon-consciousness,” scribes were compelled to modify texts in various ways, not for malicious reasons, but in efforts to clarify, preserve, and revere the sacred scriptures.

 

Lecture 10:
The Emergence of Local Text Forms

Although questioned by some critics, most TCs acknowledge four major localized forms of the NT text: Alexandrian, Western, Byzantine, and (questionably) Caesarian. These “cross-pollinated” text families have arisen from diverse historical, cultural and socio-political factors, but all serve to strengthen, and not weaken the integrity of the NT text.

 

Lecture 11:
Illustrations of Scribal Corruptions (Part 1)

While it is undeniable that NT scribes made mistakes of various types in copying the inspired text, understanding the often simple reason for these mistakes renders much reward in understanding the sacred text. The fundamental principle of textual criticism is this: select the reading that best explains the rise of the other readings.

 

Lecture 12:
Illustrations of Scribal Corruptions (Part 2)

Contrary to popular belief, intentional scribal changes were not malicious in nature, but rather displayed pious intentions and a high view of scripture. Scribal corruptions for the most part, did not reflect a desire not to obfuscate, but to clarify the scripture.

 

Lecture 13:
Some Famous Papyri Manuscripts (Part 1)

This lecture introduces papyri, critically important as the earliest witnesses of New Testament text. Papyri are some of the most important documents of NT MSS.

 

Lecture 14:
Some Famous Papyri Manuscripts (Part 2)

Since papyri are the earliest records of NT text (containing 50% of NT) they are critical in revealing the original text shape of the NT text. Even Codex Sinaticus and Vaticanus, the two most important NT MSS in the world, are confirmed by Papyri.

 

Lecture 15:
Some Famous Majuscule Manuscripts (Part 1)

This lecture describes the most important new Testament manuscripts: the Majuscules, formerly known as uncials. These documents contain the full text of the NT written many times over, on parchment, written in all caps.

 

Lecture 16:
Some Famous Majuscule Manuscripts (Part 2)

This lecture continues the discussion about the most important New Testament manuscripts: the Majuscules, formerly known as uncials. This lecture describes Codex Alexandrinus - A, Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus - C, Codex Sinaiticus (Aleph), and Codex Washingtonianus - W - 1906.

 

Lecture 17:
Resources for NT Manuscripts

Since the field of TC is so small, obtaining resources are very expensive. However the internet is still a great place to conduct free TC research. In this lecture, major internet resources for studying NT manuscripts are compared and contrasted.

 

Lecture 18:
Resources for NT Manuscripts: CSNTM

Founded 2002 by Daniel Wallace, the mission of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM) is to be a premiere resource in the great and noble task of determining the wording of the autographa of the New Testament. This is facilitated through high-resolution digital photography of extant Greek New Testament manuscripts so that such images can be preserved, duplicated without deterioration, and accessed by scholars doing textual research.

 

Lecture 19:
The Greek Text Behind the KJV

The KJV has been rightfully called “the single greatest monument to the English language,” but this is more from a literary rather than a translation standpoint. This is because the Greek MSS behind the KJV text is far inferior to that of modern translations in terms of textual basis, late MSS dates, and a less than perfect process of creation.

 

Lecture 20:
The Greek Text of the KJV (Part 2)

The arguments used to position the Textus Receptus as the sole textual basis for the true word of God range from questionable to downright irrational. Proponents of this position rely on view of the so-called “doctrine of preservation,” which illegitimately uses certain Bible texts to argue its dubious claims.

 

Lecture 21:
Textus Receptus/Doctrine of Preservation

This lecture describes the major problems of TR-only people, who subscribe to an unbiblical Doctrine of Preservation, which as defined, effectively emerges as a Marcionite view of the Bible. Wallace claims that while there is no biblical, exegetical, or empirical basis to argue for the doctrine of preservation, God has overwhelmingly preserved Scripture in a way that is not true of any other ancient literature.

 

Lecture 22:
Tischendorf and the Discovery of Sinaiticus (Part 1)

In this lecture, Daniel Wallace describes the discovery of Sinaiaticus, and its importance to the field of textual criticism. He recounts fascinating details about his visits to St. Catherine’s, the oldest Christian monastery, at the base of Mount Sinai, Egypt.

 

Lecture 23:
Tischendorf and the Discovery of Sinaiticus (Part 2)

This lecture summarizes the life of Constantine von Tischendorf [1815-1874], and his very important discovery of Codex Sinaiticus.

 

Lecture 24:
History of NT Textual Criticism Since the TR

This lecture describes highlights of the history of NT TC since the TR. Describing the formation of the textus receptus, Wallace also characterizes major players in the process of arriving at the modern text.

 

Lecture 25:
Who Were Westcott & Hort?

This lecture describes Westcott and Hort, and how they dethroned the Textus Receptus by proving that the Textus Receptus was late, inferior, and secondary.

 

Lecture 26:
Reasoned Eclecticism (Part 1)

This lecture is 1 of 3 lectures on reasoned eclecticism. Eclecticism is the process of compiling a text from multiple sources, while reasoned eclecticism consists of rectifying the differences and evaluating variants based on both their attestation and intrinsic merit.

 

Lecture 27:
Reasoned Eclecticism (Part 2)

This lecture is 2 of 3 lectures on reasoned eclecticism.

 

Lecture 28:
Reasoned Eclecticism (Part 3)

This lecture explains the principles of reasoned eclecticism.

 

Lecture 29:
Some Famous Textual Problems (Part 1)

This is part 1 of 3 lectures explaining some famous textual problems, in this case, Mark 1:41.

 

Lecture 30:
Some Famous Textual Problems (Part 2)

This is part 2 of 3 lectures discussing the famous textual problem of John 5:3-4.

 

Lecture 31:
Some Famous Textual Problems (Part 3)

This is part 3 of 3 lectures explaining some famous textual problems.

 

Lecture 32:
Some Famous Textual Problems: Matthew 24:36

This lecture presents some very technical arguments for why Daniel Wallace believes that the phrase “ουδεουιός” (nor the Son) is not an authentic part of Matthew 24:36.

 

Lecture 33:
Some Famous Textual Problems: John 7:53-8:11

This lecture explains the overwhelming evidence that the “Pericope Adulterae” (John 7:53-8:11) is almost certainly not part of the inspired text of the Bible. Some of the most compelling evidence includes these facts: 20% of MSS do not have this text, no MSS through 8th century have this text, no patristic fathers comment on this passage through the 12 century, and the text seems out of place chronologically, stylistically, grammatically, and thematically.

 

Lecture 34:
Some Famous Textual Problems: Mark 16:9-20

This lecture explains that although the evidence is not as strong as John 7:53-8:11, the text of Mark 16:9-20 is most likely not part of the original inspired text of scripture.

 

Lecture 35:
Which Translation is Best?

This lecture evaluates popular translations of the Bible in terms of their textual basis. The bottom line is that while all translations are interpretations, The Spirit of God has ensured that the truth of the scriptures can be found in any one of them, and reading widely among different versions is good to promote understanding about different concerns of TC.

 

Lecture 36:
Is What We Have Now What They Wrote?

As time progresses in the field of Textual Criticism, we continue to get razor-thin closer to the original manuscripts. The good news is that with all the known variants, no essential doctrine of the Christian faith is jeopardized by any viable variant, so we can have great confidence in the text of our Bibles to provide us all we need for life and godliness.