Textual Criticism

1
Textual Criticism

• An Introduction

2
1. The Need for Textual Criticism

• 1.1 There was no Xerox machine
• 1.2 There were a variety of errors
• Errors of sight
• Errors of hearing
• Intentional errors-see esp. Bart Ehrmans
  Misquoting Jesus as well as his more scholarly
  The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture

3
2. The Method of TC

• 2.1 The Tools
• 2.1.1 The UBS Text
• The Text Itself
• The Textual Commentary
• 2.1.2 The NA Text
• 2.1.3 Other Texts e.g., New Testament Greek
  Manuscripts
• The Majority Text Theory

4
2. The Method of TC

• 2.2 Using the Tools
• 2.2.1 Using the apparatus
• The UBS is much easier p. 36, Erickson
• The NA is much more complete p. 37 Erickson
• You must learn to recognize the symbols
• YOUR MAIN TASK IS LEARNING TO USE THE APPARATUS

5
(No Transcript)
6
2. The Method of TC

• 2.3 Understanding Text Families p. 43, Erickson
• 2.4 Three Methods for Textual Criticism
• 2.4.1 Reasoned Eclecticism- using both external
  and internal evidence not relying primarily on
  one or the other.
• 2.4.2 Thoroughgoing Eclecticism- the use of
  principles and criteria that are based primarily,
  but not exclusively, on internal evidence

7
2. The Method of TC

• 2.4.3 Byzantine Priority- The use of primarily
  external evidence with particular favor toward
  the majority text.

8
3. The Value of TC

• 3.1 Not all TC problems have exegetical value.
• Note the grid on p. 47, Erickson
• Not all TC problems make a difference in the
  texts meaning
• Be careful about introducing a textual problem
  too frequently.

9
Next Week

• Read the introduction to NA text
• Use the handout to complete the assigned TC
  problem in your worksheets.