Scholarly Reading
9/22/26
Metzger, Bruce M. & Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). "Chapter 9: The Practice of New Testament Textual Criticism." (pp. 300-343). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration (4th Edition). New York: Oxford University Press. (Personal Library)
Metzger and Ehrman lay out what they consider to be the most important principles in dealing with variant readings. First, we should consider whether a variant can explain the creation of other related variants (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, p. 300). Second, we evaluate the history of the earliest instance of the variant, which may explain a coinage of a term, for instance (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, p. 301). Metzger and Ehrman go on to summarize the kind of external and internal evidence which is commonly used for evaluation of texts.
Metzger and Ehrman next walk the reader through an example of the process they would use to evaluate variant readings (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, pp. 305ff). They would first consider the external evidence, such as the age and origin of the manuscript, as well as its similarity to other manuscripts. They provide a brief recap of the common categories of manuscripts.
After considering external evidence of a manuscript, the internal evidence is weighed. Metzger and Ehrman summarize the various categories of transcriptional difficulties (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, pp. 313ff).
Metzger and Ehrman continue with an example of their textual analysis of a variety of New Testament passages (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, p. 316-340). They note the flexibility of the process, analyzing various criteria in different orders as the text requires.
9/22/26
Metzger, Bruce M. & Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). "Chapter 9: The Practice of New Testament Textual Criticism." (pp. 300-343). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration (4th Edition). New York: Oxford University Press. (Personal Library)
Metzger and Ehrman lay out what they consider to be the most important principles in dealing with variant readings. First, we should consider whether a variant can explain the creation of other related variants (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, p. 300). Second, we evaluate the history of the earliest instance of the variant, which may explain a coinage of a term, for instance (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, p. 301). Metzger and Ehrman go on to summarize the kind of external and internal evidence which is commonly used for evaluation of texts.
Metzger and Ehrman next walk the reader through an example of the process they would use to evaluate variant readings (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, pp. 305ff). They would first consider the external evidence, such as the age and origin of the manuscript, as well as its similarity to other manuscripts. They provide a brief recap of the common categories of manuscripts.
After considering external evidence of a manuscript, the internal evidence is weighed. Metzger and Ehrman summarize the various categories of transcriptional difficulties (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, pp. 313ff).
Metzger and Ehrman continue with an example of their textual analysis of a variety of New Testament passages (Metzger & Ehrman 2005, p. 316-340). They note the flexibility of the process, analyzing various criteria in different orders as the text requires.
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