1. Methods of Textual Criticism (1) The Bible Versions Study

2. Main points Wealth of Material* Wealth of Material* Types of Evidence* Types of Evidence* Working with External Evidence Working with External Evidence Working with Internal Evidence Working with Internal Evidence Concluding observations Concluding observations * We plan to cover these points in this lesson.

3. Definitions Textual criticism: (1) “the scholarly study of manuscripts, esp of the Bible, in an effort to establish the original text” (Collins English Dict.) (2) “the technique of restoring texts as nearly as possible to their original form. Texts in this connection are defined as writings other than formal documents, inscribed or printed on paper, parchment, papyrus, or similar materials.” (Encyclopedia Brittanica)

4. More than ________ Greek manuscripts of the gospels, about _______ more than 1000 years old More than ________ Greek manuscripts of the gospels, about _______ more than 1000 years old _______ lectionaries – hand copied _______ lectionaries – hand copied 15 versions in ancient languages (including more than ______ copies of the Vulgate) 15 versions in ancient languages (including more than ______ copies of the Vulgate) Multitudes of quotes from the ______ _______ Multitudes of quotes from the ______ _______ Oldest fragment dated about AD ____, only about _____ years MAXIMUM from the originals Oldest fragment dated about AD ____, only about _____ years MAXIMUM from the originals Oldest almost complete manuscripts: about AD _____, only _____ years (approx) from originals Oldest almost complete manuscripts: about AD _____, only _____ years (approx) from originals Material: NT Manuscripts 1400 40 1300 8000 Church fathers 12550 300 225

5. Materials: Compare other ancient books Author Date of writing Earliest Copy Time Span Number of copies Caesar 100-44 BC AD 900 ______ yrs ____ Livy 59 BC - AD 17 Not available ____ Plato (Tetralogies) 427-347 BC AD 900 ______ yrs ____ Tacitus (Annals) AD 100 AD 1,100 ______ yrs ____ … also minor works … also minor works AD 100 AD 1000 ______ yrs ____ Pliny the Younger (History) AD 61-113 AD 850 ______ yrs ____ 1,00010 20 1,200 7 1000 20 9001 7507

6. Materials: Compare other ancient books Author Date of writing Earliest Copy Time Span Number of copies Thucydides 460 - 400 BC AD 900 ______ yrs ____ Suetonius (De Vita Caesarun) AD 75-160 AD 950 ______ yrs ____ Herodotus (History) 480 - 425 BC AD 900 ______ yrs ____ Sophocles 496 - 406 BC AD 1,000 ______ yrs ____ Lucretius d. 55 or 53 BC AD 1,050 ______ yrs ____ Catullus 54 BC AD 1,550 ______ yrs ____ 1,3008 8008 1,300 8 1,400 100 1,100 2 1,600 3

7. Materials: Compare other ancient books Author Date of writing Earliest Copy Time Span Number of copies Euripedes 480 - 406 BC AD 1,100 ______ yrs ____ Demosthenes 383 - 322 BC AD 1,100 ______ yrs ____ (all copies of same original) Aristotle 384 - 322 BC AD 1,100 ______ yrs ____ (of any one work) Aristophanes 450 - 385 BC AD 900 ______ yrs ____ Source: Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, p. 48 1,500 9 1,300 200 1,400 5 1,20010

8. Material: Certainty of the text However, no ____ copy is _______ correct. However, no ____ copy is _______ correct. No two major manuscripts agree __________. (But some __________ might agree completely with one or more manuscripts.) No two major manuscripts agree __________. (But some __________ might agree completely with one or more manuscripts.) And finally, no English ____________ is 100% correct. Some are very, very good (99.9% accurate), some are very poor, ______ are without some error. And finally, no English ____________ is 100% correct. Some are very, very good (99.9% accurate), some are very poor, ______ are without some error. Given the wealth of materials available to textual critics of the New Testament, we can say that we have _____% of the originals _______ as they were written contained within the various copies. However… one exactly completely fragments translation none 100 exactly

9. Evidence types: External External ______ about ___________ documents (location found, estimated date of mss., type of ink, writing material, style of writing) External ______ about ___________ documents (location found, estimated date of mss., type of ink, writing material, style of writing) Similarities with other documents that create large “_______” of documents Similarities with other documents that create large “_______” of documents Identifiable ___________ that indicate a “_______” relationship between documents Identifiable ___________ that indicate a “_______” relationship between documents factsindividual groups peculiarities family

10. Evidence types: Internal Variant __________ analysis: how _______ is the development of each variation? Variant __________ analysis: how _______ is the development of each variation? Original _________ point of view, content, use of words, similar phrases, etc. Original _________ point of view, content, use of words, similar phrases, etc. The _______ point of view – revealed by marginal notes, similarities of copying errors, etc. The _______ point of view – revealed by marginal notes, similarities of copying errors, etc. probability likely author’s scribe’s