The Text of the New Testament In Contemporary Research: Essays on the Status Quaestionis

by Bart D. Ehrman (Editor), Michael W. Holmes (Editor)

This volume, dedicated in honor of Bruce M. Metzger, is a monograph in the Studies and Documents series devoted to basic research in the manuscript tradition of the New Testament. This entry focuses on the advances made in textual criticism during the past fifty years, presenting an overview of the current state of knowledge with respect to a wide range of important topics.

Contributors: Barbara Aland, Joseph M. Alexanian, Tjitze Baarda, J. Neville Birdsall, Sebastian P. Brock, Ehrman, J. Keith Elliott, Eldon Jay Epp, Gordon D. Fee, Thomas C. Geer Jr., Holmes, Robert A. Kraft, James Lionel North, Carroll D. Osburn, David C. Parker, William L. Peterson, Jacobus H. Petzer, James R. Royse, Moises Silva, Klaus Wachtel, Daniel B. Wallace, Frederik Wisse, and Rochus Zuurmond.

Genres: Christianity, Scripture, Christian, Reference, Biblical Studies, New Testament

401 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Bart Denton Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He has written and edited 30 books, including three college textbooks. He has also authored six New York Times bestsellers. He is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Reviews

[C.]

Articles Read:
"The Use of the Greek Fathers for New Testament Textual Criticism," Gordon D. Fee
"Scribal Tendencies in the Transmission of the Text of the New Testament," James R. Royse
"Analyzing and Categorizing New Testament Greek Manuscripts: Colwell Revisited," Thomas C. Geer, Jr.
"The Majority Text Theory: History, Methods, and Critique," Daniel B. Wallace
"Thorouchoing Eclecticism in New Testament Textual Criticism," J. Keith Elliott
"Reasoned Eclecticism in New Testament Textual Criticism," Michael W. Holmes

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a large (more than 800pp) collection of essays on textual criticism related to New Testament texts, fairly up-to-date in the second version. It’s also probably one of the best essay collections I have read. As long as you’re already familiar with the introductory matters (i.e., you’ve read the intro text by Metzger and Ehrmann or the one by the Alands), this will bring you up to speed with the major issues. I read through this essay by essay, but will be obvious that its real value is as a reference.