New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide

by David Alan Black

A concise companion to Ellis Brotzman's Old Testament Textual Criticism . Introduces students to the process of comparing Greek texts and seeking the original wording.

Genres: Theology, New Testament, Textbooks, Linguistics, Reference, Religion, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[Daniel Bouchoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great run through. While a great resource it’s time for me to find an updated introduction.

[Barnabas Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful primer on a dry but necessary subject.

[Joshua Bethay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for my New Testament Intro course under Barcellos at CBTS.

Black’s book was incredibly helpful in acquiring a basic knowledge of the purpose, history, methods, and examples of textual criticism. Appendices included, the book is 71 pages (very much a “concise guide”). What I found most helpful was to see Black’s argument for the necessity of textual criticism for students of the Bible, and particularly pastors, in the history of Erasmus and the KJV 1611.

The Bible translation which dominated the English-speaking world for 250 years (the 1611 KJV) was based upon Erasmus’ Greek translation which was composed of a mere handful of manuscripts from the Byzantine text family. Put another way, English Christendom for a quarter millennia relied on manuscripts from arguably the most contested of the three text families.

Black is careful and clear to show how no major Christian doctrine is affected one way or another by any variance, but that these differences are nonetheless legitimate and require careful consideration.

[Rachel Winkler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, easy, short introduction to textual criticism. It covers the basics of the history of textual criticism, the materials and methods used in early writing, different types of texts and manuscript families, and application of general principles for determining which of variant readings are probably the accurate ones. I read this as an assignment for Greek Exegesis, and probably wouldn’t have picked it up otherwise, but it would probably be most helpful for pastors or those teaching expositionally.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good introduction to these issues. A second edition, which deals with more modern developments, would be welcome.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful introduction to textual criticism to help Greek students and pastors interpret the textual critical notes in the UBS or NA Greek text. Black lays out the basic approaches to textual criticism and gives basic principles for external and internal evidence, along with some charts for practice in Appendix 3, and some passages to examine textual variants at the end of chapter 3.

[Jeff Mixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick & helpful introduction the task of NT textual criticism.

[Paul Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide is very short, but it contains a nice introduction to Textual Criticism. The last chapter in the book gives some specific examples of textual criticism, with a few pages devoted to John 3:23. New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide is a good introduction for someone casually interested in learning what Textual Criticism is. For people who want more than surface knowledge, I'd recommend: Wegner, Paul D. A Student’s Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods and Results. Another good book is: Wilkins, Don and Edward D. Andrews. The Text of the New Testament: The Science and Art of Textual Criticism. For people serious about learning textual criticism, try: Metzger, Bruce M. The Text of the Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration. I'd also recommend Hixson, Elijah and Gurry, Peter J. Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black says "Anyone who preaches or teaches from the New Testament regularly will need to know something about textual criticism" because "differences between versions could become a divisive issue in one's teaching ministry" (55-56). While variants among the witnesses do not affect interpretation of major doctrines, their presence can be unsettling when one encounters them for the first time. Black offers this book as a quickly digested resource for Bible teachers which will help them think through how to introduce and incorporate knowledge of textual criticism in order to edify rather than discourage readers of our reliable English translations. If you have ever felt nervous about how to talk about this knowledge confidently with someone who has been unnerved by it in your local church, this book is for you. You will see that there is nothing to fear and that addressing these issues reinforces rather than unravels the faith of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

[Steve Irby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished "New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide," by David Alan Black.


Not much to say here. Coming in at less than 70 pp this slim guide is lower Criticism close to the pew. I was hoping for the same thing but of higher criticism. And, as odd as this sounds, I think I read this when it was first released circa '94. If this form of book interests you and you are looking for a book very near the pew then hit up J.B Lightfoot or F.F. Bruce for their simplified counterparts to this work. If you know of a higher criticism book in simplistic form for me to begin with then write it below.

[Drake Hyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by this short introduction to Greek Textual Criticism. I appreciate how Dr. Black concisely lays out the trajectory of our English translations over history, and his explanation of the Byzantine vs Alexandrian manuscript families and their respective traditions (Textus Receptus [Erasmus, Tyndale, KJV] vs. "Neutral" text [Westcott & Hort, most modern English translations). His presentation of the varying methodologies, ranging from Radical/Reasoned Eclecticism to Radical/Reasoned Conservatism, is objective enough that his own position (though I am fairly confident which it is) remains indeterminate.

[J B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise (easy 2-hour read); introductory level and would be accessible by most lay-people; leans more heavily on text-types (mid-90s publication) than is current but that is not a major issue; very well-written without too much jargon but has a good bibliography and scripture index to get the language of the field accessible and applicable; I recommend it to most anyone other than a grad-level student or professional TV scholar.

[David C Trotz Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Introduction to the subject

This concise guide to Textual Criticism is an excellent introduction to the topic. The writer gives just enough information to provide the reader a sense of what Textual Criticism is, as well as providing the reader with the basic tools necessary to perform their own analysis of the textual evidence.

[Brice Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid intro to the topic of textual criticism and showing some examples of how it works. As I’m starting to help with a project that uses scientific TC (check out greekcntr.org) it’s nice to learn from those with the more traditional perspective on the subject and learn from them and see where we disagree.

[Lucas Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic primer on the study of NT textual criticism. It is a highly important, albeit boring facet to biblical theology and Dr. Black does a great job at explaining and introducing the topic. Highly recommended to anyone looking to get their feet wet in this area and definitely needed for pastors and seminarians (I’m the latter)

[Aaron Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

An extremely boring book, but helpful to know what's communicated about processes and philosophies that go into manuscript choices regarding translation of Scripture. The most interesting, engaging, and accessible part of the book was Silva's response to the varying views presented - otherwise, a somewhat inaccessible read for anyone who can relate to my own intellectual incapacity.

[Joshua Vallejos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to New Testament textual criticism. Concise and brief; includes a limited bibliography; helpful appendix allows one to practice discerning which manuscript is best; an okay reference for those experienced in this field.

[Christopher David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introduction to textual criticism of NT, that not only lays the foundational understanding but also gives the practical guide to use the textual apparatus for UBS. Dr. Black has this amazing ability to make the complex very simple and teachable and this book is an example of that.

[Matt Quintana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful and extremely concise introduction to the topic of NT textual criticism. While its brevity is intended and is indeed a strength, it does result in a lack of nuance in some places. The danger with this topic in particular is that many who read such an introduction walk away thinking that they are now ready to be text critics, when in fact they are no where near prepared for such a task. If used correctly, this work offers a helpful entry point into the field, though it should by no means take the place of the more standard and comprehensive guides to the subject available. At more than 25 years old, this work is also somewhat dated now, and more up-to-date introductions exist that are just as accessible.

[Alfie Mosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent primer for pastors or anyone interested in an introduction and/or a basic understanding of New Testament Textual Criticism - a complex and difficult discipline.

[Eduardo Fergusson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introduction to the subject!

[Tyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, concise, easily digestible introduction to textual criticism!

[William Dicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and to the point

I think Black did an excellent job introducing the reader to textual criticism. If you have no idea concerning the subject, this is the place start!

[Wesley Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful introduction.
Not too deep but not too shallow.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terse and well-written introduction to the science & art of textual criticism.

[Finn Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, clear, and very helpful. After reading this, I have a much better grasp of textual criticism of the Gk NT and am far less intimidated by it.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible help, this book ought to be read by all. I sat down and finished it in two hours. I couldn't put it down.

It's title is precise, it is a wonderfully concise introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism. It contains all of the necessary information and communicates in an eminently clear fashion, all the while avoiding reductionistic summaries that do more to obscure than elucidate. Black writes that his book is "dedicated to the principle that an understanding of [textual criticism] is possible for all students of the Bible" (11), and this is everywhere evident.

Complete with discussion questions, reference tables, and practice texts (!), I know of no Christian who could not benefit from reading this book at some point in their lives. At the very least it will aid them in seeing the text afresh and paying close mind to their translation.

Highly recommended!

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book born out of my prior (and still presnt) desire to understand the process of going from 5,500 Greek MSS alone to English Bibles that we read. Textual criticism, although despised by some, is a great and necessary "science" and this book does a great job introducing the laity to it. Particularly helpful are the practical exercises included, which allows the reader to practice this discipline, with the guidelines that translators work with (e.g. prefer shorter reading). Great resource!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, concise introduction with useful appendices and exercises. This should be read in conjunction with the introduction to NA27 or NA28. Black is generally irenic in his discussion (though note his choice of "reasoned" vs. "radical" for labeling various approaches to the task of NT textual criticism).

This is a helpful introduction for students new to the topic, useful for both a classroom setting or for independent study. It is also a good, quick review. If you want in-depth discussion, go to Meztger (and Eherman), The Text of the New Testament.

[Bob O'Bannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short introduction to a very large topic, this book serves as an entry point to the question of how scholars decide which copies of the New Testament letters are most faithful to the original manuscripts. People who are concerned that the Bible might be unreliable because "there are so many translations" should read this book.