NEW TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course: NTG 525: New Testament Textual Criticism (3)

Course Description:
An applied study of the history, canons and goals of the text-critical method as
used in New Testament research. Call #4212.

Session:

Fall semester, 2008.

Time:

Thursdays, 6:30-9:30.

Place:

NPM 102.

Final Exam:

Thursday, December 11, 6:00-8:00.

Instructor:

David G. Clark

Vanguard University
55 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa CA 92

NTG 525: New Testament Textual Criticism

I.

INTRODUCTION.

A.

Overview. NTG 525 is designed to acquaint the student with the science/art of the study
of the written sources of the text of the New Testament. This study will include the
sources of the text, its transmission, and the principles for evaluating internal and
external evidence.

B.

Course Objectives. After completing this course you should be able to:

C.

1.

Demonstrate a basic familiarity with ancient writing styles and materials, with
the development of the principles and methods of Textual Criticism, and with the
history of the development and recovery of the Greek text.

2.

Explain and apply the canons used to evaluate NT manuscripts in terms of

external and internal evidence.

3.

Understand and use the critical apparatus of the Nestle and the United Bible
Societies Greek New Testament texts.

Required Texts.
Aland, etc. The Greek New Testament. United Bible Societies, 3rd. or 4th. edition.
Aland & Aland, The Text of the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1987. 0-8028-3620-8
Metzger, Bruce M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. United Bible
Societies, rev. ed, 1993.
Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece. Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 27th. ed., 1993.
#105388.
Collateral Reading Packet.

D.

Recommended Texts:
Metzger, Bruce M. The Text of the New Testament. Third edition, Oxford, 1992. 0-19507297-9.
Rogerson, John. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Bible. Oxford, 2001. 0-19860118-2.
Textual Criticism

II.

COURSE LECTURE/DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

A.

Introduction to Textual Criticism: Definition, need for, goals, etc.

B.

Witnesses to the NT Text

C.

D.

Greek MSS

72-180

2.

Versions and Church Fathers

181-217

History of the Text

1.

Early Text Types

48-71

2.

Printed Editions

3-47

Textual Criticism Applied

Using the Critical Apparatus
a.

UBS GNT

218-227

b.

Nestle-Aland

228-256

2.

Internal evidence, causes of error, examples.

3.

External evidence

275-311

Textual Criticism Today.

1.

III.

4-35, 260-1

1.

1.

E.

Aland & Aland

Majority Text School.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A.

Assignments:
1.

Class Attendance and Participation. This is a must, since so much detail will be
presented in class. You may wish to tape the lectures as well. Lectures will include demonstrations, a variety of handouts and numerous examples from the
NT.

2.

Textbook Reading. Please read the pages in Aland & Aland as scheduled above
before they are covered in class.

3.

Collateral Reading. Twelve journal articles have been selected to broaden your
knowledge of textual criticism; especially the controversy surrounding the
majority text approach. A handout is also attached for you to record your brief
reactions to the articles.
Textual Criticism

Due Date: ________________________

4.

Apparatus Analyses. These will be brief descriptions (approx. five pages) of the
apparatus in the UBS GNT, and the apparatus of the Nestle/Aland text, as you
would describe them to a lay person. You should include such information as
what groups of sources are in the apparatus, their sequence of presentation,
approx. how many MSS are in each group, how each group is designated, the
more important abbreviations and the kind of textual variations they designate,
etc. In the case of the Nestle/Aland text, briefly mention the data in the margins
also.
Due Dates: UBS________________ ; N/A ____________________

5.

Text-critical Papers. To practice the principles of Textual Criticism, each

student will prepare three brief, typed papers analyzing selected textual situations. The purpose of each paper is to examine the internal and external
evidence and propose the original text on the basis of all evidence. Specific
examples and instructions will be given in class.
- Length should be approx. three pages, but each disputed reading is unique.
- Papers will be presented orally in class.
- You will distribute copies beforehand to the class.
- After presentation and discussion of your first paper, you will have the option
of revising it before submitting for a grade.
- Due dates will be announced in class.

C.

Evaluation.
The apparatus papers will constitute 20% of the course grade, the three papers 40%, the
collateral reading 20%, and the final exam 20%.

IV.

CONTACTING THE PROFESSOR.

My office is in Heath, room 227 (upstairs). Hours are posted; please feel welcome to drop by
from time to time. Chocolate is always available! My extension is 3227, and my email is
dclark@vanguard.edu. If the network is down, use my home email dgclark@roadrunner.com

Textual Criticism