The Twentieth Century Interlude in New Testament Textual Criticism

Abstract

This chapter discusses the twentieth century interlude in New Testament (NT) textual criticism. The first and clearest indication that one has passed through and still finds oneself in an interlude is found in the critical hand-editions of the NT produced since Westcott-Hort. The more cautious and methodical approach of the International Greek New Testament Project (IGNTP) may be taken as justifiable and, indeed, as mandatory in the present circumstances. Project's apparatus criticus would contain a selection of truly representative minuscule manuscripts, representative, that is, of all the identifiable groups in terms of textual character. The realistic assessment of the computer in NT textual criticism is a hopeful sign, but it hardly has been touched by North American scholars. NT textual criticism is an area seriously affected by decreasing attention, diminishing graduate opportunities, and dwindling personnel.Keywords: apparatus criticus; computer applications; International Greek New Testament Project; New Testament textual criticism; twentieth century interlude; Westcott-Hort