1. NEW TESTAMENT
TEXTUAL CRITICISM
TODAY
Graduate Research Lectures
Heritage Christian University
Doug Burleson

2. THE METHOD TODAY
• Reasoned Eclecticism
–Uses both external (MS readings) and
internal (author/scribe tendencies)
evidences; text-types developed
• Radical/Thorough-Going Eclecticism
– Only internal; avoids “cult of the best MSS”
• Priority Groups (Byzantine, etc.)
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

3. INTERNAL METHOD
TODAY
• Transcriptional evidence – tendency of the
scribe; what gives an explanation for the
readings?
– Shortest readings
– Hardest readings
– Reading different from the parallels
– Reading that best explains the origin of the others.
• Intrinsic evidence – tendencies of writings of
that writer and literary considerations.
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

4. WHAT’S HAPPENING
NOW?
• International Greek New Testament
Project.
• Developments in publishing areasince
UBS 3rd (1975) and N-A 26th (1979)
changed things.
• Electronic Resources. Digital and print
(Sinaiticus in high res)
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

5. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

6. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

7. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

8. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

9. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

10. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

11. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

12. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

13. CENTERS OF STUDY:
MUENSTER
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

14. CENTERS OF STUDY:
ABMC
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

15. CENTERS OF STUDY:
ABMC
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

16. CENTERS OF STUDY:
IGNTP
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

17. CENTERS OF STUDY:
HCNTTS
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

18. CENTERS OF STUDY:
CSNTM
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

19. CENTERS OF STUDY:
CSNTM
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

20. CENTERS OF STUDY:
CSNTM
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

21. BRITISH LIBRARY
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

22. RESOURCES: ETC
BLOG
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

23. VANITY!!!
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

24. SAMPLE OF METHOD
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University

25. JOYS OF THE FIELD
• We get to ask and strive to answer “What is the
text?”
• We get to fight on the front lines in regard to the
nature and authority of Scripture.
• We get to read the earliest commentary on the
text.
• We get to see that sometimes there are multiple
understandings that are mutually legitimate.
• We are blessed to gain a better understanding of
the history of the Bible.
Graduate Research Lectures 2011, Heritage Christian University