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The Quest for the Original Text of the New Testament
An examination of the accuracy of New Testament manuscripts that challenges the modern view that early copyists were careless and took editorial liberties. Comfort assures Christians that finding the very manuscripts signed by Paul's hand would not change modern understandings of what he said.
- GenresBiblical Studies
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
10 people want to read
About the author
Philip W. Comfort
105 books10 followersPhilip W. Comfort, Ph.D., has studied English literature, Greek, and New Testament at the Ohio State University and the University of South Africa. He has taught these classes at a number of colleges, including Wheaton College, Trinity Episcopal Seminary, Columbia International University, and Coastal Carolina University. He is currently senior editor of Bible reference at Tyndale and served as New Testament editor for the New Living Translation. He has contributed a number of books to the Tyndale collection, both as author and editor. Among these are The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, The Origin of the Bible, The Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Essential Guide to Bible Versions, The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts (with D. Barrett), and Who's Who in Christian History�all of which are currently available at Tyndale.
Philip lives in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, with his wife, Georgia. His three children (Jeremy, John, and Peter) live nearby, as do his grandchildren. He enjoys the ocean, soccer, and writing poetry.
Philip lives in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, with his wife, Georgia. His three children (Jeremy, John, and Peter) live nearby, as do his grandchildren. He enjoys the ocean, soccer, and writing poetry.
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December 4, 2020
The Quest For The Original Text Of The New Testament
Philip Comfort explains the current thoughts between Biblical scholars and textual critics – why some are optimistic in recovering the original text of the New Testament, and why some are pessimistic. Comfort considers himself optimistic and explains why that is, with reference to Westcott and Hort’s efforts that may very well be the best example of the original Greek text that is reflected in some ways in our modern critical editions of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. He goes on to describe the effectiveness and reliability of the Alexandrian scriptoral practices and the scriptoria from the 2nd Century onwards that allow for textual criticism of these manuscripts to identify that particular linked-strain of text back to its source, otherwise known as the Alexandrian text-type. Another noteworthy comment Comfort makes is that the leaders of the newly-formed Alexandrian catechetical school were notable Christians, of which Clement of Alexandria and Origen participated in, but of particular interest is that by the end of the 2nd Century Clement of Alexandria had made comments on almost every book of the New Testament – showing the importance of the patristic commentaries that preserve some of the earliest verses, also.
“The early New Testament papyri contribute virtually no new substantial variants, suggesting that all of the New Testament variants are preserved somewhere in the extant manuscript tradition. Kenyon... says: “The number of manuscripts of the New Testament, of early translations from it, and of quotations from it in the oldest writers of the church, is so large that it is practically certain that the true reading of every doubtful passage is preserved in some one or other of these ancient authorities. This can be said of no other ancient book.” p.56
Philip Comfort explains the current thoughts between Biblical scholars and textual critics – why some are optimistic in recovering the original text of the New Testament, and why some are pessimistic. Comfort considers himself optimistic and explains why that is, with reference to Westcott and Hort’s efforts that may very well be the best example of the original Greek text that is reflected in some ways in our modern critical editions of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. He goes on to describe the effectiveness and reliability of the Alexandrian scriptoral practices and the scriptoria from the 2nd Century onwards that allow for textual criticism of these manuscripts to identify that particular linked-strain of text back to its source, otherwise known as the Alexandrian text-type. Another noteworthy comment Comfort makes is that the leaders of the newly-formed Alexandrian catechetical school were notable Christians, of which Clement of Alexandria and Origen participated in, but of particular interest is that by the end of the 2nd Century Clement of Alexandria had made comments on almost every book of the New Testament – showing the importance of the patristic commentaries that preserve some of the earliest verses, also.
“The early New Testament papyri contribute virtually no new substantial variants, suggesting that all of the New Testament variants are preserved somewhere in the extant manuscript tradition. Kenyon... says: “The number of manuscripts of the New Testament, of early translations from it, and of quotations from it in the oldest writers of the church, is so large that it is practically certain that the true reading of every doubtful passage is preserved in some one or other of these ancient authorities. This can be said of no other ancient book.” p.56
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