L427 Biblical Textual Criticism: The New Testament

Purpose: To introduce the student to the theory and practice of the textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual criticism is the science which seeks to establish the text which most closely resembles the original text of a document. In particular, New Testament text criticism attempts to assemble and evaluate the various readings of the Greek text in order to come as close as possible to what was originally written.

In addition, text criticism also seeks to understand the history and transmission of the text.

Course Requirements: To accomplish the above mentioned goal the student will be required to read sections of the textbooks listed below and various portions of the New Testament as well as the lectures attached to this syllabus. Then the student will be required to answer, in essay form, the questions found at the end of the lectures.

Time Requirements: L427 Biblical Textual Criticism: The New Testament is designed to be completed in one academic quarter (10 weeks).

Textbook:

Aland, Kurt and Barbara Text of the New Testament Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989

As well as this, the student must have a Bible (preferably in a modern translation). A Greek New Testament is also essential to the course and will be the primary text.

Books may be purchased through The Campus Bookstore.