How Many Greek NT Manuscripts? 5808 or 5657?

Kiyah

How many Greek NT Manuscripts are there? Logos is giving me different numbers.

from Exploring Biblical Manuscripts:

from NT Manuscript Explorer:

Ted Weis

Here's yet another numerical total you should consider...

In the chapter, "Math Myths: How Many Manuscripts We Have and Why More Isn't Always Better," contained in the book, Myths and Mistakes of New Testament Textual Criticism, Jacob W. Peterson argues that determining the exact number of existing manuscripts is more difficult than it appears. He argues that some manuscripts have been double counted, some have been lost, some were incorrectly added (they weren't texts, but writing from an amulet), or material bias (for example, P99 appears to be a school exercise with Greek phrases from Paul's epistles, not an actual copy of a text).

In conclusion, Peterson says, "It is best to say that there are about fifty-three hundred Greek New Testament manuscripts in existence, although fifty-one hundred might be the safer estimate." p. 69.

Milkman

Here are three very good helps regarding your question: Two vids and a Logos resource.

1. Dr. Gurry discusses the methodology of counting textual variances and how believers should view textual variances within the manuscript tradition.

2. Well-meaning apologist have made some big mistakes when defending the reliability of the New Testament. I interview Dr. Peter Gurry, author of Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism, to help correct these mistakes. Join us and ask your toughest questions about the reliability of the New Testament.

3. A New Approach to Textual Criticism: An Introduction to the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method

mm. 

Justin Gatlin

The simplest theory is that the Institute for New Testament Textual Research has 5808 and that Logos has only(!) logged 5657 of those into the New Testament Manuscript Explorer system.