A FRESH ANALYSIS OF JOHN 7:53-8:11 WITH A TOUR OF THE EXTERNAL EVIDENCE James Snapp, Jr.

Many writers on the pericope adulterae claim that that section of the book of John should not be considered as part of scripture as there are notes in the margins telling the copyist to skip this section. This book explains that those marks are misinterpreted. That they are not notes to the copyist but notes to the reader of the lectionary reading for Pentecost.

"“in the ordinary Byzantine lectionary – attested in hundreds of Greek copies – the reading assigned to Pentecost consisted of John 7:37-52 plus John 8:12 (this final verse being included in order to end the lection on a positive note).”"

That is the reader of the lectionary for Pentecost reads John 7:37-52 and then to complete the reading skips to John 8:12.

Not that the copyist is to skip the pericope adulterae but only the reader of the lectionary!

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Comments

DMB

So, did the 'don't read this' skip around the mss's along with the moving adulterous woman passage? I haven't read the book.

David Ames

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1198225#Comment_1198225

I haven't read the book.

I have read the book. Rather then have separate books, Bible and a Lectionary, according to the author they marked up the Bible to where the Lectionary readings were. For Pentecost the reading was John 7:37-52 followed by John 8:12. So, according to the author, they put marks on John 7:37-52 that that was the reading for the day. And when one got to John 7:52 there was a mark that said skip ahead. At John 8:12 there would be a mark the said continue here.

That is the reader of the lectionary for Pentecost reads John 7:37-52 and then to complete the reading jumps to John 8:12.

Then a copyist, in Egypt, that was not trained in reading Lectionaries, saw the 'skip ahead' mark then did not copy anything between John 7:52 and John 8:12.

The marks were to lead the reader of the Lectionary readings not to lead the copyist in skipping text. [According to the author other authors are also not trained in Lectionary reading marks in Bibles - that is the Lectionary skips are seen as the next text is questionable rather then seen a guides to the lectionary readings]

And then the author states that this happened mostly in Egypt. Suggestion: read the book! The adulterous woman passage seems to be a valid part of scripture when the skips are view as keys to lectionary readings. [The author also addresses items about word choice and other criticisms of the text] [The author also criticizes other authors for just repeating what others say rather then doing their own research on items found after the accepted expert on the subject wrote.]

Is the author right or wrong? Read the book in Logos! [When it gets here] [[Just reporting what the book says.]]

Debate on that passage belongs elsewhere but we need to examine this author's study before having that debate elsewhere.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1198646#Comment_1198646

I've nothing against the book ... probably a good choice for Logos. The issue I mentioned, was that the section is in different places, in different mss's ... suggesting an added account (or returned account). I've never gotten too worried:

- Running it thru my neurals, the style pattern matches John (arguments about specific vocabulary are always iffy)

- The selected sin is the absolute worst for religious guys. They always go for s-x related, even the later church (hot sins).

- The account refuses to resolve the issue (Torah literalness). Jesus dodges, which would match John.

David Ames

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1198652#Comment_1198652

The issue I mentioned, was that the section is in different places, in different mss's ... suggesting an added account (or returned account). I've never gotten too worried:

That is the reader of the lectionary for Pentecost reads John 7:37-52 and then to complete the reading jumps to John 8:12.

Then a copyist, in Egypt, that was not trained in reading Lectionaries, saw the 'skip ahead' mark then did not copy anything between John 7:52 and John 8:12.

Continuing in the book: then the copyist saw that the text was in other copies and added it back in [somewhere]

Also from the book: it is found in other places but only in a small number of MSS. [The book has 14 pages covering this subject]

The key to the book is that it was removed because Lectionary instructions were interpreted as Copy instructions.

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