Info on updated edition of "Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts"

Lew Worthington

I just received an email about these volumes:

https://www.logos.com/product/370775/the-text-of-the-earliest-new-testament-greek-manuscripts-volume-1-papyri-1-72?utm_campaign=automation-newpreorders&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=01012024_Logos_REV_EN_PRE_now-available-to-preorder-auto&utm_id=255854&sfmc_id=37938490 

and

https://www.logos.com/product/370774/the-text-of-the-earliest-new-testament-greek-manuscripts-volume-2-papyri-75-139-and-uncials?utm_campaign=automation-newpreorders&utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_content=01012024_Logos_REV_EN_PRE_now-available-to-preorder-auto&utm_id=255854&sfmc_id=37938490 

The description ends by stating it, "contains many new manuscripts, updated research, and higher quality images of all manuscripts previously covered." (My emphasis.)

My questions:

First, I didn't know the original edition HAD images. I can't see them. What am I missing?

Second, if there are better images in the newer edition, are these going to be something we can see?

I suppose nobody else has seen them, either, so question 2 might be impossible to answer for now. But does anyone have insight into question 1?

Doc B

I have a guess about this, but it's just a guess so I'll follow and see what some of the MVPs say.

Rob

I have the newer edition of Comfort's "Earliest NT Greek Manuscripts" in print.

The older edition only included papyrii up to P116 ("to the beginning of the fourth century"). The newer volumes include transcriptions up to P139 and P. Oxyrhynchus 405, 406, 1077, 4010, 5073, plus many early Unicals. 

I haven't done a complete inventory but initially found that the text of the first volume of the second edition is very similar to that of the older (Logos) edition with some additional comments woven into the same text. There are some formatting changes (paragraphs were rearranged) and I noted some minor textual changes.

Regarding the photographs the text reads, "We have included several photographs in this volume so that the reader can get a good sampling of these ancient manuscripts." They are often dark and grainy, unsuitable for research. [IMHO, We didn't miss anything by not having them in Logos!]

Besides the additional manuscripts, the second volume of the new edition includes a short introduction to dating NT manuscripts, a note on handwriting styles and contains the bulk of the additional information and re-evaluations, including rebuttals of earlier ideas presented in the previous volume.

Additional note for the Logos web page: Philip Comfort passed on in 2022

Rob

Kristin

I am sorry if this is an ignorant comment, but I am not sure how this works at Logos yet. When I go to the page my only options are to pre-order or quick buy. "Pre-order" sounds like it is not out yet, while "quick buy" sounds like it is already out. I think I have three questions:

1) Assuming it is not out yet, do we have a perspective of when it will be out?

2) What is the difference between pre-order and quick buy in this situation?

3) Is there a reason I can't add it to my wish list?

Thanks,

Kristin

https://www.logos.com/product/370912/the-text-of-the-earliest-new-testament-greek-manuscripts

MJ. Smith

From the product page of the updated product which is on prepub - quick buy is simply an alternative way to pre-order for those who are certain they want it and want to skip some intermediate steps.

difference from current version:

Volume 1 includes manuscripts from Papyrus 1-72. Volume 2 includes manuscripts from Papyrus 75-139 as well as from the uncials. In addition, it features a special section on determining the date of a manuscript. This two-volume set replaces the previously published single volume Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts, as it contains many new manuscripts, updated research, and higher quality images of all manuscripts previously covered.

Kristin

Hi @MJ. Smith ,

Thanks for clarifying the pre-order vs quick buy, that makes sense. Regarding that quote you pasted, I had seen that too which is why it for sure seemed worth getting.

Do we have a perspective of when it will be out? It seemed unusual that there was no date given of when I could expect it if I pre-order it.

Is there a reason I can't add it to my wish list?

Thanks,

Kristin

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1353685#Comment_1353685

On pre-pubs, they usually don't move into production before there are enough presales to meet production costs … or something like that. We are not given expected release dates until a month or so before release - too many took it as a promise rather than a goal.

I don't know about the wishlist - I've never tried to wish list something not currently available.

Kristin

Hi @MJ. Smith ,

Ok, thanks for clarifying.

Steven MacDonald

So hopefully enough us us will prorder or quick buy so can get them faster. Just a plug as they are already on my waiting list :-)

Doc B

When it says, "

This two-volume set replaces the previously published single volume Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts"

does 'replace' mean the old items will be removed and replaced by the new set or does it mean 'will take precedence over by including all the old material with the new'?

Kristin

Hi @Doc B ,

Obviously this is just a guess, but I would assume that it means that while the old version won't be sold anymore, people who already bought the older one will retain the old version and now have two copies. I would assume this since the old version is a different product with a different publication date, and it is product you bought and therefore own.