Commentaries strong in Textual Criticism

Hello everyone,

I have become re-acquainted with Metzger's Commentary on the GNT, having lost track of it in my library. There are times I really like to read some more in-depth discussion of textual issues, as I saw this book posted on the thread about textual issues with Mark 1.41.

So my question for you is, which are your favorite resources that focus on Textual criticism for the OT and NT? When you really want to get some discussion of variations of manuscript, where do you go for each?

I want to build up a Favorites list to not forget about any of them in the future. Thanks!

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Jerry M

Hi Dominick, The New International Greek Testament Commentary and the UBS Handbook Series both have articles on this verse and are included in Gold and up packages. If you have the Net Bible First Edition Notes it also offers a brief note on this verse. Greek apparatus tend to require some time to understand and so I can't comment on the better ones.

Milford Charles Murray

Peace! And Joy in the Lord, Good Brothers!

*smile*

Thank you for the stimulus to study the passage this morning. Was very pleasant!

The kind of posts that I like!

Allen Browne

Do you have adequate apparatus for making these decisions yourself, Dominick?

What I did was to purchase the Stuttgart Electronic Study Bible (SESB), Version 3.0 for Logos Users (18 vols.)

Anthony H

Hello Dominick,

I would agree with Jerry. The NIGTC is great though a couple of books are left out. UBS handbook series is also top on my list. I like the NET notes but have had some issues with the English translation they present at times. (I use Metzger's Commentary or other apparatus as much or more than NET's notes unless I'm using print books and don't have access to my digital lib.) If you don't have a problem with Tischendorf's eighth edition NT there is an apparatus included in this set.

http://www.logos.com/product/2211/novum-testamentum-graece-apparatum-criticum

Dominick is correct in that apparatus' tend to take time to cypher through, but are worth the effort. [:D]

Here is my suggestion from personal experience.

There is one set that I have often found to be valuable, mostly because my Greek is still a little "weak". The problem is that the set is divided up between two different product sets.

The first part is Zerwick's, "A Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament" which is sold below.

http://www.logos.com/product/4229/a-grammatical-analysis-of-the-greek-new-testament

The second part of Zerwick's Grammatical Analysis is, "Biblical Greek: Illustrated by Examples" is in another package,

http://www.logos.com/product/3871/introduction-to-biblical-greek-collection

The second Zerwick covers the note references of the first book and dives into the why's of His first book through example... it's a bit of applied grammar. Dry at times but if you like dry, it will be your piece of toast. (LOL). I like toast. [;)]

In any event, I find that the overlap fills out some of the question that come to my mind once I understand the support for "this" or "that" reading in the critical question solved out through "Metzger's Commentary" or another source. Does that make sense? If your Greek is stronger than mine you may find it redundant.

I believe you will find both seed and bread in your study.

In Christ.

Anthony

Rick Brannan (Logos)

Hi Dominick

So my question for you is, which are your favorite resources that focus on Textual criticism for the OT and NT? When you really want to get some discussion of variations of manuscript, where do you go for each?

Each pericope discussed in the Word Biblical Commentary has a "Notes" section that reviews and discusses textual problems. It's usually pretty good.

The ICC commentaries (I'm only familiar with the NT volumes) typically discuss textual problems as well.

In my experience, NIGTC is more about issues of grammar and syntax, and less about text-critical issues, but there are probably some vols that discuss text-critical stuff a bit more.

Other commentaries (e.g. NICNT, Hermeniea) are hit-and-miss. I'm sure some vols are great but others aren't.

At least, that's my experience.

Hope it helps.

Damian McGrath

To add to Rick's excellent summary (esp. wrt Word and ICC), the Anchor Bible Commentaries also offer notes on textual issues, again depending upon the author/volume.

Jonathan Burke

* NIGTC

* WBC

* UBS Handbooks

* Hermeneia

* NICNT

* Continental Commentary Series

spitzerpl

I want to build up a Favorites list to not forget about any of them in the future. Thanks!

I would also recommend tagging them as Textual Commentaries and then building a collection of your textual commentaries. That way you can make a Passage guide like the one the left below. Since I'm loving my bestcommentaries.com tags I've included what that can do on the right. the top section of the PG on the left also comes from those tags. basically it tells you the best commentary based upon what others think of that specific volume compared to other resources out there rather then of the whole series.

NetworkGeek

Wow, great recommendations, thanks everyone! I have already built a Collection of Commentaries for textual criticism from this! Philip I really like the collections you have for passage analysis, I will be copying that idea! Yes I have SESB, it's in there (I am looking forward to being able to do syntax search with it one day when 4.0 comes out!) Thanks Rick for your perspective on this too!

Thanks again everyone, for the thoughtful responses!

Bohuslav Wojnar

Each pericope discussed in the Word Biblical Commentary has a "Notes" section that reviews and discusses textual problems. It's usually pretty good.

Yes, I agree. I find WBC textual notes section very helpful.

George Somsel

So my question for you is, which are your favorite resources that focus on Textual criticism for the OT and NT? When you really want to get some discussion of variations of manuscript, where do you go for each?

I see that several items have already been mentioned so I won't give a complete list but will simply add two items: Edited by Tischendorf, Constantin von, Caspar René Gregory and Ezra Abbot. Lipsiae: Giesecke & Devrient, 1869-94. In addition I would recommend

Novum Testamentum Graece.

Comfort, Philip Wesley and David P. Barrett. The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts. A corrected, enlarged ed. of The complete text of the earliest New Testament manuscripts. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 2001.

Jeremy

Don't forget the NET Bible. It has some fantastic notes on the highly disputed text critical passages.

jamie kelley

i have several 1oo year old handwritten in German, books i found in the attic of an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. On the spine of the books says EXEGESE N.T. which i believe from my research they are textual criticisms of the new testament. I have i think 8 books and they are all over 100 years old and I am sure that they have been sitting in this home since they were written in the early 1900's The outside of the books are pretty rough, but all the pages inside are in perfect condition and completely 100% legible. I want to sell them. Is anyone interested, or can someone point me in the right direction?

Dave Hooton

I want to sell them

This is not the place to advertise or sell any product. Facebook or EBay would be more suitable.