Encountering New Testament Manuscripts: A Working Introduction to Textual Criticism [Paperback]

Mr. Jack Finegan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 1974

The field of textual criticism remains an exciting one. Thousands of manuscripts have been recovered in recent years. Using the methods of textual criticism, translators have been able to discern from these manuscripts a probable reading of the original New Testament text, a difficult but important task. / Several scholarly books describing the process of textual criticism have already been written, but Encountering New Testament Manuscripts is uniquely different in its approach. Here students have an opportunity to see and read portions of the chief manuscripts for themselves and to learn firsthand the principles of textual criticism. / Included are 24 photographs of some of the oldest and most important manuscripts, including papyri, parchment, and paper texts with both uncial and miniscule script. Through the steps of transcribing the original manuscripts and organizing the various evidences presented, the student learns to develop conclusions about the reading of the original text. / A comprehensive introductory chapter surveying the nature and history of textual criticism and a concluding chapter on the question of methodology make this book a complete course on the subject. Helpful indices and lists of important New Testament manuscripts make it an excellent resource volume as well.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Finegan is Professor Emeritus of New Testament History and Archaeology at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 19, 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802818366
• ISBN-13: 978-0802818362
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,108,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy Metzger and Aland before this one!!!, February 24, 2002

By 

Eric Campell (Rapid City, SD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encountering New Testament Manuscripts: A Working Introduction to Textual Criticism (Paperback)

If your into textual criticism, definitly get Metzger and Aland's books (both named TEXT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT) before this one.

Kind of a strange book, on one hand it give you very basic introductry info on textual criticism, then it dives into some very complex comparison/contrast of greek wording in variant readings of some of the more important witnesses (i.e. p66, p75, Aleph, B, etc.) -- You'll have to be pretty sharp in greek to make any sense of these....

For your money, you're much much better off getting Metzger's and Aland's books. You will learn WAY MORE!!!

I would only recommend this book to someone who has first read and enjoyed the books mentioned above. -- but even then, the buyer will be disappointed in the amount and depth of info when compared to Metzger/Aland.

Recomendation: Save your money, there are so many other great books to buy ahead of this one.

Eric