NT308

The Reliability of New Testament Manuscripts

Craig A. Evans

Lexham Press, 2014

NT308 The Reliability of New Testament Manuscripts

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Logos Mobile Education

Screencasts: Daniel Threlfall and Todd Bishop

Educational Designer: Johnny Cisneros

Video Producer: Joshua Burdick

Managing Editor: Miles Custis

Academic Editor: Michael S. Heiser

Activities Resource: Jason Dickinson

Syllabus

Course Description

The Reliability of New Testament Manuscripts (NT308) answers a question commonly asked about the New Testament: Can we trust the manuscript record? This course clearly outlines the history of these important documents. It discusses the quality, quantity, and age of the manuscripts, and how these elements compare to nonbiblical ancient texts. The course describes the practices of ancient writers and scribes and provides numerous examples to show that the manuscripts of the New Testament are reliable.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Detail the number of pre-Gutenberg nt manuscripts we have and describe their quality

• Explain how the nt manuscript record compares to that of other ancient works

• Describe practices of ancient scribes and scholars that contributed to the longevity and quality of nt manuscripts

• Describe the preservation of the nt in ancient translations and commentaries

• Discuss how the various forms of historical attestation demonstrate the reliability of the nt text

Recommended Base Package

Logos Bible Software, Platinum Edition.

To download a Notes document that highlights the readings for this course, join the NT308 Faithlife group: https://faithlife.com/nt308.

Course Outline

Introduction

Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: Evidence for the Reliability of New Testament Manuscripts

1. The Basics of New Testament Manuscripts

2. Examples Demonstrating the Quality of New Testament Manuscripts

3. The Comparative Strength of the New Testament Manuscript Record

4. The Longevity of the Autographs

5. The Number of Autographs

6. The Preservation of the New Testament in Translations

Final Exam

Appendix: Screencasts

7. Finding Manuscripts in Logos

8. Adding Manuscript Images to Presentations or Documents

9. Exploring Ancient Manuscripts and Resources

10. Researching the Works of Tertullian

11. Accessing and Navigating the Textual Apparatus

Course Exams

The final exam will cover everything in the course. It will consist of multiple-choice and true or false questions. Use of a Bible or any other tool is not permitted.