LEXHAM METHODS SERIES

TEXTUAL CRITICISM OF THE BIBLE

REVISED EDITION

Amy Anderson and Wendy Widder

Edited by Douglas Mangum

Lexham Methods Series: Volume 1: Textual Criticism of the Bible, Revised Edition

Copyright 2018 Lexham Press

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All Scripture quotations are from the Lexham English Bible (leb) or are the authors’ own translation, unless otherwise indicated. Copyright 2013 Lexham Press.

Scripture quotations marked (esv) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (niv) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (nrsv) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Print ISBN 9781577996637

Digital ISBN 9781577997047

Lexham Editorial Team: Claire Brubaker, Erin Mangum

Design: Brittany Schrock

CONTENTS

Series Preface

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

1 | Introduction to Textual Criticism

2 | An Overview of Textual Criticism

3 | Introduction to Old Testament Textual Criticism

4 | Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism

5 | Textual Criticism and the Bible Today

Glossary

Bibliography

Subject Index

Scripture Index

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1: Translation Options for Isaiah 19:16

Table 1.2: Translation Options for 1 Timothy 3:6

Table 2.1: Important Hebrew Manuscripts

Table 3.1: Printed Editions of the Hebrew Bible

Table 3.2: Important Old Testament Witnesses

Table 3.3: The Hexapla

Table 3.4: Text Types in the Dead Sea Scrolls

Table 3.5: The Most Important Targums

Table 3.6: Six Principles for Evaluating Variants

Table 3.7: Aligning the Versions of Lamentations 3:22

Table 3.8: Variants of Isaiah 40:7–8

Table 3.9: Variants of Ruth 1:14

Table 3.10: Variants of Proverbs 14:32

Table 3.11: Variants of Psalm 145:13

Table 3.12: Variants of Deuteronomy 32:43

Table 4.2: Important New Testament Majuscules

Table 4.3: Important New Testament Minuscules

Table 4.6: Common Sigla and Abbreviations in the Critical Apparatus

Table 4.4: Guidelines for Evaluating Transcriptional Probability

Table 4.7: Variants of Mark 1:2

Table 4.8: Variants of 1 Thessalonians 2:7

Table 4.9: Variants of Luke 4:4

Table 4.10: Variants of Revelation 1:8

Table 4.11: Variants of Romans 5:2