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P141, P142 Bible Manuscripts and Translation Evaluation
An introduction to New Testament manuscripts, textual criticism, and English Bible
translations. The fact filled portion of the class devoted to manuscripts and textual criticism
acquaints the student with all of the major New Testament Greek manuscripts (their
discovery, date, content, relative reliability, etc.) and the basic principles by which the original
reading of the Greek text has been established. A brief survey of Greek texts from Erasmus
through the newest revision of the United Bible Societies text is included. The history of the
English Bible is presented with special attention to the King James Version and the English
translations which preceded it. The student learns what distinguishes committee translations
from individual ones, while looking at the pros and cons of literal, idiomatic, expanded,
limited vocabulary, and paraphrased Bibles. Under guidance of the instructor, students spend
class time evaluating a large number of individual New Testament verses in each of over fifty
translations, ranking each Bible according to its faithfulness and accuracy in rendering what
the Greek text actually says (only undisputed passages are selected for evaluation). Having
completed this course, the student feels confidently familiar with every English translation he
will ever encounter in his ministry, and is able to intelligently evaluate new translations
published in later years. 4 credits.
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