Christian is writing his dissertation in Cambridge under Peter Williams' supervision. He has just finished a review of Coptic biblical scholarship and is now writing another chapter on Graeco-Coptic language contact. He has also started a chapter on the Sahidic versions of John's gospel, which I assume is the nucleus of his study. There will apparently be three other chapters with various lists and summaries. I had quite a number of such lists in my own dissertation so I know what Christian is talking about. Christian hopes to have his work finished before June. We very much look forward to that!
If you have the chance to attend the SBL Annual Meeting in New Orleans, do take the opportunity to listen to Christian's paper on a Coptic MS of John believed to omit the final chapter. This paper is presented in the program unit Christianity in Egypt: Scripture, Tradition, and Reception, on 11/21/2009, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, Room: Esterwood - SH.
Abstract:
Was there a Coptic Translation of John’s Gospel Without Chapter 21?
The narrative discourse of John’s gospel has compelled many, if not most, modern Johannine scholars to assert that chapter 21 was a later addition. Until recently, there was no published evidence for a text of John’s gospel lacking this final chapter. At least two scholars have argued that a Sahidic manuscript in the holdings of the Bodleian library offers such evidence (Bodleian MS. Copt.e.150(P)). This paper will examine the testimony of this fragment, and will attempt to estimate its value in the discussion of the history of the biblical text. The presentation will also explore the paleographic and codicological aspects of the manuscript and its relevance to the study of the fourth gospel.
Current PhD students in New Testament in Cambrige are found here, where you will also find Peter William's second PhD student, Jim Leonard, our most recent ETC blogmember.
Thanks, Tommy!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
ReplyDeleteIf the reference is to Peter Williams of Tyndale House (and not someone with the last name "William") then the possessive of "Williams" is either:
ReplyDelete1. Williams'
or
2. Williams's
In English, you never put an apostrophe BEFORE a final "s" that is part of the name or word. (Jesus would be Jesus' or Jesus's disciples, but never "Jesu's disciples)
Tommy, this is not to find a fault in your wording (I saw the previous posts on the "PHs"), but to help you with "Williams" since I thought you might reference Peter in some of your academic works.
Mitch Larramore
Thanks Mitch. I am well aware of the rules, but some unconscious part of me is making trouble these days.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the department of NT studies at Aberdeen? It appears they've all relocated to Tyndale House.
ReplyDeleteEvery five years, the Research Assessment Exercise takes place. In the RAE year, teaching faculty at each institute submit a list of their top publications for review. Departmental funding is based on the results. Aberdeen was plundered back in 2006/2007 by Durham and Cambridge partly because people retired that year and partly (probably) in anticipation of the coming assessment. Francis Watson got a research post at Durham and Simon Gathercole took a teaching position in Cambridge. Peter Williams became Warden at Tyndale House. St. Andrew's also had a great deal of faculty shifting around at this time. Aberdeen hired three new teaching staff who are in the process of establishing what will hopefully be strong reputations. They are yet to replace Francis Watson with a senior scholar, and are taking their time in hopes of securing someone strong. I hear lots of conflicting stories about how close they are to replacing Watson. Aberdeen was and still is a great place to be a student. Teaching staff and PhD students interact more than at many other British institutions. PhD students are given computers and offices. Indeed, these issues are restricted to NT; OT and Systematics continue to thrive.
ReplyDelete