Friday, October 13, 2006

Scribal Habits and Theological Influences in the Apocalypse

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New Book:
Hernández Jr., Juan, Scribal Habits and Theological Influences in the Apocalypse
The Singular Readings of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and Ephraemi
(Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe; 2006).
ISBN 3-16-149112-2 ca. € 50.00

BLURB:
Modelled on the respective studies of Ernest C. Colwell and James R. Royse, Juan Hernández Jr. offers a fresh and comprehensive discussion of the Apocalypse's singular readings in Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and Ephraemi. Moreover, the singular readings of the Apocalypse are also assessed in light of the work's reception history in the early church. The author shows that the scribes of these three manuscripts omitted more often than they added to their texts, were prone to harmonizing, and, in the case of at least one scribe, made significant theological changes to the fourth century text of the Apocalypse. The author also attempts to integrate the findings of the most recent text-critical research of the Apocalypse with studies of its reception history in the early church. His book is the first systematic study of scribal habits on the Apocalypse that takes seriously the claim that some scribes were making changes to the text of the Apocalypse for theological reasons.

no more details yet at http://www.mohr.de/t/n4656_e.htm

5 comments

  1. Sounds to me like déjà vu all over again (cf. M. A. Robinson, “Scribal Habits among Manuscripts of the Apocalypse”, PhD diss., 1982). However, it’s always helpful to improve the wheel, even if in some ways reinventing it.

    There are differences, of course: my research dealt with the singular readings of all Apocalypse MSS collated by Hoskier, taken from ten scattered chapters throughout the book (to have considered all singular readings found in ca. 220 MSS necessarily would have exceeded dissertation limitations). My research thus led to conclusions drawn from a broad range of material as opposed to Hernandez’ more limited analysis of the three leading uncials (pity that he did not include the more extensive papyri — I deliberately chose to add P47 to my study because of its significance, and today would add P115 in particular).

    Equally, I certainly discuss the same MSS analyzed by Hernandez: A/02 (pp. 104-113), characterized as a “less careful editor”; C/04, “a careless scribe / careful editor” (pp. 113-118); and in extenso, Aleph/01 as “an editor to be reckoned with” (pp. 135-182). In general, my conclusions are the same as those of Hernandez: “the scribes of these three manuscripts omitted more often than they added to their texts, [and] were prone to harmonizing.”

    I would, however, question one portion of the publisher’s blurb statement:

    “His book is the first systematic study of scribal habits on the Apocalypse that takes seriously the claim that some scribes were making changes to the text of the Apocalypse for theological reasons.”

    My dissertation in fact did address general intentional theological variation (pp. 53-73).

    As for theologically-motivated alteration in regard to these three MSS, this was discussed as follows: A/02 (pp. 109-112); C/04 (p. 117), and Aleph/01 (pp. 169, 175).

    As an aside, within the discussion of general intentional theological variation, MS 1248 (Hosk. 250) provides an interesting case: in Re 12:10 the scribe has turned CRISTOU into ANTICRISTOU !

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  2. Dr. Robinson,
    Where can a copy of your dissertation be obtained?

    Thanks.

    C. Perkins

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  3. Either from University Microfilms or ILL from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX.

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  4. We had a preview of this research at the SBL in Philadelphia, 2005. Thanks for the notice of the book's publication.

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  5. Juan Hernandez has been a personal friend of mine for the last 16 years. His diligence in study and in life itself has been nothing short of exemplary and inspiring to me and to many others.

    Congratulations on completing this work and getting it published. There is no doubt in my mind that this is only the beginning. Hope to visit you soon.

    Earl Munyan

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