New Testament TC Papers at ETS

The Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society is coming up (13–15 November), and the schedule is online here. I did a search for the New Testament TC papers and tried to include them all with the date, time and room designation as of when I put the list together. I’m only listing the papers in each block that I think are relevant to NT TC, which is of course entirely subjective. Asterisks denote presenters who are not currently members of ETS, and I have simply copied them from the program.

Tuesday, 13 November

9:00 AM-12:10 PM Church History: Medieval Era; Tower Building‒Terrace Level Beverly
•9:50 AM–10:30 AM Esther G. Cen (McMaster Divinity College) Hearing the Medieval Byzantine Greek Lectionary MSS

2:00 PM-5:10 PM New Testament: Matthew; Tower Building‒Mezzanine Level Denver
•2:00 PM–2:40 PM B. Ward Powers (Retired) The Consequence of Monte Shanks Research about Papias - & the Evidence Paul Knew Matthew by AD50
•4:30 PM–5:10 PM Charles L. Quarles (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) Matthew 16:2b‒3: New Considerations for a Difficult Textual Question

2:00 PM-5:10 PM Patristic and Medieval History: Blessedness and Grace, Buildings and Manuscripts; Plaza Building—Concourse Level Plaza Court 6
•4:30 PM–5:10 PM William C. Watson (Colorado Christian University) Cumynge of Antecryst: An Early Fifteenth Century Middle-English Gothic Manuscript

2:00 PM-5:10 PM New Testament Greek Language and Exegesis: The Letter to the Romans: Exegesis and Implications; Tower Building‒Majestic Level Vail
•2:50 PM–3:30 PM Daniel B. Wallace (Dallas Theological Seminary) Romans 4:1: Syntax and the New Perspective
•3:40 PM–4:20 PM Stanley E. Porter (McMaster Divinity College) Romans 5:1: What a Difference an O Can Make

Wednesday, 14 November

8:30 AM-11:40 AM New Testament Greek Language and Exegesis; Plaza Building‒Concourse Level Governor’s Square 12
•9:20 AM–10:00 AM Chris S. Stevens (McMaster Divinity College) The Orthodox Corruption of Prepositions: Grammar, Theology, or Evangelical Ideology?

3:00 PM-6:10 PM New Testament Canon, Textual Criticism & Apocryphal Literature; Tower Building‒Mezzanine Level Silver
Moderator: Stanley E. Porter (McMaster Divinity College)
•3:00 PM–3:40 PM W. Brian Shelton (Toccoa Falls College) Apostle Stories after the New Testament: Discerning the Legitimacy of the Apocryphal Acts
•3:50 PM–4:30 PM Peter J. Gurry (Phoenix Seminary) A Book ʻWorth Publishingʼ: The Making of Westcott & Hortʼs Monumental Edition of the Greek NT
•4:40 PM–5:20 PM Elijah Hixson (Tyndale House, Cambridge) How the Bible Was Copied in the Sixth Century and Why Singular Readings Donʼt Tell Us That
•5:30 PM–6:10 PM Jonathan C. Borland (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) Inspired Editing or Scribal Corruption? Problems in Determining the Final Form of the NT Canon

Thursday, 15 November

1:00 PM-4:10 PM New Testament Canon, Textual Criticism & Apocryphal Literature: The Holy Spirit; Tower Building‒Majestic Level Vail
Moderator: Michael J. Kruger (Reformed Theological Seminary)
•1:00 PM–1:40 PM Carlton Wynne (Westminster Theological Seminary) Spirit and Word: A ‘Pentecostal’ Case for the Closed Canon of Scripture
•1:50 PM–2:30 PM Maurice Robinson* (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) Absent from the Handbooks? The Role of the Holy Spirit in New Testament Textual Criticism
•2:40 PM–3:20 PM Craig Blomberg (Denver Seminary) The Lack of Canon Consciousness and Spirit-Inspiration in the New Testament Apocrypha
•3:30 PM–4:10 PM John Christopher Thomas* (Pentecostal Theological Seminary/Bangor University) Diverse Voices in One Accord: Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Canon

1:00 PM-4:10 PM New Testament General Studies; Tower Building‒Terrace Level Columbine
•1:50 PM–2:30 PM J. D. Atkins (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) Fitting Gnosis into the Biblical Timeline of Acts: The Apocryphon of James
•3:30 PM–4:10 PM Philip Barton Payne (Linguist’s Software, Inc.) The Significance of the Seventeen Vaticanus Distigme-obelos symbols for NT Textual Criticism

Let me know if I missed any, and I’ll add them in.

Deux minuscules et cent lectionnaires du Nouveau Testament à ajouter à la Liste de Gregory-Aland

Jean-Louis Simonet has been busy finding over 100 minuscule manuscripts and lectionaries containing portions of the Greek NT (which are not found in the Liste). Here is his report.

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Deux minuscules et cent lectionnaires du Nouveau Testament à ajouter à la Liste de Gregory-Aland

Il y a quelques mois, nous considérions la Liste de Gregory-Aland à peu de chose près comme le Canon du Nouveau Testament : avec ses presque 5900 témoins du Nouveau Testament, elle nous semblait être une œuvre quasi achevée. On pouvait sans doute encore espérer la compléter par quelques découvertes nouvelles (des manuscrits pas encore enregistrés dans des catalogues de bibliothèques, ou des manuscrits dans d’autres manuscrits), mais nous pensions qu’il serait vain d’espérer l’enrichir considérablement. Pendant longtemps d’ailleurs, n’y avait-il pas eu en moyenne un seul manuscrit nouveau par année ? Seul le travail de recherche systématique de Dan Wallace et son équipe du CSNTM avait permis de hausser cette moyenne depuis quelques années. On savait certes aussi, grâce à des communications du CSPTM, que des monastères grecs peu connus contenaient au moins 42 manuscrits du Nouveau Testament (communiqué du 20-10-2012, qui ne figure plus sur le site actuel de cet organisme), et que les monastères de l’Athos ont aussi quelques manuscrits qui restent non enregistrés (communiqués du 24-12-2014, du 10-60 et du 20-11-2015), mais jusqu’à présent ces recherches restent sans écho visible au niveau de la Liste, et les images des manuscrits, s’ils ont été numérisés, sont encore inaccessibles au chercheur. De même un Praxapostolos de Kallimaki (Chypre) a été signalé par la revue Dodonè, sans autre suite.

J’avais déjà découvert, par hasard, les pages de garde en grec d’un manuscrit arménien de Bzommar, et un lectionnaire grec de Thessalonique. Puis, en constatant l’absence, sur le site du Vatican, du manuscrit Barberini grec 346 (qui est dans la liste), j’ai, par curiosité, jeté un coup d’œil à son potentiel voisin, le Barberini grec 345. Surprise : ce lectionnaire, inconnu de la liste, contenait des lectures du Nouveau Testament ! Mais alors, se pourrait-il qu’il y en ait d’autres dans son cas ? Ce soupçon m’a amené à vérifier systématiquement d’autres lectionnaires, d’abord dans le groupe des Barberini grecs, puis dans le reste de la Bibliothèque Vaticane, puis dans d’autres bibliothèques (généralement) accessibles sur Internet. Nous dressons ci-dessous une liste des résultats de cette recherche, qui ont bien sûr été dûment communiqués à l’Institut für neutestamentliche Forschung de Münster.

The Curious Case of P44

In my NA28, P44 is listed as a sixth/seventh-century manuscript containing Matt 17.1–3, 6–7; 18.15–17, 19; 25. 8–10 and Jn 9.3–4; 10.8–14; 12.16–18. It seems then to be a lectionary, which is how LDAB and the Met’s website list it. My co-blogger, Elijah Hixson, however, pointed out to me yesterday that P44 has been split in two since the printing of my NA28 so that it is now P44 and P128. The sections containing Jn 9.3–4; 12.16–18 are P128 and the other sections are now P44. That means that P44 still contains Matt and John materials and still seems to be a lectionary.

It’s the remaining bit of John in P44, however, that seems strange to me and I would like to hear from others about it. I pinged another one of my co-bloggers, Pete Malik, on this and all three of us get the impression that text of John that is still listed as part of P44 looks to be from a different hand. My library is limited at the moment and none of my own books gave me any help. So, I’m wondering if any of our readers know more about what’s going on here.

In this image, I’ve highlighted P44 in blue, P128 in orange, and the remaining John material of P44 in purple. It’s this last part I’m curious about.

P44 (in blue) and P128 (in orange). John 10.8–14 is in purple.

Update: Brent Nongbri emails this photo from the IGNTP volume of John, showing how they split it into A and B. In this case, their P44B is now P128 and they naturally don’t include the portions of Matt from what they’re calling P44A. But I’d like to know if they say anything more about their P44A and its relation to the rest of P44.

Greek Lectionaries: An Introduction

I was getting together a handout for a seminar on Monday on the topic of Greek Lectionary manuscripts of the New Testament. But it is an area in which I readily confess my ignorance (and usually don’t even get to in courses I have taught), so I thought I would offer it here for correction and suggestions. Most of the material is from Osburn (2012), with a bit of Jordan (2009). Suggestions of helpful reading (and an ideal online manuscript) would be especially welcome.

Greek Lectionaries: an introduction

Around 40% of all NT manuscripts (over 2,400 listed) (mostly minuscule, with a few earlier majuscule manuscripts of a lectionary type). Relatively neglected – e.g. no critical edition (often commented on, from Westcott & Hort through to Osburn & Karavidopoulos).[1] Generally close to Byzantine text: ‘lectionaries have text-critical value primarily for the later history of the NT textual tradition’ (Osburn, 108).

Different types of lectionary (eklogadion):

Mostly (over two-thirds): euaggelion or euaggelistarion (separate gospel manuscripts become known as tetraeuaggelion)

Others (a quarter): apostolos or praxapostolos (lessons from Acts and epistles: l^a)

Others: apostoloeuangelion (readings from Gospels, Acts and Epistles; #75: l^+a)

Complete Lectionary system has two parts: synaxarion – follows ecclesiastical calendar, from Easter Sunday to Holy Saturday (moving with the date of Easter); and the menologion – follows the civil calendar, from Sept 1 to Aug 31. See Scrivener, Introduction, 80-89 for a plan (or Gregory, Textkritik, 344-386). [Plans can be added to cont. text mss, e.g. 892, BL Add 33277]

Synaxarion –

Easter to Pentecost – readings from John and Acts

Pentecost to Holy Cross day – 16 weeks – readings from Matthew supplemented from Mark; Romans, 1 & 2 Cor, texts from Eph and Hebrews.

Holy Cross day to Lent – readings from Luke (and some Mark)

Lent – Sat & Sun readings from Mark, John, Hebrews; weekday readings OT

Holy Week – numerous longer readings (Gospels, Romans, 1 Corinthians)

After Holy Week – eleven resurrection readings from Sunday morning.

Menologion –

developed in the tenth century by Symeon Metaphrastes (Høgel)

Includes readings for special occasions and celebrations of lives of saints etc., incorporating hagiographical, homiletical and biblical material (with differences for local practice).

On date of origin of system and lectionary text:

Metzger: ‘the lectionary system current today in the Orthodox church had its origin sometime during the fourth century’ (1972, 495-6) [evidence from Chrysostom that he comments on the lesson for the day, e.g. Hom. 7 ad Antioch; Hom. 63.47 in Act)

Aland: none of the pre-eighth century lectionary manuscripts have the later system (e.g. l1604 (IV), l1043 (V), l1276 (VI), l1347 (VI), l1354 (VI) etc.); reading notes added to continuous text manuscripts (arche, telos) only from the eighth century onwards. Junack: general lectionary system comes from late seventh or early eighth century (same time as Byzantine calendar; hence also Byzantine text)

For earlier systems (e.g. Jerusalem based readings) need to compare Syriac, CPA, Armenian and other versional evidence. And the earlier majuscule lectionary manuscripts (mentioned earlier), as well as patristic practice.

History of Study (Jordan, Osburn, Karavidopoulos)

Mill (1707) used 8 gospel lectionaries and 1 apostolos

Wettstein (1751f) – 24 euaggelion, 4 apostolos

Matthaei (1782-1788) – 57 euaggelion, 20 apostolos

Scholz (1830-1836) – 178 euaggelion, 58 apostolos

Not much role/use in Tischendorf, Westcott & Hort, von Soden (deliberately not)

Gregory (1900-1909): counts and describes 1,599 lectionaries

1904/1912: V./B. Antoniades, h9 kainh\ diaqh/kh e0gkri/sei th=j Mega/lhj tou= Xristou=  0Ekklhsi/aj (Constantinople: Ek tou Patriarchikou Typographeiou [Patriarchal Press], 1904, 1912 [corrected]; Athens: Apostoliki Diakonia, 1993 reprint): first continuous comprehensive Greek text of NT in Orthodox world; continuous text based on text of 116 lectionaries (Contantinople, Mount Athos, Athens, Jerusalem); aimed for ‘the best reconstruction of the most ancient text of ecclesiastical tradition and, more specifically, of the Church of Constantinople’. (Karavidopoulos)

Chicago Lectionary Project under Ernest C. Colwell - 1930s-60s (Wikgren)

NA/UBS: Generally cited together: Byz. Lect. or singly by the letter l in italics and their number. But: ‘Nothing approaching a systematic presentation of lectionary readings occurs in any currently printed Greek Testament.’ (Osburn, 100).

Approaching a Lectionary Manuscript

Euaggelion - organized into separate readings, with the day set for each passage written at the start of the periscope or in the upper margin. Sometimes with an indication of which liturgical service is meant.

l339 = British Library, Egerton 2163: good example of complete lectionary (syn. & men.), Byz text (http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Egerton_MS_2163)

Liste –        le = e9bdoma/dej – contains readings for each day of the week (except in Lent, when there are only Sat/Sun readings)

                    lesk = e9bdoma/dej/sabbatokuriakai/ - contains readings for each day between Easter Sunday and Pentecost, Sat/Sun readings to Palm Sunday and daily readings in Holy Week until Holy Saturday.

                    lsk = sabbatokuriakai/ - contains readings for Sat/Sundays only

                    lsel = contains readings for selected days

                    lK = kuriakai/ - contains readings for Sundays

Bibliography

C.R. Gregory, Textkritik des Neuen Testamentes (Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs, 1900-09).

C. Höeg & G. Zuntz, ‘Remarks on the Prophetologion’ in Quantulacumque: Studies Presented to Kirsopp Lake (ed R.P. Casey, S. Lake & A.K. Lake; London: Christophers, 1937), 189-226.

C. Høgel, Symeon Metaphrastes. Rewriting and Canonization (Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, University of Copenhagen, 2002).

C.R.D. Jordan, ‘The  Textual Tradition of the Gospel of John in Greek Gospel Lectionaries from the Middle Byzantine Period (8^th-11^th Century)’ (PhD; Birmingham, 2009).

K. Junack, ‘Zu den griechischen Lektionaren und ihrer Überlieferung der katholischen Briefe’ Die alten Übersetzungen des Neuen Testaments, die Kirchenväterzitate und Lektionaire (ed. K. Aland; ANTF 5; Berlin: de Gruyter, 1972), 498-591.

I.D. Karavidopoulos, ‘The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s 1904 New Testament Edition and Future Perspectives’ Sacra Scriptura X (2012), 7-14.

B.M. Metzger, ‘Greek Lectionaries and a Critical Edition of the Greek New Testament’ in Die alten Übersetzungen des Neuen Testaments, die Kirchenväterzitate und Lektionaire (ed. K. Aland; ANTF 5; Berlin: de Gruyter, 1972), 479-497.

C. Osburn, ‘The Greek Lectionaries of the New Testament’ in Ehrman, B.D. & Holmes, M.W. (edd.), The Text of the New Testament in Contemporary Research: Essays on the Status Quaestionis. Second Edition (NTTSD 42; Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2012), 93-113.

D. Patras, ‘The Gospel Lectionary in the Byzantine Church’ StVladThQ 41 (1997), 113-140.

D. W. Riddle, ‘The Use of Lectionaries in Critical Editions and Studies of the New Testament Text’ in Prolegomena to the Study of the Lectionary text of the Gospels. Studies in the Lectionary Text of the Greek New Testament, vol. 1, ed. E. C. Colwell and D. W. Riddle (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1933), 67-77.

F.H.A. Scrivener, A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament for the use of Biblical Students (London: George Bell & Sons, 1894; 4th edition ed. E. Miller)

B. F. Westcott and F. J. Hort, The New Testament in the Original Greek. Introduction and Appendix (London: MacMillan and Co., 1881).

A. P. Wikgren, ‘Chicago Studies in the Greek Lectionary of the New Testament’ in Biblical and Patristic Studies in Memory of Robert Pierce Casey (ed J.N. Birdsall & R.W. Thomson; Freiburg: Herder, 1963), 96-121.

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[1] Westcott & Hort, Introduction, 76-77: ‘an almost unexplored region of textual history...’; Osburn, 93: ‘seriously neglected in the search for the earliest forms of the NT text’.

Chris Jordan Joins IGNTP Committee

Dr. Christopher Jordan has been appointed new member of the International Greek New Testament Project.

Chris Jordan wrote his dissertation, "The Textual Tradition of the Gospel of John in Greek Gospel Lectionaries from the Middle Byzantine Period," under David Parker, University of Birmingham, 2010. Jordan promises to make a valuable contribution to the committee through his thorough knowledge about the lectionary tradition.

His dissertation is available at ETHOS (requires registration).

See our earlier report on Jordan's dissertation and successful defense here.

See also his online edition of the Protevangelium Jacobi here.

What is IGNTP?

The International Greek New Testament Project (IGNTP) exists to produce a comprehensive critical apparatus of the Greek New Testament.

It began in 1949, following on from the Critical Greek Testament project of 1926, and consists of a committee of European and American textual scholars which oversees the work. The fruits of this collaboration may be seen in the IGNTP edition of The Gospel according to St Luke (1984, 1987). The Gospel according to St John is currently in preparation.

See how can you contribute to the IGNTP here.

Chris Jordan on Gospel Lectionaries

Chris Jordan recently defended his Birmingham PhD entitled:

The Textual Tradition of the Gospel of John in Greek Gospel Lectionaries from the Middle Byzantine Period (8th-11th century)

Here are details that he's sent to me:

'It has been over 50 years since the last doctoral dissertation on the Gospel of John in the Greek lectionary tradition. The writer of this dissertation on the pericopae of the Gospel of John in the Synaxarion section of the Greek Gospel lectionary hopes that it will ignite an interest in the lectionary tradition within the discipline of New Testament Textual Criticism. The pages of this dissertation are the groundwork for the lectionary phase of the International Greek New Testament Project and its major criticial edition of John.

During the Middle Byzantine period (8th-11th century) the Gospel lectionary emerges as a liturgical codex of the Byzantine Church. One hundred and twenty-six Greek Gospel lectionaries from this period are examined at forty-four carefully selected test passages in John. One places the manuscripts in their Byzantine context, studies the lectionary evidence as documents, highlights the textual and paratextual variation in the lectionary tradition, discusses genealogical issues, explores the method of lectionary construction, and investigates the relationship between the lectionary tradition and the continuous text manuscript tradition.'

It was a privilege to teach Chris for a brief period while he was at Aberdeen and to look at NT mss with him. Now many congratulations go to him on successful completion of the doctorate in this underexplored area. Individuals considering topics for doctorates in NT TC would do well to consider this as a potential area for exploration. If so, Birmingham, UK, would be a very good place to choose.