A Textual Problem in Ephesians 2:21
If you're having trouble falling asleep tonight, you might want to read my first ever textual criticism paper. I wrote this over the weekend for my NT103: Intermediate Greek class. In spite of how dry this paper might appear to you this class has been a blast. It's definitely been the most work of any of my DTS classes so far, but Dr. Johnston keeps class interesting. He's a funny guy. I just pdf'd it and posted it here. Enjoy!
My favorite part of Papyrus and Uncial NT manuscripts like the Codex Sinaiticus here is how they wrote in all upper-case letters and didn't use punctuation, accents, or spaces between words.
A Textual Problem in Ephesians 2:21
posted by saument @ 2:28 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Hello,
My first visit. I really like your content. I can relate to most of what you say.
I am a reformed pastor and I have a funny story. When I was in seminary, 1987-1989, I was asked to do a textual criticism paper. At that time, I was also a benevolence coordinator at our church. I ministered to the poor all day. I lived in a homeless shelter as a counselor etc.
So, anyway,
The idea of arguing with some pinhead from Oxford was so foreign to anything I ever encountered in ministry that I refused to do the paper. Still to this day, I very rarely meet someone with questions beyond basic authorship. Not my calling i guess!!
So, how do you feel about the subject? Interesting? Relevant?
brad
Welcome, Brad.
You know, those are the questions that come up time and again with this sort of topic. Remember, I'm a historical theology major with designs to teach theology and research and write about theology of culture, ecclesiology and the arts. By day I'm a software engineer. When I was a music major I was a music theory major. In other words, I love this stuff. :^)
My official answer is this: since we derive our knowledge of God and our doctrine from the text of Scripture it is extremely relevant to us what that text actually says. It can profoundly effect how we interpret and thus teach a passage.
My on-the-other-hand answer is: since none of the textual variants significantly effect any major doctrine of the faith it's probably not necessary for most of us to be doing TC. I can't say that it has yet affected a Bible study or Sunday School class that I've taught, or affected the way in which I lead worship. It may affect the way I do theology in the future.
I have no intention (at this time anyway) of pursuing NT studies and being the next Dan Wallace, NT Wright, or Bruce Metzger, but I'm glad somebody's doing what they do.
Thanks for your comments. :^)
About not having intentions of being an NT scholar, my Prof has pointed out a couple of times that they all live to be at least 90, so it may be worth a second thought. :^)
Eeek, Greek. Took three semesters of Greek in college, which ended badly (with a B-).
And N.T. Wright is a really great guy. I don't know how he gets through airport security with the Bishop of Durham Ring of Office, though.
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