Loading...SOME MORE ON MY RELATIONSHIP WITH BRUCE METZGER, ON FINISHING THE DISSERTATION
Different dissertation advisors have different approaches to supervising a dissertation. Some are extremely hands on, to the point of working over every thought and every sentence. Not too many are like that, because if they were, they would never do anything else with their life. Plus, the idea is for the student to figure it out and get good at it. That takes some trial and error. Other advisors go for the big picture and like to talk over the big ideas. Others basically don’t give a rip how the dissertation is coming along – they want to see it at the end, and when it’s done, they’ll tell the student whether it’s good enough or not. Others … well, there are lots of other approaches. Sometime I’ll explain mine, which is not quite any of the above.
Metzger took an approach that other students may have found frustrating, but that was absolutely perfect for me. He basically let me do my own thing. He would graciously read the chapters as I gave them to him. He would answer any questions I had. He would indicate where I made grammatical (and related) mistakes (he could spot a misplace semicolon from twelve pages away). And he did not get very involved in the whole process. As I said, that approach is frustrating for students who want a lot of guidance. But I was very independent minded and really wanted just to get on with it without interference. So Metzger was perfect.
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Bruce Metzger is the author of several books including The Early Versions of the New Testament and The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, And Restoration.
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I really don’t know who wrote the Book known as the Gospel of John. To think that an illiterate and uneducated Galilean wrote that is ludicrous. Who by the way wasn’t versed in Greek philosophies as the opening Verses of that passage reflect. Sounds more like Philos concept of the “Word” . The Early Church Fathers loved his work, especially his allegorical method of interpretation on the scriptures. Dr. Charlesworth also thinks that John 1 and 15 were later editions or the product of editing. My question to you Bart is how do translators determine how a Greek preposition is to be used, since some that are used can change the meaning of a text. Last time we met was in 99 in Boston, I really enjoyed your presentation on Greek text and how many copyist were asleep at the wheel.
Yeah, Greek prepositions can be a problem. But their range of meaning is not much greater than those in English. So meaning was based on standard usage (just an in English).
What are the criteria for selecting an editor for a leading academic series? What are the editor’s responsibilities in the editorial process?
By the end of your academic career, on what topic would you like to produce your magnum opus?
Usually a series has to be headed by an established scholar in the field. It can be a bit of a subjective judgment. Responsibilities vary from one series to another. IN some, the editor works carefully over each submission, sentence by sentence; in others s/he basically says “Yeah, that’s good enough”– and sends the book into production. Most of the ones I’ve been involved with are somewhere between those two extremes.
Magnum opus. Good question. I think I’ll address it on the blog down the line.
Just saw Larry Hurtado’s post on PhD application process in the UK:
http://larryhurtado.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/on-applying-for-a-phd-in-ntchristian-origins-in-the-uk/
In what ways does the US process differs from the UK? Is the process similar between secular universities and the confessional seminaries (e.g. Wheaton, Moodys, Princeton)?
Not sure — I’m swamped for time and don’t have time to read his posting. If you have a specific questoin about it I’d be happy to answer it.