Some Questions on the Greek

I’M FIRMLY ENSCONCED IN LONDON NOW (JUST SAW A BRILLIANT “WINTER’S TALE” WITH SARAH, MY SHAKESPEARE SCHOLAR WIFE WHO IS TEACHING A DUKE IN LONDON THEATER PROGRAM THIS SUMMER). I’M SERIOUSLY JET-LAGGED, BUT NOT SO JET-LAGGED AS TO AVOID MY BELOVED BLOG! HERE’S ONE I’VE BEEN SAVING UP FOR A RAINY DAY. IN LONDON, IT’S *ALWAYS* A RAINY DAY…..

QUESTION:

I am curious as to what role paleography has had in dating various manuscripts from early Christian writings. As I am aware, ...

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18
JUL
2012
12

Bart Answers Readers, History of Biblical Scholarship, NT Text and Manuscripts

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Autobiographical: Metzger and Me. My First Work on the Text

QUESTION:

Hey Bart, I know you studied under Bruce Metzger and my question is how did he feel about your skepticism toward the trustworthiness of the N.T?

 

RESPONSE:

Bruce Metzger and I had a long and very close relationship.  I was his student for seven years and his research assistant for the New Revised Standard Version (he was the chair of the translation committee) for a couple of years.  He directed my masters and PhD theses; he helped me break into ...

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8
JUL
2012
6

Bart Answers Readers, Bart's Reflections, Bart’s Biography, NT Text and Manuscripts

Q & A with Ben Witherington: Part 6

Q. Mythicists seems to often uses the interpolation theory to explain away NT texts that are inconvenient to their agendas. Yet it is also true that some NT scholars use interpolation theories to the very same end, even when there is apparently no textual basis for the interpolation theory. Explain how the mythicists appeal to interpolation is special pleading, whereas it is not when some NT scholars resort to such a theory (take for example the case of 1 Cor. ...

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18
JUN
2012
11

Bart Responds To Critics, Mythicism, NT Text and Manuscripts, The Historical Jesus

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Should We Change the Canon of Scripture?

QUESTION:

Given the criteria used to determine what would go on to constitute the New Testament canon, how is it that Hebrews and the book of Revelation remain part of the canon? I understand that Christians came to believe that they were authored by the apostles which is why they made it into the canon, but we now know that they weren’t authored by Paul or John..so why are they still in the NT?

RESPONSE:

Interesting idea!   I sometimes get asked what ...

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10
JUN
2012
23

Acts & Catholic Epistles, Bart Answers Readers, History of Christianity (100-300CE), NT Text and Manuscripts

Question on How We Got the Canon of the New Testament

QUESTION:

I just read Jesus, Interrupted … and have now seen that you have written quite a few books and articles. I am particularly interested in how the books of the New Testament were chosen and why/how the others were not. Can you recommend a good read for this?

 

RESPONSE:

Ah, this is one of the BIG questions of early Christian studies! I have been interested in it for over 35 years. My first PhD seminar in graduate school was devoted to just ...

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24
MAY
2012
11

Bart Answers Readers, NT Text and Manuscripts

Did the Gospels Originally Contain Miracle Stories?

QUESTION:

I have looked up the content of all the papyri I’m aware of (off of links on wikipedia, so who knows if they’re accurate).

It is my understanding that although p52, p90, and p104 are dated around 125-150 AD, they contain fragments of John 18 and Matt 21 only, and that it’s not until 200 AD that manuscripts emerge which actually contain accounts of supernatural actions by Jesus.

So, it’s possible that accounts of miracles existed in copies that got ...

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21
MAY
2012
21

Bart Answers Readers, Canonical Gospels, NT Text and Manuscripts

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