A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament
For the Use of Biblical Students

A pioneering work of Victorian scholarship, Scrivener's 1861 book introduces the then-emerging discipline of New Testament textual criticism.

Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener (Author)

9781108007467, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 February 2010

536 pages
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.67 kg

Frederick Henry Scrivener's 1861 introduction to the textual history of the New Testament marks a key moment in the history of biblical studies. The author, a renowned biblical scholar and textual critic of his time, focuses on the central areas of his research field. These include the Greek New Testament manuscripts and their general character, early printed and later critical editions, ancient versions of the New Testament in various languages and the linguistic features of New Testament Greek. In addition, he discusses editorial principles and practice and the differing approaches that had recently been adopted, and gives examples of their application to actual New Testament passages. Originally intended for readers with no previous knowledge of this subject, and carefully organised so as to be accessible to them, the book is still of interest to upper-level students and to historians of the discipline.

1. Preliminary considerations
2. On the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament
3. On the ancient versions of the New Testament in various languages
4. On the citations from the Greek New Testament made by early ecclesiastical writers
5. On the early printed and later critical editions of the Greek New Testament
6. On the laws of internal evidence, and the limits of their legitimate use
7. On the history of the text, including a discussion of recent views of comparative criticism
8. On the peculiar character and grammatical form of the dialect of the New Testament
9. Application of the foregoing materials and principles to the criticism of select passages of the N. T.
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]