A Response to David Parker’s Review of The Early Text of the New Testament

In late 2012, Oxford University Press released our co-edited volume, The Early Text of the New Testament (ETNT), a collection of essays from 22 leading scholars in the world of textual criticism. It is gratifying to have David Parker’s review of ETNT (JTS 64 [2013]: 642-645) so relatively soon after publication, yet disappointing that most of the criticisms in his short review seem to have mistaken both the aims and the scope of the book.  Here we would like to offer a brief response to some of his comments.

Parker’s criticism can be divided into three main categories: (a) the scope of the project, (b) the nature …

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Brice Jones Reviews The Early Text of the New Testament

Over at his website, Brice Jones just reviewed The Early Text of the New Testament (Oxford, 2012), edited by myself and Chuck Hill.  In general, he offers a positive summary, “Overall, this book is an important addition to our field and thus is to be recommended to anyone interested in the text of the New Testament.”

However, Brice was critical of my own essay, “Early Christian Attitudes to the Reproduction of Texts,” arguing that it had a “theological agenda.”   Not sure what he meant by theological agenda, since he never gets specific about where I do this in the article.  He does, however, express disagreement over my analysis of …

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Witherington Reviews “The Early Text of the New Testament”

My recent book (c0-edited with my friend Chuck Hill) is The Early Text of the New Testament (Oxford, 2012).   That volume is a collection of essays designed to address the state of the NT text at the earliest observable stages.  Unfortunately, one might have to mortgage their home to purchase it at $140 (ouch).  Sorry, seminary students.

As a result of the high price, I am particularly grateful when someone takes the time to get a copy and review it.  Ben Witherington has recently reviewed the book over at his website and I am appreciative of his kind remarks.  Here are some excerpts:

Technical monographs are important, not least because

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The Early Text of the New Testament Now Available (in the UK)

I just heard from the folks at Oxford University Press this week and they indicated that the volume edited by Chuck Hill and myself, The Early Text of the New Testament, is now available in the UK.  Unfortunately, like many Oxford volumes, it is a bit pricey at 90 pounds ($175).  Ouch.  But, hopefully some major research libraries will pick it up (and some scholars with a generous book budget!).   The book is available in the US in August.

Here is a blurb from the back cover and the table of contents:

The Early Text of the New Testament aims to examine and assess from our earliest extant sources

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