Textual Criticism in Biblical Manuscripts: Principles and Examples

Manuscripts

A term that means "handwritten" and refers to copies of the biblical text produced before the invention of the printing press.

Autographs

The original manuscripts written by biblical authors.

Variant readings

Discrepancies among biblical manuscripts.

Textual criticism

The work of reconstructing the original forms of a text through analyzing and comparing diverse manuscripts.

Dittography

An unintentional error where a scribe accidentally repeats a word or phrase.

Theological/doctrinal bias

An intentional change made by scribes due to their beliefs or interpretations.

External evidence

Evidence that considers which manuscripts contain the reading.

Factor 1

Date of manuscript.

Factor 2

Geographic distribution of manuscripts.

Internal evidence

Evidence that considers what scribes are likely to have changed, intentionally or not.

Principle 1

The more difficult reading is more likely to be original.

Principle 2

The shorter reading is more likely to be original.

Principle 3

The reading that is consistent with the vocabulary and style of the author is more likely to be original.

Principle 4

The reading that best explains how the other readings arose is more likely to be original.

1 Thessalonians 3:2

An example of textual criticism where various readings of the phrase 'fellow-worker of God' are analyzed.

Literal English translation of the variant

The different translations of the same biblical text that show textual variations.

D* 33 etc.

'fellow-worker of God' reading.

B

'fellow-worker' reading.

ℵ A P 424 etc.

'servant of God' reading.

F G

'servant and fellow-worker of God' reading.

D2 K L

'servant of God and our fellow-worker' reading.

Importance of textual criticism

It helps recognize the complexity in how the Bible has come to us and provides confidence in the reconstructed text.