Textual Criticism

Madison Pierce and Ched Spellman on Anonymous Authors and Audiences in the New Testament

/ Brandon D. Smith / Leave a comment

This episode is a conversation with Drs. Madison Pierce of Western Theological Seminary and Ched Spellman of Cedarville University. We discuss the anonymous authorship and audience of Hebrews (7:50), the hermeneutical effect of anonymous authorship (24:26), the development of the canon and tradition (46:05), and more. Buy Madison’s and Ched’s books.

Church Grammar is presented by the Christian Standard Bible. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl. Producer: Katie Larson.

Brandon D. Smith is Assistant Professor of Theology & New Testament at Cedarville University, on the board of directors for the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.

*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | RSS

John Meade on the Development of the Biblical Canon, Canon Lists, and Origen the Text Critic

/ Brandon D. Smith / Leave a comment

This episode is a conversation with Dr. John Meade of Phoenix Seminary. We discuss early biblical canon lists (1:06), the Old and New Testaments and “other writings” in the lists (7:00), the canon up to the Reformation (18:11), the unity and diversity of “authoritative” books (25:42), why we can trust our Bible (40:54), Origen the text critic (45:10), and more. Buy John’s books and check out the Text & Canon Institute.

Church Grammar is presented by the Christian Standard Bible. Intro music: Purple Dinosaur by nobigdyl. Producer: Katie Larson.

Brandon D. Smith is Assistant Professor of Theology & New Testament at Cedarville University, Editorial Director for the Center for Baptist Renewal, and writes things. You can follow him on Twitter at @brandon_d_smith.

*** This podcast is designed to discuss all sorts of topics from various points of view. Therefore, guests’ views do not always reflect the views of the host, his church, or his institution.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | RSS

John Wevers’ Guidelines for using the LXX in Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible

/ Luke Wisley / Leave a comment

I recently read an older article from John Wevers on guidelines for using the LXX in textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible. The more the I interact with the critical apparatus of BHS, the more his words ring true.

  1. Formal Correctness. Make sure the information you are reading in the apparatus is factually correct.
  2. Clarity of Citation. There are things in the apparatus that are unclear. Do your best to understand what is being stated.
  3. Adequacy. Consider all the relevant facts about the Greek tradition in question.
  4. Text tradition and its proper presentation. Consider the textual family of the Greek reading.
  5. Avoidance of the irrelevant. There is a lot of irrelevant information in the apparatus for textual criticism of the Hebrew text. Not all notes are created equal.

John Wevers, Text History and Text Criticism of the Septuagint, VT 29 (1977) 392-402.