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Thursday, January 3, 2013

In Search of a Pro-Judaic Textual Tradition

So it seems to me that we need--as a movement--to procure a version of the New Testament that excises the Western textual tradition (e.g. Codex Bezae).  We need to utilize the oldest and most reliable textual tradition--which appears to be the Alexandrian or B-text type.

Check this stuff out:


pg. 497 "15:2.  Codex D has Paul arguing that converted Gentiles should stay as they are when converted (i.e. uncircumcised).  In a separate addition, it argues that the Jerusalem group orders them to go to Jerusalem to be judged.  One can sense in these additions in D that the reaction against Judaism is stronger in this MSS tradition.  These poorly attested additions are not original." Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament by Darrell L. Bock

"...from the scribe's standpoint, changes were made to promote a doctrinal or ideological view not in the text being copied....Intentional alterations include....often small changes...or longer additions such as found in manuscripts of the 'Western' textual tradition, where anti-Judaic...and other tendencies have been detected."  Stanley E. Porter, Handbook to Exegesis of the New Testament

pg. 2 "In the case of Acts, however, a small body of manuscripts called the 'Western Text Tradition' (represented most fully by Codex Bezae Cantagrigiensis, called 'Codex D' throughout this commentary), present a rather consistent alternative version of Acts.  This group of manuscripts obviously has its own internal points of inconsistency due to scribal tendencies.  But as a group it contains a version of Luke's story up to ten percent longer than that found in the majority textual tradition (usually called the 'Alexandrian Tradition')." Sacra Pagina by Luke Johnson

pg. 2 "Because it tends to aim at a smoother Greek style, to amplify stories (especially by the addition of details), and to reveal certain tendencies (such as an emphasis on the rejection of the Jews and on the Holy Spirit), it appears certain to most contemporary scholars--although vigorous protestations to the contrary continue to be made--that the Western Tradition taken as a whole does not contain the original text of Acts.  Neither is it probable that this text comes from an authorially revised edition.  In all likelihood what we have is an unusually sustained scribal redaction." Sacra Pagina by Luke Johnson

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