A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament

From Textus Receptus

A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, full title: A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament. For the Use of Biblical Students. It is a monumental and most important book of Frederick Henry Ambrose Scrivener (1813-1891), biblical scholar, and textual critic. It is one of the most important book in history of New Testament Textual Criticism. In this book Scrivener listed over 3000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament inspite of manuscripts of early versions. The book was reprinted in 2005 by Elibron Classics.

Contents 1 First three editions 2 Fourth Edition 3 Contents 3.1 Volume I 3.2 Volume II 4 External links

First three editions

The First Edition had 506 pages. The Second Edition (1874) have been expanded into 626 pages, the Third into 751 pages, and the Fourth into 874 pages. Two first editions were issued in one volume, in the Third Edition material was divided into two volumes, with an increase of chapters in each. The First volume was edited in 1883, the Second in 1887. The Forth Edition was issued in two volumes too.

The Third Edition was prepared under great disadvantage. Scrivener after adding 125 pages to his book had an attack of paralysis in result his work was not wholly conducted upon the same high level as his previous publications. The framework of the Second Edition was originally adopted. The new additional material was only added to the almost unchanged material.

Fourth Edition

Fourth edition was prepared and edited posthumously by Edward Miller (1825-1901). Most of the accounts of ancient versions have been rewritten by distinguished scholars, who were leaders in their several departments. The early part of Volume I has been enriched from the admirable book on “Greek and Latin Palaeography”, by Edward Maunde Thompson. Many corrections suggested by eminent scholars have been introduced in different places all through the book.

It contains 15 plates with the texts of 40 manuscripts in facsimile (1st edition had 12 plates with 36 manuscripts).

The book was edited by George Bell & Sons.

Contents

Volume I

• Chapter I – preliminary considerations
• Chapter II – character of New Testament manuscript (materials for writing, style of writings, abbreviations).
• Chapter III – divisions of the text, subscriptions, marginal markings, and other particulars.
• Chapter IV – detailed described the fife larger uncial manuscripts: Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus, Ephraemi and Bezae.
• Chapter V – uncial manuscripts of the Gospels.
• Chapter VI – uncial manuscripts of the Acts and Catholic epistles, of St. Paul’s epistles, and of the Apocalypse
• Chapter VII-IX – cursive manuscripts of the Gospels
• Chapter X – cursive manuscripts of the Acts and Catholic epistles
• Chapter XI – cursive manuscripts of St. Paul’s epistles
• Chapter XII – cursive manuscripts of the Apocalypse
• Chapter XIII – Evangelistaries
• Chapter XIII – Lectionaries containing the Apostolos

Volume II

• Chapter I-V – Ancient Versions
• Chapter VI – Quotations from the Fathers
• Chapter VII – Early printed editions, critical editions
• Chapter VIII – Textual canons
• Chapter IX – History of the Text
• Chapter X – Recent views of comparative criticism
• Chapter XI – Character of the dialect of the Greek Testament
• Chapter XII – Application of Principles to Select Passages

External links

• Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the NT (1861), First Edition (HTML)
• Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the NT, Vol. II, (Cambridge, 1887)
• Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the NT, Third Edition, Vol. 1 (1883)
• Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the NT, Third Edition, Vol. II 1887
• Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the NT (1894), Fourth Edition Vol. I at the CCEL
• Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the NT (1894), Fourth Edition, Volume I, at the Internet Archive (PDF)