Course Description
Introduction: exposition on the importance of textual criticism for biblical exegesis, in particular its relationship with redaction criticism, and the theological implications that may derive. Part one: 1) History of the transmission of the OT texts and the formation of the biblical canon. For the Hebrew Bible (HB) attention will be paid to the biblical and parabiblical Dead Sea Scrolls and medieval codices. For the Greek Bible (Septuagint/LXX), the most important papyri and codices will be introduced. 2) The history of the transmission of the texts of the New Testament (NT) starting from the most ancient papyri and codices. 3) Ancient translations of biblical texts. 4) Introduction to the critical editions of the HB, LXX, and the NT. Part two: Introduction to the methods of textual criticism, their relevance and practical application.
Bibliography
WEGNER P.D., A Student’s Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods & Results, Downers Grove IL: IVP 2006.
TOV E., Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. Revised and Expanded Fourth Edition, Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press 2022.
FERNANDEZ, M.N., The Septuagint in Context: Introduction to the Greek Versions of the Bible, Leiden: Brill 2000. (&Spanish [orig.], Italian).
ALAND K. – ALAND B., The Text of the New Testament: An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism. Second Edition, Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans 1995 &German [orig.], Italian.
METZGER B.M. – EHRMAN B.D., The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration, New York – Oxford: Oxford University Press 2005 (& Italian