The Interpretive Context:
Copies and Corruptions
I. The Earliest Surviving Greek NT Copies
A. Papyrus Scraps and Codices (II-III C.E.)
B. Parchment Bibles (IV C.E. and later)
II. Copying and Corruption
A. Characteristics of Early NT Scribes
1.
2.
B. Examples of Early Manuscript Corruption (for more, see Ehrman, 49097)
1. John 7:538:11 (in one 5th cent. manuscript; absent from all earlier manuscripts)
2.
3.
C.
III. Translation and Corruption
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Food for Thought If one
translates a verse literally, he is a liar; Rabbi Yehudah discussing the Onkelos Targum, an early Aramaic translation of parts of the Hebrew Bible (The Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 49a, sixth century C.E.). |
A. Translation Theories
1. Formal (or Literal) Equivalency
Motto: ". . . as literal as possible; as free as necessary."
a. Extremely Literal:
b. Very Literal:
c. Literal:
2. Functional (or Dynamic) Equivalency
Motto: ". . . functional equivalence rather than formal resemblance."
or
". . . thought for thought, not word for word."
a. Moderately Periphrastic:
b. Strongly Periphrastic:
c. Extremely Periphrasticmore like commentary: The Message, Amos 5:21-24)
B. The Classic Canonical/Confessional Bias Example: Isaiah 7:14 (cf. Matt 1; LXX of Isa 7:14; the NET Bible on Isa 7:14)
