Text and Tradition: The Role of New Testament Manuscripts in Early Christian Studies. Lecture One: Text and Interpretation: The Exegetical Significance of the ‘Original’ Text, The Kenneth W. Clark Lectures, Duke Divinity School, 1997

Key Points

• The aim is to analyze how text-critical issues influence the understanding of the New Testament.
• Examining three textual problems: Mk 1:41, Lk 22:43-44, Heb 2:9
• Discussing how variant readings affect authors' portrayals of Jesus
• Analyzing the implications of textual accuracy on whole books
• Establishing clear differences in Jesus' portrayal based on variant readings
• Demonstrating that textual resolutions impact theological interpretations
• Concluding that understanding the original text is vital for proper exegesis

Abstract