by Doug Mason 4 Replies latest watchtower bible
I am in the process of preparing a Study that will include the impact of Second Temple Judaism. It will take me a few more months to complete.
Early Draft material on part of my Study, dealing with aspects of the transmission of the text, is available at:
https://jwstudies.com/Transmission_of_the_text.pdf
Criticisms and advice are absolutely most welcome.
Doug
Doug, I have a problem with the heading on p46: "The Christian Bible faced strong competition during the early centuries"
The implication here was that the Christian Bible existed at that time, which of course it did not. Many of the texts later incorporated would have been in circulation as 2nd century fragments and the Chester Beatty papyri demonstrate.The selection of texts used for the NT was not until the Roman Church drew up their approved list in the fourth century, having chosen those which would best suit their theology at that time. Only after then could it be possible to have a semblance of the modern sense of "Bible". Even then the concept of "books" only came about when the codex or book format began around 320CE. Chrysostum's apparent first reference of the word "Bible" was his quotation from an earlier document; "the books" meaning various Jewish and Christian scrolls is hardly the same as our perception of Bible today. (Chrysostum died 407CE)
So Jerome's Latin translation efforts under Papal instruction (Vulgate) would mean that the modern Bible-as-we-know-it could not have been before 405 CE. To find when the word Bible became in general use would probably lead us to the 15th century when they began printing the Catholic version as one volume.
I mention this not to be nit picking but to rectify the casualness with which Bible societies use the term Bible as if it were there from the first century.
Thank you Half Banana,
I will address this. Greatly appreciated.
I do not think the Roman Church was dominant in the 4th century. Up to that time, the centre would have been in North Africa (Alexandria, Carthage). My understanding is that Christianity moved northwards following Islamic invasions, thus converting Christianity into a European religion.
Doug
Half Banana,
I went back to my source and after more careful reading of it, I have decided to drop that para. Thank you.
The author, David Trobisch, starts out with the position that the "New Testament" was a carefully edited publication from the outset, writing that it "must have been published before 180 CE" (Kloppenberg, page 162). That assumed position colours the balance of his chapter and it represents an unwarranted and unnecessary diversion. (See the entry on David Trobisch in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Trobisch )
So I thank you for your help.
Doug
Hey Doug - way to go, my friend!
If all your writings were put between covers and published, the final tome would be too heavy to lift. :)
Your work is never less than scrupulous, intelligently and thoughtfully wrought. I look forward to
poring over this.
Thank you!
