A Commentary on the Manuscripts and Text of the New
Testament. By Philip Wesley
Comfort. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2015, 416 pp., $29.99.
This book review had originally been
written nearly two years previously and was submitted to a journal for
publication. After languishing in their ‘accepted’ folder for months, it was
subsequently withdrawn from submission and, instead, published on ‘The Textual
Mechanic’ blog and on Academia.edu.
As the methods of New Testament textual
criticism develop and as more manuscripts are discovered, handbooks and textual
commentaries of the New Testament require updating and revision. Philip
Comfort’s A Commentary on the Manuscripts
and Text of the New Testament endeavors to provide such an updated
resource. This work is a concise handbook on the manuscripts of the New
Testament, a brief introduction to the theory and practice of textual
criticism, a commentary on textual variations within the manuscript tradition
of the New Testament, and an introduction to the curious scribal features known
as nomina sacra.
Philip Comfort is senior editor of Bible
reference at Tyndale House publishers and has taught at Trinity Episcopal
Seminary, Wheaton College, Columbia International University, and Coastal
Carolina University. He is well known for the Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts (2001), edited
together with David P. Barrett, and for his New
Testament Text and Translation Commentary (2008).
In the introduction of A Commentary on the Manuscripts and Text of
the New Testament Comfort set out the goal for the work when he wrote,
“[i]n this commentary readers will be reading commentary on actual manuscripts.
. . No other Bible commentary does this” (p. 7). Besides providing annotation
on textual variation, every instance where a nomina sacra appears within the text of these manuscripts is noted
throughout the commentary.
Between the brief introduction and
chapter one is placed a segment entitled simply as “Early Manuscripts” (p. 11-14).
In this section, the earliest manuscript evidence is presented by chapter for
each New Testament book. Though some may dispute the earlier dates given for
some of the papyri (see discussion below), the list accurately reflects the
manuscript data (regardless of dates) extant for each New Testament book.
Chapter one, “Introducing the Manuscripts,
Text, and Nomina Sacra,” briefly presents the New Testament papyri (p. 20-22)
and “Significant Uncial Manuscripts” (p. 22-23). Next, under the heading
“Assessing the Manuscripts to Establish the Text of the New Testament,” Comfort
orients the reader to the methods used to weigh manuscripts according to their
textual “accuracy” (p. 23-29). Under this heading, the textual relationship
between P66, P75, and B is surveyed (p. 24-26), and the Alands’ classification
of manuscripts into the “strict,” “normal,” “at least normal,” and “free” categories
is evaluated (p. 27-28). Comfort then provides some “corrective” to several of
the Alands’ classifications and then proposes his own set of terminology in categorizing
these papyri (p. 28-29). Following this, under the heading “The Canons of
Textual Criticism,” he surveys the internal criteria used by critics to
evaluate which reading gave rise to all the others in each variant unit (p.
29-31). The chapter closes by briefly introducing the nomina sacra, which are found within nearly all of the earliest New
Testament manuscripts (p. 31-41).
Chapter two, “An Annotated List of the
Manuscripts of the New Testament,” presents the 127 New Testament papyri with
their editio principes and (for the
more significant papyri) a brief analysis of their dates and textual character (p.
41-91). This segment closes with a section subtitled “Other Papyrus
Manuscripts,” which discusses the Egerton
Gospel, P. Antinoopolis 2.54, P.Oxy 655, and P.Oxy 5073 (p. 91-92). Under
the heading “Significant Uncial Manuscripts,” the primary majuscule codices are
listed with their editio principes,
date, textual make-up, and characteristic features (p. 93-111). Next are listed
the most important “Minuscules” with their dates, historical features,
characteristics, and textual make-up (p. 11-113). Included under this heading
are brief discussions of Family 1 (p. 111-112) and Family 13 (p. 112). Next,
“Ancient Versions” are listed with a concise introduction, approximate date
when the version first appeared, and, if applicable, the major manuscripts used
in consulting the version (p. 115-123). The versions listed are, Syriac, Old
Latin, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, Georgian, Gothic, and the translation of the
Diatessaron. Chapter two is completed
by listing out, with no discussion, the “Church Fathers” consulted in this
commentary along with their date (p. 123-124).
The Greek New Testament textual
commentary begins in chapter three, which encompasses “The Synoptic Gospels”
(p. 127-245). Chapter four deals solely with “The Gospel According to John” (p.
247-276). The “Acts of the Apostles” is discussed in chapter five (p. 277-298).
Chapter six examines “The Epistles of Paul” (p. 299-369). Chapter seven is
dedicated to the epistle of “Hebrews” (p. 371-382). In chapter eight “The
General Epistles” are reviewed (p. 383-403). The textual commentary portion of
the volume concludes with chapter nine, “The Revelation of John” (p. 405-413).
Between the end of chapter nine and the appendix appears a brief “Select
Bibliography” (p. 415-418).
The volume closes with an appendix
entitled “The Significance of the Nomina Sacra (Sacred Names)” (p. 419-443). In
this appendix, Comfort continues the brief introduction of the nomina sacra found in chapter one. The
following nomina sacra abbreviations
are discussed in full: “Lord” (p. 419-420), “Jesus” (p. 420-423), “Christ” (p.
423-424), “God” (p. 424-427), and “Spirit” (p. 427-433). The remainder of the
appendix discusses other nomina sacra abbreviations
found in the New Testament manuscripts under the heading “Other Prominent
Divine Names: Father, Son, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David” (p. 433-441). In
the appendix, Comfort argues that the “nomina sacra were intended to be
understood only by initiates—i.e., those trained to read and decode the New
Testament writings for their congregations” (p. 420). He also states that the
“name ‘Jesus’ was treated as a nomen sacrum very early” and that it was likely
the “second nomina sacra to be created—following right behind (if not
concurrent with) ‘Lord’” (p. 420). Because the scribe of P46 inconsistently employed
the nomen sacrum for “Spirit,”
Comfort argues that this codex must be early, copied during the “transition”
period in which this nomen sacrum was
first being developed (p. 428-429).
Those who are familiar with Comfort’s New Testament Text and Translation
Commentary (2008) may wish to learn of the similarities and differences
between the two volumes. Due to space considerations, it is impossible to
evaluate every point of commentary, therefore, this review will limit itself to
two well-known variation units: the ending of Mark, and the Pericope de Adultera in John. At nine
pages, the commentary on the endings of Mark is quite lengthy (p. 197-206).
Comfort discusses the five variation units along with their manuscript,
versional, and patristic attestation. The discussion appears to be taken nearly
word-for-word from his Text and
Translation Commentary. In contrast, though Comfort discusses the
manuscript, versional, and patristic evidence, the commentary on the Pericope de Adultera, at two pages (p.
258-259), is highly abridged when compared to his Text and Translation Commentary. Therefore, it appears that some of
the material is nearly identical and some an abridgment of the commentary
already published in his previous Text
and Translation Commentary. Only two features are absent in the current
commentary, a list of English Bible translations that contain a particular
reading, and the Greek text of the variation units. When variation units are
listed, only English translations of the readings are provided.
There are some noteworthy shortcomings
to A Commentary on the Manuscripts and
Text of the New Testament. Readers may be disappointed to learn that there
is no discussion of the Coherence Based
Genealogical Method (CBGM), which is now being used by the Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung
(INTF) to produce the Editio Critica Maior (ECM). Along these same
lines, Comfort seems to have completely disregarded the 34 changes in the
Catholic (General) Epistles in the ECM that were incorporated into the main
text of the NA28. Users who may have Comfort’s new commentary open alongside
their NA28 edition of the Greek New Testament will be disappointed that there
is absolutely no discussion of theses variations in light of the CBGM. Especially
considering the conjectural emendation that has been incorporated into the main
text of the NA28 at 2 Peter 3:10.
Significant criticism has already been
directed towards Comfort’s other publications with regard to the palaeographic
method employed to date some of the papyri earlier than the dates assigned in
the NA28. Pasquale Orsini and Willy Clarysse have critiqued Comfort’s tendency
to date papyri by comparing single letters and words. Instead, they argue,
Comfort should be dating papyri by placing the hand in question within the
history of a graphic type (“Early New Testament Manuscripts and Their Dates: A
Critique of Theological Palaeography,” ETL
88.4 (2012), p. 450). Comfort has made no attempt to clarify or defend his
dating method against these criticisms. Users of this commentary may come away
with the (wrong) impression that some of Comfort’s assigned dates are more
broadly accepted in the palaeographical community.
With that said, in most cases Comfort’s assigned
dates for the papyri align with the standard dates given in the NA28. In some instances,
his proposed dates fall on the lower end of the more broadly accepted ranges,
or are twenty five to fifty years earlier (see for example P46, P52, P66, and
P75). Most non-specialists would not see these differences as significant. At
the very least, including the more broadly accepted dates alongside his own
would have served better the purpose of a handbook on the manuscripts of the
New Testament and would better represent the discipline of palaeography.
Most typographical mistakes are minor
and forgivable, however, there is one major error in this commentary that might
be distracting for users. It appears that at some point during the planning
stages, what is now chapter one “Introducing the Manuscripts, Text, and Nomina
Sacra,” was meant to be chapter two. Chapter two, “An Annotated List of the
Manuscripts of the New Testament,” gives a detailed list and commentary on the
manuscripts of the New Testament, was meant to be chapter one. During the
course of the introduction in chapter one, when a particular manuscript is
mentioned, the text reads “see discussion above,” presuming readers had already
encountered the annotated list of manuscripts, but this annotated list occurs
later, in chapter two. Even more confusing, in the appendix, “The Significance
of the Nomina Sacra (Sacred Names),” the text reads, “[t]his appendix provides
a continued discussion of the Nomina Sacra as presented in chapter two” (p.
419). However, the Nomina Sacra were discussed in chapter one, and readers who
may pick up the commentary and turn immediately to the appendix may be confused
as to where in the volume they may find the previous discussion of the nomina sacra.
One particularly disappointing error is
found in the first paragraph of Chapter One, “Introducing the Manuscripts.”
Here Comfort compares the “over 5,500 manuscript copies of the Greek New
Testament, or portions thereof.” Boasting that “[n]o other work of Greek
literature can boast of such numbers. Homer’s Iliad, the greatest of all Greek classical works, is extant in
about 650 manuscripts; and Euripides’s tragedies exist in about 330 manuscripts”
(p. 19). Of course, these numbers are woefully out of date. For example, a
simple search on Leuven Database of
Ancient Books (http://www.trismegistos.org/ldab/) reveals that there are
well over 1500 copies of Homer’s Iliad extant. For a work that is purporting to
be commentary on manuscripts, this is an unfortunate mistake and hopefully is
not representative of other less obvious errors in the rest of the work.
Despite these drawbacks, Comfort’s A Commentary on the Manuscripts and Text of
the New Testament is a valuable handbook that can be used alongside
Metzger’s A Textual Commentary on the
Greek New Testament (2nd ed. 1994) and the NA28. Comfort’s commentary is
bound in a similar hardback format with nearly identical dimensions as the
NA28, and, along with a ribbon bookmark, makes for a nice companion volume that
is easily portable.
The section entitled, “Early
Manuscripts” is an excellent reference for quickly determining the earliest
manuscript support by chapter for each New Testament book (p. 11-14). This will
be particularly useful for pastors, preachers, and students of the New
Testament text. It provides a strong visual representation of the manuscript
attestation, which for some books, like Matthew and John, is remarkably
extensive and early.
Chapter two, “An Annotated List of the
Manuscripts of the New Testament,” is nearly worth the price of the volume. It
provides a handy reference, especially for non-specialists, who may be working
through a particular passage in the New Testament and come across an unfamiliar
manuscript or versional sigla in the
apparatus. The list of editio principes,
date, textual make-up, and characteristic features provide a quick reference
for those who wish to examine a specific manuscript in greater detail.
Finally, the most useful feature of this
commentary is that it offers a wealth of information on the location of nomina sacra within the manuscript
tradition of the New Testament. As far as this reviewer knows, there is no
other resource which provides a textual commentary on the nomina sacra in this way. For each New Testament book, Comfort has
annotated when a particular manuscript uses a nomina sacra within the text. This feature is a valuable resource
for those engaging in a systematic study of the nomina sacra. Comfort highlights these curious scribal features in
such a way that many who use this commentary will probably encounter them for
the first time.
These features outweigh the shortcomings
of the volume and the low price ensures its accessibility for a broader
readership. Comfort’s A Commentary on the
Manuscripts and Text of the New Testament is a valuable handbook that will
prove useful to pastors, preachers, students, and scholars of the New Testament
manuscripts and text.
