tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346409181794331060.post5261071613366322059..comments2024-03-20T12:35:12.828-04:00Comments on The Text of the Gospels: Review: A Commentary on Textual AdditionsJames Snapp Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09493891380752272603noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346409181794331060.post-89042006746109101882018-04-15T17:51:42.822-04:002018-04-15T17:51:42.822-04:00Timothy Joseph,
TO say that Comfort is an advocate...Timothy Joseph,<br />TO say that Comfort is an advocate for the earliest reading begs the question of which reading is earliest. In a contest between respective readings at Luke 23:44 of the two 4th-century codices 03 and 0171, Comfort choose the shortest one, when the longest is likely earlier. It's much more accurate to say that he's an advocate for the shortest reading, IF it is the reading of one or more of his favorite handful of manuscripts. Daniel Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02600146498880358592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346409181794331060.post-66212310752104597482018-03-31T16:39:29.058-04:002018-03-31T16:39:29.058-04:00Dear James, Thaks for your work on Comfort. I will...Dear James, Thaks for your work on Comfort. I will temper his comments with your insights.<br />Jim Sheltom.James Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02471165098669958001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6346409181794331060.post-28054422119353669702018-03-31T11:56:31.981-04:002018-03-31T11:56:31.981-04:00James,
First, I haven’t seen this particular work ...James,<br />First, I haven’t seen this particular work of Comfort’s firsthand. However, I have read him extensively in regards to TC, starting in the 80’s. He has been, as you rightly point out, an advocate of the earliest reading, particularly of the papyri. Again, not seen this work, I can only say that previously his arguments have been for specific manuscripts, yes the Alexandrian ones, for each book or group of books within the NT. He argues elsewhere for what he describes as a “Modified Documentary” approach. The manuscripts for each book that are in his judgment, based on experience with the manuscripts, the best representative of the original text, which he still uses, should be followed where extant, unless overwhelming evidence, external and internal, argue against the earliest reading. Usually, he does not accept singular readings.<br />Comfort would not be perturbed by any of what you wrote, to include his preference for the shorter Alexandrian reading. While I do not always agree with his final decision, I am also an advocate of this same documentary approach. This is why, while not being a Byzantine priority advocate, I often find arguments by Dr. R and others much more reasonable than arguments by eclecticism.<br /><br />Thanks for this article.<br /><br />TimTimothy Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06641788186736340533noreply@blogger.com