210 - The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations

The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations
By Bruce M. Metzger
Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1977. 498 pp. $17.50.

The biblical field of investigation, known as "Texts and Versions," is difficult to the point of being exotic. To determine the original Greek text of the New Testament by an intelligent use of the versions into which it has been translated requires not only the knowledge of a host of languages (Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, etc.), but also an awareness of the way in which translators into the various languages were likely to be literal or free in their work. In numerous previous works, Bruce Metzger has shown himself a master in this field, indeed probably the greatest New Testament textual specialist that America has produced.

When I was asked to review his latest book, I had the wrong impression that it might be a revision of a manual he had written in 1964, The Text of the New Testament, which contained a succinct treatment of the ancient versions. I was delighted to find that what I received is a major new work which gives the most coherent picture of the ancient versions that I have ever seen. As I would have expected, Metzger is thoroughly abreast of the history of research into the versions and gives nuanced evaluations of scholarly positions. Lucidity and balance have always been the hallmark of his writing. What I did not expect was the humane breadth of his approach to such a technical subject so that even the unitiated may have their interest aroused. The discussion of each version is prefaced by a brief history of the development of Christianity in the area represented by the version, and by useful information about the respective language and alphabet. Often this introductory material gives fascinating insights into church history, helpful even for those not interested in the versions themselves. The next steps are more technical: a list of the manuscripts in which the version is preserved; the most noteworthy characteristics of the version and its textual affinities; and finally the limitations of the version in rendering Greek. Although there are nuggets of general interest here, this is basically scholars' material. It is almost a welcome testimonial that Metzger has some limitations in the area to find other scholars (each a specialist in a particular language) brought in for the very detailed linguistic discussions. But it is Metzger's own unique range of knowledge that integrates the whole book and makes it a remarkably convenient research tool.

To offer a real critique one would need a major expertise in this area that I dare not claim. Someone recently reviewed my book on the birth

211 - The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations

narratives of Jesus with the somewhat backhanded compliment: "I have often wished I was as curious about anything as Brown is about everything." Let me pass on the compliment without the backhand: "I wish I knew as much about any one of these versions as Metzger knows about every one of them." But there is one point that I have heard questioned several times over the years. Metzger shares Sir Frederick Kenyon's view that the Pope Sixtus edition of the Vulgate was superior but was recalled through Jesuit skulduggery to be replaced by the (implicitly inferior) edition of Pope Clement. But there is another "version" of the story, according to which Pope Sixtus was troubled in his last days and autocratically imposed indefensible readings in the edition that bore his name, so that a corrective edition under Clement, albeit undistinguished, was a necessity. If for no other reason than to preserve a reputation, let me express curiosity for more knowledge on this point.

Raymond E. Brown
Union Theological Seminary
New York, New York