A Biblical Vision, Part I: Mastering the Old Testament Witness to Christ

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Appendix 37 An Example of the Practice of Textual Criticism Adapted from R. C. Briggs, Interpreting the New Testament Today

Mark 1.1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, (the Son of God)

According to the critical apparatus, the following manuscripts (or group of manuscripts) read:

A (Codex Alexandrinus). Fifth century. Byzantine text (in the Gospels).

B (Codex Vaticanus). Fourth century. Alexandrian text (in the Gospels and Acts).

D (Codex Bezae). Fifth or sixth century. Western text.

W (Washington Codex). Fifth century. Western text (in Mark 1.1-5.30).

(koine). Group of late uncial and minuscule manuscripts dating from the seventh century. Western text.

(Family 1, Lake Group). Twelfth century and later. Akin to fourth- and fifth-century Caesarean text.

(Family 13, Ferrar Group). Twelfth century and later. Akin to Caesarean text.

it (Itala or Old Latin). Eleventh century and later. Text is early Western (prior to date of Vulgate).

vg (Vulgate). Authorized Latin translation, completed by Jerome in AD 405 (Gospels A. D. 385). Western text.

sy P (Peshitta). Authorized fifth-century Syriac translation. Akin to the Byzantine text (in the Gospels).