Slide 20 of 22
Notes:
This step focuses not on the manuscript tradition, but on how the text would read if each of the possible variants were adopted.
- Translate the text using each of the variants and note what difference each reading would make in the context.
- Consider clues re: scribal transcriptional tendencies to correct toward smoothness, fullness, or greater clarity (see discussion above and p.1 of the Textual Criticism handout, "Basic criteria")
more difficult and shorter preferred
easier, longer, or harmonies more suspect
- Consider intrinsic matters relative to the content:
similarities/differences from author's style or content
(a concordance might be helpful
how each reading would affect the context
Are there any clues to theological interests or expansion?
