NWT113: A Survey of the New Testament “Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well!” NWT113: A Survey of the New Testament Chapter 4 The Canon and Text of the New Testament “Why Study the NT?” (pp. 1ff.)

4 – The Canon and Text of the New Testament The Canon is initially a “measuring reed” which representationally became a “standard.” accepted by the Church as divinely inspired standard for the Church’s belief and conduct The Precanonical Period: Old Testament, oral traditions, prophetic messages (interpreting the words and deeds of the Lord Jesus Christ) 4 – The Canon and Text of the New Testament Criterion of apostolicity for the accepted books Rationale of God’s revelation in Christ is final!

4 – The Canon and Text of the New Testament “Again it is not tedious to speak of the [books] of the New Testament. These are, the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Afterwards, the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles (called Catholic), seven, viz. of James, one; of Peter, two; of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen Epistles of Paul, written in this order. The first, to the Romans; then two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians; then to the Philippians; then to the Colossians; after these, two to the Thessalonians, and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John.” Athanasius, Thirty-Ninth Festal Letter, NPNF (2nd Series) 4:552, A.D. 367 4 – The Canon and Text of the New Testament

CODEX SINAITICUS (ca. AD 350) (Earliest Complete Hand-written Copy of the Text of the Greek New Testament)

4 – The Canon and Text of the New Testament The Text Autograph – original writing (not extant) Scroll (rolled) vs Codex (pages) amanuenses with liberty to choose terms scribes with the job of copying exemplars 4 – The Canon and Text of the New Testament Writing materials apart from papyrus: vellum (calfskin) parchment (sheepskin) Convention of manuscript writing majuscule – everything in capital letters minuscule – cursive in small letters

Papyrus Manuscript of Luke 16:16-21: Greek Text (all capital letters and no spaces between words) SPOKEN TEXT or ORAL BOOK