An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and Their Texts.

An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and Their Texts. D.C. Parker. Cambridge University Press. [pound sterling]50.00 (US$99.00). xxx + 368 pages. ISBN 978-0-521-71989-6. The publication of this text is something of a landmark as it is the first introduction to the manuscripts and texts that make up the New Testament to appear, in English, for some forty years. For almost half that time Prof. Parker has worked in connexion with the International Greek New Testament Project. Also during that period criticism and editing of the New Testament have changed considerably due to the introduction of computers (the plates illustrating the text are placed on an accompanying website), changing attitudes to the importance of MSS., new research and finally the publication of new research tools. Prof. Parker seeks to show N.T. students the exciting new range of approaches to understanding N.T. documents, in particular the need to treat each document individually: there is no one approach to the study of N.T. documents. Prof. Parker describes the individual documents and explains the intellectual tools required to understand them. He discusses the role and nature of textual criticism and is keen to show the importance of variant readings. Most important of all, he admits, as all genuine scholars do, that 'I am struck by how Utile we know ... about almost everything I have written about'. That one sentence should be sufficient proof of this book's value to any doubters. (M.F.)