[B-Greek] Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum 27th Ed. vs. UBS Greek NewTestament 4th Ed.

Brion Brooks bjbrooks at gmnp.net
Fri Sep 19 10:07:10 EDT 2003


Seth,

As I'm quite new to learning Greek, and I sense you are too, I'll share my rookie thoughts.

The basic biblical texts themselves are essentially identical -- the difference is the makeup and extent of the apparatus. (The Alands wrote a book called "the Text of the New Testament" which includes a very well-balanced and handy discussion of the differences between the N-A and the GNT.) 

Neither is coded with Strongs numbers. As far as interlinears are concerned, the topic is moot as, again, the texts themselves are virtually identical. 

>From my novice perspective, here's how I distinguish the two.
1) The most obvious difference is the extent of the textual variants listed. N-E, if I remember correctly, references about 5 times the number of variants as the GNT. (On the other hand, Metzger has published a handy little commentary on the GNT variants (cleverly called "A Textual Commentary"); it lists the variants, categorizes them according to the degree of perceived consensus on the selection chosen for the text, and lists various reasons for that consensus (or lack thereof). Good stuff.)

2) For simple basic reading and translation, I like the GNT better only because the font seems slightly larger, the leading (space between lines) seems greater, and passages are broken up with English headings (these are nice "landmarks" for me).

After my first year of Greek, I met with my instructor once a week during the summer to read/translate the GNT. She read from the Nestle-Aland; I read from the GNT. I think my instructor preferred the N-E, as she could quickly check for variants, such as in awkward grammatical passages. Since I can't read Greek with enough fluidity, plodding through the text itself is challenging enough for now. 

Being a self-confessed bookaholic, though, I own both (one I keep at work, the other at home). Over the years, the N-A may start to get more use. For now, though, it's the GNT that is carried to church.

Brion Brooks

Gruel, Mills, Nims & Pylman 
50 Monroe Place, Ste 700W 
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 

616-235-5500 
bjbrooks at gmnp.net 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: Seth VM [mailto:sethvm at hotmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 10:24 PM
> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [B-Greek] Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum 27th Ed. 
> vs. UBS Greek NewTestament 4th Ed.
> 
> 
> Hello Everyone:
> 
> For those of you familiar with the various greek bible
> versions, I would 
> like some advice on which to purchase. For instance, which 
> bible publication 
> has a better apparatus, which has better "presentation" of 
> the greek text 
> (i.e.: is it coded with any lexical numbering system such as 
> strongs?), or 
> which, if either, has an interlinear edition? I would greatly 
> appreciate 
> your advice.
> 
> Thankyou.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> Seth Mertens
> 



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