[B-Greek] Very interesting GNT, _A Readers Greek New Testament
A. Philip Brown II
pbrown at GBS.EDU
Thu Apr 29 20:35:08 EDT 2004
Fellow B-Greekers,
In the discussion of the importance and desirability of Greek students
having a working understanding, or at least awareness, of NT textual
criticism, some appear have lost sight of the purpose of the RGNT: to
facilitate the reading of the NT in Greek.
Its purpose was not to justify the NIV translation committee's textual
choices nor to explain them; it proposes only to note them in those places
where they differ from the UBS and it does do this.
Its purpose is not to provide a replacement for critical texts such as the
UBS/NA. No responsible teacher of Greek would present it as such
In terms of its raison d'etre--to make reading the GNT easier--the RNGT,
regardless of its translational association, adds a much needed span
bridging the gap between the 1st year student and real reading of the text.
I would venture to say that if one motivates a student to really read the
GNT, it wouldn't matter what text he was reading--TR, UBS/NA, Majority,
Sinaiticus, A, B, C, D, etc.--he would be significantly up the road from
where most 2nd & 3rd year Greek students are, even a good percentage of
those graduating with MAs or MDivs.
Philip Brown
Cincinnati, OH
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