Book Review: A
Commentary on the Manuscripts and Text of the New Testament by Philip
Wesley Comfort
Needless to say, this
is not a book for the average believer. But it is a book pastors and Bible
teachers that care about every word in the Bible should read. With Bart Ehrman
and other skeptics attacking the trustworthiness of the New Testament, the time
has come for Christian leaders to become well informed and conversant with
issues of text criticism. This book, while not answering Ehrman’s twisted logic,
does help us understand the different types of manuscripts the scholars work
from. It would also help those that revere the KJV to understand why other
translations, while not being liberal (ESV, NET, for instance), have some
verses that read differently. The book helps clear up the “missing verses”
misunderstanding so common in popular Bible translation wars.
The book includes information on the Early Manuscripts, and
a helpful Annotated List of the Manuscripts of the New Testament. The book also
has a very helpful and informative Appendix on The Significance of the Nomina
Sacra (Sacred Name) and the way it (in its various incarnations) appears in New
Testament Greek manuscripts.
Highly recommended resource.
4/5 Stars
Disclosure: The book was
received for free from Kregel Academic & Ministry review program. The
program does not require a positive review, only a truthful one.
