How We Got the New Testament

“Misinformation abounds among both the general public and even some scholars about how carefully the text of the New Testament has been preserved, copied, and translated. Stanley Porter sets the record straight. All three processes have been undertaken with a remarkable degree of care and accuracy. Yet this book is no mere rehash of traditional positions. It is completely up-to-date with the very latest of cutting-edge scholarship in all three areas and offers distinctive proposals for furthering the progress of scholarship as well. It is a book to be read slowly, digested in detail, and thoughtfully appropriated. Highly recommended.”—Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary

“A prolific biblical scholar addresses a fundamental question: How did we get the New Testament? Text criticism, textual transmission, and translation theory are oft-plowed terrain, but Stanley Porter unearths some little-known nuggets in this deceptively compact and thoroughly researched volume. Well versed and well published in all three fields, Porter offers both nonspecialists and seasoned scholars new insights about the stability of the Greek text, the early formation of the canon, and the rich variety of translation theories. There are also provocative new theses, suggesting different ways to frame these subdisciplines, as well as paths for breaking stalemates and moving forward.”—N. Clayton Croy, professor of New Testament, Trinity Lutheran Seminary

“From the opening story about John Brown’s life quest to the final chapter describing Christendom’s twenty-one centuries of translating sacred texts, this book is filled with personal stories rarely heard, international scholarship seldom reviewed, familiar evidence freshly viewed, and innovative theories in compelling purview. Porter’s erudition is amply demonstrated here. But what makes this book needed is not its extensive footnotes, not the sweep of its discussion of ancient manuscripts, not the playful command of the history of text criticism or theories of text transmission, not even the respectful retelling of the drama of translation since the LXX. All of these things make the book useful. What makes it needed is the prospective courage, the independent thought, and the gentle but deadly criticism of so many scholarly commonplaces in these fields of research. Use this text in your graduate course (or perhaps undergraduate seminar) on exegesis or text criticism or New Testament introduction. If you have no such course, then create one. Just get students to read it.”—C. Michael Robbins, Azusa Pacific University

“With his typical breadth of knowledge, Stanley Porter offers us another helpful volume to frame our understanding of the background of the New Testament. This succinct text on complicated topics is unique in bringing together an introductory discussion of three related but distinct NT topics—textual criticism, early manuscript transmission (with some discussion of canon formation), and translation theory and practice. This is a solid resource for the educated layperson and a good introductory textbook for the college and seminary classroom.”—Jonathan T. Pennington, associate professor of New Testament interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Porter’s How We Got the New Testament is a welcome addition to the growing body of recent literature dealing with New Testament textual criticism and its corollaries canon formation and Bible translation. Porter, however, does not simply deal with the traditional topics of text, transmission, and translation—though he does this well; he also delves much deeper into the emergent and controversial methodological reassessments that have been prompted by a reinvigorated discipline. Porter’s work not only serves as a helpful contribution to the ongoing discussions related to text-critical methodology but also seeks to extend the conversations originally framed by the luminous studies of individuals like Elliott, Epp, Holmes, Hurtado, Nida, and Parker.”—Kent D. Clarke, B. F. Westcott Professor of New Testament, Textual Criticism, Greek Languages, and Hermeneutics, Trinity Western University

“Porter provides a wide-ranging historical summary and assessment of topics that are crucial to New Testament studies and to the church. Although the text and transmission of the New Testament have been discussed extensively in many prior works, this book is particularly useful because it is current with recent debates. The treatment of modern translations in part 3 is especially helpful and goes well beyond the usual considerations of formal versus functional equivalence.”—Rodney Decker, professor of New Testament, Baptist Bible Seminary

“Not your typical study of the formation of the New Testament, this book takes the reader on a personal, guided tour of the documents and the methods used by scholars, by which we arrive at our present-day copies of the New Testament. Stanley Porter is one of the most prolific scholars working on the manuscripts, language, linguistics, and translation of the New Testament writings. In this book readers will learn how we gather from the multitude of individual manuscripts the texts printed, read, and preached from today. Notable here is Porter’s defense of the traditional search for the original text in the face of the current trend to deny its feasibility or diminish its relevance. Going beyond attention to the ancient texts, Porter also argues for the importance of closely considering matters of translation since most of us encounter the New Testament most frequently in translated form. He offers informed evaluations of modern English translations and then introduces some of his extensive work on current translation theory and method. The result is a unique presentation that will greatly benefit both novice and expert alike.”—Charles E. Hill, professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando