ISBN: 978-1-58983-535-1Publisher: Society of Biblical Literature
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 516
Binding: Hard
Size: 6” x 8.25” x 1”
(Note: This review is definitely a case of “He who can, does; He who cannot, reviews.” I tip my hat to Professor Michael W. Holmes for a truly outstanding creation.
Features: Nicely bound. with a preface, an introduction and a single appendix being the only additions
Comments and Observations:
Not quite a year ago, the Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software introduced a new, critically edited edition of the Greek New Testament. The SBLGNT was edited by Michael W. Holmes, PhD, is professor of Biblical Studies and Early Christianity at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Professor Holmes was the Chairman of the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies from 2001 to 2009.
The philosophy behind the development of the apparatus of the SBLGNT is quite different than other existing Greek New Testaments. The supportive apparatus of the SBLGNT does not reference the individual manuscript witnesses. Instead the SBLGNT apparatus compares the textual families underlying the Westcott-Hort (WH), Samuel Prideaux Tregelles (Treg), A Reader's Greek New Testament (NIV), Robinson and Pierpont (RP) Greek New Testaments. For an understanding of why Professor Holmes chose these texts over other options, see (http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/2010/11/sbl-gnt-three-questions-and-replies.html). In the process of establishing the text, Professor Holmes also employed “the major critical apparatuses, and the latest technical resources and manuscript discoveries”. It should be noted that the SBL, Logos and Holmes assert that the SBLGNT text differs from the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies (NA/UBS) text in more than 540 locations. Across the board, Professor Holmes thought outside the box on this one.
The use and attribution philosophy is also quite different as well. Educators and their students permission to use the SBLGNT freely in their assignments. In addition, the liberal permission and licensing policy seems to encourage the use of SBLGNT to develop new book, magazine articles and other materials in electronic or print format. Non-commercial use of SBLGNT appears to be free with only minor restrictions.
The SBLGNT is available in a print edition directly from the Society of Biblical Literature for $29.95. Compare this to $99.95 for NA and 69.95 for UBS. It is also available, without cost, in a variety of electronic formats including Logos, PDF, XML, OSIS, The Sword Project, e-Sword and plain text to name but a few.
Old Testament Comparative Verse: N/A
New Testament Comparative Verse: Matthew 5:1-12.
5:1 Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος? καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ? 2 καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων?
3 Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
4 μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.
5 μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν.
6 μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.
7 μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται.
8 μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.
9 μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.
10 μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
11 μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθ’ ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. 12 χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς? οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.
Weaknesses:
If you are familiar with the textual apparatus of either the UBC or NA, you will not find that type of information provided in the SBLGNT. Instead of comparing individual manuscripts, the SBLGNT compares the textual basis of four major Greek New Testament publications: WH, Treg, NIV and RP. It would have been nice if the SBLGNT had included an edition from the Western textual family. Without Western representation and with WH, Treg & NIV drowning out RP, the SBLGNT seems destined to be just another voice in the already overbalanced Alexandrian Superiority Choir.
Strengths: If you are looking for a comparison of where the Alexandrian (WH/Treg/NIV) and Byzantine (RP) textual families differ, the SBLGNT provides such a comparison, albeit somewhat limited. That said, it will allow the student using the SBLGNT apparatus to get a pretty fair understanding of what the Byzantine text says.
In addition, the price point is definitely in its favor. With a free electronic edition to be had for only the effort it takes to down load it and a hard bound volume for less than $30, it is definitely a grand slam bargain.
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