Loading...
Textual Criticism in the Gaps
McCollum, James
McCollum, James
Author
Abstract
This article concerns the likelihoods of competing textual reconstructions in the Chester Beatty Papyrus 𝔓⁴⁶ based on the available space in its lacunose lines. To quantify these relative probabilities, the author uses statistical models of line lengths in 𝔓⁴⁶ and a recently described technique for calculating the likelihood of a reconstructed lacunose text. He first demonstrates the power and versatility of this approach with examples in Gal 4:17 and 3:1. He then revisits two more contested textual reconstructions proposed for 𝔓⁴⁶: the absence of τῷ θεῷ in Heb 11:4, suggested by G.D. Kilpatrick in 1941, and the absence of σὺν ἐπισκόποις καὶ διακόνοις in Phil 1:1, suggested by T.C. Skeat in 1995. He shows that Kilpatrick’s proposed shorter reading in 𝔓⁴⁶ is six times more likely than the longer reading in Heb 11:4, while the evidence is not decisive between the readings in Phil 1:1.
Keywords
Gal 3:1, Gal 4:17, Phil 1:1, Heb 11:4, 𝔓⁴⁶, textual criticism, computer-assisted methods
Date
2024
Type
Journal article
Journal
Book
Volume
66
Issue
2
Page Range
257-278
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open
Notes
© Joey McCollum, 2024
Published with license by Koninklijke Brill NV
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.
Published with license by Koninklijke Brill NV
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.