Changing the Goalpost of New Testament Textual Criticism

by Abidan Paul Shah

Overview

Before the 1960s, the goal of New Testament Textual Criticism was singular: to retrieve the "original text" of the New Testament. Since then, the goalpost has incrementally shifted away from the "original text" to retrieving "any text" or "many texts" of the NT. Some scholars have even concluded that the "original text" is hopelessly lost and cannot be retrieved with any confidence or accuracy. Other scholars have gone a step further to claim that the idea of an "original text" itself is a misconception that needs to be abandoned. If this new approach in NTTC is correct, then the authority of Scripture is weakened or no longer valid. It will be shown in this book that such is not the case. Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the need to return to the traditional goalpost of NTTC, i.e., to retrieve the original text. Without a generally definitive text, the door will be left wide open to recreate any desired text of the NT. An unsettled original text will result in an unsettled biblical theology due to a lack of any authoritative and standard text. Consequently, it will lead to an unsettled Christian faith and practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725278714
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	10/02/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Abidan Paul Shah has a PhD from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaches New Testament and Greek at Piedmont International University.

Abidan Paul Shah (born October, 1973) has his Ph.D. in New Testament Textual Criticism (ancient biblical manuscripts) and teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Carolina University, Winston Salem. He holds a Masters of Divinity with languages and a Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism. He has been the Lead Pastor of Clearview Church, Henderson, NC for 24 years. He has read scholarly papers at the National Evangelical Theological Society and is a regular columnist with the local newspaper. Prior to committing to full-time ministry, Abidan served for four years as a Christian school administrator.

He lives in the community with his beautiful wife Nicole and their 4 kids (Rebecca – 27 yrs, Abigail – 24 yrs, Nicholas – 19 yrs, and Thomas – 16 yrs).

Dr. Shah has authored three books with a fourth book to be released.

Changing the Goalpost of New Testament Textual Criticism - Wipf & Stock

30 Days Through a Crisis - Self-Published

30 Days to a New Beginning - Self-Published

Can We Reach the Original Text of the New Testament?” - Wipf and Stock

Dr. Shah also has a daily radio show called “Clearview Today with Dr. Abidan Shah” where he talks about a multitude of topics, specifically relating to the academic study of the Bible. As an adjunct professor of NT and Greek at Carolina University, his teaching videos are available on his YouTube page.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“In this much-needed study of New Testament textual criticism, Shah offers far more than careful historical scholarship concerning one of the most vexing questions in this field. While his analysis offers a first-class treatment of the concept of ‘original text,’ he also rediscovers ideas that speak to the current confusion concerning the overriding goal of the discipline of textual criticism. The result of Shah’s work is that rare academic book that is grounded in careful research and yet speaks powerfully to the church today about the proper role and goal of New Testament textual criticism. This is a scintillating book that I believe will prove vital for the church as it seeks to be faithful to its historical documents.”

—David Alan Black, M. O. Owens Jr. Chair of New Testament, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary



“Shah’s work on this vitally important topic is both thorough and insightful. He is at his best when he is tracing and documenting the major players and ideas in the modern trends of New Testament textual criticism, and even those who might be inclined to disagree with Shah’s conclusions will find much in this work that is of great value to contemporary research in textual criticism.”

—Edward D. Gravely, Professor of Christian Studies, Charleston Southern University



“The great pioneers of the field of New Testament textual criticism sometimes differed in method but agreed on the goal of the discipline—restoring the original text of the New Testament. Changing the Goalpost shows that some modern textual critics have abandoned this historic quest as unattainable and rightly urges a return to the traditional goal for the sake of both the academy and the church.”

—Charles L. Quarles, Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Charles Page Chair of Biblical Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Editorial Reviews

In this much-needed study of New Testament textual criticism, Shah offers far more than careful historical scholarship concerning one of the most vexing questions in this field. While his analysis offers a first-class treatment of the concept of ‘original text,’ he also rediscovers ideas that speak to the current confusion concerning the overriding goal of the discipline of textual criticism. The result of Shah’s work is that rare academic book that is grounded in careful research and yet speaks powerfully to the church today about the proper role and goal of New Testament textual criticism. This is a scintillating book that I believe will prove vital for the church as it seeks to be faithful to its historical documents.”

—David Alan Black, M. O. Owens Jr. Chair of New Testament, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary



“Shah’s work on this vitally important topic is both thorough and insightful. He is at his best when he is tracing and documenting the major players and ideas in the modern trends of New Testament textual criticism, and even those who might be inclined to disagree with Shah’s conclusions will find much in this work that is of great value to contemporary research in textual criticism.”

—Edward D. Gravely, Professor of Christian Studies, Charleston Southern University



“The great pioneers of the field of New Testament textual criticism sometimes differed in method but agreed on the goal of the discipline—restoring the original text of the New Testament. Changing the Goalpost shows that some modern textual critics have abandoned this historic quest as unattainable and rightly urges a return to the traditional goal for the sake of both the academy and the church.”

—Charles L. Quarles, Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Charles Page Chair of Biblical Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

From the Publisher