Freethought & Rationalism Archive

dost · 10-30-2005, 01:25 PM

Hi.

I browsed through a few books on the canon of the NT, the section on the apostolic fathers. These are writings such as Clement, Barnabas, Ignatius, Polycarp, the Didache etc.

My question is: do we have the originals of the apostolic writings? If not, how can we be certain about the textual integrity of the apostolic writings?

I was told a while ago that we have no originals of any of the apostolic fathers, instead, scholars rely upon late manuscripts and the writings of the later Church fathers. Again, if this is the case, how can we be certain that the apostolic fathers are generally reliable (textually)?

Metzger, R. M. Grant, Koester, and a few other scholars I have browsed, do not display serious doubts over the integrity of these writings. I need to know why?

Thanks in advance

Chris Weimer · 10-30-2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dost

My question is: do we have the originals of the apostolic writings? If not, how can we be certain about the textual integrity of the apostolic writings?

I'm not aware of the originals of any of the apostolic fathers at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dost

I was told a while ago that we have no originals of any of the apostolic fathers, instead, scholars rely upon late manuscripts and the writings of the later Church fathers. Again, if this is the case, how can we be certain that the apostolic fathers are generally reliable (textually)?

We can never be 100% certain. However, the field of textual criticism has never been stronger, and we grow more certain with every new find.

Roger Pearse · 10-31-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Weimer

I'm not aware of the originals of any of the apostolic fathers at all.

I'm told that no ancient literary text is extant in the autograph prior to around 1300.

Quote:

We can never be 100% certain. However, the field of textual criticism has never been stronger, and we grow more certain with every new find.

Well said.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

dost · 10-31-2005, 01:41 PM

Hi there,

Thank you both for your replies.

Now, if we have no early manuscripts of the writings of the apostolic fathers, and I imagine they weren't quoted extensively by the fathers of the middle ages (or am I wrong?), then how can we be certain that in the current text of these writings we essentially have what the writers generally wrote in the late first and early second centuries? This is something which I don't understand yet.

The apostolic writings are important in the study of early Christianity and are frequently discussed by scholars when it comes to the topic of NT canon. But if the textual certainty of these writings is so weak, then everything that is basically said is wishful thinking...?

Roger Pearse · 10-31-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dost

Now, if we have no early manuscripts of the writings of the apostolic fathers, and I imagine they weren't quoted extensively by the fathers of the middle ages (or am I wrong?), then how can we be certain that in the current text of these writings we essentially have what the writers generally wrote in the late first and early second centuries? This is something which I don't understand yet.

The apostolic writings are important in the study of early Christianity and are frequently discussed by scholars when it comes to the topic of NT canon. But if the textual certainty of these writings is so weak, then everything that is basically said is wishful thinking...?

The same can be said of all ancient literature. The purpose of the discipline of textual criticism is to answer it.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

10-30-2005, 01:25 PM	#1
dost Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 82	The Apostolic Fathers Hi. I browsed through a few books on the canon of the NT, the section on the apostolic fathers. These are writings such as Clement, Barnabas, Ignatius, Polycarp, the Didache etc. My question is: do we have the originals of the apostolic writings? If not, how can we be certain about the textual integrity of the apostolic writings? I was told a while ago that we have no originals of any of the apostolic fathers, instead, scholars rely upon late manuscripts and the writings of the later Church fathers. Again, if this is the case, how can we be certain that the apostolic fathers are generally reliable (textually)? Metzger, R. M. Grant, Koester, and a few other scholars I have browsed, do not display serious doubts over the integrity of these writings. I need to know why? Thanks in advance

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-31-2005, 01:41 PM	#4
dost Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 82	Hi there, Thank you both for your replies. Now, if we have no early manuscripts of the writings of the apostolic fathers, and I imagine they weren't quoted extensively by the fathers of the middle ages (or am I wrong?), then how can we be certain that in the current text of these writings we essentially have what the writers generally wrote in the late first and early second centuries? This is something which I don't understand yet. The apostolic writings are important in the study of early Christianity and are frequently discussed by scholars when it comes to the topic of NT canon. But if the textual certainty of these writings is so weak, then everything that is basically said is wishful thinking...?

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.