INTRODUCTION TO TEXTUAL CRITICISM

Abstract

By textual criticism is meant the careful examination of extant manuscripts and a systematic restoration of the text most closely approaching the author's original based on the readings obtained from such examination. In the process,  1.The physical appearance and a rough evaluation of the scribal transmission quality of each manuscript is given.  2. The reading roughly compared so that the family tree of the manuscripts can be made according to their transmission genealogy.  3. The best manuscript from this stage is used as the working base,where variant readings of every word from every manuscript are compared to the smallest details.  4. The best readings and/or emendations are decided and adopted.  5. The produced text and the family tree are then reexamined and finally adjusted as deemed necessary.