When I was writing my PhD in Old Testament studies, much of my work focused on the intersection of linguistics, literary criticism, and discourse analysis. Embedded within this was a rich exploration of textual criticism—a field that fascinated me not only for its academic depth but for its profound implications for how we read and understand the Bible. Textual criticism seeks to reconstruct the original wording of biblical texts by comparing the vast array of manuscripts, ancient translations, and textual traditions. This discipline allows us to get closer to the words that shaped the faith and practice of ancient communities.
Recently, I’ve found myself drawn back to this area of study with renewed passion. Perhaps it’s the growing appreciation for the complexity of the biblical text in our modern conversations, or maybe it’s the desire to make these technical yet vital insights accessible to more people. Either way, I am embarking on a journey to revisit textual criticism of the Old Testament, and I invite you to come along.
At its core, textual criticism is about wrestling with questions like:
- Why do different manuscripts of the same biblical text sometimes disagree?
- What can variations in ancient versions (like the Septuagint or Dead Sea Scrolls) tell us about how the text was preserved, transmitted, and understood?
- How can we discern which readings might be closer to the original?
For instance, the Old Testament is preserved in several key textual traditions: the Masoretic Text (MT), the Septuagint (LXX), the Samaritan Pentateuch, and fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Each of these reflects a history of transmission influenced by theological, linguistic, and cultural factors. Variations between these sources can be as minor as a single word or as significant as an entire verse. Engaging with these differences is not just an intellectual exercise—it’s a way of deepening our appreciation for the Bible’s history and its relevance today.
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be exploring these ideas in a series of blog posts designed for lay readers. My goal is to demystify textual criticism and show how it enhances, rather than undermines, our faith and understanding of Scripture. We’ll discuss fascinating topics such as:
- The role of scribes in preserving the biblical text.
- Key examples of textual variants and what they teach us.
- How textual criticism illuminates familiar passages like Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53.
- Why understanding the textual history of the Old Testament matters for our faith today.
This journey is personal for me—a return to a topic that once consumed hours of my research and continues to stir my curiosity. But more than that, it’s a chance to share insights that I hope will inspire a deeper love for the Word of God in you, the reader. Stay tuned for the first post in this series, where we’ll unpack the basics of textual criticism and set the stage for the rich discoveries ahead.
