As part of tonight's quiz in Greek class we'll be covering my book New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide.
The quiz will, of course, be preceded by a set of very specific study questions from the textbook so that nothing in my classes is ever a guessing game with the prof as to what will be on the test. Why do I do this? Because I have many unpleasant memories of being in college and seminary and being asked quite literally to know EVERYTHING in a book or a chapter before taking the quiz. Of course, I was still able to ace these tests but not because I was learning anything. I simply was blessed with an excellent memory. So when I began my own teaching career at the age of 24, I resolved to treat my students better than that. Now whether or not they take advantage of the questions is up to them. I can't control that. But I want them to know I'm making every effort to help them succeed in the course.
By the way, here are the opening questions to the study guide over my book on textual criticism.
I kind of have to smile when I read them. Today, I seriously doubt that many people, scholars included, think that any student of the Bible should engage in textual criticism. That's the prerogative of trained experts, we're told. Also, take a look at question #2. Oddly enough, hardly anyone in the guild today would give the answer I'm expecting from my students. No, instead they might speak of the "initial text" or the "authorial text" or the "editorial text" or even "multivalent texts." But "original text"?
Yes, "original text."
The core purpose of textual criticism remains to reconstruct the wording closest to the original autographs. The message of the New Testament has been preserved with a high degree of tenacity, my friends. Even skeptics like Ehrman acknowledge that to be true.
So ... what do you think? Study questions? Or guessing game? Which would you prefer?