TCNT XXA

The calculation of manuscript percentages is not as straightforward as one might assume. There are four primary factors that must be taken into consideration: (1) the length of the variant unit, (2) whether corrections and additions by later scribes are counted, (3) how misspellings and alternate spellings are handled, and (4) how long omissions are handled. Because the manuscript percentages in this volume are calculated from the collations presented in the Text und Textwert volumes, those volumes guide how these four factors are handled in the present volume. The length of the variant unit is simply the length as presented in Text und Textwert.[fn] Corrections and additions by later scribes are counted in addition to the original reading of a manuscript. Thus, a single manuscript can be counted more than once.[fn] Consequently, it is more accurate to speak of the percentage of manuscript readings than the percentage of manuscripts. When Text und Textwert groups alternate spellings under one variant, they are counted as one variant in the calculation of manuscript percentages in this volume. Similarly, when Text und Textwert groups alternate spellings under separate variants, they are counted as separate variants in the calculation of manuscript percentages in this volume. Finally, manuscripts that have long omissions due to factors such as homoioteleuton are included in the total number when calculating percentages.

The process of calculation is best illustrated by example. Below is a summary of the Text und Textwert collation for 2 John 9. This variant unit occurs after the words ο μενων εν τη διδαχη (‘whoever abides in the teaching’). The readings are as follows:

Although the grand total is 569, the manuscripts labeled as X, Y, and Z are not included in the calculations. This reduces the total to 513. Thus the percentages are as follows:

In summary, 89.3% of the manuscript readings support the Byzantine text (Reading 1), while 4.5% of the manuscript readings support the critical text (Reading 2).

1 Corinthians 2:1 provides another helpful example. This variant unit occurs after the words καταγγελλων υμιν (‘proclaiming to you’).

Although the grand total is 746, the manuscripts labeled as W, X, and Z are not included in the calculations. This reduces the total to 597. Thus the percentages are as follows:

In summary, 93.1% of the manuscript readings support the Byzantine text (Reading 1), while 4.4% of the manuscript readings support Nestle-Aland and Westcott-Hort (Reading 2). (In this case SBL and Tyndale House agree with the Byzantine text.) It should be noted that although Reading 1B and Reading 3 have the same English translation as Reading 1, it is the percentage for Reading 1 that is given in the footnote at 1 Corinthians 2:1. This is because the Greek text of Robinson and Pierpont matches Reading 1 and not Reading 1B or Reading 3.

As a rule, manuscripts labeled as U or V are included in the calculations, while manuscripts labeled as W, X, Y, or Z are not. Readings labeled as 1B, 1C, 1D, 2B, 2C, 2D, etc., are always treated separately.[fn]

The Text und Textwert collations for the Gospel of John present manuscript totals in a peculiar way that requires additional explanation. While some readings are labeled 1B, 1C, 1D, 2B, 2C, 2D, etc., other readings are labeled 1-f or 1-f1, 1-f2, 1-f3, etc. Readings with the -f label are not presented with a subtotal. Usually (but not always) they are included in the prior subtotal. For example, in John 4:37 the first three readings are listed as follows:

In this case, the actual subtotals are as follows:

In order to be consistent with the calculation methods used with the other Text und Textwert volumes, the subtotal of 1,332 is what would be used to calculate the percentage of manuscripts for Reading 1.

Nevertheless, there are times when the -f label is not included in the prior subtotal. Reading 13 and Reading 14-f in John 7:40(1) provide a good example. Below is an exact representation of the Text und Textwert data.

Reading 13 is found in nine manuscripts, which are each listed. The subtotal is 9 and cannot therefore include Reading 14-f. Reading 14-f, which is supported only by manuscript 335, must be given a separate subtotal of 1 even though no subtotal is listed. The rule of thumb is that if the label preceding -f is the same as the prior label, it is included in the prior subtotal, but if the label preceding -f is not the same as the prior label, it is not included in the prior subtotal. Thus in John 4:37 Reading 1-f is included in the subtotal for Reading 1 because the label preceding -f is the same as the prior label. However, in John 7:40(1) Reading 14-f is not included in the subtotal for Reading 13 because the label preceding -f is not the same as the prior label. While -f is the most common label that is not presented with a subtotal, the same rule applies for any readings that have a hyphen followed by a lowercase letter or lowercase letters (such as -o and -of).

By following the model for calculation described above, anyone with access to the Text und Textwert volumes should be able to replicate the manuscript percentages found in the footnotes of this volume.[fn]

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