Launched in spring of 2015, this project represents an effort by the Museum of the Bible (MOTB) Scholars Initiative to promote student involvement in the International Greek New Testament Project (IGNTP). The goal of the IGNTP is to produce a comprehensive critical apparatus of the Greek New Testament (the Editio Critica Maior), and through the CRBMI, Shepherds Theological Seminary students can participate in the transcription of Greek minuscule manuscripts for this massive scholarly undertaking. With the success of the project pilot in the spring, this program now presents STS students with a wonderful opportunity to engage in world-class biblical research and cooperate with an international community of scholars. The data collection on over 300 manuscripts of each of the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) is nearly complete.
To participate in the program, students with facility in biblical Greek must acquire skill at reading Greek minuscule, the form of writing used in most manuscripts of the Pastoral Epistles. Students use manuscript images and data provided by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung) in Münster, work under a local mentor skilled in manuscript studies, and participate in webinars with internationally renowned textual critics. STS students receive course credit for participating in the project (under NT704 – New Testament Textual Criticism Lab).
CRBMI director and STS professor Andrew Smith is the Project Supervisor for this work, overseeing the mentors at the other participating institutions, assigning manuscripts to students, and answering manuscript questions that local mentors are unable to field. Participating institutions include: Baylor University, Oxford University, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Concordia Seminary, Liberty University, Örebro Theological Seminary (Sweden), University of Northwestern, Louisiana College, Oral Roberts University, Abilene Christian University, East Texas Baptist University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and California Baptist University.
Participants in the Greek Paul Project are eligible to attend the SCIO Logos in Oxford program offered each summer at Oxford University. Visit the project welcome page here.