The Critical Text refers to a Greek text of the New Testament that is based on a combination of the earliest and most accurate manuscripts available. The goal is to provide the most accurate, earliest text possible based on all available manuscripts. The Critical Text is sometimes spoken of in contrast to the Textus Receptus and Majority Text, which both draw from manuscripts that do not include the two earliest complete New Testament manuscripts, Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, as well as other portions and fragments of New Testament writings discovered over the past century of New Testament Textual Criticism.
Historically, the Textus Receptus had long served as the primary Greek text for New Testament studies. However, in 1881 scholars Westcott and Hort published a new Greek New Testament text that included the findings of Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus. Since then, many editions of the Greek New Testament have been published. The two most common include the Nestle-Aland text produced in Germany and the UBS (United Bible Society) text produced in the United States. Both editions are identical in terms of the Greek text. The differences include punctuation, how additional manuscripts are cited, and that the Nestle-Aland text is designed more for scholars and academic study.
The Critical Text has sometimes been attacked by critics as changing the original text of the New Testament. However, the opposite is actually true. The various Critical Texts have sought to provide greater accuracy based on the numerous new manuscript findings. The weaknesses of this type of text primarily lie in its eclectic nature. Instead of viewing how one writer has copied the manuscript of the New Testament, the Critical Text has made the decisions regarding which variants are correct or incorrect. Though these selections have been made by the top scholars in the field, not everyone agrees with every choice.
Though there have long been disputes regarding whether the Critical Text is a positive change, time has shown that the many new discoveries of ancient manuscripts should be studied and utilized in the understanding of the Greek text. Today's technologies are allowing even greater access beyond scholars to any online user through digital imaging and manuscript comparisons available in Bible software programs.
One example of this increased technology is found at codexsinaiticus.org. Previously this fourth century New Testament manuscript was divided in four different locations and had only been available by traveling to each library or in facsimile copies. Today, the images of this 1,600-year old manuscript can be accessed online by anyone, comparing its wording with the Critical Text or other manuscripts. The goal with providing manuscripts online, and with the Critical Text, is to better determine the earliest form of the biblical text, to understand it, and to apply it to our lives today.
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