PhD Candidate, Theology Programme
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
W. H. Chong is a PhD candidate in the Theology Programme at the University of Otago, Dunedin, and author of “How to Speak in Tongues: A Historical–Contextual Reading of Paul’s Use of γλῶσσα/方言 in 1 Corinthians 12–14” in Religions (MDPI, 2024). He is currently investigating the delimitation history of Ephesians in the earliest Greek New Testament manuscripts containing Ephesians (under the supervision of Professor Paul Trebilco and Dr Katie Marcar). A graduate of Sydney Missionary and Bible College (MDiv, Australian University of Theology), William’s other research interests include understanding the early New Testament church from a diaspora lens, Bible translation and reception history, and wisdom literature. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and running with his family, and learning to converse more fluently with church members, neighbours and strangers in their heart language.
Thursday, May 28 | 3:55 – 4:45 | Breakout Room
“The Last Battle”: Competing approaches to punctuation and textual structure in ECM Revelation, UBS6/NA29, and the
earliest Greek NT manuscripts
The Editio Critica Maior text of Revelation (ECM Revelation) is the first critical edition of the New Testament
(NT) text to print its “Greek structuring”, including punctuation and paragraph divisions, based on textual evidence
found in Greek New Testament manuscripts (GNT MSS) from the first millennium. These and other “innovations” in
ECM Revelation are presented in an accompanying Studienband containing editor Martin Karrer’s defense of the
printed punctuation and paragraph divisions, which is also summarised in a “Reader’s Edition” (Lesetext) of ECM
Revelation. Karrer intends to likewise incorporate this important facet of paratext-critical studies in producing the
Editio Critia Maior of Hebrews. Despite multiple personal appeals, the editorial committee of the UBS Greek New
Testament 6th edition (UBS6) and 29th edition of the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (NA29) have decided not
to alter the punctuation in Revelation to reflect the choices in ECM Revelation, opting to retain its “modern
punctuation conventions for the ease of readers(and consistency throughout the edition).” To date, there has been
little critical evaluation of how paratextual changes in GNT editions influence the translation and exegesis of
Revelation (and other NT texts) of readers.
This paper will compare the strengths and weaknesses of ECM Revelation’s approach to detailing punctuation and
textual structure with a proposed alternative method designed to privilege the earliest MS evidence, and more
closely reflect the design of ECM’s primary textual apparatus. By comparison of selected verses from “the last battle” in Rev.
12, I will argue that the current presentation of “Greek structuring” in ECM Revelation (and potentially Hebrews)
should be revised in a number of aspects. This will ensure the treasure trove of text-structuring data unearthed in the
process of future work in the ECM will be more widely accessed, accepted and adopted in future GNT editions.