Stronger than fiction: The 'Velesian Readings' of the Greek New Testament

Jan Krans*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The eventful career of the 'Velesian readings' constitute an instructive chapter in the history of New Testament exegesis. Around 1570, Pedro Fajardo, Marquis of los Vélez, jotted down some 2,000 variant readings in a printed New Testament, giving later researchers the impression that these annotations resulted from a persistent perusal of Greek manuscripts. The original annotated book was never found, but the Velesian readings found their way into many editions, for example Walton's 1657 Polyglot. Eventually, the readings were shown to be retranslations from Latin into Greek, intended to vindicate the Latin Vulgate against the received Greek text. This chapter traces the role scholars played in their unmasking. It shows that variant readings were of paramount importance in theological controversy

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationScriptural Authority and Biblical Criticism in the Dutch Golden Age
Subtitle of host publicationGod's Word Questioned
EditorsDirk van Miert, Henk Nellen, Piet Steenbakkers, Jetze Touber
PublisherOxford University Press
Chapter3
Pages73-88
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)9780198806837
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Nov 2017

Keywords

  • Forged readings
  • Greek text
  • New Testament
  • Theological controversy
  • Vulgate

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