A thorough, and in its densely technical way, charming tour of the early translations of the New Testament. A wonderful introduction to the wider world of textual history and textual criticism -- and a helpful reminder that a bit of Greek is only the beginning for understanding the early Christian world.

(Those who would look down their noses at Metzger's work on the Greek New Testament (or on that of his student, Bart Ehrman) are well advised to read this book and Metzger's _Orthodox Corruption of Scripture_ before speaking at length.)

-Kushana

Metzger has a superb, encyclopaedic style, and he uses it brilliantly in this tour of the early versions of the New Testament. It is well written and backed up with solid scholarship. Metzger takes you on a journey through the details of the Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Georgian, Ethiopic, Latin, Gothic and Slavonic versions of the New Testament, as well as giving little asides on the Arabic, Nubian, Persian, Sogdian, Caucasian Albanian, Anglo-Saxon, Old High German and Old Saxon versions. ( )