Princeton Seminary Hosts Event on Ancient Texts in the Digital Age

Princeton, NJ, November 3, 2006–Princeton Theological Seminary’s Center of Continuing Education will host an event titled “How Computers Are Changing the New Testament” on Wednesday, November 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Cooper Conference Room of Erdman Hall on the Seminary campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The presentation will examine a series of new electronic editions of the Gospel of John, and explore the effect of these different editions on readers and students of the text. The study of the ancient copies of the Gospels and comparison of their texts is going through a revolution as new critical theories and the introduction of computer software are changing the ways scholars work and think. This topic is of interest to theological librarians, students of religion and library science, computer support professionals, seminarians, ministry professionals, church leaders, and anyone curious about the effect of the digital age on how we read and think about texts.

A team of three scholars who are making a series of editions of the Gospel of John in paper and electronic formats for the International Greek New Testament Project at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, will lead the event. Bruce Morrill studied at Kansas State University and Harding University Graduate School in Memphis, where his dissertation treated Greek manuscripts of 1 Corinthians. David Parker studied at both St. Andrews University in Scotland and at Cambridge University, and has taught at the University of Birmingham since 1985. His writings include a monograph on Codex Bezae (1992) and The Living Text of the Gospels (1997). Ulrich Schmid studied at the Universities of Tübingen and Münster and has taught at the Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel. His publications include books on Marcion’s Pauline text (1995) and the medieval Gospel harmonies (2005).

“Professor Parker is a world renowned biblical scholar,” said Dean of Continuing Education Hui Chen, “and his work interfacing digital technology and sacred text is absolutely cutting-edge.  He will make you think about and read the Bible in a whole new way.”

For more information about this event, contact the Center of Continuing Education at 609.497.7990, or visit www.ptsem.edu/ce.