Editio Critica Maior
Editio Critica Maior (ECM) is a critical edition of the Greek New Testament being produced by the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung (Eng. "Institute for New Testament Textual Research") -which is famous for Kurt Aland's Nestle-Aland - Novum Testament Graece e.g.- in collaboration with other international institutes. The 'ECM' documents the history of the Greek text through the first millennium on the basis of Greek manuscripts, old translations, and New Testament citations in ancient Christian literature that are of significance to the history of transmission. On the basis of genealogical investigations of the material, first prepared with this completeness, the original text of the Greek New Testament is reconstructed. The Editio Critica Maior project is supported by the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities. It is to be completed by the year 2030.
The beginnings
Since the founding of the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung (INTF) in 1959 by Kurt Aland, manuscripts – some of which had previously been unknown or lost, were traced and photographed, and all known manuscripts were photographed and cataloged. The INTF thus acquired over 90% of the known material on microfilm or photo.
First evaluation
In the mid-1980s, a text program was developed. Uniform texts, which, as is well known, constituted the main part in the transmission of the high-middle age – have been dropped out. After the elimination of these texts, the material that is relevant to the textual history of the first millennium is now available: in addition to the manuscripts of this period, the numerous among later manuscripts, which reflect the older textual history. The (still) very high number of relevant manuscripts is gradually transcribed and subjected to a complete text comparison (Vollkollation). The results are recorded in databases. For the first time this allows a computer-assisted exploration of the entire material. Above all, the acquisition of genealogical data is important, which illuminates the textual history and especially its beginnings.
The digitization
The institute uses digital methods at all levels of its philological work: handwriting is captured in the highest possible quality as digital photos. These photos are the basis for the transcriptions to be made on the computer. Additionally digitized material from other institutes is taken into consideration. The software Collate is then used to prepare the critical edition.
The result
In 1997 the first installment of this edition was published by Barbara Aland. The Catholic Letters and also The Acts of the Apostels are available printed and digitally (by using the New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room). In cooperation with the International Greek New Testament Project, the Johannesevangelium is in preparation. In addition an edition, that has been published in printed form, a digital platform - the New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room has been developed, which allows online access to all data collected during the work on the ECM. This includes above all the diplomatic transcripts of all the manuscripts used in the ECM and the databases on which the ECM is based on. The recent editions of Nestle-Aland in the 28th edition and the 5th edition of the Greek New Testament of the United Bible Societies are in the text after the ECM, as far as it has been published so far.
Current editions
The Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior is published by Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft (the German Bible Society).
The Acts of the Apostels
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, III/1.1, The Acts of the Apostels, Part 1.1, Text, Chapter 1-14, ISBN 978-3-438-05609-2
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, III/1.2, The Acts of the Apostels, Part 1.2, Text, Chapter 15-28, ISBN 978-3-438-05610-8
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, III/2, The Acts of the Apostels, Part 2, Supplementary Material, ISBN 978-3-438-05612-2
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, III/3, The Acts of the Apostels, Part 3, Studies, ISBN 978-3-438-05613-9
Catholic Letters
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, IV/1, Catholic Letters, Part 1, Text, ISBN 978-3-438-05606-1
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, IV/2, Catholic Letters, Part 2, Supplementary Material, ISBN 978-3-438-05607-8
Parallel Pericopes
- Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, Parallel Pericopes, ISBN 978-3-438-05608-5