Critical edition of the Apocalypse of John

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Karrer
• Subject Area: Protestant Theology
• Term: from 2011 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 188438382

The Book of Revelation (Rev), one of the most effective New Testament writings from the standpoint of cultural history and theology, has not been edited in a satisfactory manner. This long-term project addresses this desideratum by means of an edition – electronically and in print – whose base text as well as apparatus correspond to the modern scientific standards and thus lay the foundation for future research. Meanwhile, the project has now reached a very advanced stage:The construction of the apparatus and production of the critical text take place against the background of a consistent theory of textual transmission. The goal is a ‘fully integrated digital edition’, which links a critically reconstructed text with readings in the apparatus, electronic transcriptions and, as far as copyrights allow, with digital photographs of the manuscripts. This edition will be accompanied by a print version.The previous project phases involved evaluation of the textual worth of the Greek manuscripts on the basis of test passages, production of the Sahidic Coptic and Syriac editions as well as transcriptions of the Greek manuscript tradition of Rev. The current (third) project phase aims to produce a critical apparatus with Greek witnesses, further versions and patristic citations. The successful completion of this task is assured by the end of the project phase, as foreseen in the work plan. As an innovation in the Editio Critica Maior (ECM) of the New Testament, the apparatus also documents various special features of manuscripts (text-division, accentuation in select semantically relevant passages, etc.) as well as a number of select editions.On the basis of this work plan, the fourth project phase will reconstruct the earliest recoverable initial text (base text) and document the tradition in two apparatuses (1. variants, 2. punctuation). The punctuation apparatus is our innovation within the ECM. The data of both apparatuses will enable formulation of a consistent hypothesis concerning the textual history. The edition will be published electronically and in print (designed according to the ECM standard); additional material will be accessible electronically (database of patristic citations, graphic elements, etc.). Thanks to the manner in which the material has been recorded, even matters such as stylistic developments in the text of Rev, Greek kephalaia, modern conjectural emendations, etc. will be accessible. Two supplementary volumes will contain rationale for the text-critical decisions, additional material (based on the ECM standard) and specialised studies concerning matters of importance for the editorial decisions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants