An area of interest for me has long been textual criticism.  I had a strong but baseless confidence in the preservation of the NT.  The extensive NET notes on textual issues raised my interest and further reading followed.  There is fantastic evidence for the integrity of the Greek text as we have it today. We have multiple lines of evidence (fragments, copies, church fathers and other language translations).  But there are some things – a very few things – we cannot be certain on. I would recommend seeking out the Textual Criticism – Daniel Wallace course for sale by Credo House if you want to dive deeper. I’ve no connection to Credo but listened to the 40 lectures many years ago and learned a lot.

Some great resources I’ve founds to introduce and explain New Testament textual criticism are:

• Textual Criticism, ed. Douglas Mangum, Lexham Methods Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013),
• Bruce M. &Ehrman Metzger Bart D.  The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration (Fourth Edition),  (Oxford, Oxford University Press) 2005
• Paul D. Wegner, A Student’s Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods & Results (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006)

A book which helps temper misunderstandings and over enthusiastic apologetics is

• Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism, ed. Elijah Hixson and Peter J. Gurry (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2019)

And a recommendation specific on the subject of the King James Version in the context of this field of study is:

• D. A. Carson, The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1979) – spoiler get a modern translation as they are based on better texts!

Finally when it comes to actually reading the text and considering any textual issues the NET notes are great but if you get the bug the default authority (with a great introduction) is:

• Bruce Manning Metzger, United Bible Societies, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition a Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (4th Rev. Ed.) (London; New York: United Bible Societies, 1994)

I usually have this open as I read the NET in the Logos Bible Software platform

[And yes sorry, the Johannine Comma (1 John 5:7) longer ending of Mark (Mark 16:9ff) and the Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53-8:11) are all not original and should not be in your bible.]

For a recent Bible class I gave on the subject you might want to look here:

by Daniel Edgecombe

New Testament Criticism – resources