Updates to the SBLGNT Apparatus

When Logos released The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT) in 2010, we included an apparatus that provided information on which editions of the Greek New Testament differ from the reading found in the SBLGNT. The apparatus included readings from four editions: Westcott and Hort (WH), Tregelles (Treg), Robinson-Pierpont (RP), and the Greek behind the 1984 NIV. Where the NA27 edition differed from the NIV Greek text, the NA was cited explicitly.

The Greek behind the 1984 NIV, published by Zondervan in print in 2003 as A Reader’s Greek New Testament, provided a modern edition of the Greek New Testament that could be used for comparisons. However, it’s clear that most users of the SBLGNT and its apparatus would rather have the Nestle-Aland family of editions represented in the apparatus.

So that’s what we did. If you haven’t already received these updates, you should receive them soon.

With the release of the 28th edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (NA28)  in 2012, we had a great excuse to revisit the SBLGNT apparatus and update it to cite readings from NA28 instead of NIV.

Please note: the text of the SBLGNT has not changed; only the apparatus has changed.

Significant changes to the apparatus

• Instead of citing NIV and noting when NA27 differs, we now reference NA28. The Greek text behind the NIV is now cited only when it differs from the NA28.
• There are differences between NA27 and NA28 in the catholic epistles (James, 1–2 Peter, 1–3 John,  Jude). NA27 is cited only when it disagrees with NA28.

One example of this change can be found in the apparatus entry for Matthew 6:15:

ἀνθρώποις NA28 ] + τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν WH Treg NIV RP

Mt. 6:15, LEB: “But if you do not forgive people [[WH Treg NIV RP include “their sins” here]], neither will your Father forgive your sins.”

Another example, listing a difference with NA27 as well, is from 1 Peter 5:10:

Χριστῷ WH NA28 ] + Ἰησοῦ Treg NA27 RP

1 Pet. 5:10, LEB: And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ [[Treg NA27 include “Jesus” here]], after you have suffered a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Because of the changes to the NA28 text in the catholic epistles, there are five new variation units added to the apparatus (with proper sigla added to the text). These are found in 1 Peter 1:6; 2 Peter 3:6, 3:16; and 1 John 1:7, 3:7. The original version of the SBLGNT apparatus inadvertently omitted the second note in Mark 6:33; this has been corrected.

In addition, we made a change to the way the resource functions in Logos. With the original edition, when you clicked an apparatus link, you would be brought to the apparatus resource. In the new version of SBLGNT, the apparatus note is a popup note. This means that in certain views on the desktop and mobile versions of Logos, notes can also be listed on the bottom of the pane. We also updated the apparatus resource itself and will continue to distribute it, as it’s handy to scroll with the Greek text.

The interlinear version of the SBLGNT (The Lexham Greek-English Interlinear New Testament: SBL Edition) still links directly to the apparatus resource; with interlinear lines (particularly on mobile platforms), this will leave more space for the text to display.

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Download the free Greek New Testament: SBL Edition today.