What are five books you would suggest to help a student in textual criticism?
An easier question. (1) One should have a good critical apparatus edition, such as the latest Nestle-Aland 27th edition. That volume contains more variants and supporting evidence than UBS or other inexpensive commonly available editions. However, even in na27 not all significant variants are cited, particularly those specifically of the Byzantine tradition. (2) One should be familiar with Metzgers Text of the New Testament (3rd edition or earlier Ehrmans 4th edition revision contains several factual errors). (3) The Alands book of the same title provides additional information regarding the history, materials, and methodological essentials of the discipline. For information regarding current trends, the following co-authored volumes: (4) Epp/Fee, Studies in the Theory and Method of New Testament Textual Criticism; and (5) Ehrman/Holmes, The Text of the New Testament in Contemporary Research. None of these works has much to say in favor of the Byzantine Textform, and what they do say i
