If you are interested in both New Testament Greek and Latin this version of the Bible will be very beneficial to you in your studies. The Greek text is the lastest UBS/Nestle critical edition. The Latin version is also a critical edition. This might bother some people who had to learn portions of scripture in latin when they were children because this test is not exactly the same one they are familiar with. This text attempts to restore an older version of the latin than the one that was in use 40 years ago.

The Book itself is very well designed. The font is clear and easy to read, and the critical apparatus is clearly explained. Also it is very nice to have the Greek on one page and the Latin on the facing page. I believe this is far superior to interlinear or double column.

Also let me give you one good reason why you should own this book if you are a pastor. Often if you are wondering how you will be able to explain a particular Greek concept to your church, the latin will help. Reading a word or phrase in Latin can give you one more tool for exegesis.

I am a student of both these languages and I have been wanting a bible in Latin and the original Greek for a long time.This has fully met my expectations. I like that the the diiferant languages are on separate pages instead of in columns: it is easier to keep from looking at the Latin which I know better! What a treasure.

The N.T.G.L.Q. is the clear choice for biblical scholars. With the latest 27th edition Greek text beside the latest Latin vulgate, clarity abounds. I highly recommend going the extra mile and ordering the text with the Latin as well as the Greek, since one's knowledge of Latin will assist in Greek study. The binding is disappointingly flimsy for such a valuable work, but it is a German book, and the Germans are known for their fine bookbinding skills. Still, one would expect a nice leather, smythe-sewne binding. But overall, an excellent choice.

Presumably, anyone looking for a synoptic parallel knows what what it's for, but in case not, a brief description might be useful. This book lines up the various pericopes from each gospel in parallel columns, so that their rendition in each can be compared. This allows readers better to discern small, subtle differences among them, and to determine more easily, for instance, who used what source, redaction, theology, and so forth...for instance, Q material is readily apparent when you see that Matthew and Luke contain identical material that isn't present in Mark, and to see this, you don't have to flip back and forth from one gospel to another, because they're all lined up for you, side by side.

One confusing thing about this book is that there is notational nomenclature our the kazoo, which isn't very well explained. For instance, you will notice that the Gospel names at the head of each column is occasionally bolded. Sometimes all of them are. Sometimes they're bracketed. I couldn't find anything in the book to explain this. Had my seminar prof. not explained them, I'd still be in the dark.

That said, the text is well referenced. This isn't a "study" guide, so it isn't glossed, but it is footnoted with plenty of relevant citations. Dubious text--or text that is widely accepted as having been added by later copyists--is footnoted...for instance, the "sweat like blood" verse in Luke's rendition of the Gethsemane pericope.

For anyone embarking on a serious of analysis of the synoptic gospels (and John), this book is a great tool.

just to clarify some of the other reviews, please note that this book is the "ENGLISH-ONLY TEXT", and it does not have the Greek features that some of the reviewers claim that it has. There is a greek/english version as well, and THAT is what they refer to.

:-)

This book has been around for over 25 years, yet it is considered one of the best synoptics. This book is perfect for the bible student, who wants to gain a grasp on the Greek language in terms of the Gospels. On one side of the page is all four gospels in the Greek, while the other side has the English equivalent. This will help the student compare and contrast the Gospels.

I own both the UBS text and the Nestle Aland text. As noted by the previous reviewer, there are some differences in how the UBS text notes variant readings. I find the UBS method to be both more complete and easier to read. (See below on the commentary available). I also find the text to be easier to read (slightly larger print, and I think the style of print is easier to read too).

A point of clarification, though, regarding the basic Greek Text. My understanding is that there is very little if any difference IN THE GREEK TEXT between these two editions. They BOTH rely and build upon the work of Wescott and Hort in textual criticism, and reach very similar conclusions about the "best readings" for any given variant.

The companion volume (A Textual Commentary) also published by UBS is a GREAT addition. It helps you understand why the committee reached the conclusions they did about which reading may be the best reading. Note; whenever a variant reading exists in the extensive library of ancient manuscripts, it is noted in the footnotes (Critical Apparatus). There is also a note as to how comfortable the committee was about their selection of the best text. An "A" rating means that there is no question in their minds. A "D" rating might mean that the selected reading is only very slightly more likely to be the original reading than one of the other variants. (I hope that is clear). In some cases I have taken exception with their decision on "D" readings, and it helps to know that they were not completely comfortable with the choice they had made.

One advantage of the Nestle text is that it is just slightly smaller and easier to carry (a vest pocket edition. (As noted above, you pay for the size in it being not as easy to read.) My copy of Nestle is cloth bound while the UBS text is bound in vinyl/plastic. My UBS text has proven to be very durable. A word of caution... don't leave it on the dashboard or seat of your car on a hot day. The heat WILL damage the binding.

A good edition for those interested in reading the new testament in the original Greek. Other options:

The Greek New Testament from United Bible Society now in 4th edition

Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine (same as this but together with Latin Vulgate)

The difference between the one offered by UBS and this one is that this has more footnotes on differences between manuscripts. In this newest edition, the actual textual decisions between the two are the same. The UBS is better for those who want to use the text for translation, and this one is better for those who are interested in studying textual critical issues.

Also keep in mind there are many interlinear Bibles out there that are probably better for those whose knowledge of Greek is limited. Take care, however, to distinguish between those which are based on Stephen's 1550 Textus Receptus and those which give a complete apparatus for comparing many manuscripts. Most biblical scholars feel the Textus Receptus was flawed in many ways.

The authoritative Greek text used by most Bible translators, scholars, and seminaries is the Nestle-Aland text, which is used in the United Bible Society's Greek New Testament, 4th edition, as well as the Nestle-Aland 27th edition. These two editions use the same text, but have different approaches to listing the variant readings found in the manuscripts. For more reviews of Greek New Testaments, lexicons, grammars, etc. see "http://www.mindspring.com/~jwrobie/littleGreek.html".

I bought this book many years ago and read it through. I was quite disappointed by the treatment of textual criticism given. The book reads like an advertisement for the critical texts that they have put out. It did not provide solid scholarly arguments to support their choice of manuscripts and methodology in making their textual evaluations. Many papyri are listed and classified according to their accuracy but no explanation or justification for the supposed authority of these texts are supplied - apparantly you're just supposed to believe the Alands and not question it any further. This book left me the impression that modern critical textual scholarship is an arbitrary and subjective endeavor lacking firm, testable scientific premises and is driven rather by personal preference and prejudice.

This book sets the scene for the New Testament text, its transmission and the extant manuscripts. The book is not quite as interesting a read as Metzger's book which is more readable. However this book benefits in a much higher level of detail regarding certain aspects of the mss, as well as giving a very detailed introduction to the use of the aparatus of the NA26 and UBS3 Greek New Testaments, which is no doubt essential for someone who desires to understand these in every detail. It also deals in much more detail with other modern editions of the Greek New Testament, their pros and cons.

In response to the other commentators and the Alexandrian texts. It is not really in the scope of this book or Metzger's to really prove their opinions of various manuscripts and their individual value. That really becomes clear when the entire New Testament tradition is studied as a whole and entails considerable work. Those criticizing Aland and Metzger et. al. in my experience do so from a position of ignorance as armchair critics.

Kurt Aland is second to none in his knowledge of the greek manuscripts. (although a case could be made for Bruce Metzger)

I constantly use this book for reference. This book, and Metzger's "Text of the New Testament" are both top of the line books on textual criticism.

If you're a serious Bible student, and want to know which manuscripts are the most "weighty", and why certain readings are chosen over other variant reading to go in the NT Text we have today....this is the book for you!

Eric

The editors perform a much needed service to all those students of the New Testament who can't remember the marvels of Koine Greek morphology and syntax. Each word of the Greek New Testament is analyzed in terms of tense, number, person, gender, etc. A simple alpha-numeric code provides the key to parsing any word. Companion volumes by the same authors use this analyzed text to provide lexical and grammatical concordances of the entire Greek New Testament. A most useful study companion for students and scholars alike.