Open Recensions, Textus Recepti, and the Problems of Edition

The paper surveys the concept and practice of correction (διόρθωσις, emendatio) in classical and mediaeval times as evidence for the belief in a “correct” text and the possibility of maintaining it. This leads to controlled transmission of texts, open recensions and the impossibility of reconstructing an archetype. The actual effects of this are illustrated through the Slavonic text of the Catholic Epistles. The paper ends with a discussion of the implications for editorial practice, and a plea for the sharing of experience across disciplines.