AI Critical New Testament Project
Abstract
The AI Critical New Testament (AICNT) is the very first critical edition of the New Testament, translated into English using AI to maximize transparency in presenting the text. A critical edition involves meticulous editing and compilation, relying on a thorough examination of the earliest available Greek manuscripts of the New Testament documents. The primary goal of such an edition is to faithfully reconstruct the original text as initially authored. Accompanying the main text, a "critical apparatus" documents variants and the corresponding authorities supporting specific readings through a system of notes and annotations. In the project, my role was to utilize my knowledge of the Greek language, textual variants, and syntax to assure readers that the AICNT produces a translation of the highest quality. Furthermore, I assembled the critical apparatus of variant Greek readings where manuscript traditions offered competing readings, enabling nonspecialists to inquire further when a particular passage contained noteworthy alternative readings.
The English text of the AICNT, inclusive of variants, is entirely generated by AI using a methodology that ensures excellent accuracy and readability. Additional protocols are in place to guarantee an unbiased and transparent output. The strategic use of AI in this translation addresses shortcomings associated with human translators, minimizing the potential for human error and subjective bias. Rather than imbuing the text with interpretative bias and suggestive editorial elements—which are fairly common in some of the more popular Bible translations produced over the last century—the AICNT aims to provide an English reading of the ancient text in the most unfiltered and impartial manner possible, serving as a transparent medium for conveying the original Greek text. Tailored for readers seeking a literal and transparent translation aligned with the earliest known Greek manuscripts, the AICNT also offers insight into textual changes that occurred over time.
www.aicnt.org
Keywords
AI, New Testament, translation, Greek, critical edition, bias
AI Critical New Testament Project
CASB 117
The AI Critical New Testament (AICNT) is the very first critical edition of the New Testament, translated into English using AI to maximize transparency in presenting the text. A critical edition involves meticulous editing and compilation, relying on a thorough examination of the earliest available Greek manuscripts of the New Testament documents. The primary goal of such an edition is to faithfully reconstruct the original text as initially authored. Accompanying the main text, a "critical apparatus" documents variants and the corresponding authorities supporting specific readings through a system of notes and annotations. In the project, my role was to utilize my knowledge of the Greek language, textual variants, and syntax to assure readers that the AICNT produces a translation of the highest quality. Furthermore, I assembled the critical apparatus of variant Greek readings where manuscript traditions offered competing readings, enabling nonspecialists to inquire further when a particular passage contained noteworthy alternative readings.
The English text of the AICNT, inclusive of variants, is entirely generated by AI using a methodology that ensures excellent accuracy and readability. Additional protocols are in place to guarantee an unbiased and transparent output. The strategic use of AI in this translation addresses shortcomings associated with human translators, minimizing the potential for human error and subjective bias. Rather than imbuing the text with interpretative bias and suggestive editorial elements—which are fairly common in some of the more popular Bible translations produced over the last century—the AICNT aims to provide an English reading of the ancient text in the most unfiltered and impartial manner possible, serving as a transparent medium for conveying the original Greek text. Tailored for readers seeking a literal and transparent translation aligned with the earliest known Greek manuscripts, the AICNT also offers insight into textual changes that occurred over time.
www.aicnt.org