Description Have you ever seen a passage in the New Testament that was placed in brackets, or a footnote at the bottom of a page referring to "ancient authorities" or "manuscripts"? Most people scratch their heads and just keep reading, but these notes are very important. So is understanding why they're even there. In this short introduction, Thomas W. Hudgins explains for the average reader the need for, criteria of, and some misconceptions associated with New Testament textual criticism.