A Centers Series: Equipped to Handle God’s Word

“At the end of 2020, I was still teaching aircraft maintenance,” Tyler remarked. “I would have loved the idea of transcribing Greek manuscripts! I just would have thought, ‘Oh, there’s no way that opportunity will arise.’”

And yet, in God’s sovereign timing, not only does Tyler now interact with biblical transcription and textual criticism on a daily basis, but also his role as a Caskey Center Research Associate fully funds his PhD studies.

Founded in 2022, Southeastern Seminary’s Caskey Center for Biblical Text and Translation exists to improve the quality of editions of the Christian Scriptures in the original languages and to ensure the accuracy and clarity of Bible translations worldwide.

The primary way the center accomplishes this is through the critical work of its six research associates, residential PhD students at Southeastern pursuing biblical studies in either Old Testament or New Testament. Through their work at the center, these research associates receive free tuition, insurance benefits, student-housing benefits, and an annual stipend. Most importantly, they gain invaluable experience working with the original texts of Scripture and alongside seasoned Bible translators and textual critics.

New Beginnings

Chuck Quarles, research professor of New Testament and biblical theology, originally proposed the concept of the Caskey Center after God placed a burden on his heart for Bible translation and research — work that would have an enduring impact into eternity. Today, Quarles serves as the director of the Caskey Center and as Tyler’s PhD advisor.

Tyler, who serves both as a research associate and as the center’s assistant director, chose to study under Quarles after deciding to pursue New Testament biblical studies. Quarles oversaw Tyler’s initial foray into the PhD, but the two of them became better acquainted during a seminar on the Gospel of Matthew, which Quarles taught in fall 2022.

It was during this seminar that God began to ignite in Tyler a love for textual criticism. At the time, Tyler was already familiar with the discipline. He greatly appreciated the work of others in that area, thinking, “I’m so glad somebody else does that.”

However, through his experience in the Matthew seminar, as well as a Septuagint seminar he took simultaneously, Tyler began to realize that the Bible’s original manuscripts were a lot more accessible than he first thought. Moreover, at Southeastern, he had professors who were experts in their fields and willing and able to teach him the methods of the discipline.

As Tyler was discovering a new-found passion for the texts of Scripture, the work on the new Caskey Center was just beginning.

At the end of 2022, Southeastern announced the center’s launch, setting the official date for fall 2023.

“My hope,” shared Quarles in the center’s press release, “is that not only will the participating students contribute to this important Kingdom work during their time here but also they will see the importance, relevance, and strategic nature of this work, carrying that passion with them as they go.”

“Whether they later serve as theological educators or Bible translation consultants or as IMB missionaries or Wycliffe Bible translators,” he said, “they will carry this passion with them and continue the work while inspiring others to join the work.”

Tyler decided to apply for one of the research positions after Quarles informed him that the center needed not just new students but those already pursuing their PhDs.

“I was just elated. Very, very excited,” Tyler said, recounting when he learned the news of his acceptance. The job was another indication of God’s sovereignty and guidance in his education and his family’s life.

Partners in Preserving God’s Word

In his role at the Caskey Center, Tyler (along with the five other research associates) specializes in two areas: transcribing manuscripts for the Greek New Testament and consulting for the revision of two major Bible translations.

Working with the Insitute for New Testament Research in Germany (INTF), the associates have the task of transcribing the text from ancient biblical manuscripts into the INTF’s database. INTF then analyzes any textual variants from those transcribed manuscripts and works on necessary revisions to the Greek New Testament.

For the research associates, the transcription task requires great care and precision as well as familiarity with the script of the writing, commonly used abbreviations, and the habits of the scribe who wrote that manuscript.

In his own work, Tyler has felt uniquely connected to the ancient scribes who first transcribed these manuscripts. Many textual variants that exist in such manuscripts have nothing to do with the theological content of the words and everything to do with tired eyes — whether that means a spelling error, skipped line, etc. It’s for this reason that the associates prioritize care and accountability in their own work.

“Two of us independently transcribe the same manuscript,” Tyler explained, “and then a third person comes behind. There’s a software that puts the two transcriptions together, and whenever there’s a disagreement between the two transcriptions, then that third person will physically pull up the page of the manuscript and then decide who was right.”

Through this exposure to the original manuscripts, Tyler has grown in his confidence in Scripture. The thousands of known manuscripts, as well as their incredible accuracy, are a testament to God’s sovereign preservation of his word.

“It has really bolstered my faith and confidence that we have the word of God in our hands,” Tyler expressed.

It has really bolstered my faith and confidence that we have the word of God in our hands.

Learning from the Experts

In addition to transcription, Tyler and his fellow associates act as consultants and researchers for the teams revising the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) and the Easy-to-Read-Version, a Bible translation used as the basis for over 60 majority language translations.

“We’re just going very slow,” Tyler said, explaining the research and consultation process. “We want to look at every word, punctuation mark, preposition, paragraph division, footnote, and cross-reference — everything. Those translators did an amazing job, and so what we’re basically doing is the work of an editor.”

Because of the nature of their role, research associates are able to spend a significant amount of time on minute details, such as mulling over a single conjunction for a whole week.

“We go in there, and we make suggestions,” Tyler explained. “But it’s ultimately up to the translators, and we’ll sometimes dialogue back and forth. There are times where we disagree, but many of them are veteran translators, so I have learned a lot just from their comments.”

A Space for Collaboration

Tyler has also learned many things from his colleagues and fellow associates.

The Caskey Center and all of its undertakings reside in the recently renovated Shaw House. With a covered porch, abundance of books, and open workspace — not to mention a cozy kitchen — the Shaw House provides the ideal environment for collaborative work and research.

“I’ve grown a lot in the biblical languages just by my proximity to these people,” Tyler said. “We all get feedback from each other. I’ll walk in and say, ‘What do you think?’ ‘What do you know about the participle of attendant circumstance?’ Or ‘Do you agree? What do you think about this part of that?’”

Weekly meetings have proved an invaluable time for the research associates to present ideas, discuss their findings, and give feedback to one another. Moreover, working residentially provides more opportunities for collaboration as associates overhear and contribute to each other’s conversations and ideas.

So much of Tyler’s time in the Caskey Center has influenced not only his work but also his education and dissertation studies.

“I think the argument of my dissertation would be so much weaker without knowing about textual criticism,” Tyler said. “I’m really glad that I’ve been able to integrate that into the research in a way that I don’t think I would have otherwise thought to do or been able to do well.”

“Growing in the biblical languages and the ability to use manuscripts and get back to the sources — there’s just no substitute for that. And that’s hugely affected my research.”

Growing in the biblical languages and the ability to use manuscripts and get back to the sources — there’s just no substitute for that.

Tyler and his fellow research associates are currently in the thick of their studies and working towards the end of their programs — at which point they will go out, equipped with field-specific experience, academic connections, and a greater passion for God’s word.

In their steps, new PhD students will follow and benefit from the same constructive community and collaboration that the Caskey Center provides. Through the associates’ unassuming and meticulous work, now and in years to come, God continues to preserve his word and move in the hearts of millions across the world.

To learn more about the Caskey Center, its research associates, and the resources the center provides, visit sebts.edu/cbtt.