Gothic Studies by G.W.S. Friedrichsen, published by Basil Blackwell in 1961, provides a critical examination of the Greek text underlying the Gothic Bible, one of the earliest translations of the New Testament into a Germanic language. Friedrichsen revisits and re-evaluates the Greek source text presumed to have influenced the Gothic version, originally edited by W. Streitberg in 1908. This scholarly work explores the relationship between the Gothic translation and the 4th-century Byzantine Greek texts, while also considering the impact of the Old Latin version.

The book is divided into three sections: the first analyzes the Gospels, identifying significant textual variations; the second focuses on the Epistles and the process of Latinization that affected the Gothic text through bilingual manuscripts; and the third explores the translation of key Greek particles (kai, de, oun, gar) into Gothic. Friedrichsen’s meticulous analysis offers insights into the transmission and adaptation of biblical texts in early Christian Europe, shedding light on the complex relationship between the Greek and Gothic versions.

This study is an essential resource for scholars of biblical translation, medieval languages, and textual criticism, offering a fresh perspective on the history and development of the Gothic Bible.