Accuracy of the Biblical Text

5/25/2018 Accuracy of the Biblical Text

1/77

Accuracy of the

Biblical Text

Gary W. (Matt) Mathison

4404 114 Street NW, Edmonton Alberta Canada T6J 1N1

Email: gwmath1@tel!"net

#ellow!hi$$ing at

Sharon %o!$el Cha$el o& Edmonton

June, 2010 (e!ise" 2011)

'The material in thi! man!(ri$t (an be &reel) di!tribted and !ed withot a(*nowledging the

athor+


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Table o& Content!

-er-iew"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" iii

1" .ntrod(tion""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1

/" ariation in Crrent %ree* New Te!tament an!(ri$t!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1

/"1 What i! meant b) %ree* Te2t3T)$e!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1

/"/" ariant! a! a $er(entage o& -er!e! in e(le(ti( te2t!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""5

/"5" ariant! a! a er(entage o& Nmber o& Word! in E(le(ti( Te2t!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""4

/"4" ariant! a! a er(entage o& Nmber o& Word! A(ro!! All 7nown New Te!tament

an!(ri$t!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""8

/"8" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 6

5" .! it Time &or the %ree* Te2t3t)$e 9ehind the 7ing Jame! Tran!lation to be t to e!t""""" ";

5"1" .ntrod(tion"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""";

5"/" Crrent Stat! o&

5"/"4" 9)?antine"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 10

5"/"8" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 11

5"5" an!(ri$t!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 11

5"5"1" Ale2andrian"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""15

5"5"/" 9)?antine"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 14

5"5"5" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 1;

5"4" Athor!hi$""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 1;

5"4"1" Ale2andrian"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""1;

5"4"/" 9)?antine"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 1=

5"8" Chara(teri!ti(! o& Te2t"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/1

5"8"1" Ale2andrian """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/1

5"8"/" 9)?antine"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /15"8"5" T)$e o& %ree* Writing: 7oine -er!! Atti( %ree*""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""//

5"8"4" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /4

5"6" !e b) Chr(h #ather!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/8

5"6"1" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /=

5";" Tran!lation! &rom the %ree* Te2t""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/=

i


3/77

5";"1" S)ria( er!ion!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /=

5";"/" Co$ti(""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""/>

5";"5" atin"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" />

5";"4" %othi(""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" />

5";"8" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" />

5"=" E2$lanation &or ariabilit) in Earl) an!(ri$t!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""50

5"="1" ariabilit) a! E2$lained b) S$$orter! o& Ale2andrian and 9)?antine Te2t3T)$e!""""50

5"="1"1" Criti(al Te2t! 'Ale2andrian+ %eneral 9elie& that S(ri$tral ariant! Aro!e

Throgh a(* o& e!$e(t &or the Sa(redne!! o& S(ri$tre """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""5/

5"="1"/" The 9)?antine 'aBorit)Tradition+ Te2tD%eneral 9elie& that S(ri$tre wa!

Sa(red in the Earl) Chr(h """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""54

5"="/" Thoght!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 56

5">" Are the lde!t Ne(e!!aril) the 9e!t an!(ri$t!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""5;

5">"1" Age "1"/" Newer Te2t! are $re&erred b) odern S(holar!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""5>

5"10" The roblem o& i!!ing an!(ri$t!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""5>

5"10"1" Fi!tori(al re(edent! &or i!!ing an!(ri$t!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""5>

5"10"/" Non3drabilit) o& a$)ri an!(ri$t!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""40

5"10"5"


4/77

5"18" Smmar)""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 8;

4"0" Addendm""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""60

8"0" Endnote!"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""61

OverviewThe a((ra() o& the 9ibli(al Te2t i! o& great (on(ern &or Chri!tian! !in(e S(ri$tre $ro-ide! !

with the ba!i! &or or &aith" There ha! been a (hange in mar*eting !trategie! !o that -ariation

between Engli!h tran!lation! i! now being em$ha!i?ed"

e(ent e!timate! o& the Ga((ra(ie!H o& Engli!h tran!lation! o& the 9ible range &rom 44I to

100I" S(h e!timate! are ina((rateDa((ra() (annot be determined be(a!e the original

te2t i! not a-ailable" e!$e(ted te2tal (riti(! ha-e oted Gagreement!H between (riti(al te2t! in

the range o& =0 to =8I" Aland and Aland re$orted that a(ro!! !e-en di&&erent %ree* Ge(le(ti(H

te2t! o& the New Te!tament, 6/">I o& the -er!e! were either identi(al or di&&ered b) no more

than a !ingle word" Fowe-er agreement between di&&erent %ree* te2t! !hold not be e2$re!!edon the ba!i! o& -er!e! !in(e the 9ible wa! not di-ided into -er!e! ntil re(entl), and di!!imilar

-er!e! ob-io!l) (ontain !ome identi(al word!" When te2tal -ariant! are e2$re!!ed a! a

$er(entage o& the nmber o& word! in the New Te!tament, agreement between di&&erent %ree*

te2t! i! greater than >8I" Thi! high degree o& agreement, (o$led with the general (on(l!ion

that no do(trine i! a&&e(ted b) te2tal di&&eren(e!, mean! that Chri!tian! (an ha-e (on&iden(e in

the nderl)ing %ree* te2t o& the New Te!tament"

odern !(holar! are -er) (riti(al o& the Ga((ra()H o& the %ree* te2t3t)$e nderl)ing the 7ing

Jame! 9ible! 'herein (alled 9)?antineK al!o *nown a! aBorit), 7oine, Traditional+ in

(om$ari!on with the $rimaril) Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e nderl)ing the modern (riti(al %ree* te2t"

#or thi! rea!on e!!entiall) all modern Engli!h tran!lation! are ba!ed $on (riti(al te2t! o& anAle2andrian natre" The remainder o& thi! !td) e2amined the e!tion: L.! it time &or the %ree*

te2t3t)$e behind the 7ing Jame! tran!lation to be $t to re!tM E-iden(e i! $re!ented that the

9)?antine te2t3t)$e i! (ertainl) a! (lo!e, and $robabl) more (lo!e, to the original atogra$h! a!

the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e" Some o& the rea!on! &or thi! (on(l!ion are li!ted below"

Con!iderable -ariabilit) i! a$$arent in a-ailable New Te!tament man!(ri$t! be&ore the

&orth (entr) A"


5/77

New Te!tament man!(ri$t! b) oman Em$eror!K hi!tor) tell! ! that original Chri!tian

writing! were im$ortant enogh !o that Chri!tian! were $re$ared to be mart)red &or

them" Th!, althogh &aith (annot be !ed a! a !$$ort &or the 9)?antine te2t in a

!(holarl) argment, the general la(* o& a$$re(iation o& the role o& &aith in the

tran!mi!!ion o& the New Te!tament (an be (on!idered to be a negati-e &or tho!e

!$$orting the (riti(alAle2andrian te2t3t)$e"

E2$ert! belie-e that both the Ale2andrian and 9)?antine te2t3t)$e! are re(en!ion!

'$re$ared b) editing o& $re-io! man!(ri$t!+" The e-iden(e that thi! i! tre &or the

Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e i! a! &ollow!:

o There a$$ear! to be almo!t nanimo! agreement among te2tal (riti(! that that

the Ale2andrian te2t wa! $rod(ed a! a re(en!ion"

o Ale2andrian %ree* te2t i! GAtti(H in writing !t)le in (ontra!t with the G7oineH

'(ommon+ %ree* o& the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e" 7oine %ree* wa! the t)$e o& %ree*

whi(h be(ame (ommon a&ter the time o& Ale2ander the %reat and whi(h wa!!$o*en at the time the original New Te!tament atogra$h! were written"

Fowe-er &rom 1003/00 A"


6/77

$robable that the genealogi(al lineage o& !ome o& the New Te!tament

man!(ri$t! a-ailable toda) rea(h ba(* to the Ale2andrian ibrar)"

o There i! no e-iden(e that the 9)?antine3te2t t)$e i! ba!ed $on a re(en!ion

other than it! G!$$o!edH a$$earan(e in the &orth (entr) A"


7/77

a$$ear to $ro-ide !tronger !$$ort &or the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e than the Ale2andrian te2t3

t)$eQ .n addition, a&ter 400 A"


8/77

earl) 9)?antine reading!" .t ma) be &or thi! rea!on that modern 9ibli(al !(holar!, who

a$$ear to be the Ggiant!H, do not $re!ent data that i! hel$&l in ma*ing an in&ormed

o$inion" A! one e2am$le, the e!tion o& GAtti(H -er!! G7oineH %ree* i! not di!(!!ed b)

an) modern te2tal (riti(" .t ma) well be that m) inter$retation o& thi! to$i( i! wrong bt

the e-iden(e !hold be there &or the reader to a!!e!!" Similarl), e-iden(e &or 9)?antine

reading! in the three !$$o!ed Ale2andrian $a$)ri witne!!e! i! not to be &ond in(rrent writing!, rather the in&ormation a$$eared in wor* o& an earlier (riti(, 7en)on, who

(ertainl) wa! no !$$orter o& the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e" Additionall), earl) 9)?antine

reading! in the (hr(h G#ather!H are di!mi!!ed a! being (o$ied in b) later editor! who

$re&erred thi! t)$e o& te2t, with no real a(*nowledgement o& e-en their $otential

$re!en(e in the original! or di!(!!ion o& their $re-alen(e" The &ailre to allow &or e-en

the $o!!ibilit) o& an earlier 9)?antine te2t3t)$e i! a!!o(iated with e2$lanation! that are

not reall) logi(al" #or e2am$le, the !gge!tion that the New Te!tament wa! not

(on!idered to be S(ri$tre with a (a$ital S b) earl) Chri!tian! and that reading! were

initiall) $re!ent a! G&ree te2tH i! not an argment whi(h (an be ba(*ed $ b) hi!tor),

athorit) S(ri$tre (laim! &or it!el&, or e-en ba!i( *nowledge o& hman beha-ior"

Similarl), the !gge!tion b) #ee that 9)?antine reading! in the p66$a$)r! are e2$lained

b) the !ame $rin(i$le! that re!lted in it! a$$earan(e in the 9)?antine te2t t)$e 180

)ear! later when the te2t3t)$e (ame into e2i!ten(e i! not an internall) (on!i!tent

argment &or, a! noted b) Aland and Aland, Lone o& the (hara(teri!ti(! o& the New

Te!tament te2tal tradition i! tena(it)M" Al!o, i& the!e &or(e! were !trong enogh to

o-er(ome the Gtena(it)H o& the te2t to a$$arentl) o$erate in hi!tor) at lea!t twi(e 'and

$re!mabl) more i& we loo* at tenden(ie! a&ter 400 A"


9/77

althogh the argment ha! been ad-an(ed that the 9)?antine te2t (ame into e2i!ten(e in the 4th

(entr) A"


10/77

1. IntroductionA maBor attitde (hange a$$ear! to ha-e o((rred in the mar*eting 9ible tran!lation!"

re-io!l) to en(orage a((e$tan(e o& the new tran!lation! em$ha!i! wa! on the !imilaritie!

between new and old" The &o(! now, howe-er, a$$ear! to be on em$ha!i?ing di&&eren(e!"et?ler1de-ote! a whole (ha$ter o& /0 $age! to LThe (a!e! o& error in the tran!mi!!ion o& the

te2t o& the New Te!tamentM" 9e(a!e o& the -ariant! in New Te!tament man!(ri$t!, Ehrman/

'1>>5+ ha! de-oted a whole boo* toward! de-elo$ing the the!i! that the S(ri$tre we now ha-e

ha! been modi&ied to !$$ort $arti(lar theologi(al -iew$oint!"

S(h mar*eting !trategie! ha-e not been lo!t on other religion!" The .!lam awarene!! web!ite5

ha! $i(*ed $ on !$$o!ed -ariabilit) o& 9ibli(al man!(ri$t!, !tating L.& we loo* at the te2tal

(ertaint) o& the nited 9ible So(ietie! The Greek New Testament, a te2t whi(h i! ba!ed on

the de(i!ion! o& a (ommittee, the re!lt i! (lo!e to =5"8I" There i! no mention o& >>"8I, >>"=I

or >>">I agreement here"M Thi! !ame !or(e !e! data gi-en in Aland and Aland4'1>=;+ and

(on(lde! Lwe (an ob!er-e an agreement in wording o& onl) 6/">I o& the -er!e! o& the NewTe!tament" The $ro$ortion range! &rom 48"1I in ar* to =1"4I in / Timoth)M" Thi! i! hardl) the

nmber! we wold li*e to !ee when attem$ting to e-angeli?e !lim!Q

What doe! thi! mean to )o and me #or one thing, i& )o are a 7ing Jame! !er )o might

need to re3e-alate and de&end )or $o!ition !in(e )o will be in(rea!ingl) in a minorit) what

do )o !a) when !omeone (ome! at )o with the 7ing Jame! 44348I a((ra() nmber What

do )o !a) to )or !lim neighbor when the) e!tion the athorit) o& )or 9ible and th! the

-era(it) o& a &aith in the ord Je!! Chri!t .! it worth the di!(i$line o& !td)ing Lto !hew th)!el&

a$$ro-edM '/ Tim /:18+ i& all we (an de$end $on the 9ible &or i! Ggeneral (on(e$t!H

The $r$o!e o& the &ollowing i! to hel$ ! hold &a!t and in(rea!e or &aith in the a((ra(),reliabilit) and athorit) o& the S(ri$tre" .n the word! o& or ord Je!! Chri!t: LFea-en and

earth !hall $a!! awa), bt m) word! !hall not $a!! awa)M 'att /4:58+" To$i(! di!(!!ed

in(lde: 1+ ariabilit) o& the (rrent %ree* New Te!tament te2t!, and /+ An e2amination o& the

%ree* te2t3t)$e on whi(h the 7ing Jame! -er!ion! are ba!ed with the obBe(ti-e o& re3e-alating

it a! a ba!i! &or modern Engli!h 9ible tran!lation!"

2. Variation in Current Greek New Testament Manuscripts

2.1 What is meant b Greek Te!t"Tpes#

(


11/77

G9ibli(alman!(ri$t!H !tate! The New Te!tament ha! been $re!er-ed in more man!(ri$t! than

an) other an(ient wor*, ha-ing o-er 8,=00 (om$lete or &ragmented %ree* man!(ri$t!, 10,000

atin man!(ri$t! and >,500 man!(ri$t! in -ario! other an(ient langage! in(lding S)ria(,

Sla-i(, %othi(, Ethio$i(, Co$ti( and Armenian" The date! o& the!e man!(ri$t! range &rom (ir(a

1/8 'the John )land! man!(ri$t, P8/K olde!t (o$) o& John &ragment!+ to the introd(tion o&

$rinting in %erman) in the 18th (entr)" The -a!t maBorit) o& the!e man!(ri$t! date a&ter the10th (entr)"@

Althogh thi! !eem! li*e a lot o& man!(ri$t!, it i! -irtall) im$o!!ible &or hman! to do an)thing

$er&e(tl), m(h le!! (o$) a man!(ri$t a! long a! the 9ible" Co$)i!t! ma*e mi!ta*e! and thi!

mi!ta*e i! $er$etated when !omeone el!e (o$ie! the (o$)" .& (o$ie! are (ontinall) made o&

(o$ie!, then thi! error a$$ear! in that whole line o& do(ment!" Some !gge!t that thi! i! how

di&&erent Gte2t3t)$e!H ha-e ari!en" an), howe-er, thin* that there ha! been deliberate editing in

the $rod(tion o& !ome New Te!tament man!(ri$t!" Fowe-er di&&erent Gte2t3t)$e!H ma) ha-e

ari!en, a((ording to Wi*i$edia;'an!(ri$t!o&the9ible+, man) modern te2tal (riti(! belie-e

that Athe New Te!tament ha! been $re!er-ed in three maBor man!(ri$t tradition! Ote2t3t)$e!P:

the 4th3(entr)3CE OA"th(entr), e(le(ti(i!m, ha! been the

dominant method o& editing the %ree* te2t o& the New Te!tament '(rrentl), the nited 9ible

So(iet), 4th ed" and Ne!tle3Aland, /;th ed"+" E(le(ti(i!m i! the $ra(ti(e o& e2amining a wide

nmber o& te2t witne!!e! and !ele(ting the -ariant that !eem! be!t" the olde!t man!(ri$t!,

being o& the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e, are the mo!t &a-ored, and the (riti(al te2t ha! an Ale2andrian

di!$o!ition" odern tran!lation! o& the New Te!tament are ba!ed on the!e (o$ie!"M

Fow (lo!e are the word! in the (rrent %ree* man!(ri$t! to the original word! a! gi-en b)

Chri!t and the A$o!tle! There i! a range o& o$inion on thi! matter" (+ '$ro&e!!or at


12/77

word! in the te2t and it i! im$ortant to *now whi(h method i! being !ed" Al!o, the word

Ga((ra()H i! !ometime! !ed to de!(ribe how reliable the athor belie-e! a te2t to be"

n&ortnatel) a((ra() i! a word whi(h (annot be !ed in (om$arati-e te2tal (riti(i!m be(a!e

the original i! not a-ailable"

2.2. Variants as a percenta$e o% verses in ec&ectic te!tsA! noted in the .ntrod(tion, The Comprehensive New Testament10'/00=+ (laim! La /0I

im$ro-ement o-er other Engli!h -er!ion!M" The /0I &igre !ond! ite !imilar to the $re&a(e o&

the New 7ing Jame! 9ible11whi(h !tate! Ait i! mo!t im$ortant to em$ha!i?e that &ll) eight)3&i-e

$er(ent o& the New Te!tament te2t i! the !ame in the Te2t! e(e$t!, the Ale2andrian Te2t,

and the aBorit) Te2t"@Te2tal (riti(! Aland and Aland1/, !tate that Athe 9)?antine .m$erial te2t

and the Ale2andrian Eg)$tian te2t, to ta*e two e2am$le! that in theor) are diametri(all)

o$$o!ed to ea(h other, a(tall) e2hibit a remar*able degree o& agreement, $erha$! a! m(h a!

=0IQ@

The re!lt! o& Aland and Aland15de!er-e a (lo!er loo* !in(e, a! noted in the .ntrod(tion, it i!

their re!lt! that the .!lami( Awarene!! web!ite ha! oted" The) loo*ed at !e-en di&&erent

e(le(ti( -er!ion! o& the New Te!tament" Thi! (om$ari!on in(lded the NA/8-er!ion 'two

-er!ion! $re-io! to the (ommonl) a((e$ted %ree* New Te!tament o& toda)+, the -er!ion o&

We!t(ott3Fort, and on SodenH! edition whi(h wa! (riti(i?ed a &ew $age! earlier b) the athor!

a! $la(ing the 7oine te2t t)$e Lon $ar with the other gro$!"a -ale it did not de!er-e"M The)

(onted the nmber o& -ariant3&ree -er!e! in the all o& the!e !e-en edition!, where -ariant3&ree

i! de&ined a! the total -er!e! in whi(h there i! (om$lete agreement between all !e-en e(le(ti(

te2t! with the exception of a single word in any one of the seven editionswithin the -er!e or

where there were di&&ering orthogra$hi(al detail! '!(h a! !$elling o& name!+" .n their anal)!i! o&

the /; boo*! o& the New Te!tament the nmber o& -ariant3&ree -er!e! ranged &rom 48"1I in

ar* to =1"4I in1 Timoth), with the a-erage a(ro!! boo*! being 6/">I" The) (on(lded thatthi! wa! Lite ama?ingM and m(h (lo!er agreement than wold ha-e been !!$e(ted" Wh)

wold the!e low o& $er(entage! be (on!idered to be Gite ama?ingH ne rea!on i! that !e-en

di&&erent te2t! are being (om$ared and the!e te2t! re$re!ent a -er) di-ergent -iew on the

athorit) o& di&&ering New Te!tament man!(ri$t! $re$ared a(ro!! a time $eriod o& o-er a

(entr)" Another rea!on i! that onl) whole -er!e! 'with the e2(e$tion o& one word+ are (onted

a! being identi(alQ .n thi! regard, there i! no rea!on to belie-e that when -er!e! di&&er there i!

di!agreement in e-er) word within that $arti(lar -er!e" .ndeed, it m!t be remembered that

S(ri$tre wa! not di-ided into -er!e! ntil ite re(entl) !o it ma*e! no !en!e to !e G-er!e!H a!

a ba!i! o& e2$re!!ing Ga((ra()H"

.t i!, howe-er, onl) &air to $oint ot that what i! being (om$ared abo-e are G(riti(al te2t!H$re$ared b) (hoo!ing the be!t reading &rom the di&&erent man!(ri$t! nder (on!ideration" Thi!

mean! that item! !(h a! !$elling mi!ta*e!, a GbadH !e(tion in one man!(ri$t, et(" ha-e alread)

been eliminated" Noti(e too, that i& di&&erent e(le(ti( te2t! are $rod(ed b) -er) li*e3minded

$eo$le then agreement will be higher than i& the) were $re$ared b) $eo$le o& a di&&ering

$er!$e(ti-e"

5


13/77

.n an) (a!e, it i! o& &ndamental im$ortan(e to determine the ba!i! o& (al(lation be&ore ma*ing

!wee$ing !tatement! abot Ga((ra()H between te2t!" .n thi! regard, althogh it i! not (lear in

!ome (a!e!, it wold a$$ear that all the oted Ga((ra(ie!H di!(!!ed abo-e are ba!ed $on

nmber! o& identi(al -er!e! and th! are -er) m(h below what the tre a((ra() wold be on

a word3&or3word ba!i!"

2.'. Variants as a (ercenta$e o% Number o% Words in )c&ectic Te!ts

When We!t(ott and Fort $rod(ed a %ree* New Te!tament the) were -er) o$timi!ti( abot it!

Ga((ra()H33 whi(h no dobt (ontribted to the wide a((e$tan(e o& their te2t" Th! Fnter14

'1>;/+ !tate! A9t we ma) ote the -erdi(t o& one o& the greate!t, #"J"A" Fort 'who, along with

9i!ho$ We!(ott, $rod(ed in 1==1 the mo!t &amo! modern edition o& the %ree* New

Te!tament+: >The word! in or o$inion !till !bBe(t to dobt (an hardl) amont to more than a

tho!andth $art o& the New Te!tament"=M Thi! i! an a((ra() rate o& >>">I and, !in(e there

are a$$ro2imatel) 15=,0/0 word! in the (rrent !tandard NA/; %ree* te2t 'i(oblog+18, there

wold be !omething li*e 15= word! in the %ree* New Te!tament in dobt" Fnter did, howe-er,

a(*nowledge that Fort $robabl) ndere!timated the element o& n(ertaint)Q

Sin(e the Aland and Aland16'1>=;+ data !or(e di!(!!ed abo-e a$$eared to gi-e low

e!timate! o& a((ra(), a (lo!er e2amination o& their wor* i! warranted" The) note that there

were /,04; in!tan(e! o& di&&eren(e! o& greater than one word between the Ne!tle3Aland te2t

'$re(r!or o& or odern %ree* te2t+ and the mo!t di-ergent o& the other te2t! '-on Soden+"

Sin(e the Ne!tle3Aland te2t ha! 68; $age! the!e di&&eren(e! amonted to 5"1 di&&eren(e! $er

$age" I

(ited abo-e and !ed b) the .!lam Awarene!! web!iteQ

The 9ible3re!ear(her"(om web!ite1='/001+ (om$ared S(ri-ener! Te2t! e(e$t! '9)?antine

te2t3t)$e and the %ree* te2t whi(h nderlie! the 7ing Jame! tran!lation+ with &or (riti(al te2t!

ba!ed $rimaril) $on the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e 'i"e" tho!e $rod(ed b) e(le(ti(i!mK Tregelle!,

Ne!tle3Aland, Ti!(hendor&, and We!t(ott and Fort+" .t wa! noted that there were 4,168

>tran!latable di&&eren(e!=a(ro!! all &or (riti(al te2t!, with the range being 5,0>8 to 5,61= &or

indi-idal te2t (om$ari!on! with that o& the Te2t! e(e$t!" Again, i& all the di&&eren(e! in the

&or (riti(al te2t! are (on!idered with the nmber o& word! in the Te2t! e($t! te2t '140,8>;,

i(oblog+1>, then the $er(entage agreement a(ro!! all &or di&&erent te2t! (an be (al(lated a!

>;"0I" Thi! i! (on!iderabl) higher than the =0I !gge!ted between the Ale2andrian and

9)?antine te2t3t)$e b) the method o& Aland and Aland and that !ed in the $romotion o& (rrent

New Te!tament!Q .t i! intere!ting to note that o& di&&eren(e! whi(h o((rred, 46, 5=, 15 and 5Iwere di&&eren(e! o& omi!!ion!, !b!tittion!, addition! and tran!$o!ition!, re!$e(ti-el)"

I o& di&&eren(e!"

Walla(e /0'/004+ in hi! addendm agree! with the abo-e thoght!: LThird, when one e2amine!

the -ariation! between the %ree* te2t behind the 7J 'the Te2t! e(e$t!+ and the %ree* te2t

behind modern tran!lation!, it i! di!(o-ered that the -a!t maBorit) o& -ariation! are !o tri-ial a! to

4


14/77

not e-en be tran!latable 'the mo!t (ommon i! the mo-eable n, whi(h i! a*in to the di&&eren(e

between GwhoH and GwhomHQ+" #orth, when one (om$are! the nmber o& -ariation! that are

&ond in the -ario! SS Oman!(ri$t!P with the a(tal -ariation! between the Te2t! e(e$t!

and the be!t %ree* witne!!e!, it i! &ond that the!e two are remar*abl) !imilar" There are o-er

400,000 te2tal -ariant! among NT SS" 9t the di&&eren(e! between the Te2t! e(e$t! and

te2t! ba!ed on the be!t %ree* witne!!e! nmber abot 8000Dand mo!t o& the!e arentran!latable di&&eren(e!Q .n other word!, o-er >=I o& the time, the Te2t! e(e$t! and the

!tandard (riti(al edition! agree"M

an!(ri$t! o& the 9)?antine 'aBorit)+ te2t t)$e ha! been (on!idered to be ite ni&orm" An

e(le(ti( -er!ion o& thi! te2t3t)$e, The Greek New Testament According to the Majority Text with

Apparatus, de-elo$ed b) Fodge! and #ar!tad/1, ha! been !ed to e2amine -ariabilit) in thi!

te2t3t)$e" Walla(e//in an arti(le on bible"org, &ond 1,=5= di&&eren(e! between thi! e(le(ti(

aBorit) %ree* te2t t)$e and the Te2t! e(e$t! $on whi(h the 7ing Jame! 9ible i! ba!ed"

n the ba!i! o& the nmber o& word! in the Te2t! e(e$t! %ree* New Te!tament 'a((ording

to S(ri-enerH! te2t/5140,8>;+ the $er(entage agreement between the!e two e2am$le! o&

9)?antine te2t3t)$e! i! >=";I" #or (om$ari!on, !in(e there are ;,>8; -er!e! in the 7ing Jame!9ible '7i??iah+/4, -er!e! in whi(h there i! $er&e(t agreement between the %ree* 9ible o& Fodge!

and #ar!tad and the Te2t! e(e$t! i! at lea!t ;;I" .& more than one di&&eren(e e2i!t! in a

!ingle -er!e 'highl) li*el) in !ome (a!e!+ Bthen the agreement wold be higher" Al!o, &or

(om$ari!on $r$o!e! there were 6,8;; di&&eren(e! between the aBorit) Te2t and the (riti(al

te2t 'i"e" mainl) Ale2andrian3ba!ed+ whi(h re$re!ent! agreement! o& >8"5I and 1;"5I, on a

word and -er!e ba!e, re!$e(ti-el)"

2.*. Variants as a (ercenta$e o% Number o% Words +cross +&& ,nown New

Testament Manuscripts

What ha! been di!(!!ed abo-e (on(ern! e(le(ti( te2t! in whi(h the be!t reading! ha-e been!ele(ted and (ombined &rom all a-ailable te2t!" ne wold e2$e(t a m(h greater -ariabilit) i&

di&&eren(e! within indi-idal man!(ri$t! are (on!idered" Thi! wold be e!$e(iall) tre i& a &ew

-er) bad man!(ri$t! were in(lded in the (om$ari!on"

Walla(e/8'/00>+ ha! !gge!ted that there are abot 400,000 >-ariant!=in the New Te!tament

o& toda)" Th! there are more -ariant! in the !m o& all a-ailable %ree* te2t! than the nmber o&

word! in the %ree* New Te!tament 333 whi(h !gge!t! a lot o& -ariabilit)Q Fowe-er, noti(e that

thi! de&inition in(lde! word order, !$elling, et(", !o im$ortant -ariabilit) i! not a! high a! it might

a$$ear" Walla(e doe! note that the A-a!t maBorit)@o& -ariant! are A!tri(tl) grammati(al@"

The Ale2andrian te2t t)$e i! (on!idered to be the (lo!e!t to the original and th!, with thee2(e$tion o& the New 7ing Jame! er!ion, it i! the te2t3t)$e on whi(h all modern tran!lation!

are ba!ed" Fowe-er a great deal o& -ariation e2i!t! within thi! te2t3t)$e" Wi*i$edea/6

'


15/77

SS Oman!(ri$t!P di&&er the one &rom the other, than two (on!e(ti-e -er!e! in whi(h the)

entirel) agree"

With re!$e(t to Code2 ati(an!, (8I+" We

(an al!o re!t in the (on(e$t e2$re!!ed b) the tran!lator! o& the 1611 7ing Jame! 9ible in the

$re&a(e in Gan a!Vere to the im$tation! o& or ader!arie!H: LThe -er) meane!t tran!lation o&

the 9ible in Engli!h, !et &oorth b) men o& or $ro&e!!ion """"" (ontainth the word o& %od, na), i!

the word o& %od" A! the 7ing! S$ee(h whi(h hee -ttered in arliament, being tran!lated into

rench, !utch, "talianand #atine, i! !till the 7ing! S$ee(h, thogh it be not inter$reted b) eer)

Tran!lator with the li*e gra(e, nor $eradentre !o &itl) &or $hra!e, nor !o e2$re!l) &or !en(e,

eer) where"M

6


16/77

'. Is it Time %or the Greek Te!t"tpe ehind the ,in$ /ames Trans&ation to

be (ut to 0est#

'.1. IntroductionThi! i! a &ndamental e!tion &or indi-idal! and to the &ew remaining (hr(he!a!!emblie!

whi(h are !till re(ommending the 7ing Jame! and New 7ing Jame! 9ible!" .n(rea!ingl) the!e

tran!lation! and the te2t3t)$e behind them are (oming nder atta(* !o that it i! no longer B!t a

e!tion o& !ing themK it i! a e!tion o& B!ti&)ing their !e within the (ongregation, to other

indi-idal! and to or!el-e!"

Crrentl) all $o$lar modern tran!lation! with the e2(e$tion o& 7ing Jame! and New 7ing

Jame! are ba!ed $on the e(le(ti( %ree* te2t o& the nited 9ible So(iet), 4th ed" and Ne!tle3

Aland, /;th ed" whi(h in trn i! $rimaril) ba!ed $rimaril) $on the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e" .n

(ontra!t, the 7ing Jame! -er!ion! are ba!ed $on the G9)?antineH te2t" Ea(h o& the!e two

%ree* te2t t)$e! will be loo*ed at below in a -ariet) o& di&&erent wa)! with the obBe(ti-e o&determining i& it i! now time to de$art &rom the %ree* te2t3t)$e nderl)ing the 7ing Jame!

tran!lation 'i"e" re&erred to a! the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e in thi! man!(ri$t+"

Thi! ta!* o& e-alating the (ontined !e o& the %ree* te2t nderl)ing the 7ing Jame! -er!ion!

i! -er) di&&i(lt !in(e it i! im$o!!ible to $ro-e the trth o& !omethingK it i! onl) $o!!ible to !how

that it i! more or le!! li*el) to be tre than another alternati-e" Thi! $roblem ha! re!lted in

m(h a(rimon) in the $a!t and i! in no !mall $art re!$on!ible &or lo!! o& &aith in the athorit) o&

the 9ible" .ndeed, we are admoni!hed that LFim that i! wea* in the &aith re(ei-e )e, bt not to

dobt&l di!$tation!M 'om 14:1+" .n the &ollowing, then, otation! &rom Gathoritie!H will be the

$rimar) method &or Ggetting a &eelH &or the i!!e" A &ew inter$reti-e thoght! will then be added"

'.2. Current tatus o% i%%erent Te!t"Tpes

'.2.1. Western

Wi*i$edia/= 'We!ternte2t3t)$e+ ote! We!t(ott and Fort: LThe main (hara(teri!ti( o& the

We!tern te2t i! a lo-e o& $ara$hra!e" Word! and e-en (la!e! are (hanged, omitted, and

in!erted with !r$ri!ing &reedom, where-er it !eemed that the meaning (old be broght ot

with greater &or(e and de&initene!!" ne $o!!ible !or(e o& glo!!ing i! the de!ire to harmoni!e

and to (om$lete" ore $e(liar to the We!tern te2t i! the readine!! to ado$t alteration! or

addition! &rom !or(e! e2traneo! to the boo*! whi(h ltimatel) be(ame (anoni(al" Thi! te2t

o&ten $re!ent! longer -ariant! o& te2t, bt in &ew $la(e!, in(lding the end o& the %o!$el o& *e,

it ha! !horter -ariant!, named We!tern non3inter$olation!"M Thi! !or(e indi(ate! that Lnl) one

%ree* n(ial man!(ri$t i! (on!idered to tran!mit a We!tern te2t &or the &or %o!$el! and the

9oo* o& A(t! 3 the &i&th (entr) Code2 9e?aeK while the !i2th (entr) Code2 Claromontan! i!

(on!idered to tran!mit a We!tern te2t &or the letter! o& Saint al, and i! &ollowed in thi! b) two

ninth (entr) n(ial!: # and %" an) We!tern reading! are al!o &ond in the ld S)ria(

tran!lation! o& the %o!$el!, the Sinaiti( and the Cretonian, thogh o$inion! -ar) a! to whether

the!e -er!ion! (an be (on!idered witne!!e! to the We!tern te2t3t)$e" A nmber o& &ragmentar)

;


17/77

earl) $a$)ri &rom Eg)$t al!o ha-e We!tern reading!, p/>, p5=, p4=K and in addition, Code2

Sinaiti(! i! (on!idered to be We!tern in the &ir!t eight (ha$ter! o& John" The term We!tern i!

a bit o& a mi!nomer be(a!e member! o& the We!tern te2t3t)$e ha-e been &ond in the

Chri!tian Ea!t, in(lding S)ria"M

Aland and Aland/>

'1>=;+ are among tho!e that belie-e La !$e(ial LWe!ternM t)$e o& te2t i!im$robable &rom the ot!et, and e-en it! mo!t $a!!ionate $ro$onent! ne-er re&er to it a!

LWe!ternM withot !ing otation mar*!"M The te2t i! (hara(teri?ed b) addition!50L!o that

where it read! a !horter te2t 'a! in the LWe!tern non3inter$olation!H+ it wa! $re!med to

$re!er-e the original reading!"M The!e athor! th! (on(lded that the main witne!! Code2

9e?ae Cantabrigien!i! L(an hardl) re$re!ent a LWe!ternM te2t o& the !e(ond (entr), rather, it

m!t ha-e been (o$ied &rom and e2em$lar written !hortl) be&ore A"


18/77

'.2.'. +&e!andrian

Wi*i$edia58'Ale2andriante2t3t)$e+ ob!er-e! that Lo!t modern New Te!tament tran!lation!,

howe-er, now !e an E(le(ti( %ree* te2t that i! (lo!e!t to the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e"M #rther, it

i! noted: Lo!t te2tal (riti(! o& the New Te!tament &a-or the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e a! the

(lo!e!t re$re!entati-e o& the atogra$h! &or man) rea!on!" ne rea!on i! that Ale2andrian

man!(ri$t! are the olde!t we ha-e &ond, and !ome o& the earlie!t (hr(h &ather! !edreading! &ond in the Ale2andrian te2t" Another i! that the Ale2andrian reading! are adBdged

more o&ten to be the one! that (an be!t e2$lain the origin o& all the -ariant reading! &ond in

other te2t3t)$e!" Ne-erthele!!, there are !ome di!!enting -oi(e! to thi! general (on!en!!" A

&ew te2tal (riti(!, e!$e(iall) tho!e in #ran(e, arge that the We!tern te2t3t)$e, an old te2t &rom

whi(h the ld atin -er!ion! o& the New Te!tament are deri-ed, i! (lo!er to the original!"M

The wide a((e$tan(e o& thi! te2t3t)$e (an be !mmari?ed b) the !tatement o& (=;+ note that their G!tandard te2tH 'at the time Ne!tle3Aland/6+, whi(h i!

largel) ba!ed $on the Ale2andrian te2t t)$e Li! a realit), and a! the !ole te2t di!tribted b) the

nited 9ible So(ietie! and b) the (orre!$onding o&&i(e! o& the oman Catholi( Chr(h 'an

in(on(ei-able !itation ntil ite re(entl)+, it will !oon be(ome the (ommonl) a((e$ted te2t &or

re!ear(h and !td) in ni-er!itie! and (hr(he!

et?ger5='1>>/+ (ite! We!t(ott and Fort, who originall) made the te2t3t)$e $o$lar a! !a)ing:

L.t i! or belie& '1+ that the reading! o&9 OCode2 Sinaiti(!, Code2 ati(an!P !hold be

a((e$ted a! the tre reading! ntil !trong internal e-iden(e i! &ond to the (ontrar), and '/+ that

no reading! o&

9 (an !a&el) be reBe(ted ab!oltel)"M

7en)on and Adam!5>'1>;8+ (laim that thi! te2t3t)$e Lha! been the dominating in&len(e in all

modern (riti(al edition!"M The) do elaborate &rther howe-er, b) !tating40L.t doe! not now !eem

$o!!ible to regard the te2t 'FortH! netral+ OAle2andrianP a! ha-ing de!(ended withot editorial

inter-ention and !b!tantiall) naltered &rom the original, bt rather it owe! it! $re!ent &orm to

(om$etent editorial treatment in a((ordan(e with the $rin(i$le! o& trained te2tal !(holar!hi$,

!(h a! we *now to ha-e e2i!ted at Ale2andria" We (an now !ee &rom the Che!ter 9eatt)

$a$)r! o& the E$i!tle! 'p46+ and the 9odmer *e3John 'p;8+ that a te2t o& thi! t)$e wa! in

e2i!ten(e in Eg)$t b) or be&ore /00, and that it had (lo!e a&&initie! with 9 OCode2 ati(an!P,

written 180 )ear! later"M

.n (ontra!t with the abo-e, Fill!41'1>=4+, a !$$orter o& the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e note! LTh!

the!e di!(o-erie! and the!e re!ear(he! into the New Te!tament te2t o& an(ient Eg)$t are

n&a-orable to the theor) o& We!(ott and Fort that the Ale2andrian te2t, and e!$e(iall) the te2t

o& $OCode2 ati(an!P, re$re!ent! the $re original New Te!tament te2t" #or, a! 7en)on

$ointed ot, the e-iden(e !how! that the Ale2andrian te2t wa! not dominant e-en in Eg)$t"

Clement ne-er !ed it, and rigen !ed it onl) !ome o& the time" Clearl) it i! wrong to !$$o!e

that the Ale2andrian te2t enBo)ed an o&&i(ial !tat! that *e$t it $re"M Thi! agree! with what

>


19/77

7en)on and Adam!4/'1>;8+ do, in &a(t, !a) L9t the (or!e o& di!(o-erie! in Eg)$t doe! not

(on&irm the theor) o& ni-er!al dominan(e"M and LNe-erthele!! it remain! that althogh that the

OAle2andrianP te2t i! not the original te2t, it (ontain! more o& the original te2t than an) other, or,

to $t it another wa), the original te2t i! almo!t alwa)! (ontained in one o& it! (on!titent

member!, the &oremo!t o& whi(h i! 9 it!el&"M The la(* o& dominan(e o& the Ale2andrian te2t i!

!$$orted b) Wi*i$edia45

'Ale2andriante2t3t)$e+: LThe e-iden(e o& the $a$)ri !gge!t! that Din Eg)$t at lea!t D -er) di&&erent man!(ri$t reading! (o3e2i!ted in the !ame area in the earl)

Chri!tian $eriod" So, wherea! the earl) 5rd (entr) $a$)r! p;8witne!!e! a te2t in *e and

John that i! -er) (lo!e to that &ond a (entr) later in the Code2 ati(an!, the nearl)

(ontem$orar) p66ha! a m(h &reer te2t o& JohnK with man) nie -ariant!K and other! that are

now (on!idered di!tin(ti-e to the We!tern and 9)?antine te2t3t)$e!, albeit that the bl* o&

reading! are Ale2andrian" o!t modern te2t (riti(! there&ore do not regard an) one te2t3t)$e a!

deri-ing in dire(t !((e!!ion &rom atogra$h man!(ri$t!, bt rather, a! the &rit o& lo(al

e2er(i!e! to (om$ile the be!t New Te!tament te2t &rom a man!(ri$t tradition that alread)

di!$la)ed wide -ariation!"M

'.2.*. 3antine

The 9)?antine 'aBorit), 7oine, Traditional, E((le!ia!ti(al, Con!tantino$olitan, or S)rian+ te2t3

t)$e i! re$re!ented b) the large!t nmber o& %ree* New Te!tament man!(ri$t!" .t i! the

&ondational te2t o& the GTe2t! e(e$t!H %ree* te2t !ed &or mo!t e&ormation3era tran!lation!

and hen(e o& the 7ing Jame! -er!ion o& the 9ible"

A((ording to Wi*i$edia44'9)?antinete2t3t)$e+ L#or !ome time &ollowing the &orth (entr)

di&&erent t)$e! o& te2t were (rrent in the Ea!t, bt at the end the 9)?antine te2t almo!t wholl)

di!$la(ed the re!tM"There are no (on!i!tent 9)?antine witne!!e! among!t the earl) New

Te!tament $a$)ri" Ne-erthele!!, in!tan(e! o& di!tin(ti-e 9)?antine reading! are not n!al in

the earlie!t te2t! D e-en thogh the) otherwi!e (on&orm more to other te2t3t)$e! or none"Fen(e, man) 'and $o!!ibl) mo!t+ di!tin(ti-e 9)?antine reading! are li*el) to be earl) in date"M

Fill!48ote! -on Soden '1>06+: LThe !b!tan(e o& the te2tremain! inta(t throghot the

whole $eriod o& $erha$! 1/00 )ear!" nl) -er) !$oradi(all) do reading! &ond in other te2t3

t)$e! a$$ear in one or another o& the -arietie!"M

The $re&a(e in relati-el) new e(le(ti( 9)?antine %ree* te2t o& obin!on and ier$ont46'/008+

!tate!: AThe 9)?antine Te2t&orm $re!er-e! with a general (on!i!ten() the t)$e o& New

Te!tament te2t that dominated the %ree*3 !$ea*ing world" Thi! dominan(e e2i!ted &rom at lea!t

the &orth (entr) ntil the in-ention o& $rinting in the !i2teenth (entr)" nder the $re!ent

theor), thi! te2t al!o i! $re!med in (entrie! $rior to the &orth to ha-e dominated the $rimar)%ree*3!$ea*ing region o& the oman Em$ire"@

7en)on and Adam!4;'1>;8+ note that -on Soden attem$ted to (la!!i&) the 9)?antine

man!(ri$t! into three main di-i!ion!: 71the earlie!t whi(h i! o& the eight (entr), 72whi(h wa!

dominant &rom the tenth to the twel&th (entr) and 7rwhi(h $re-ailed &rom the thirteenth (entr)

onward!" The) do note, thogh, that Lit i! al!o be(oming in(rea!ingl) re(ogni?ed that the later

O9)?antineP te2t ha! $re!er-ed here and there an(ient reading! whi(h ha-e largel) di!a$$eared

10


20/77

&rom other bran(he! o& the tradition, and whi(h otherwi!e ha-e onl) !light atte!tation among

earl) witne!!e!, or e-en none at all" .t doe! not &ollow that be(a!e a reading i! an(ient it i!

ne(e!!aril) (orre(t, bt it i! (lear that the later te2t de!er-e! &ar more attention than !o &ar it ha!

re(ei-ed" #or e2am$le, it ha! been remar*ed that X3t)$e O9)?antineP reading! are to be &ond in

the olde!t $a$)riDthi! i! noti(eabl) !o in the (orre(tion! o& p66, with their tenden() toward! a

!moother and more intelligible %ree*, bt the !ame $henomenon (an be !een in p46o& the

E$i!tle!" re-io!l) the!e reading! had been reBe(ted withot &rther ado a! late, and it i! o&

(or!e $o!!ible, indeed $robable, that !ome ma) be de to !(ribal and editorial (on(iden(e" 9t

not all"M

7en)on and Adam!4='1>;8+ (laim that LThi! i! the te2t &ond in the great maBorit) o&

man!(ri$t!" The e!!en(e o& the (a!e i! that thi! i! a te2t whi(h ha! !&&ered $rogre!!i-e

re-i!ion, not 'or onl) to a !light e2tent+ on do(trinal grond!, bt mainl) in the intere!t! o&

intelligibilit) and b) mean! o& -erbal and !t)li!ti( alteration! and b) the a!!imilation 'deliberate

or nintentional+ o& $arallel narrati-e!"M

A((ording to Aland and Aland4>: '1>=;+: LThe edition! o& Ti!(hendor& 'nmero! !maller

edition! &ollowed the $rinting o& hi! %ditio octava critica maior+ and o& We!t(ott and Fort were

!&&i(ient to ma*e the Te2t! re(e$t! ob!olete &or the !(holarl) world"M

'.2.-. Thou$hts

.n an) reading the literatre on te2t3t)$e!, the &oremo!t (on(l!ion i! that -irtall) all !(holar!

belie-e that the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e i! (lo!e!t to the original writing! o& the New Te!tament

whi(h i! wh) thi! te2t3t)$e i! now the ba!i! &or -irtall) all modern New Te!tament" So on the

ba!i! o& (riti(al e2$ert! alone, one wold ha-e to (on(lde that there reall) i! no other (hoi(e

bt to !e one o& the modern tran!lation! whi(h will be ba!ed $on the (rrent e(le(ti( %ree*

te2t 'a! &ond in the nited 9ible So(iet), 4th ed" and Ne!tle3Aland, /;th ed"+"

The onl) note o& (ation that (ome! ot o& thi! !e(tion i! the ob!er-ation o& Fill! and other! that

the Ale2andrian te2t wa! not dominant, e-en in Eg)$t" Thi! (ontra!t! with the 9)?antine te2t

whi(h i! widel) re(ogni?ed a! ha-ing been the maBor %ree* te2t &rom 400 to a&ter 1=00 A"


21/77

entury a&yri *ncials Minuscules

*nicals Minuscules

/nd / 3 3 3 3(" /00 4 3 3 3 3/nd5rd 1 1 3 3 35rd /= / 3 3 35rd4th = / 3 3 3

4th 14 14 3 1 34th8th = = 3 3 38th / 56 3 1 38th6th 4 10 3 3 36th ; 81 3 5 36th;th 8 8 3 1 3;th = /= 3 4 3;th=th 5 4 3 3 3=th / /> 3 // 3=th>th 3 4 3 8 3

>th 3 85 15 115 8>th10th 3 1 4 3 1

10th 3 1; 1/4 10= 5=10th11th 3 5 = 5 411th 3 1 4/> 18 //;11th1/th 3 3 55 3 151/th 3 3 888 6 4=61/th15th 3 3 /6 3 1;15th 3 3 84; 4 5>4

Earlie!t 9ibli(al man!(ri$t! b) New Te!tament boo*85

Boo+ arliestManuscri&ts

-ate on"ition

atthew 64, 6;, 104 (" /00 #ragment!ar* 48 (" /80 arge

#ragment!*e 4, ;8 (" /00 #ragmentJohn 8/ (" 1/83160 #ragmentA(t! 5= earl) 5rd (ent" #ragmentoman! 3 1The!!alonian!

46 (" 1;83//8 #ragment!

/ The!!alonian! >/ 5rd4th (ent" #ragment1 Timoth) (" 580 Com$lete/ Timoth) (" 580 Com$leteTit! 5/ (" /00 #ragmenthilemon =; 5rd (ent" #ragmentFebrew! 46 (" 1;83//8 #ragment!

Jame! /5, /0 5rd (ent" #ragment1 eter, / eter ;/ 5rd4th (ent" #ragment!

1 John > 5rd (ent" #ragment/ John 0/5/ 5rd4th (ent" #ragment

1/


22/77

5 John (" 580 Com$leteJde ;/ 5rd4th (ent" #ragmente-elation >=, 118 (" /;8 #ragment

The abo-e table! demon!trate that there are not a lot o& earl) %ree* man!(ri$t! o& the New

Te!tament and that mo!t o& the earlie!t are $a$)ri"

'.'.1. +&e!andrian

A((ording to Wi*i$edia84'Ale2andriante2t3t)$e+ L !r-i-ing %ree* New Te!tament man!(ri$t!

&rom be&ore the >th (entr) are relati-el) rareK bt nine 3 o-er hal& o& the total that !r-i-e 3

witne!! a more or le!! $re Ale2andrian te2t" The!e in(lde the olde!t near3(om$lete

man!(ri$t! o& the New Te!tament Code2 ati(an! %rae(! 1/0> O(ode2 9P and Code2

Sinaiti(! O(ode2P 'belie-ed to date &rom the earl) 4th (entr) CE+" A nmber o& !b!tantial

$a$)r! man!(ri$t! o& $ortion! o& the New Te!tament !r-i-e &rom earlier !till, and tho!e that

(an be a!(ribed a te2t3t)$e 3 !(h a! p66and p;8&rom the earl) 5rd (entr) 3 al!o tend to witne!!

to the Ale2andrian te2t" "" Althogh the o-erwhelming maBorit) o& later min!(le man!(ri$t!(on&orm to the 9)?antine te2t3t)$eK detailed !td) ha!, &rom time to time, identi&ied indi-idal

min!(le! that tran!mit the alternati-e Ale2andrian te2t" Arond 1; !(h man!(ri$t! ha-e

been di!(o-ered !o &ar 3 (on!eentl) the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e i! witne!!ed b) arond 50

!r-i-ing man!(ri$t! 3 b) no mean! all o& whi(h are a!!o(iated with Eg)$t, althogh that area

i! where Ale2andrian witne!!e! are mo!t $re-alent""""" A((ording to the $re!ent (riti(! (odi(e!

the $a$)r! p;8and 9 O(ode2 ati(an!P are the be!t Ale2andrian witne!!e!, whi(h $re!ent the

$re Ale2andrian te2t" All other witne!!e! are (la!!i&ied a((ording to whether the) $re!er-e the

e2(ellent $a$)r! p;839 line o& te2t"M

b!er-ation! o& 7en)on and Adam!88'1>;8+ wold !gge!t that the be!t te2tal e-iden(e that

te2tal (riti(! ha-e &or the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e a! being (lo!e!t to the original i! deri-ed &rom 9

OCode2 ati(an!P and the $a$)r!p;8whi(h A!tand (lo!er than an) other two earl) witne!!e!@"

The &inding o& the $a$)r! demon!trated that the te2t3t)$e wa! in e2i!ten(e at or be&ore the end

o& the !e(ond (entr)" ASin(e their (ommon error! are rare, 9 i! not a dire(t (o$) o& p;8, nor in

trn are both (o$ie! o& the !ame ar(het)$e: genealogi(all) the) a$$ear to be at !ome di!tan(e

&rom ea(h other" The (on(l!ion &ollow! that the) both belong to an e!tabli!hed te2tal tradition,

(on!er-ati-e in (hara(ter, whi(h retained a remar*able $rit) in tran!mi!!ion"@

et?ger86'1>>/+ li!ted the (hie& witne!!e! &or the $roto3Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e a! 1+ p48Oin A(t!P,

/+p

46Ooman! 3 1 Tim, FebP, 5+p

66OJohnP, 4+p

;8O&ragment! o& *e and JohnP, 8+

OCode2

Sinaiti(!, New Te!tamentP, and 6+ 9 OCode2 ati(an!, att 3 Feb, >, 14P" The!e man!(ri$t!

ha-e been dated Wi*i$edia8; 'Categorie!o&NewTe!tamentman!(ri$t!+ at a$$ro2imatel)

/80, /00, /00, /80, 580 and 5/8 A"


23/77

'.'.2. 3antine

The earlie!t %ree* man!(ri$t! !$$orting the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e are gi-en in the &ollowing

table"

Earl) an!(ri$t! o& the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e8>

i/n #a%e entury

ontent

A '0/+ Code2 Ale2andrin! 8th %o!$el!C '04+ Code2 E$hraemi

e!(ri$t!8th %o!$el!

W '05/+ Code2 Wa!hingtonian! 8th att 13/=K *e =:15/4:85

Y '0/6+ Code2 %el&erb)tan! 9 8th *eJohn

061 n(ial 061 8th 1 Tim 5:18316K 4:135K 6:/3=Ee '0;+ Code2 9a!ilen!i! =th %o!$el!#e '0>+ Code2 9oreelian! >th %o!$el!%e '011+ Code2 Seidelian! . >th %o!$el!

Fe '015+ Code2 Seidelian! .. >th %o!$el! '0/0+ Code2 Angeli(! >th A(t!, CE, aline E$i!tle! '051+ Code2 o!en!i! .. >th %o!$el!Z '054+ Code2 a(edonien!i! >th %o!$el!T '05=+ Code2 7oridethi >th %o!$el! 'e2(e$t ar*+S '0/=+ Code2 ati(an! 584 >th %o!$el!

1/41 in!(le 1/41 1/th onl) A(t!14/4 in!(le 14/4 >th10th NT 'e2(e$t ar*+

A((ording to Wi*i$edia60'9)?antinete2t3t)$e+ Ao& 8// (om$lete or nearl) (om$lete

man!(ri$t! o& the %eneral E$i!tle! (ollated b) the .n!titte &or New Te!tament Te2tal

e!ear(h in [n!ter, %erman), 5;/ o& them atte!t the 9)?antine reading in at lea!t >0I o& >=

te!t $la(e!" Among!t the earlie!t !r-i-ing man!(ri$t!, the $o!ition i! re-er!ed" There are !i2

man!(ri$t! earlier than the >th (entr) whi(h (on&orm to the 9)?antine te2t3t)$eK o& whi(h the

8th (entr) Code2 Ale2andrin!, 'the olde!t+, i! 9)?antine onl) in the %o!$el! with the re!t o&

the New Te!tament being Ale2andrian" 9) (om$ari!on, the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e i! witne!!ed

b) nine !r-i-ing n(ial! earlier than the ninth (entr) 'in(lding the Code2 Ale2andrin!

ot!ide the %o!$el!+K and i! al!o !all) (on!idered to be demon!trated in three earlier

$a$)ri""M

The Wi*i$edia re&eren(e (ontine! LThere are no (on!i!tent 9)?antine witne!!e! among!t the

earl) New Te!tament $a$)ri" Ne-erthele!!, in!tan(e! o& di!tin(ti-e 9)?antine reading! are not

n!al in the earlie!t te2t! D e-en thogh the) otherwi!e (on&orm more to other te2t3t)$e! or

none" Fen(e, man) 'and $o!!ibl) mo!t+ di!tin(ti-e 9)?antine reading! are li*el) to be earl) in

date" Two broad e2$lanation! ha-e been o&&ered &or thi! ob!er-ation: that the 9)?antine te2t3

t)$e tran!mit! a te2t (lo!e!t to the $rimar) &orm o& the New Te!tament boo*!K who!e earl)

man!(ri$t witne!!e! ha-e not !r-i-ed, a! thi! te2t3t)$e $redominated in region! where the

(limate did not &a-or the $re!er-ation o& $a$)r!K that the 9)?antine te2t re$re!ent! a

(on!i!tent e2er(i!e in te2tal (om$ilation and (orre(tion &rom arond the 4th (entr), the editor!

14


24/77

ha-ing e(le(ti(all) !ele(ted tho!e reading! &rom a range o& earl) man!(ri$t!, that be!t

(on&ormed to their $re!$$o!ed !tandard! o& the (hara(teri!ti(! to be e2$e(ted in the New

Te!tament te2t"M

Althogh there are no $a$)ri are li!ted a! earl) witne!!e! in the abo-e table, thi! de!er-e! a

greater di!(!!ion" .t i! di&&i(lt to &ind re&eren(e to 9)?antine reading! in $a$)ri in re(ent wor*e2(e$t in generalitie! !(h a! that abo-e Lin!tan(e! o& di!tin(ti-e 9)?antine reading! are not

n!al in the earlie!t te2t!M" Fowe-er a Gde&enderH o& thi! te2t t)$e, Fill!61, !tate!: LWhen the

Che!ter 9eatt) a$)ri were $bli!hed '1>5535;+, it wa! &ond that the!e earl) 5 rd(entr)

&ragment! agree !r$ri!ingl) o&ten with the Traditional '9)?antine+ Te2t again!t all other t)$e! o&

te2t" LA nmber o& 9)?antine reading!,M '\nt? 1>85+ ob!er-e! Lmo!t o& them genine, whi(h

$re-io!l) were di!(arded a! GlateH, are anti(i$ated b) a$" 46"M And to thi! ob!er-ation he add!

the &ollowing !igni&i(ant note, LThe !ame i! tre o& the !i!ter3man!(ri$t a$"48K !ee, &or

e2am$le, att" /6:; and A(t!" 1;:15"M And the !ame i! tre al!o o& the 9odmer a$)ri

'$bli!hed 1>8636/+" 9ird!all '1>60+ a(*nowledge! that Lthe 9odmer a$)r! o& John 'a$)r!

66+ ha! not a &ew !(h 9)?antine reading!"M And et?ger '1>6/+ li!t! /5 in!tan(e! o& the

agreement! o& a$)ri 48, 46, and 66 with the Traditional '9)?antine+ Te2t again!t all other te2t3t)$e!" And at lea!t a do?en more !(h agreement! o((r in a$)r! ;8"M

7en)on and Adam!6/'1>;8+ di!(!!ed the 9eatt) $a$)r! di!(o-erie! 'p48p46p4;, a((ording to

et?ler, dating &rom the &ir!t hal& o& the third (entr), abot the )ear /00, and middle or latter

$art o& the third (entr), re!$e(ti-el)+ noting that the!e Lbetween them (o-er nearl) the whole

New Te!tament, and $ro-ide -alable and !b!tantial e-iden(e o& te2tal (ondition! in Eg)$t a

(entr) be&ore the ati(an and Sinaiti( (odi(e! with whi(h or man!(ri$t e-iden(e $re-io!l)

began"M The) li!t agreement! and di!agreement! with $rin(i$le man!(ri$t! a! gi-en in the

&ollowing Table" Nmeri(all) the greate!t agreement o& the!e $a$)ri i! with the 9)?antine te2t

Te2t! e(e$t!Q

Alexan"riantext

o"ex(inaiticus)

Alexan"riantextB (o"exaticanus)

Western text- (o"exBeae)

Byantinetext(Textusece&tus)

eading! with $a$)r! 4/ 44 4> 88eading! again!t $a$)r! 10= 106 100 >4Agreement a! I o& total /= /> 55 5;

7en)on and Adam!65'1>;8+ al!o di!(!! the 9odmer a$)ri whi(h the) a!!med, along with

the Che!ter 9eatt) (olle(tion, to ha-e (ome &rom the Lremain! o& Chri!tian librarie! whi(h!r-i-ed the $er!e(tion o&


25/77

e2amination o& the (orre(tion! o& p66, %"


26/77

'.'.'. Thou$hts

Althogh there are nmero! %ree* man!(ri$t! o& the New Te!tament, mo!t o& the!e are &rom

a relati-el) late $eriod" .t i! (lear that the earlie!t n(ial man!(ri$t! and at lea!t one o& the

earlier $a$)ri are o& the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e" Thi! ha! to be one o& the !tronge!t argment! in

&a-or o& thi! te2t3t)$e"

.n (ontra!t, there are no n(ial! be&ore the 8th(entr) !$$orting the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e"

Althogh it i! widel) (laimed that there are 9)?antine reading! in the earl) $a$)ri, thi! ha! been

down$la)ed in the literatre, with more re(ent athor! not e-en mentioning !$$ort &or an earl)

9)?antine te2t3t)$e &rom thi! !or(e" .n thi! regard, the &a(t that both the Che!ter 9eatt) and

9odmer $a$)ri 'p48, p46and p66K three o& the !i2 $rimar) witne!!e! that (=;+ noted that the te2t o& p;8Lwa! !o (lo!el) !imilar to that o& Code2

ati(an! that it (old e-en be !!$e(ted o& being it! e2em$lar" With the di!(o-er) o& p;8we

ha-e at la!t &ond the *e) to nder!tanding the earl) hi!tor) o& the te2t"M A &ew $age! later

Aland and Aland6>gi-e the -iew that >earl)@te2t tran!mi!!ion! were in the &orm o& a A!tri(t@te2t

1;


27/77

with -er) &ew de-iation! &rom the original 'i"e"p;8+, a Anormal@te2t whi(h tran!mitted the original

with a minimal amont o& -ariation, and a A&ree@te2t 'e"g" p48p46p66+ whi(h had greater

-ariation, and al!o tran!itional te2t whi(h wa! a $re(r!or to the < te2t"

7en)on and Adam!;0!tate that the Ale2andrian te2t Lthere&ore i! now generall) regarded a! a

te2t $rod(edDor $erha$! it wold be better to !a) tran!mittedDin Eg)$t and $robabl) atAle2andria nder editorial (are"M The) &rther indi(ate;1L.& !o, the -iew, m(h (an-a!!ed in

re(ent )ear!, that the Ale2andrian te2t3t)$e 'o& whi(h 9 andwere the (hie& re$re!entati-e!+

wa! a third or &orth (entr) re(en!ion i"e" a deliberatel) re-i!ed or GmadeH te2t &ormed ot o&

the G$o$larH te2t! o& the !e(ond (entr) will need (on!iderable re-i!ion" .ndeed, FortH! theor)

that the GnetralH te2t o& 9 and e!$e(iall) 9Dwa! an an(ient te2t whi(h had !r-i-ed in

almo!t $re &orm, a$art &rom !(ribal error!, and withot !erio! editorial re-i!ion, now retrn!

into the &oregrond o& !erio! di!(!!ion"M

A((ording to (>/+ L.t i! widel) agreed that the Ale2andrian te2t wa! $re$ared b)

!*ill&l editor!, trained in the !(holarl) tradition! o& Ale2andria"@

Wi*i$edia;4'Ale2andriante2t3t)$e+ !tate! LJohann eonhard Fg '1;6831=46+ !gge!ted that

the Ale2andrian re(en!ion wa! to be dated abot the middle o& the third (entr), and it wa! the

$ri&i(ation o& a wild te2t, whi(h wa! !imilar to the te2t o& Code2 9e?ae" .n re!lt o& thi!

re(en!ion inter$olation! were remo-ed and !ome grammar re&inement! were made" The re!lt

wa! the te2t o& the (odi(e! 9, C, , and the te2t o& Athana!i! and C)ril o& Ale2andria"M

'.*.2. 3antine

A((ording to the En()(lo$aedia 9ritanni(a;8(ian o& Antio(h '(" /40351/+ L(reated the tradition

o& man!(ri$t! *nown a! the (iani( 9)?antine or S)rian te2t" ntil the de-elo$ment o& 1> th

(entr) bibli(al (riti(i!m, it! (larit) made it the (ommon te2t"M

Wi*i$edia;6'9)?antine te2t3t)$e+ li!t! three $o!!ibilitie! o& athor!hi$ in the &ollowing otation:

LAmong tho!e who belie-e that the 9)?antine te2t i! onl) a !e(ondar) witne!! to the atogra$h,

there i! !ome debate (on(erning the origin o& the 9)?antine te2t and the rea!on &or it!wide!$read !e" The !gge!tion! that ha-e been $t &orward are: That (ian o& Antio(h !ed

hi! te2t (riti(al !*ill! to $rod(e a re(en!ion 'Jerome ma*e! !e$arate re&eren(e! to (ian!

re(en!ion! o& both old and new te!tament!+, That Con!tantine . $aid &or the wide di!tribtion o&

man!(ri$t! whi(h (ame &rom a (ommon !or(e 'There are !e-eral re&eren(e! in E!ebi! o&

Cae!area to Con!tantine $a)ing &or man!(ri$t $rod(tion+, That a&ter the We!tern oman

Em$ire !to$$ed !ing %ree*, and be(a!e o& 9arbarian and !lim in-a!ion!, the onl) (hr(h

1=


28/77

to a(ti-el) $re!er-e the %ree* te2t wa! the 9)?antine (hr(h, whi(h e2er(i!ed (entral (ontrol

&rom the A$o!toli( See o& Antio(h and with!tood the !lim! ntil the 18th (entr)"M

et?ger;;'1>>/+ !tate! that LThe rea!on that B!ti&ie! one in di!(arding the 7oine t)$e o& te2t i!

that it i! ba!ed on the re(en!ion $re$ared near the (lo!e o& the third (entr) b) (ian o&

Antio(h, or !ome o& hi! a!!o(iate!, who deliberatel) (ombined element! &rom earlier t)$e! o&te2t"


29/77

their $o!!e!!ionK the!e writing! were then !wi&tl) (o$ied b) o&&i(ial !(ribe!" The original! were

$t into the ibrar), and the (o$ie! were deli-ered to the $re-io! owner!"M Thi! mean! that

(o$)ing o& man!(ri$t! wa! rotine" Al!o, it wold a$$ear that there were !b!tantial !ale! o&

boo*! &rom the librar)" To ote the New World En()(lo$edia: LTh! Cae!ar! in-a!ion ma)

well ha-e led to the lo!! o& !ome 40,0003;0,000 !(roll! in a wareho!e adBa(ent to the $ort 'a!

(iano Can&ora arge!, the) were li*el) (o$ie! $rod(ed b) the ibrar) intended &or e2$ort+M"

The web!ite an!wer!"(om=1tend! to (on&irm that the Ale2andrian librar) wa! in the b!ine!! o&

editing and !elling boo*!, !a)ing that it wa! Lone o& the &ir!t and (ertainl) !tronge!t home! &or

!erio! te2tal (riti(i!m" A! the !ame te2t o&ten e2i!ted in !e-eral di&&erent -er!ion!,

(om$arati-e te2tal (riti(i!m wa! (r(ial &or en!ring their -era(it)" n(e a!(ertained, (anoni(al

(o$ie! wold then be made &or !(holar!, ro)alt) and wealth) biblio$hile! the world o-er, thi!

(ommer(e bringing in(ome to the librar)" The editor! at the ibrar) o& Ale2andria are e!$e(iall)

well *nown &or their wor* on Fomeri( te2t!" The more &amo! editor! generall) al!o held the title

o& head librarian"M

Additional in&ormation (on(erning the librar) ha! been obtained &rom a boo* b) El3Abbadi=/

" Fenote! that the tolemie! wanted their ibrar) to (ontain the bl* o& %ree* *nowledge, bt al!o

the writing! &rom all nation! to be ltimatel) tran!lated into %ree*" Lriental religion! !eemed to

ha-e had a great attra(tionM and the Se$tagint '%ree* tran!lation o& the ld Te!tament+ wa!

$rod(ed in the (it)" El3Abbadi re(ont! in&ormation (on(erning Arto!$hane!, who held the $o!t

o& (hie& librarian &rom //13/08 9"C" Fe i! noted &or the L&ndamental re(en!ionM o& te2t! o&

(la!!i(al %ree(e and introd(ed an editorial te(hnie whi(h Lwa! !la-i!hl) emlated

a&terward!"M That editing o& boo*! wa! (ommon $ra(ti(e (an be ded(ed b) the ob!er-ation

that in the regi!tration o& boo*! &or the librar) L9e!ide the athorH! name wold be !tated the

name o& the !(holar who had G(orre(tedH or edited the te2t"M We *now that the Chri!tian rigen,

a leader o& the Chri!tian S(hool at Ale2andria, wold ha-e been e2$o!ed to !(h editing

$ra(ti(e! !in(e Llotin!!tdied, together with rigen, nder Ammoni! Sa((a!, &rom /5/

to /45M A"


30/77

$er!e(tion! o& Chri!tian! and the de!tr(tion o& their writing! 'di!(!!ed below+, it i! more

li*el) that the edited man!(ri$t! at the librar) wold ha-e been !$ared than New Te!tament

man!(ri$t! held b) Chri!tian!"

So with re!$e(t to athor!hi$, it a$$ear! that the !tat! o& the Ale2andrian and 9)?antine te2t i!

!imilar there i! no e-iden(e whi(h demon!trate! that the) were edited te2t!, bt the $re-ailingo$inion i! that the) both were" .n &a(t it i! (ertainl) $o!!ible that what Fort ha! re&erred to a! the

GnetralH New Te!tament te2t and whi(h he and other! belie-ed wa! -er) (lo!e to the original i!

!im$l) the te2t $re$ared b) good and (on!i!tent editor! at Ale2andria"

'.-. Characteristics o% Te!t

'.-.1. +&e!andrian

A((ording to et?ger=4'1>>/+ the (hara(teri!ti(! o& the earlier &orm o& the Ale2andrian te2t are

that it i! generall) the !horte!t and doe! not a$$ear to ha-e ndergone the !)!temati(

grammati(al !t)li!ti( $oli!hing whi(h (hara(teri?e! other te2t3t)$e! in(lding the later &orm o&

the Ale2andrian te2t it!el&" (>/+ !tate!: LThe alitie! whi(h the athor! o& the S)rian

O9)?antineP te2t !eem to ha-e mo!t de!ired to im$re!! on it are l(idit) and (om$letene!!" The)

were e-identl) an2io! to remo-e all !tmbling3blo(*! ot o& the wa) o& the ordinar) reader, !o

&ar a! thi! (old be done withot re(or!e to -iolent mea!re!" The) were a$$arentl) eall)

de!iro! that he !hold ha-e the bene&it o& in!tr(ti-e matter (ontained in all the e2i!ting te2t!,

$ro-ided it did not (on&!e the (onte2t or introd(e !eeming (ontradi(tion!" New omi!!ion!

a((ordingl) are rare, and where the) o((r are !all) &ond to (ontribte to a$$arent

!im$li(it)" New inter$olation! on the other hand are abndant, mo!t o& them being de to

harmoni!ti( or other a!!imilation, &ortnatel) (a$ri(io! and in(om$lete" 9oth in matter and in

di(tion the S)rian te2t i! (on!$i(o!l) a &ll te2t" .t delight! in $ronon!, (onBn(tion!, and

e2$leti-e! and !$$lied lin*! o& all *ind! a! well a! in more (on!iderable addition!" A!

di!tingi!hed &rom the bold -igor o& the GWe!ternH !(ribe!, and the re&ined !(holar!hi$ o& the

Ale2andrian!, the !$irit o& it! own (orre(tion! i! at on(e !en!ible and &eeble" Entirel) blamele!!on either literar) or religio! grond! a! regard! -lgari?ed or nworth) di(tion, )et !hewing no

mar*! o& either (riti(al or !$irital in!ight, it $re!ent! the New Te!tament in a &orm !mooth and

attra(ti-e, bt a$$re(iabl) im$o-eri!hed in !en!e and &or(e, more &itted &or (r!or) $er!al or

re(itation than &or re$eated and diligent !td)"M

7en)on and Adam!==de!(ribe! the modern &eeling (on(erning the te2tal (hara(teri!ti(! in the

9)?antine te2t LThe e!!en(e o& the (a!e i! that thi! i! a te2t whi(h ha! !&&ered $rogre!!i-e

/1


31/77

re-i!ion, not 'or onl) to a !light e2tent+ on do(trinal grond!, bt mainl) in the intere!t! o&

intelligibilit) and b) mean! o& -erbal and !t)li!ti( alteration! and b) the a!!imilation 'deliberate

or nintentional+ o& $arallel narrati-e!" The $roo& o& it! !e(ondar) (hara(ter re!t! $artl) on

internal e-iden(e, whi(h !how! b) the a$$li(ation o& the ordinar) $rin(i$le! o& te2tal (riti(i!m

that it! reading!, when (om$ared with tho!e o& the earlier athoritie!, (an be e2$lained a!

!(ribal or editorial modi&i(ation o& them, while the o$$o!ite e2$lanation i! le!! $o!!ible orim$o!!ibleK and $artl) on the e-iden(e o& the earl) #ather!, &rom whi(h it a$$ear! that reading!

(hara(teri!ti( o& thi! t)$e &ir!t begin to be noti(eable in the writing! o& Chr)!o!tom"M Le-i!ion"""

wa! rather the re!lt o& &or(e! and tenden(ie! whi(h (ontined to o$erate o-er a long $eriod"""

and, in the !$$o!ed intere!t o& the reader, the in!ertion o& name! or $ronon! to ma*e a

me!!age more (lear, modi&)ing a $a!!age whi(h a$$eared o$en to mi!nder!tanding, or

obBe(tionable on grammati(al, !t)li!ti( or do(trinal grond!, remo-ing a$$arent (ontra(tion!

between two e-angeli!t!, a!!imilating the narrati-e o& one S)no$ti!t to that o& another, the

!b!tittion o& one word &or another, or the alteration o& word!"M

Walla(e=>de!(ribe! the 9)?antine te2t a! &ollow!: LTe2tal -ariant! are (!tomaril) $la(ed in

one o& &or (ategorie!: omi!!ion, addition, !b!tittion, and tran!$o!ition" The general (hara(tero& the 9)?antine te2t3t)$e i! normall) de!(ribed a! !mooth, (on&lated, harmoni!ti(, (om$lete"

oorman>0$oint! ot !(holar! who e2$lain the !horter Ale2andrian te2t !a) that the 7ing Jame!

er!ion G(on&latedH or (ombined reading! o& the di&&erent te2t t)$e! o& man!(ri$t gro$ing!" Fe

gi-e! a! an e2am$le that i& one te2t t)$e !a)! that Leter wal*ed b) the !eaM and another !a)!

LJohn wal*ed b) the !eaM the Traditional te2t merel) (ombined the two into Leter and John

wal*ed b) the !eaM" Thi! mean! that te2tal (riti(! generall) $re&er the !horter te2tK i"e" while

di!(!!ing the twel-e ba!i( rle! &or te2tal (riti(i!m, Aland and Aland>1indi(ate that LThe

-enerable ma2im le(tio bre-ior le(tio $otior 'Lthe !horter reading i! the more $robable readingM+

i! (ertainl) right in man) in!tan(e!M"

'.-.'. Tpe o% Greek Writin$4 ,oine versus +ttic Greek

.t wold !eem that it !hold be $o!!ible to e2amine the t)$e o& %ree* !ed in di&&erent

man!(ri$t! to determine whether a $arti(lar te2t aro!e in the &ir!t or &orth (entr)"

9a!ed $on the thoght! o& /'1>>6+, howe-er, thi! ma) not be $o!!ible" Fe

note! that the $eriod o& 7oine %ree* wa! roghl) 550 9"C" to 550 A"


32/77

Semiti(-lgar 'e"g", e-elation ar*, John, 135 John, / eter+, with the boo*! in bra(*et! being

in the de!(ending order o& $rit)" #rther he note! that althogh the %ree* NT i! (on-er!ational

%ree* in !)nta2, in it! !t)le it i! largel) Semiti( and it! -o(ablar) i! !imilar to the $a$)r!

do(ment! o& the da)"

.n (ontra!t, a 7ing Jame! de&endant, oorman

>5

, $oint! ot L9t a$art &rom the omi!!ion o&!igni&i(ant word! and $a!!age! the odern er!ion Te2t i! !horter in another *ind o& wa)" .t i!

more ter!e and not a! l(id a! the e(ei-ed Te2t O9)?antineP" And here it betra)! the !e(ret that

it i! not the original te2t o& the &ir!t (entr), bt rather one that i! altered and !e(ondar)" .n

9ibli(al time! there were two maBor *ind! o& %ree* diale(t: Cla!!i(al or Atti( 'the diale(t o&

Athen! on the Atti(a enin!la+, and Felleni!ti( or 7oine O(ommonP" Thogh ter!e and (om$a(t,

Atti( wa! (on!idered the more LelegantM o& the two" .t wa! the langage o& the golden age o&

%ree(e, and wa! in -oge &rom abot 4=0 to 5/5 9C" A&ter Ale2ander the %reat, the more

!im$le and e2$li(it 7oine 'meaning (ommon diale(t+ began to be !$o*en, and be(ame the

linga &ran(a o& the ea!tern editerranean region ntil the &orth (entr) A< when it wa!

!$er!eded b) 9)?antine %ree*" .m$ortantl) &or !, 7oine wa! the diale(t o& the New

Te!tament" Thi! i! remar*able e-iden(e o& %odH! $ro-iden(e" The Atti( le&t too m(h to theimagination, wherea! 7oine with it! greater &llne!! (old be more $re(i!e" .t wa! !im$le, l(id,

$lain, and &llK )et withot the a&&e(ted $reten!e o& the Atti(" A! time $a!!ed there were attem$t!

to retrn the Atti( to it! &ormer $la(e" The !e(ond (entr) A< wa! *nown a! the L(entr) o&

Atti(i!mM when man) did re-ert ba(* to the Atti( bre-it)" And a! it wa! an o((a!ion &or atta(*

again!t the S(ri$tre! that the) were written in the le!! (ltred 7oine, a !igni&i(ant nmber o&

LChri!tianM !(holar! were (aght $ in thi!" A! we might e2$e(t, !ign! $oint to Ale2andria being

the $rime mo-er to bring the S(ri$tre Te2t into line with the Atti( diale(t" The man!(ri$t!

a!!o(iated with that lo(alit), (ertainl) be)ond all other!, &a-or the Atti(3li*e ter!ene!!" When

We!t(ott and Fort (on-in(ed te2tal !(holar!hi$ to re-i!e the NT awa) &rom the e(ei-ed Te2t

and toward ati(an! and Sinaiti(!K the im$li(ation! o& Atti( and 7oine %ree* were not &ll)nder!tood" Cla!!i(al bre-it) wa! to them an attra(tion" Sb!eent re!ear(h ha! !hown how

wrong the) were: the !horter, not the longer, i! the altered te2tQM

The En()(lo$aedia 9ritanni(a>4doe! agree that there wa! a mo-ement ba(* to Atti( &rom 7oine

%ree*: LThi! gradal di-ergen(e &rom the langage o& lato and 8'1>;8+ !tate LSimilarl) with regard to Atti(i!m: there i! no dobt that the

(lti-ation o& the ar(hai( !t)le be(ame $re-alent in literatre (ir(le! in the &ir!t and !e(ond

(entrie! A"


33/77

.t i! di&&i(lt &or a no-i(e to determine the di&&eren(e! between Atti( and 7oine %ree*, howe-er

the web!ite Aoido"org>6gi-e! !ome in!ight a! &ollow!" L


34/77

the te2t" Thi! (om$ari!on (learl) indi(ate! that the 9)?antine te2t i! (hara(teri!ti( o& 7oine

%ree* wherea! the Ale2andrian te2t ha! the (hara(teri!ti(! o& Atti( %ree* and i! th! a

re(en!ion $robabl) (reated between 100 and /00 A"='1>=;+ ha-e m(h to !a) on the $roblem o& determining te2t3t)$e &rom the

otation! o& the L#ather!H" Lthe te2t o& the lemma O(om$lete te2t $re(eding the (ommentar)P

wa! endangered &rom the !tart be(a!e it! -er) length o&&ered a (on!tant tem$tation to the

(o$)i!t to re$la(e it with a &amiliar &orm"the lemma te2t ma) be a((e$ted a! athenti( onl)

when there i! $o!iti-e agreement, and e-en then onl) i& the editor ha! edited the te2t (orre(tl),

neither &ollowing a $oor tradition or !im$l) re$la(ing the man!(ri$t tradition with one $er!onall)

$re&erred"M ater the) !a) LWith a %ree* man!(ri$t there i! no wa) o& *nowing the age o& the

e2em$lar it wa! (o$ied &rom, nor when we *now the $ro-enan(e o& a man!(ri$t 'a! we do in

e2(e$tional in!tan(e!+ i! there an) wa) o& *nowing the $ro-enan(e o& it! e2em$lar, whi(h i!

e-en more im$ortant"M

/8


35/77

7en)on and Adam!>>note! that the tre reading! o& S(ri$tre ma) not be &ond in !ome o&

the!e writing! be(a!e writer! o&ten oted !hort $a!!age! &rom memor) !in(e the 9ible did not

ha-e (ha$ter and -er!e di-i!ion! and be(a!e and that later writer! ma) ha-e (hanged the te2t

to what the) were &amiliar with" A length) ote &rom 7en)on and Adam! &ollow! to &amiliari?e

the reader with !ome o& the earl) &ather! and the t)$e o& S(ri$tre te2t whi(h the) !ed" LS(h

are a &ew $a!!age! whi(h a$$ear to !how a *nowledge o& the %o!$el! and aline E$i!tle! inthe E$i!tle! o& Clement, 9arnaba!, .gnati!, and ol)(ar$" #rom the !e(ond hal& o& the !e(ond

(entr) we ha-e the A$olog) o& J!tin art)r, the +""o& the atin writer! a&ter.renae!, Tertllian '(" 1603//8+ and C)$rian '(" /0038=+ ha-e been mentioned""" in (onne(tion

with the ld atin -er!ion" """"Athana!i! 'died 5;5+ and C)ril o& Ale2andria 'died 444+, a! we

!hold e2$e(t, both !ed a good te2t o& the 9 t)$e" .n A!ia inor there were dring the &orth

(entr) 9a!il and the two %regorie!K in ale!tine and S)ria, C)ril o& Jer!alem 'bi!ho$ 5813=6+,

and e!$e(iall) Chr)!o!tom '(" 54;340;+ who wor*ed at Antio(h ntil 5>= and therea&ter at

Con!tantino$le, and in who!e -olmino! writing! we &ind, thogh b) no mean! ni&orml) !o,

the &ir!t !tage o& that re-i!ed te2t whi(h e-entall) be(ame the a((e$ted 9ible o& the 9)?antine

Chr(h"M

.n one re&eren(e to te2t3t)$e !ed b) the #ather! Wi*i$edia100'9)?antinete2t3t)$e+ !tate! LThe

earlie!t Chr(h #ather to witne!! to a 9)?antine te2t3t)$e in !b!tantial New Te!tamentotation! i! John Chr)!o!tom '(" 54> 40;+"M .n an) (a!e, i& thi! i! tre, it i! indeed a good

argment again!t the Traditional Te2t" .n &a(t %ordon #ee a! (ited b) Jame! White101write! that

L-er the $a!t eight )ear! . ha-e been (ollating the %ree* $atri!ti( e-iden(e &or *e and John

&or the .nternational %ree* New Te!tament roBe(t" .n all o& thi! material . ha-e &ond one

in-ariable: A good (riti(al edition o& a &atherH! te2t, or the di!(o-er) o& earl) SS, alwa)! mo-e!

the &atherH! te2t o& the NT awa) &rom the T OTe2t! e(e$t!P and (lo!er to the te2t o& or

modern (riti(al edition!M"

/6


36/77

.n (ontra!t, (on!ider the argment! o& Fill!10/" L#or e2am$le, in att" /;:54 the Traditional Te2t

tell! ! that be&ore the !oldier! (r(i&ied Je!! the) ga-e Fim -inegar mingled with gall, th!

&l&illing the $ro$he() o& !alm 6>:/1" Fort thoght thi! to be a late reading !gge!ted b) the

!alm" The tre reading, he (ontended, i! that &ond inAleph9 < et(", wine mingled with gall"

9rgon '1=>6+, howe-er, re&ted FortH! argment b) $ointing ot that the Traditional reading

-inegar wa! *nown not onl) to rigen bt al!o to the $agan $hilo!o$her Cel!! '(" 1=0+, who!ed the $a!!age to ridi(le Je!!" .n hi! treati!e Again!t Cel!! rigen ta*e! note o& thi!

bla!$hem) and re$ro-e! it, bt he ne-er !gge!t that Cel!! ha! ado$ted a &al!e reading"""

Fen(e, (ontrar) to the a!!ertion! o& the natrali!ti( (riti(!, the di!tin(ti-e reading! o& the

Traditional '9)?antine+ Te2t were *nown to rigen, who !ometime! ado$ted them thogh

$erha$! not !all)" An)one (an -eri&) thi! b) !(anning the a$$arat! o& Ti!(hendor&" #or

in!tan(e, in the &ir!t 14 (ha$ter! o& the %o!$el o& John 'that i!, the area (o-ered b) a$)r! 66

and a$)r! ;8+ ot o& 8/ in!tan(e! in whi(h the Traditional te2t !tand! alone rigen agree!

with the Traditional Te2t /0 time! and di!agree! with it 5/ time!" The!e re!lt! ma*e the

$o!ition o& the (riti(! that rigen *new nothing o& the Traditional Te2t di&&i(lt indeed to maintain"

Natrali!ti( (riti(!, it i! tre, ha-e made a determined e&&ort to e2$lain awa) the Ldi!tin(ti-el)

Traditional reading! whi(h a$$ear in the New Te!tament otation! o& rigen 'and other earl)

#ather!+" .t i! arged that the!e Traditional reading! are not reall) rigenH! bt re$re!ent

alteration! made b) !(ribe! who (o$ied rigenH! wor*!" The!e !(ribe!, it i! maintained, re-i!ed

the original otation! o& rigen and made them (on&orm to the Traditional Te2t" The e-iden(e

o& the 9odmer a$)ri, howe-er, indi(ate! that thi! i! not an adeate e2$lanation o& the

&a(t!""""Th! it (an hardl) be denied that the Traditional Te2t wa! *nown to rigen and that it

in&len(ed the wording o& hi! New Te!tament otation!"M

Another !$$orter o& the Traditional Te2t, Ja(* oorman105, ma*e! the &ollowing (omment!" L.n

thi! entire inir) it (annot be o-er!tre!!ed that in earl) te2tal hi!tor) the e(ei-ed Te2t i!

mo!t dire(tl) a!!o(iated with tho!e $la(e! that were either the !ender! or re(i$ient! o& theoriginal New Te!tament atogra$h!, i"e" Antio(h, A!ia inor, %ree(e, a(edonia" While

-olme! o& theologi(al literatre $ored ot o& Ale2andria, North A&ri(a and .tal), -er) little i!

a-ailable &or ! $rior to 580 &rom the ea!tern area!" Zet e-en with thi! di!ad-antage, the

e(ei-ed O9)?antineP Te2t (an be !hown to $re-ail in the Ale2andrianWe!tern

writing!""""(oming now to the inde2, 9rgon (ited 4,5=5 S(ri$tre otation! &rom ;6 writer! who

died be&ore the )ear 400 A


37/77

&or the We!tern te2t, or the Ale2andrian, or &or the Te2t o& 9 and Ale$h 'i"e" ati(an!,

Sinaiti(!+, a (a!e &rom the e-iden(e o& the #ather! whi(h (an eal or !r$a!! that whi(h ha!

been now $la(ed be&ore or readerM" egarding the attem$t to di!(redit 9rgonH! wor* b)

!a)ing that later editor! Lada$tedM the Chr(h #atherH! otation! to the Traditional Te2t,

Edward Fill! write!: L.n regard to m) re&eren(e! to the Chr(h #ather!, . am !re that i& )o

e2amine the note! to m) 7ing Jame!


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be&ore the 4th (entr), a! originall) belie-ed, it wold $!h ba(* the dating o& the Traditional

Te2t b) hndred! o& )ear! and de!tro) the $hilo!o$h) o& a late Traditional Te2t whi(h nderlie!

the modern tran!lation!"

'.8.2. Coptic

Co$ti( i! the an(ient langage o& Eg)$t whi(h ma) ha-e been !ed when Chri!tianit) !$readamong the nati-e $o$lation! in the 5rd (entr)" A((ording to Wi*i$edia108'Ale2andriante2t3

t)$e+ LThe earlie!t tran!lation o& the New Te!tament into an Eg)$tian Co$ti( -er!ion 3 the

Sahidi( o& the late /nd Centr) 3 !e! the Ale2andrian te2t a! a %ree* ba!eK althogh other /nd

and 5rd (entr) tran!lation! 3 into ld atin and S)ria( tend rather to (on&orm to the We!tern

te2t3t)$e"M

'.8.'. 9atin

7en)on and Adam! belie-ed that a (on!iderable $art o& the New Te!tament wa! (ir(lated in

A&ri(a in atin in the &ir!t hal& o& the third (entr)" The maBorit) o& ld atin te2t! are mi2ed te2t!

with m(h -ariet), $robabl) a! a re!lt o& &reent re-i!ion!"

.n 5=/ o$e 1/+ a! !a)ing LThe t)$e o& te2t re$re!ented in iti! &or the mo!t $art whi(h i! &ond

in the maBorit) o& %ree* man!(ri$t!"M Fill! (on(lde! L.n other word!, there m!t ha-e been

man) man!(ri$t! o& the Traditional t)$e on hand in the da)! o& l&ila, man!(ri$t! whi(h !in(e

that time ha-e $eri!hed"M Con(erning thi! tran!lation 7en)on and Adam!10='1>;8+ !tate L.n the

E$i!tle! the nderl)ing 9)?antine te2t ha! been more e2ten!i-el) a((ommodated to the ld

atin"M et?ger10>'1>>/+ note!: Ll&ila! !ed that &orm o& %ree* te2t whi(h wa! (rrent in

9)?antim abot A"


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'.:. )!p&anation %or Variabi&it in )ar& Manuscripts

A maBor $roblem in a!(ertaining with (ertaint) whi(h te2t3t)$e i! a!!o(iated with the original

atogra$h! o& the writer! i! the -ariabilit) in the te2t in the &ir!t throgh third (entrie!" Th!

et?ler110'1>>/+ belie-e! that Lntil the beginning o& the &orth (entr) the te2t o& the New

Te!tament de-elo$ed &reel)" .t wa! a Gli-ing te2t,M nli*e the te2t o& the Febrew ld Te!tament,

whi(h wa! !bBe(t to !tri(t (ontrol! be(a!e 'in oriental tradition+ the (on!onantal te2t wa! hol)"M(


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to get !in(e trained !(ribe! were e2$en!i-e '!ee below+ and &ew (o$ie! o& e2em$lar! wold

ha-e been a-ailable"

Then there wold be the role o& memori?ation in re(reating S(ri$tre lo!t throgh $er!e(tion"

The role o& oral tradition in $a!!ing on S(ri$tre wold ob-io!l) be(ome e2tremel) im$ortant

nder !(h (ir(m!tan(e!, whether it be in term! o& !mall &ragment! o& te2t! or in whole boo*!"Thi! wold (reate a great deal o& -ariabilit) reading! o& the New Te!tament and be a (a!e o&

-ariant! 'Gli-ing te2tH+ e-en when S(ri$tre wa! held in high regard" .ndeed, it i! not im$o!!ible to

belie-e that in !ome (ommnitie! or geogra$hi(al area! a new te2t3t)$e (old ari!e in thi!

manner" S(ri$tre re(alled and written down wold not ha-e $er&e(t a((ra(), bt wold

ne-erthele!! be ite a((rate !in(e oral tradition wa! well de-elo$ed at thi! time, and there

wa! m(h le!! relian(e $on the written word" There i! e-iden(e that $eo$le at thi! time were

well3-er!ed in oral tradition: et?ger11;'1>>/+ note! that LA((ording to the o!tra(on, Samel,

Ja(ob, and Aaron, who a$$lied to 9i!ho$ Abraham to be ordained a! dea(on!, were reired

Gto ma!ter the %o!$el a((ording to John and learn it b) heart b) the end o& ente(o!t and to

re(ite itH" A$ho, 9i!ho$ o& 2)rh)n(h!, i! !aid to ha-e reired a dea(on at ordination to *now

twent)3&i-e !alm!, two E$i!tle! o& al, and a $ortion o& a %o!$el b) heartK a $rie!t had to*now, in addition, $ortion! o&


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3.8.1.1. Critical Texts (Alexandrian) General Belief that Scriptural Variants Arose Throuh !ac" of

#espect for the Sacredness of Scripture

The &ollowing otation! demon!trate the -iew whi(h $redominate! among te2tal (riti(! i! that

the earl) New Te!tament te2t aro!e a! G&ree te2tH" Sin(e the!e !ame te2tal (riti(! are tho!e

who ha-e been in!trmental in the ado$tion o& the Ale2andrian te2t, their thoght! on the

tran!mi!!ion o& S(ri$tre m!t be (on!idered !erio!l)"

Sir #"%" 7en)on '7en)on and Adam!, 1>;8+11>a &ormer dire(tor o& the 9riti!h m!em loo*ed at

S(ri$tral te2t! in the &ollowing light: A.n the earlie!t da)! the Chri!tian! were a $oor

(ommnit), who wold !eldom ha-e been able to (ommand the !er-i(e! o& $ro&e!!ional

!(ribe!" There were no re(ogni?ed (entre! &or the $romlgation o& athori?ed (o$ie! o& the

S(ri$tre!" The New Te!tament boo*! were not indeed S(ri$tre! with a (a$ital S" The !a(red

boo*! o& the earlie!t Chri!tian! were tho!e o& the ld Te!tamentK the writing! o& ar* and *e

and al were B!t memoir! and letter! &or $re!ent need!" Nor were there the !al literar)

!tandard! to $rote(t the integrit) o& their te2t!" The letter! o& al were, indeed, indi-idal

e2$re!!ion o& o$inion whi(h wold not lightl) be alteredK bt the anon)mo! %o!$el! and A(t!

were not regarded a! the literar) (om$o!ition! o& their athor!, bt a! narrati-e! o& the li&e o&or ord and the wor* o& hi! a$o!tle!, (om$lied with the $rel) $ra(ti(al obBe(t o& di!!eminating

the *nowledge o& their li-e! and tea(hing! among the Chri!tian (ommnit), and with no e)e to a

&tre whi(h in an) (a!e wold !oon be (rtailed b) the Se(ond Coming" There wa! no need to

be meti(lo! in -erbal a((ra()" The !b!tan(e wa! what mattered, and i& addition!, belie-ed

to athenti(, (old be made to it, wh) !hold the) not Then there were little mean!, e-en i& it

had been thoght need&l, to !e(re ni&ormit) o& tran!mi!!ion"""".n (ir(m!tan(e! !(h a!

the!e it wa! natral that -arietie! o& reading! !hold mlti$l)"@

The thoght! o& 7rt and 9arbara Aland1/0'1>=;+ are o& intere!t be(a!e 7rt &or man) )ear!

wa! at the .n!titte &or New Te!tament Te2tal e!ear(h and the $rin(i$al editor o& the

Ne!tle3Aland edition o& No-m Te!tamentm %rae(e '%ree* New Te!tament+: Antil the

beginning o& the &orth (entr) the te2t o& the New Te!tament de-elo$ed &reel)" .t wa! a Ali-ing

te2t,@nli*e the te2t o& the Febrew ld Te!tament, whi(h wa! !bBe(t to !tri(t (ontrol! be(a!e

'in the oriental tradition+ the (on!onantal te2t wa! hol)" And the New Te!tament te2t (ontined

to be a Ali-ing te2t@a! long a! it remained a man!(ri$t tradition, e-en when the 9)?antine

(hr(h molded it to the $ro(r!tean bed o& an e((le!ia!ti(all) !tandardi?ed and o&&i(iall)

$re!(ribed te2t" E-en &or later !(ribe!, &or e2am$le, the $arallel $a!!age! o& the %o!$el! were

!o &amiliar that the) wold ada$t the te2t o& one %o!$el to that o& another" The) al!o &elt

them!el-e! &ree to ma*e (orre(tion! in the te2t, im$ro-ing it b) their own !tandard! o&

(orre(tne!!, whether grammati(all), !t)li!ti(all), or more !b!tanti-el)" Thi! wa! all the more

tre o& the earl) $eriod, when the te2t had not )et attained (anoni(al !tat!, e!$e(iall) in the

earlie!t $eriod when Chri!tian! (on!idered them!el-e! &illed with the S$irit" A! a (on!een(e

the AEarl) te2t@wa! man)3&a(eted, and ea(h man!(ri$t had it! own $e(liar (hara(ter"""

ariant reading! in the New Te!tament te2t whi(h are not de to !im$le !(ribal error 'or to the

(on&!ion o& !imilar !ond! when tran!(ribing &rom di(tation in a !(ri$torim+ ma) be e2$lained

b) it! (hara(ter a! a Ali-ing te2t@" While it i! tre that &rom at lea!t the third (entr) the !(ribe!

tried to (o$) their e2em$lar! &aith&ll) to the letter, the) al!o &ollowed the meaning a! the)

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