The scriptures certainly dont support it, and therefore the Confessional Position simply holds no water. As weve seen, the Byzantine Text type is significantly longer than the Alexandrian Text type. Actually, we know it did we just dont know if it happened with errors. (As shown in the article), And by the way, I do have a high opinion of the TR and prefer it to the Critical text in many ways. They knew clearly which ones were the true Words of God. Thus, they felt free to ignore them (as weve already discussed). I find the KJV Onlyists arguments to be extremely weak, to be honest, though itd be nice if that were the answer to this problem of textual and translational variation in Bibles. One of the major arguments against the Majority Text by those who prefer the Critical text is the accusation that scribes added the extra content. I challenge you to study this more in depth, and I think you will come to the conclusion that the 5,000 plus manuscripts that we have today from that period equal less than 1% of Bibles used by the church. Is that really a position you want to take? I stand alone on the Word of God, This disproportionate copying could be a good thing, as we saw in the section on whether scribes copied better manuscripts. I have been studying this subject for about 5 years and I have landed more or less where you have i.e., the M-text is a good starting point plus some thoughtful changes taking into account all the available data, such as the patristic quotations and the older translations. This was an interesting article. No matter which copy or version you pick (since we dont have the original) then what about before the copy came into existence? Over a quarter (16) of the incorrect manuscripts will only have a single mistake, most of the rest will only have 2-3. They have thrown the baby out with the wash. Look at your own readers. Theres no other evidence for this so take with a grain of salt but they are the only two manuscripts that share that characteristic. The NT Byzantine Textform reflects a similar continuance from at least the fourth century onward. So its possible that without the south and east falling to the Muslims and the West turning to Latin, the majority of manuscripts wouldnt be of a Byzantine Text type. I have to say though that this article was a HUGE help in my deciding factor of what to do. No scribal duties for me. I find it ironic that these were the two versions that I was drawn to. I dont have a link, but might add one. It seems even more like a stretch when you know the definition of the Hebrew word. The Textus Receptus (Latin for "Received Text") is a Greek New Testament that provided the textual base for the vernacular translations of the Reformation Period. Some scholars would say he wasnt even middle of the pack. Is there a translation that uses a blend of the Critical Text and the Majority Text? Most of the men were curious about my reference to textual critisism so I thought Id include a link for further reading. It goes like this: Please imagine that you were a scribe charged with copying the New Testament. (Well look at the verses they use to support this statement lower down.) It goes into just as much depth as this article, and even includes short reviews on the most popular Bible translations at the end.). Thank you for writing this article. You might want to check the original language in that verse, because it actually says You shall keep him, singular, not them plural. But please how do I study the bible in the Greek language and how to I find the meaning of the words. These errors alone account for hundreds of differences between the Alexandrian and Byzantine Text types. Those are the Westcott & Hort rules, and the Aland/Aland Rules. Certainly not all, but quite possibly a majority. This results in a text that aligns extremely closely with the text the church has used since the 4th century, and it has changed very little in that time. Otherwise there is too great a danger of reconstructing a test tube text which never existed at any time or place. Further, understanding how these rules work and their place in Bible history will help you understand the modern Critical Text. The Septuagint is older than the Masoretic text, was the version of the Old Testament quoted in the New Testament and is accepted by the Church as its official version. Say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God!. IT is a better translation of the somewhat corrupt TR than the KJV. Ever since then, I have done a lot of study on Bible manuscripts and I have been struggling a lot with the differences between the textus receptus and the critical text. You could translate it will by no means be voided from the law. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Had some armed foe said these things he would have fought him to the last breath; but this man did not deny, and had no word of scorn. Im no stranger to this subject but am far from an expert. How bad are They? Origen, the Alexandrian church father in the early third century, said: Origen is of course speaking of the manuscripts of his location, Alexandria, Egypt. Professor Emeritus, Near Eastern Studies, University of Toronto. The Biblical Case for the Doctrine of Preservation, The Biggest Problem with the Confessional Position, Okay, But is the Textus Receptus a good Document?, Summary of the Critical Text vs. And if verses left out make for significant doctrine left out that isnt discussed elsewhere in scripture? It simply means He has promised to preserve His Word for His true church in every generation. Scrivener identifies 190 readings where the Authorized Version translators depart from Bezas Greek text, generally in maintaining the wording of the Bishops Bible and other earlier English translations. I decided to take a middle road on the manuscript count, since its still debatable but leans towards him having more. A reading combining two simple, alternative readings is later than the two readings comprising the combination. Scriveners Textus Receptus is the closest to the Greek text which underlines the KJV. They use these to translate all . So I believe God deals with His church the same today as He did in days past (why would He not? Thank you for your hard work. You asked: Has recent textual criticism increased our faith in God?. Our opinions must be subjected to the word of God. This is our sample text All the theistic evolutionists tend to use the humanistic viewpoint when explaining the first 3 chapters of Genesis. But I have met with many whose assurance rested upon strange visions and signs which might be but the likeness of their thoughts and hopes, even as the mirage that shows water in the desert. He examined eighteen editions of the Textus Receptus to find the correct Greek rendering, and made the changes to his Greek text. And More Importantly, Why? It is widely quoted in the New Testament. . 111:7-8; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 117:2; Psalm 119:152; Psalm 119:160). These divisions arent hard and fast, but rather provide a framework to talk about the different Textual Variants. Served as President of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies. well need some words so In fact, when you see a Bible footnote that says the earliest and best manuscripts, they are almost universally talking about these two manuscripts, and only these two manuscripts. He has preserved them for us! However, it must be noted that the Western church changed languages in the 600s with the adoption of the Vulgate as its official version. That much is obvious. everything between them, What Textual Variants? Have you ever studied how many actual Bibles were copied/printed and used by the church between 100-1500? Lets go through it one chunk at a time. Was There a Scribal Preference to Copy Better Manuscripts? Weve examined one of these Textual Variants here on Berean Patriot before, namely: The Johannine Comma of 1 John 5:7-8: Added or Removed? Who wouldnt want to have a Bible in which nothing was corrupt? The context makes it clear that verse 10 is referring to the human body part known as the head. Persecution under Septimus Severus (202-210). Prefer NKJV NASB, Believe there is error (An excellent article BTW, though a bit technical.). 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. In their own words: All distinctively Syrian (Byzantine) readings must be at once rejected. Westcott & Hort, Again, in the last 100+ years weve found manuscripts that prove the Byzantine text type isnt a combination of the Western and Alexandrian text types. But Jesus isnt the Bible, and neither Peter nor Isaiah were talking about the Bible; they were talking about Jesus. In 1881, Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort published The New Testament in the Original Greek, which is the grandfather of the Greek Critical Text that most modern Bibles translate from. Its almost certainly extremely close, but its almost certainly not identical. Koine Greek New Testament - Accented Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus . Unbelief in the Doctrine of Preservation is a weakness that can wedge a crack in faith in the Word of God. Again, over 75% of all Textual Variants are not meaningful, even if they are viable. Id suggest you look at that article for my thoughts. A reading that shows better grammar at the expense of theology is likely not original. Further, theres no possible way that hippioi (horses) was intended. However, theres a very big problem when someone makes a dogmatic doctrinal position without the support of scripture. I knew basically nothing about Textual Criticism before reading this. I see that you are emphasizing carefully the word perfect preservation of Scripture. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. The KJV is based on a Greek New Testament text called the Textus Receptus, first published by Desiderius Erasmus in 1516 and subsequently revised by a number of scholars. But is the shorter reading more probable? Hmm, could the Word here be Jesus? Messianic prophecies are out of context! It doesnt mean they will enter the majority, but its a possibility. That means the only support for the Doctrine of (perfect) Preservation is the tradition of men. At this time I consider myself a textus receptus guy and find his position interesting. I want to give the men knowledge without taking a side (although I certainly have my own preference). If so, it opens up a new period. Its interesting that these are the men who constructed the corrupt text from which the NASB is produced. Which single, specific document or manuscript do you think is entirely without error? It has been preserved for all time (I Peter 1:23; Psalm 12:6-7; Ps. You are arguing from the side opposite of Gods promise to preserve His Word, and Im sure that you will never win. Introduction to the New Testament in the Original Greek: With Notes on Selected Readings by Westcott & Hort. Now that I have answered your questions, will you keep your word and answer mine? Praying in Tongues, Speaking in Tongues, & Glossolalia: Dont Miss the Point, Yes, The Bible CLEARLY Says Sex Outside of Marriage is Wrong, Pastors, Elders, Church Authority and REAL Leadership, Does 1 Corinthians 11 Require Women To Wear Head Coverings, http://www.katapi.org.uk/NEB/NT-Introduction-1970.pdf, https://www.christianhospitality.org/wp/bible-fraud7/, http://www.westernrecorder.org/825.article, https://confessionalbibliology.com/2016/06/08/erasmian-myths-revelation-back-translated-from-the-vulgate/, http://www.jesusisprecious.org/bible/nkjv/alexandrian_corrupt_source.htm, A Complete, 100% English Introduction to Koine Greek (with Examples in English), List of Pro-Trinity/Deity of Christ Bible Passages. These differences are minor, and pale into insignificance when compared with the approximately 6,000 differences (many of which are quite substantial) between the Alexandrian Critical Text and the Textus Receptus. Eusebius, Church historian of the same era, recorded that many Scriptures were burned during the Diocletian persecution. Did God Preserve the Scriptures Perfectly in All Ages? As soon as the numbers of a minority exceed what can be explained by accidental coincidence, their agreement can only be explained on genealogical grounds. 17. Are you aware that that is a myth, or at least that that assertion has been shown of many to be false? (Sir Knight of the Splendid Way, W.E. In the last ~140 years since the Westcott & Hort 1881 Critical Text, weve discovered Papyri from the 300s, 200s, and even a few from the 100s. It bears traces of careless transcription in every page. Most modern translations are based on the Nestle-Aland/United Bible Society (NA/UBS) text, published by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft (German Bible Society). Whichever one is closer to the majority text. And More Importantly, Why? Persecution under Marcus Aurelius (161-180). Between these extremes, a medium or vulgate text exists, which resisted both the popular expansions and the critical revisions; this text continued in much the same form from the early period into the minuscule era. Do you believe that we cannot be certain how much error is in the Word of God? I read this article and the one you did on the best Bible version. Any uncertainty is 100% uncertainty Right? To dispel the confusion, Im going to quote from the primary source: the finders own account of how he found it. You can see where they get it, but its such a stretch. However, theyre worth noting. So they used all those old Alexandrian manuscripts that the author of that article hated. I also strongly agree with your point that overall, the difference between the various texts is not great. Ive copy/pasted the two rules that conflict just below: Westcott & Hort rule #9: Prefer readings in manuscripts that habitually contain better readings, which is more certain if its also an older manuscript and if it doesnt contain combinations of other variations (as in rule #3). on the blue letter bible (blb) website, the interlinear tool lets you compare translations of the new testament (word by word) to either the textus receptus (tr) or the morphological greek new testament (mgnt); depending on whether or not the base greek text of the translation you're examining is the tr (king james/new king james) or the mgnt Note: it will sound like Im strongly biased in favor of the Majority Text while I present the pro side of the argument. Selected readings by Westcott & Hort the fourth century onward lets go through it one chunk at a.! Middle of the words seems even more like a stretch when you know the definition of the Hebrew word versions! 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