Textual variants in the New Testament

From Textus Receptus

Current revision

Textual Variants arise when copyists make intentional or accidental changes to a text they are reproducing. Some common changes are the deletion or repetition of words when the copyist's eye returns to a similar word in the wrong location of the original text. If his eye skips to an earlier word, he will create a repetition (error of dittography). If his eye skips to a later word, he will create an omission. In other instances the copyist may add text from memory from a similar or parallel text in another location. Spellings occasionally change. Synonyms are substituted. A pronoun will be changed into a proper noun (such as "he said" becoming "Jesus said").

Although the extent of textual variants can fill volumes, the changes in meaning are few, and translations produced from different textual families can be easily read side by side. Because of the overwhelming amount of New Testament manuscripts, the likelihood of such errors increases because of the shear volume of texts. The New Testament has more manuscript evidence of any ancient document by far, thus naturally causing small errors to seem like a large number.

Origen was one of the first who remarked differences between manuscripts of the New Testament and declared his preferences among variant readings. In Matthew 27:16-17 he favored "Barabbas" against "Jesus Barabbas" (In Matt. Comm. ser. 121). In John 1:28 he preferred "Bethabara" instead of "Bethany" as the place of John's baptizing (Commentary on John VI.40 (24)). "Gergeza" rather than "Geraza" or "Gadara" (Commentary on John VI.40 (24)). Origen noticed two different readings in Hebrews 2:9 "apart from God" and "by the grace of God".

Mill estimated the number of variations in the New Testament text at 30,000. Eberhard Nestle estimated this number as 150 000 to 200,000.^[] Now agnostic Ehrman talks about 400,000 variations. Only about 1% of these variants are translatable.

Since 1981, Greek New Testament manuscripts have commonly been categorised into 5 groups. This is rather misleading, because some manuscripts have been rejected by the historical Church as corrupted, but many of these variants are counted and focused upon. Vaticanus and Sinaiticus have over 3000 variants between them in the gospels alone. Defenders of the Textus Receptus reject these manuscripts as corrupted, thus lowering the number of variants within the Byzantine/Textus Receptus tradition.

An abbreviated list of textual variants is given in this article (below).

Legend

• mss: manuscripts
• <math>\mathfrak{P}</math>: papyrus
• number beginning with "0": uncial
• number not beginning with "0": minuscule
• ℓ: lectionary
• "Byz" or 𝔐: Byzantine text-type
• ƒ: Family
• vg: Vulgate
• A: Codex Alexandrinus
• B: Codex Vaticanus
• C: Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus
• D^ea: Codex Bezae
• D^p: Codex Claromontanus
• K^e: Codex Cyprius
• K^ap: Codex Mosquensis I
• L^e: Codex Regius (New Testament)
• L^ap: Codex Angelicus
• P^apr: Codex Porphyrianus
• W: Codex Washingtonianus
• Z: Codex Dublinensis
• Γ: Codex Tischendorfianus IV
• Δ: Codex Sangallensis 48
• Θ: Codex Koridethi
• Π: Codex Petropolitanus (New Testament)
• Φ: Codex Beratinus
• Ξ: Codex Zacynthius
• Ψ: Codex Athous Lavrensis
• Ω: Codex Athous Dionysiou
• א: Codex Sinaiticus
• ff¹: Codex Corbeiensis I

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 1:24

ἐγερθεὶς (woke) — א, B, C, Z, 071, f¹

διεγερθεὶς (was awakened) — C³, D, L, W, 087, f¹³, mss of the Byzantine text-type

Matthew 1:25

υἱὸν (son) — א, B, Z, 071, f¹, f¹³, 33

τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον (her firstborn son) — C, D, K, L (omit αὐτῆς), W, Δ, Π, 28, 565, 700, 892, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, Minuscule 1365, Minuscule 1646, Minuscule 2148, Minuscule 2174, Byz, Lect, ℓ 70, ℓ 185, ℓ 333, ℓ 1761, it^{aur, f, ff1}, vg

Matthew 2:18

κλαυθμὸς (weeping) — א, Vaticanus, 0250, f¹, it^{(q), aur, b, c, f, ff1,g1,k, l, 1}, vg, syr^{p, pal}, cop^{sa, bo}, eth

θρῆνος καὶ κλαυθμός (lamentation and weeping) — C, D, K, L, W, Δ, Π, f¹³, 28, 33, 565, 700, 892, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1241, 1253, 1365, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, ℓ 70, ℓ 150, ℓ 185, ℓ 1761, syr^cur, syr^s, syr^h, arm

Matthew 4:10

ὕπαγε (away) — א, B, C*, K, P, W, Δ, 0233, f¹, f¹³, 565, 700, 892

ὕπαγε ὀπίσω μου (get behind me) — C², D, L, Z, 28, 33, 892², 1009, 1010, 1071, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1365, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, ℓ 76, it^{b, d, h, l}, vg, syr^{c, h}

ὕπαγε ὀπίσω σου (get behind you) — syr^s

vade retro — a, aur, c, ff¹, g¹

Matthew 5:25

ὁ κριτής — p⁶⁴, א, B, f¹, f¹³, 892, 1216, 1230

δώσει — D

ὁ κριτής σε παραδῷ — K L W Δ Θ Π 28 33 565 (700 omit σε), Byz it

Matthew 5:47

ἐθνικοί (gentiles) — א, Β, Δ, f¹, 33, 892, 1071, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1365, it, vg

τελῶναι (tax collectors) — Κ, L, W, Δ, Θ, Π, f¹³, 28, 565, 700, 1009, 1010, 1079, 1195, 1242, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it^h, syr^p, goth, geo

Matthew 6:13

(see 1 Chr 29:11-13)

ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν (For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.) — K, L, W, Δ, Θ, Π, f¹³, 28, 33, 565, 700, 892, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1365, 1546, 1646, Byz, Lect

ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα, τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν (For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.) — 157, 225, 418

ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ δύναμις εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν For thine is the power for ever. Amen.) — it^k

ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν For thine is the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.) — cop^sa, cop^fay

ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία καὶ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν For thine is the kingdom and the power for ever. Amen.) — syr^c

ὅτι σοῦ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία, τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν (For thine is the kingdom, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.) — 1253

omitted by א, B, D, 0170, f¹, ℓ 547, it, vg, cop^bo

Matthew 6:15

τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν (their trespasses), omitted by א, D, 1-118-205-209-1582, 22, 892*, a, aur, c, ff¹, g¹, syr^h

Matthew 8:13

και υποστρεψας ο εκατονταρχος εις τον οικον αυτου εν αυτη τη ωρα ευρεν τον παιδα υγιαινοντα (and when the centurion returned to the house in that hour, he found the slave well) — Sinaiticus, C, (N), Θ, (0250), f¹, (33, 1241), g¹, vg^mss, syr^h.

omitted by mojarity of mss

Matthew 9:8

εφοβηθησαν — א B D W f¹ 33

εθαυμασαν — C K L Δ Θ Π f¹³, 565 700 1009 1010 1071 1079 1195 1216 1230 1242 1253 1365 1546 1646 2148 Byz Lect syrh arm

εφοβηθησαν και εθαυμασαν — it^f, Diatessaron

Matthew 9:34

οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον ἐν τᾡ ἂρχωντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια (But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons) — omitted by D, a, d, k, sin, Hilary (hiat e syr^cur)

Matthew 10:4

Θαδδαιος – Alexandrian f13 (except 13 346 543 826 828) vg

Λεββαιος – D

Λεββαιος ο επικληθεις Θαδδαιος – Byzantine

Θαδδαιος ο επικληθεις Λεββαιος – 13 346 543 826 828

Matthew 12:47

verse omitted by א, B, L, 1009, ℓ 12, it^{ff1, k}, syr^{c, s}, cop^sa

Matthew 13:33

ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς (He told them) — mss of Alexandrian, Caesarean and Byzantine text-types

omitted by D, d, (k), sin, syr^cur

Matthew 15:6

τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ (his father) — א^a, B, D, it^{a, d, e}, syr^c, cop^sa, geo

τὸν πατέρα ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ (father or his mother) — Θ, f¹, (1216 omit αὐτοῦ), ℓ 184, geo^B, Origen

τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ ἢ τὴν μητέρα (his father or mother) — 084, f¹³, 33, 700, 892, 1071

τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ (his father or his mother) — C, K, L, W, X, Δ, Π, 0106, 1009, 1010, 1079, 1195, 1230, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365, (1546), 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect

τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ (his father and his mother) — 565, 1241

Matthew 15:6

(see Mark 7:13)

τὸν λόγον (word) — א^a, B, D, Θ, 700, 892, 1230, it^{a, b, d, e, ff1}, syr^{c, s, p, hmg}, cop^{sa, bo}, arm, eth, geo, Diatessaron, Ireneus, Origen, Eusebius, Augustine

τὸν νόμον (Law) — א^{*, b}, C, 084, f¹³, 1010, geo²

τὴν ἐντολήν (commandment) — K, L, W, X, Δ, Π, 0106, f¹, 33, 565, 1009, 1071, 1079, 1216, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it^{aur, c, f, g1, l, q}, vg, syr^h, Origen

Matthew 15:15 in codex 0237

Matthew 15:15

τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην (this parable) — C, D, K, L, W, X, Θ, Π, 0119, 33, 565, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect

τὴν παραβολὴν αὐτήν (parable that) — Δ

ταύτην τὴν παραβολήν (this parable) — f¹³

τὴν παραβολήν (parable) — א, B, 0237, f¹, 700, 892, cop^sa, cop^bo, geo^B

Matthew 15:31

λαλοῦντας, κυλλοὺς ὑγιεῖς — C, K, L, P, W, X, Δ, Π, 565, (700^c), 1009, 1010, 1071 1079 1195 1242 1344 1365 1546 1646 2148 2174 Byz ℓ 1231^m, ℓ 1761 it^{d, f, q}

λαλοῦντας, κυλοὺς ὑγιεῖς — ℓ 185

λαλοῦντας καὶ κυλλοὺς ὑγιεῖς — D, Θ, f¹³, 33, 1230, 1253, ℓ 76, syr^{p, h}

ἀκούοντας, κυλλοὺς ὑγιεῖς — B

ἀκούοντας, κυλοὺς ὑγιεῖς — ℓ 211

ἀκούοντας καὶ λαλοῦντας, κυλλοὺς ὑγιεῖς — N, O, Σ

λαλοῦντας — א, f¹³, 700*, 892, ℓ 184, it vg syr eth geo Origen

Matthew 16:2

b-3

The manuscripts of the Alexandrian textual tradition exclude passage. For more details see also Matthew 16:2b-3

Matthew 16:12

της ζυμης των αρτων (leaven of bread) — Sinaiticus², B, L, 892, 1009, 1241

της ζυμης των αρτων των Φαρισαιων και Σαδδουκαιων (leaven of bread of the Pharisees and Sadducees) — Sinaiticus, ff¹, syr^c

της ζυμης των Φαρισαιων (leaven of bread) — 33

των αρτων (bread) — f¹

της ζυμης του αρτου (leaven of bread) — C, W, Byz, c, f, q, syr^p, syr^h, cop^sa, cop^bo

της ζυμης (leaven) — D, Θ, f¹³, 565, a, b, ff², syr^s

Matthew 17:21

Verse is omitted by א, B, Θ, 33, 892, syr^{c, pal}, cop^{sa, bo}, arm, eth

add verse C, D, K, L, W, X, Δ, Π, f¹, f¹³

Matthew 18:11

Verse omitted by א, B, L*, Θ, 33, 892^txt, it, syr, cop

Matthew 19:29

ἐκατονπλασίονα (hundredfold) — א, C, D, W, Θ, f¹, f¹³, 28, 33, 565, 700, 892, 1009, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365, 1546, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it, vg, syr, cop^bo, arm, eth

πολλαπλασίονα (manifold) — B, L, 1010, syr^pal, cop^sa, eth^mss

Matthew 20:28

Codex Bezae and Codex Beratinus have an addition:

"But seek to increase from that which is small, and to become less from which is greater. When you enter into a house and are summoned to dine, do not sit down at the prominent places, lest perchance a man more honorable than you come in afterwards, and he who invited you come and say to you, "Go down lower"; and you shall be ashamed. But if you sit down in the inferior place, and one inferior to roy come in, then he that invited you will say to you, "Go up higher"; and this will be advantageous for you."<ref>Bruce M. Metzger, Bart D. Ehrman, The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration, Oxford University Press, 2005, p. 71. </ref>

Matthew 21:44

Καὶ ὁ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τὸν λίθον τοῦτον συνθλασθήσεται ἐφ ὃν δ' ἂν πέσῃ λικμήσει αὐτόν (And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on any one, it will crush him) — א, B, C, K, L, W, X, Δ, Π, 0138, 33, 892, 1010, 1546, f¹, f¹³, 28, 565, 700, 892, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it, vg, syr, cop, arm, eth, geo

ὁ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τὸν λίθον τοῦτον συνθλασθήσεται ἐφ ὃν δ' ἂν πέσῃ λικμήσει αὐτόν — Θ, 1079, 1546

entire verse omitted by ⁷⁷?, D, 33, a, b, d, e, ff¹, ff², r¹, syr^sin, Irenaeus (lat), Origen, Eusebius

Matthew 23:26

καὶ τῆς παροψίδος (and dish), found in: B, C, L, W, 33, Byz, cop

omitted by D, Q, 1-118-209-1582, 700, a, d, e, ff¹, r¹, sin, geo, Irenaeus^lat, Clement (hiat, b, syr^cur)

Matthew 23:38

ἔρημος — mss of the Western, Caesarean, Byzantine and some of Alexandrian text-types

word omitted by ⁴⁹, B, L, ℓ 184

Matthew 25:17

ἐκέρδησεν – א, B, C*, L, 33, 892, 1010, 1546, it^{aur, g1, l}, vg, syr^{p, pal}, cop^{sa, bo}, arm, eth

καὶ αὐτὸς ἐκέρδησεν – D it^d

ἐκέδησεν καὶ αὐτός – A, C³, K, W, X, Δ, Θ, Π, 074, f¹, f¹³, 28, 565, 700, 1009, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365, 1646, 2174, Byz, Lect it^h, syr^h