Why did Textus Receptus add the word "Χριστοῦ" to [Revelation 12:17]?

Question

Rome's persecution of specific Israelites who have "τὴν μαρτυρίαν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ" was poetically documented in [Revelation 12:17] - "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [Christ]." (12:17 καὶ ὠργίσθη ὁ δράκων ἐπὶ τῇ γυναικί καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ποιῆσαι πόλεμον μετὰ τῶν λοιπῶν τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς τῶν τηρούντων τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐχόντων τὴν μαρτυρίαν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)...

But the NKJV recognizes the word "Χριστοῦ" was omitted by the Greek NU-Text and M-Text. [https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/rev/12/1/t_conc_1179017]

The Textus Receptus word "Χριστοῦ" to [Revelation 12:17] may refer to the Testimony mentioned, although the addition of "Χριστοῦ" violates the commands of [Revelation 22:18].

Why did Textus Receptus add the word "Χριστοῦ" to [Revelation 12:17] ?

Answer 1

There are two quite distinct questions here that are independent of each other.

Rev 12:17 - Χριστοῦ

The TR is unique in adding Χριστοῦ (= of Christ) at the end of Rev 12:17. It is absent from the UBS5/NA28 text, the SBL text, Souter's GNT text, W&H, the Majority text, the Byzantine text, Pickering's F35 text, Tyndale House GNT text, etc. This addition of "Χριστοῦ" is not even noted in the critical apparatus of UBS5 nor NA28.

The addition does violate the injuction noted by the OP in Rev 22:18.

μαρτυρίαν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ" (the testimony of Jesus)

The question about the "Testimony of Jesus has been asked here >> To what does "the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ" refer in Revelation 1:2?

Answer 2

The answer is rather simple, if any professional courtesy is acceptable. The Christ (i.e., Messiah) is an overwhelming theme throughout the biblical text.

What the Christ is is still rather confusing, even among so many religious leaders and scholars. Yahushua stated that he had been anointed “The Christ”.

Anointing usually takes place for the purpose of refreshing oneself or for an occasion requiring a solemn oath, like being anointed as king or as a priest.

However, Yahushua stipulated that the purpose of his anointing was quite specific. The anointing of Yahushua as The Christ, which anointing took place at the Jordan River and performed by Yahushua’s cousin John the Baptizer.

Yahushua made the purpose of his anointing very clear. Yahushua did this in his hometown of Nazareth, shortly after being anointed by John. A flare for the dramatic was in order, so rather than a Mikva, John used the river. A bonafide public statement, and an attraction capable of attracting the attention of the authorities and commoners alike.

Yahushua also made the purpose of his anointing very clear, and it almost cost him his life before crucifixion. To make the point clear and to validate the claim,Yahushua quoted the Prophet Isaiah:

“The attitude of Yahweh (The Lord) is upon me. For which sake he anointed me: to announce the Wellness Message to the poor, he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim pardon to the captives, recovery of Insight to the blind, and to unstress the traumatized.”

That statement is the “stuff” of The Christ, the definition of the Christ in effect. It is proper to say that Yahushua is the Christ,but improper and false to state that the Christ is Yahushua. Backwards. In the same manner that Nero was the beast but the beast wasn’t Nero. The beast was a collective entity embodied by a foul government complete with a foul stench, according to John the Apostle.

So, John the Apostle understands the aforementioned explanation, modern people do not. Modern people are inclined to embrace Yahushua (Jesus) as the Christ, but when asked what is the Christ; the response is always, “the anointed one”, which is partially the case and begs the question anointed for what? To die?

Anointed for the purpose that both Isaiah and Yahushua stated. The fulfillment of that statement represents the essence of the Christ.

The addition of “the Christ” to the text of John’s letter “The Revelation” makes good sense for a couple of good reasons with professional courtesy in mind.

When one has spent enough time with the Greek text and its authors, one begins to sense attitudes and tones of the writers. The addition of the phrase “the Christ” is exceptional and helpful to the reader by adding perspective. Merely saying what was intended but left unsaid. The addition of the phrase “the Christ” is simply “skillful”.

That addition to the text has a positive and enlightening impact on the text which is helpful by bolstering the “spirit” of the text. The spirit or attitude of the text is made clear at the outset; that John depicts “The Way It’s Going to Be” and spells out “The Revelation of Yahushua “The Christ”, and proceeds to dramatize the theme from Isaiah which same theme articulates the essence of the Christ, making the addition to the text more helpful than harmful.

Sincerely,

Just My Two Cents