Questions tagged [textual-criticism]
The art/science of textual criticism attempts to reconstruct the oldest or original wording of a given text.
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What are the implications of the recent finding in Vatican Library in relation to Matt 12:1?
Matthew 12:1 was in the news recently after the discovery of a hidden and over- written ancient manuscript in Syriac in the Vatican Library. The finding is important in the sense that the text ...
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Is the textual evidence to the missing ending to Mark evidence of Mark being the earliest Gospel?
Mark 16:8 seems much too abrupt for an ending to the Gospel of Mark. The textual evidence indicates that none of the four endings we now have after Mark 16:8 are original, in other words the original ...
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Why was Mtt 17: 21 as appearing in KJV skipped in other versions of NT? [duplicate]
We read in Mtt 17:18-21 (KJV)
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not ...
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What does the RMS at the top of page one of Eph 1:1 of Chester Beaty Papyrus P46 mean
At the top the first page of Ephesians in Chester Beatty papyrus P46 there is a notation in the Greek letters RMS. I also notice a similar notation at the top of many of the pages, with slight ...
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Missing verset in Psalm 15:3
The verset ". . .slanders not with his tongue" is missing from the Psalm (15,3) found at Qumran. The LXX does contain this reference to slander which begs the question, at least for me, when ...
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Do translators leave out the definite article of Satan in the New Testement?
It is well known that in many cases in the Old Testament that whenever Satan is described, it is accompanied by a definite article rendering it as ‘Ha-Satan’ (The Satan).
(This question will not go ...
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Why is the word wife removed from most translation in Matthew 19:29?
Matthew 19:29
Some translations include the word wives. Others do not. For example:
NIV: And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for ...
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Arguments for/against the Pauline authorship of NT prohibitions against women speaking in church - 1 Cor. 14:34, 1 Tim. 2:12 [closed]
Note: This question focuses on authorship, not the meaning of the verses.
1 Timothy 2:12 "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent."
1 Corinthians 14:...
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Should Cainan be included or excluded from the geneology of Jesus?
In the Masoretic Text, Genesis 11:12-13 reads like this:
And Šëm lived after he begat ´Arpa¢šað five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And ´Arpa¢šad lived five and thirty years, and begat ...
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Is John 6:4 authentic?
A friend of mine at church says John's gospel chapter 6 verse 4 is inauthentic and should not be there.
And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. (John 6:4 KJV)
What is the manuscript ...
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Did Ancient authors in general retain a copy for themselves? [closed]
From 2 Corinthians 2:
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have
sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you
all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
...
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Examining NKJV's and KJV's inclusion of "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and," in Revelation 1:11 [duplicate]
The phrase "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and," that is in the King James Bible and the New King James Version is not found in most translations of the bible.
Are the ...
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Textual Variants of John 19:26-27 (Entrustment of Mary)
Are there any known historical variants, interpolations, or alternate interpretations regarding the Entrustment of Mary in John 19:26-27?
Specifically the four bold words in verse 26 below?
John 19
[...
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What is the internal & external evidence for the authorship/inclusion of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and what evidence is against its inclusion? [duplicate]
We read:
“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not
permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also
says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their ...
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Is there a Textual Issue with Ephesians 3:9?
We compare translations:
“and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.”
Ephesians 3:9 {NET}
VS.
“and to make all ...
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Textual variants of “day of eternity” and exegesis of it (2 Peter 3:18)
Q: What is the definition of “day of eternity”? And do enough
manuscripts support evidence for its inclusion?
“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the ...
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Heb 6.18 says there are two immutable things; why can't there be three immutable things (according to Gen 15, the covenant with Abram)? [closed]
God cannot deny His promise nor His oath. These are two immutable things, says Heb 6.18. But covenant too is the third one which God cannot deny. If He denies, he will become like Jer 34:18.
So by ...
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Why do some translations of Ephesians 4:9 have the word "first" and others do not?
I am wondering about the logic behind some translations including the word "first" in Ephesians 4:9 when other translations do not. For example, the KJV/NKJV include the word "first&...
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Isaiah 9:6 "Father of the world to come", "Everlasting Father", "Father of eternity" which is more accurate according to textual criticism?
Isaiah 9:6; Young's Literal Translation;
6...Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6; English Standard Version;
6...called[b]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty ...
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Why are there word differences in Jesus’ teaching on internal defilement?
I don’t see any translators note within the realm of “textual criticism” here in Mark 7:21-23 from the NET so I’m confused when compared to the NKJV:
“For from within, out of the human heart, come ...
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John 9:35, son of man or son of God?
John 9:35; DRB;
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out: and when he had found him, he said to him: Dost thou believe in the Son of God?
John 9:35; ESV;
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, ...
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Which has better manuscript attestation in Luke 6:9?
The KJV with Strong's concordance has the following for Luke 6:9 (word in question is emboldened):
Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or ...
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What is the most accurate rendering of Psalms 11:7
4 different translations:
“For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance
beholds the upright.” Psalms 11:7 NKJV
“Certainly the Lord is just; he rewards godly deeds; the ...
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What is the most accurate rendering of Psalms 7:11 (Textual Criticism)
A few different translations:
“God judgeth the righteous, And God is angry with the wicked every
day.” Psalm 7:11 KJV
“God is a righteous judge, And a God who shows indignation every day.”
...
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Daniel Chapter 3- Why Do Some Translations have More Verses?
I have noticed that some versions of Daniel 3 end at verse 30, while other versions continue after that point for many more verses.
Which version is correct?
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Jude 1:8; which is more accurate KJV or DRB?
Jude 1:8; ESV;
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
Jude 1:8; ASV;
8 Yet in like manner these also ...
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How can we trust the Hebrew Bible to be accurate when the oldest MSS go back only to about the tenth century C.E.?
The oldest complete MSS of the Hebrew Bible is from about the tenth century C.E.? We have portions of manuscripts from the years between 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E.(the Dead Sea scrolls) but nothing like ...
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Psalm 16:2 first person or second person
Some translations render “said” in Psalm 16:2 as first person singular, while others choose second person singular. Which of these two translations has a stronger textual basis?
From what I can see, ...
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Who is "His" in NASB "Scepter of HIS kingdom" Hebrews 1:8 if the Father is speaking to the Son?
Hebrews 1:8 NASB 1995
But of the Son He says, “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
Who is this "HIS" if the Father is speaking ...
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What is the biblical worldview of the arabs that Paul encountered in his three years from his conversion? [closed]
Did he encounter a view of God that was based on Abraham as the father of the Arabs apart from the Jews?
Could God have been helping him to understand abrahamic covenant theology from the Arab ...
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2 Chronicles 22:2; 2 Chronicles 21:20; was Ahaziah two years when he reigned, or there are two Ahaziahs?
2 Chronicles 22:2;
2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
2 Chronicles 21:20;
...
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In Johannine Comma: Three are One, or Three in One, or Three in are?
In the Johannine Comma, i.e: 1John 5:7, the Greek texts which contain the trinity mention εν which means in, look:
1550 Stephanus New Testament:
7 οτι τρεις εισιν οι μαρτυρουντες εν τω ουρανω ο πατηρ ...
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Is 1 Timothy 3:16 wording so critical that if one wrong word is used, the relationship of Father with Son, and Who became flesh, is made uncertain?
This is about the relationship of the Son to the Father, and to the fact of Who actually came into the world via the virgin's womb. Different translations of 1 Timothy 3:16 read:
“Hos was manifested ...
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Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Works Questioning the Internal Unity of 2 Esdras 1-2
Among the King James Version Apocrypha, there is a certain book, called Second Esdras, which is found neither in the Masoretic Text, nor in the Greek Septuagint; its first two and last two chapters ...
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Why do [1 Peter 2:8 | Romans 9:33] misquote the Greek LXX version of Isaiah 8:14?
Apostles Peter & Paul prefer a different version of [Isaiah 8:14] based on their revision of the Greek LXX.
Referencing the Isaiah 8:14 as documented in Septuagint, we read : “καὶ ἐὰν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ ...
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Why does the apostle Peter misquote Isaiah 28:16 in [1 Peter 2:6]?
If the Greek LXX version of Isaiah 28 was studied by Peter, Why does the apostle Peter misquote Isaiah 28:16 in [1 Peter 2:6]?
[1 Peter 2:6, LXX]
“Ἰδού, [τίθημι ἐν] Σιὼν λίθον [?] ἀκρογωνιαῖον ...
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Why does Deuteronomy 7:11 in [MT] show מִּצְוָה Mitsvah (s.) for "Commandments" (pl.), instead of Mitsvot , like "ἐντολὰς" [LXX]?
If the word "Commandments" (plural) was actually meant to be written in [Deuteronomy 7:11], why does the [MT] show the singular word מִּצְוָה versus the [LXX] plural word ἐντολὰς?
[MT, ...
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If the LXX version of Judges 18:30 states "Μωυσῆ" (Moses), why would New Testament bibles prefer מְנַשֶּׁ֜ה (Menasseh) from Tanakh's MT?
Why would Tanakh's MT sometimes be preferred over Greek LXX as correct sources for New Testament bibles? - Example : Judges 18:30.
[Judges 18:30, LXX] states :
"καὶ ἀνέστησαν ἑαυτοῗς οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ ...
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Did Jesus establish in Matthew 4:4 that the later LXX editions add words to Deuteronomy 8:3?
Jesus teaches us in Matthew 4:4 what is written in Deuteronomy 8:3 LXX, but Jesus excludes two words (ὁ,τῷ) from his citation of Deuteronomy 8:3 LXX.
[Matthew 4:4] Οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ἄνθρωπος : ...
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Why would the Textus Receptus edition of Matthew 3:11 include "kai pyr" (καὶ πυρί) if the majority M-Texts omit the words & few NU-Texts include them?
If the NKJV says a Majority (M) of greek manuscripts exclude "καὶ πυρί" in [Matthew 3:11] but the NU-Texts includes "καὶ πυρί", then what specific reason warranted the [inspired] ...
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Why did Textus Receptus add "prōtotokos" in Matthew 1:25, or why did the greek NU-Text omit "firstborn" before son?
In Matthew 1:25 of NKJV english translation of greek Textus Receptus, we are given a Footnote [fn] "NU-Text reads a Son." | This footnote is highlighting to readers the Greek word for "...
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Do any manuscripts have the singular 'sin' in Colossians 2:11?
I previously asked the question What is the textual evidence for 'of the sins' in Colossians 2:11 ? and received an answer which I both up-voted and accepted.
Now, I am trying to discover if any ...
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What makes scholars think there were one or two discrete gospel sources and not many indistinct ones?
My only knowledge of popular solutions to the synoptic problem comes from Wikipedia, where they all have non-canonical gospel sources numbering about one or two (or sometimes just zero). Not many ...
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What is the justification for adding the words "is himself God" in John 1:18 of the New International Version and New Living Translation bibles?
John 1:18 NIV No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John 1:18 NLT No one has ever seen God. But the ...
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Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 Interpretation
The common interpretation of Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, is telling about Satan and him being cast down.
Has anyone ever hear a different interpretation before? If so, what was it?
Thank you,
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Does Revelation 22:18-19 threaten Christian Scribes salvation in terms of a parablepsis or Gloss?
“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
and if anyone takes away ...
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Analysis of Daniel 9:26
A question for those with ability with Hebrew .. Daniel 9:26
DANIEL 9:26 And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall ...
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Why is the doctrine of fasting omitted by the modern revisions of the Bible?
Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness (see Matthew 4:2), just as Moses had done and Elijah had done (see Exodus 24:18, 1 Kings 19:8). And Jesus taught the disciples to fast, such as before ...
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How does passing food through the body make all foods clean, as per Mark 7:19 in the modern versions?
The modern translations present a real conundrum with Mark 7:19. The traditional KJV has it as:
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth
out into the draught, purging ...
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Does Tregelles' description of the Armenian edition imply that Greek manuscripts were routinely altered to match the Vulgate?
Does Tregelles' description of the Armenian edition imply that translations based on Greek manuscripts were routinely altered to match the Vulgate?
The Armenian Version by Miesrob in the fourth ...
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