The Majority Text vs. The Critical Text
Apr 30, 2019 9:21:29 GMT -6
Rick, stormyknight, and 2 more like this
Post by kjs on Apr 30, 2019 9:21:29 GMT -6
There has been mighty debate about the accuracy of various New Testament "text" -- most covering the which text version is "the most correct".
A little history for those who do not know ....
Majority Text -- The Byzantine text-type (also called Majority Text, Traditional Text, Ecclesiastical Text, Constantinopolitan Text, Antiocheian Text, or Syrian Text) is one of several text-types used in textual criticism to describe the textual character of Greek New Testament manuscripts. It is the form found in the largest number of surviving manuscripts, though not in the oldest. The New Testament text of the Orthodox Church, the Patriarchal Text, as well as those utilized in the lectionaries, is based on this text-type. While considerably varying, it also underlies the Textus Receptus Greek text used for most Reformation-era translations of the New Testament into vernacular languages. Modern translations mainly use Eclectic editions that conform more often to the Alexandrian text-type.
{quick Side Note: Textus Receptus -- is the version the original King James Version -- BUT watch out there are over 2000 differences between the Majority Text and Textus Receptus)
Critical Text (Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament and United Bible Societies – or NU)
Novum Testamentum Graece (The New Testament in Greek) is a critical edition of the New Testament in its original Koine Greek, forming the basis of most modern Bible translations and biblical criticism. It is also known as the Nestle-Aland edition after its most influential editors, Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland. The text, edited by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research, is currently in its 28th edition, abbreviated NA28. The Greek text as presented is what biblical scholars refer to as the "critical text". The critical text is an eclectic text compiled by a committee that compares readings from a large number of manuscripts in order to determine which reading is most likely to be closest to the original. They use a number of factors to help determine probable readings, such as the date of the witness (earlier is usually better), the geographical distribution of a reading, and the likelihood of accidental or intentional corruptions. In the book, a large number of textual variants, or differences between manuscripts, are noted in the critical apparatus—the extensive footnotes that distinguish the Novum Testamentum Graece from other Greek New Testaments.
Novum Testamentum Graece (The New Testament in Greek) is a critical edition of the New Testament in its original Koine Greek, forming the basis of most modern Bible translations and biblical criticism. It is also known as the Nestle-Aland edition after its most influential editors, Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland. The text, edited by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research, is currently in its 28th edition, abbreviated NA28. The Greek text as presented is what biblical scholars refer to as the "critical text". The critical text is an eclectic text compiled by a committee that compares readings from a large number of manuscripts in order to determine which reading is most likely to be closest to the original. They use a number of factors to help determine probable readings, such as the date of the witness (earlier is usually better), the geographical distribution of a reading, and the likelihood of accidental or intentional corruptions. In the book, a large number of textual variants, or differences between manuscripts, are noted in the critical apparatus—the extensive footnotes that distinguish the Novum Testamentum Graece from other Greek New Testaments.
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The Majority Text differs from the modern Critical Text in only about 6,500 places. (or roughly the two different text versions AGREE with each other 98% of the TIME.....
Did you catch that? They are the SAME 98% of the Time!
Not only that, but the vast majority of these differences are so minor that they neither show up in translation nor affect exegesis.
Consequently the majority text and modern critical texts are very much alike, in both quality and quantity......
STILL DOUBTING WHAT IS BEING SAID? -- How about some examples?
Matthew 5:44
MT/TR: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
MT/TR: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
CT: But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.
WOW -- Did you SEE that difference (16 words are different (missing) ..... {and oops each of those missing words counts as a difference in the count of 6500 differences} -- so here are 16 differences in one text!
Matthew 8:28
MT/TR: And when he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gergesenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
MT/TR: And when he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gergesenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
CT: And when he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
WOW -- Did you SEE that difference? -- in one text version the region is called Gergesenes and in the other it is called Gadarenes
{Here is what Wikipedia says of this region -- Gergesa, also Gergasa or the Country of the Gergesenes, is a place on the eastern (Golan Heights) side of the Sea of Galilee located at some distance to the ancient Decapolis cities of Gadara and Gerasa. Today, it is the modern El-Koursi. It is mentioned in some ancient manuscripts of the Gospel of Matthew as the place where the Miracle of the Swine took place, an exorcism performed by Jesus who drove demons out of two possessed men and into a herd of pigs. All three Synoptic Gospels mention this miracle, but only Matthew writes about two possessed men instead of just one, and only some manuscripts of his Gospel name the location as Gergesa, while the other copies, as well as all versions of Luke and Mark, mention either Gadara or Gerasa (see Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39, Matthew 8:28-34). }
IN OTHER WORDS ... it is the SAME Region refereed to by different names and is basically Eastern Golan Heights!!!!!
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Now we come to the omitted section ............
Matthew 17:21
MT/TR: However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
CT: Verse omitted
Matthew 18:11
MT/TR: For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
CT: Verse omitted
MT/TR: However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
CT: Verse omitted
Matthew 18:11
MT/TR: For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
CT: Verse omitted
Matthew 23:14
MT/TR: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
CT: Verse omitted
MT/TR: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
CT: Verse omitted
Mark 7:16
MT/TR: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!
CT: Verse omitted
MT/TR: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!
CT: Verse omitted
Mark 11:26
MT/TR: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.
CT: Verse omitted
MT/TR: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.
CT: Verse omitted
Mark 16:9-20
Omitted in the critical text. See Mark 16
Omitted in the critical text. See Mark 16
Now to ME -- This is the biggest break between the text versions -- and remember all these missing words count as ONE Difference.
So yes, each of these missing verses is troubling .... HOWEVER, each of these missing verses ARE KNOWN and are often included in parenthesis or footnotes in the various English Translations.
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The main point I wish to make here ........ IS REALLY!
You really wish to spend your time and energy fighting your Brother and sister's in Christ about a bunch of ancient text (which most of us cannot even READ) --- when these two text versions agree with each other over 98% of the time......
{and for the record ... this also applies to those who wish to debate the Best English translation as well}