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Is "tree of life" in some Bibles at Revelation 22:19 a sheer conjecture that doesn't exist?

Logos1560

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Concerning Revelation 22:19 in his commentary on the book of Revelation, Peter Ruckman wrote: “All the new translations say ‘tree of life’ instead of ‘book of life.’ Again, the change is uncalled for, the Receptus reads ‘bibliou.’ “Tree of life’ is sheer conjecture. No alternate reading is given in Nestle’s Critical Apparatus, and the ASV and RSV are putting in an Alexandrian conjecture that doesn’t exist” (p. 606).

Ron Minton maintained that the KJV followed the Latin Vulgate at Revelation 22:19 “where all known Greek manuscripts have ‘tree of life,’ but the Latin has ‘book of life’” (Making and Preservation, p. 132, footnote 216). Concerning Revelation 22:19, Doug Kutilek claimed: “All Greek manuscripts read ‘tree of life;’ not a single one reads ‘book of life’” (Erasmus, His Greek Text, p. 3). Doug Kutilek asserted: "The fact that all textus receptus editions of Stephanus, Beza, et al. read with Erasmus shows that their texts were more or less slavish reprints of Erasmus' text and not independently compiled editions, for had they been edited independently of Erasmus, they would surely have followed the Greek manuscripts here and read 'tree of life'" (Westcott & Hort vs. Textus Receptus, p. 3). Glenn Conjurske noted: “The Greek column of the Complutensian reads ‘tree of life,’ not ‘book of life,’ while the adjacent column which contains the Latin Vulgate reads libro vite, that is ‘book of life’” (Bible Version, p. 252).

John Nordstrom maintained that Erasmus acknowledged in his annotations that he had translated the last six verses of Revelation 22 from the Latin Vulgate, but that the printer did not choose to print that note in the printed edition. John Nordstrom asserted: “This omission can be verified by placing side-by-side Erasmus’ hand-copied notes with the actual printed copy” (Strained by Blood, p. 74). KJV defender Laurence Vance noted: “Since Codex 2814 was missing the text of Revelation 22:16b-22, Erasmus infamously translated the passage into Greek from the Latin Vulgate, which he acknowledged in the first edition of his annotations” (Text of the KJB, p. 369). Jan Krans claimed that Erasmus wrote in his annotation on Revelation 22:20 the following as translated into English: “However, at the end of this book, I found some words in our versions which were lacking in the Greek copies, but we added them from the Latin” (Beyond What is Written, p. 55-56, footnote 11).

Does Peter Ruckman avoid, ignore, or dismiss all known Greek NT manuscript evidence for Revelation 22:19? How could Peter Ruckman honestly allege that "tree of life" at Revelation 22:19 in many modern English Bibles is a "sheer conjecture"?
 

37818

Well-Known Member
It is my understanding:

All Greek codex of Revelation 22:19, . . . tree of life . . . .

Only Revelation 22:19, TR Greek has . . . book of life . . . .
 
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Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Gee, if the KJV is wrong at Revelation 22:19, then it is not an inspired translation, just a wonderful translation by non-inspired people, who made mistakes in translation.

If anyone thinks the KJV only folks will accept this truth, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for you.
 
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