Some Textual Variants In Revelation

[Rippon]

I'll be quoting snips (and sometimes rewording)from Philip Comfort's book on New Testament textual variants.

1: 5 : WH NU : to the one loving us and having freed us from our sins
var/TR : to the one having loved us and having washed us from our sins

The earliest and best witnesses attest to the WH NU reading. (p.810)

1:6a : WH NU : he made us a kingdom,priests to God
var/TR : he made us kings and priests to God

"The WH NU reading has superior support...The wording in the TR,popularized by KJV,says that the believers are 'kings and priests.' Although this reads nicely,it misses the point because it individualizes the believers' function...The Christians together comprise a kingdom of priests who serve God the Father." (p.810)

1: 11b : WH NU : the seven churches
var/TR : the seven churches in Asia

"With no textual support from any known Greek manuscript,TR,followed by KJV and NKJV,exhibits the expansion,'in Asia.'...It is textually spurious." (p.813)

2:5 : WH NU : I am coming to you
var/TR : I am coming to you quickly

"The manuscript evidence...decidedly favors the WH NU reading." (p.815)

2: 9 : WH NU : I know your affliction
var/TR : I know your works and affliction

"The manuscript evidence (especially with the combined support of A C) supports the WH NU reading." (.815)

2: 13 : WH NU : I know where you dwell
var/TR : I know your works and where you dwell

"The documentary evidence for the WH NU reading is early and diverse....scribes could not resist making all of Jesus' opening statements begin with the same formulaic statement,'I know your works.' This expansion is in TR (so in KJV and NKJV)." (p.815)

2:20a : WH NU : I have [this] against you
var/TR : I have a few things against you

"[The TR reading] does not appear in any Greek manuscripts..." (p.816)

To be continued...

 

[Rippon]

I'm back.Did you miss me?

2:21 : WH NU : that she might repent,and she did not want to repent of her fornication
var/TR : that she might repent of her fornication,and she did not repent

"The WH NU reading,which has the support of all known Greek manuscripts except the minuscule 1 (used by Erasmus),has a stronger message than the variant does in that it charges that Jezebel did not even want to repent of her fornication." (p.817)

2: 22b : WH NU : her deeds
var/TR : their deeds

The WH NU has excellent documentation. (p.818)

3: 2 : WH Nu : in the sight of my God
var/TR : in the sight of God

"The WH NU reading has strong manuscript support...The change in the variant ...reflects a scribal redaction that attempts to avoid the theological problem inherent in Jesus (who is God) saying 'my God.' " (p.818)

3:11 : WH NU : I am coming quickly
var/TR : Look,I am coming quickly

"The WH NU reading has strong support,with P115 (third century) supplying the earliest." (p.820)

5: 10a : WH NU : kingdom and priests
var/TR : kings and priests

See 1:6a.

See all of you viewers later.

 

[Rippon]

Hello again.

10:5 : WH NU : he raised his right hand
var/TR : he raised his hand

"The manuscript evidence ...favors the inclusion of the adjective 'right' before 'hand.'...Some scribes and translators may have thought the term should not be used in describing an angel." (p.834)

10:1 : WH NU : they say to me
var/TR : he says to me

"The WH NU reading is decidedly superior." (p.835)

11:7b : the one who is and the one who was
var/TR : the one who is and who was and the coming one

"Having the testimony of the four earliest witnesses and the majority of manuscripts,the WH NU reading is superior to that in TR. The variant in TR is the result of scribal harmonization...This is followed by KJV and NKJV,as well as in HCSB out of respect for the KJV tradition." (p.839)

12: 17b : WH NU : the testimony of Jesus
var/TR : the testimony of Jesus Christ

The TR has "no known Greek manuscript support." (p.841)

13: 17b : WH NU : every tribe and people and nation
var/TR : every tribe and tongue and nation

"The weight of documentary evidence favors the fourfold list --with four important witnesses supporting it...The variant is probably the result of scribal error..." (p.843)

14:3a : TR WH NU : they sing,as it were a new song
variant : they sing a new song

['As it were'] should not be included at all...[T]he added testimony of P115 adds weight to the omission." (p.847)

There, that should hold all of you for a while.

 

[Rippon]

I'm back! And aren't you glad.

14:5 : WH NU : they are unblemished (=blameless)
var/1: for they are unblemished (=blameless)
var 2/TR : for they are unblemished (=blameless) before the throne of God

The first variant is well supported..."The second variant is spurious... It has no support from any Greek manuscripts..." (p.848)

15:3 : NU : the king of the nations
var 1/WH : the king of the ages
var 2/TR : the king of the saints

The documentary evidence demonstrates weightier external support [for var 1]...But it takes no great text-critica skills to readily dismiss the word 'saints',which somehow was adopted by Erasmus...and then found its way into TR. KJV and NKJV perpetuate this spurious reading." (p.852)

16:5a : WH NU : you are righteous
var/TR : you are righteous,Lord

"Without any Greek textual evidence whatsoever,Erasmus added ...[Lord] which then was included in TR,and has been sustained by KJV and NKJV." (p.853)

16:14 : WH NU : the kings of the entire inhabited world
var/TR : the kings of the earth and of the entire inhabited world

"Erasmus followed one twelfth-century miniscule (Codex 1)in making a spurious addition ...which really does not help clarify anything." (p.855)

19:1b : power of (from) our God
var/TR : power to the Lord our God

The variant reading is found in only one manuscript and adopted by Erasmus. (p.861)

19:17 : WH NU : the great supper of God
var/TR : the supper of the great God

"The manuscript evidence supports the WH NU reading." (p.864)

20:12 : WH NU : standing before the throne
var/TR : standing before God

Again,it's Erasmus using Codex 1. "But the throne is used throughout Revelation as a metonymy for God's personal judgment." (p.865)

21:2 : WH NU : I saw the holy city,new Jerusalem
var/TR : I,John,saw the holy city,new Jerusalem

"Erasmus did not use any Greek manuscript at this point...The interpolation has been sustained by its presence in KJV and NKJV." (p.865)

21:10 : WH NU : the holy city,Jerusalem
var/(TR) : the great and holy city,Jerusalem

Late manuscripts added great and this was incorporated in TR and then popularized by KJV and NKJV. But the key descriptor for the new Jeruslem is 'holy'..." (p.867)

21:24a : WH NU : the nations will walk by its light
var/TR : the nations of the saved will walk by its light

"Erasmus's interpolation has had a long tradition because of its place in TR and KJV." (p.968)

22:1 : WH NU : river of water of life
var/TR : pure river of water of life

"The addition in TR is the result of unnecessary scribal coloring..." (p.868-869)

22:6 : WH NU : the Lord God of the spirits of the prophets
var/TR : the Lord God of the holy prophets

"The manuscript evidence favors the WH NU reading...The variant misses the mark entirely by putting the emphasis on the prophet's holiness." (.869)

22:14 : WH NU : blessed are the ones washing their robes
var/TR : blessed are the ones doing his commandments

"It is more likely that the change reflects a Pelagian influence --i.e., eternal life can be achieved by good works." (p.870)

 

[Rippon]

Okay,I will cite a number of textual variant places in the book of Revelation where TR agrees with WH and NU.

1:6b : NU
2:22a : WH NU
4:5 : WH NU
5:1 : WH NU
5:6 : WH NU
9:13b : NU
11:1 : WH NU
11:12 : WH NU
12:8b : WH NU
13:5 : WH NU
13:7a : WH NU
13:10b : WH
13:18 : WH NU
14:3a : WH NU
14:4a : WH NU
14:6 : WH NU
14:13b : WH NU
15:6 : NU
16:4 : WH NU
17:4 : WH NU
18:3 : NU
19:5a : NU
19:12 : NU
19:13 : NU
19:15 : WH NU
21:3c : NU
21:8 : WH NU

So,to summarize,TR agrees with NU 25 times. TR agrees with WH 19 times.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Uniquely in the New Testament, the Critical Text agrees for the most part with the majority Text in Revelation. As Rippon has pointed out, the evidence for some T.R. renderings in very slender indeed. I think therefore that those who prefer the Byzantine Text as a whole, need to look again at the text for Revelation.

However, there are some places where I really dislike the C.T. readings:-

Rev 6:1, C.T. 'Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [seven] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come." And I looked, and behold...."

Rev 6:1, T.R. 'Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [seven] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold...."
[cf. also Rev 6:3, 5, 7]

If, like me, you take the Rider on the white horse to be the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rev 19:11), then you may have problems with this 'living creature' ordering Him about. 'Come and see' is a command to John, and it fits much better the context: '"Come and see," and I saw....'
[QUOTE="Rippon" ]22:14 : WH NU : blessed are the ones washing their robes
var/TR : blessed are the ones doing his commandments

"It is more likely that the change reflects a Pelagian influence --i.e., eternal life can be achieved by good works." (p.870)[/QUOTE]

This sort of comment by Comfort really annoys me. Has he never read John 13:17 or 15:10? The T.R. reading is entirely appropriate for Jiohn to have written under the inflence of the Spirit.

Steve

 

[Rippon]

Uniquely in the New Testament, the Critical Text agrees for the most part with the majority Text in Revelation. As Rippon has pointed out, the evidence for some T.R. renderings is very slender indeed. I think therefore that those who prefer the Byzantine Text as a whole, need to look again at the text for Revelation.

However, there are some places where I really dislike the C.T. readings:-

Steve,it's not a matter of liking or disliking a reading but -- does a given reading reflect the original --or has there been some tinkering with the text?

Rev 6:1, C.T. 'Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [seven] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come." And I looked, and behold...."

Rev 6:1, T.R. 'Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [seven] seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold...."
[cf. also Rev 6:3, 5, 7]

If, like me, you take the Rider on the white horse to be the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rev 19:11), then you may have problems with this 'living creature' ordering Him about. 'Come and see' is a command to John, and it fits much better the context: '"Come and see," and I saw....'

According to the NET note :"The addition of 'and see' to 'come' is a gloss directed to John,i.e. 'come and look at the seals and the horsemen!' But the command is better interpreted as directed to each of the horsemen. The shorter reading also has the support of the better witnesses."

 

[Martin Marprelate]

According to the NET note :"The addition of 'and see' to 'come' is a gloss directed to John, i.e. 'come and look at the seals and the horsemen!'

As usual, this is stated as fact without the least bit of evidence.

But the command is better interpreted as directed to each of the horsemen.

I showed above that it isn't.

The shorter reading also has the support of the better witnesses."

This will depend on whom you think to be the better witnesses.

Steve

 

[Rippon]

As usual, this is stated as fact without the least bit of evidence.

Steve,you disparage the NET notes without thinking things through. Perhaps you owe it to yourself to familiarize the notes that have been of graet help for so long to so many.

This will depend on whom you think to be the better witnesses.

That would be the oldest and most diverse witnesses.

 

[Rippon]

10:1 : WH NU : they say to me
var/TR : he says to me

"The WH NU reading is decidedly superior." (p.835)

That reference should be 10:11.

11:7b : the one who is and the one who was
var/TR : the one who is and who was and the coming one

"Having the testimony of the four earliest witnesses and the majority of manuscripts,the WH NU reading is superior to that in TR. The variant in TR is the result of scribal harmonization...This is followed by KJV and NKJV,as well as in HCSB out of respect for the KJV tradition." (p.839)

This reference should be 11:17b.

13: 17b : WH NU : every tribe and people and nation
var/TR : every tribe and tongue and nation

"The weight of documentary evidence favors the fourfold list --with four important witnesses supporting it...The variant is probably the result of scribal error..." (p.843)

The above reference should be 13:7b. I sure must have been tired when I posted those mistaken references.

 

[Rippon]

Uniquely in the New Testament, the Critical Text agrees for the most part with the majority Text in Revelation. As Rippon has pointed out, the evidence for some T.R. renderings in very slender indeed. I think therefore that those who prefer the Byzantine Text as a whole, need to look again at the text for Revelation.

I certainly did not cover all the textual variants in the book of Revelation --just a smattering. But a number of the ones I cited WH NU do not go along with the Majority Text (otherwise known as the Byzantine and several other terms). Here a few cases among the number of variants that I documented:

1:5;2:5,9,13,20a,22b;10:5,11;11:17b;13:7b;14:5;15:3;19:17

21:10;22:1,6,14

 

[franklinmonroe]

I certainly did not cover all the textual variants in the book of Revelation --just a smattering. ...

What does Comfort say about variants in Rev. 3:14a?

 

[Rippon]

What does Comfort say about variants in Rev. 3:14a?

WH NU : to the messenger of the church in Laodicea
var/TR : to the messenger of the church of [the]Laodiceans

The Majority text stands with WH NU. Do you want me to go through his reasoning,or skip it since all three are in agreement on this one? Only the KJV and NKJV stand outside with the TR.

 

[franklinmonroe]

WH NU : to the messenger of the church in Laodicea
var/TR : to the messenger of the church of [the]Laodiceans

The Majority text stands with WH NU. Do you want me to go through his reasoning,or skip it since all three are in agreement on this one? Only the KJV and NKJV stand outside with the TR.

Yes, I would like to hear his reasoning. Thanks!

 

[Rippon]

From Comfort's book

"All throughout chapters 2 and 3,the churches are designated by the formula 'the church in' followed by the name of the locality ('the church in Ephesus,' 'the church in Smyrna,' etc.). Thus,it would be highly unusual for there to be a change here whereby the church is named by the inhabitants of the city, 'the church of the Laodiceans.' Only one cursive,the minuscule 1 (used by Erasmus,listed by Alford and Tregelles) displays this change,which may have been influenced by verses such as 1 Thess 1:1; 2Thess 1:1 ('the church of the Thessalonians'). This reading became popularized by TR and KJV." (p.820)

 

[franklinmonroe]

... Only one cursive,the minuscule 1 (used by Erasmus,listed by Alford and Tregelles) displays this change,which may have been influenced by verses such as 1 Thess 1:1; 2Thess 1:1 ('the church of the Thessalonians'). This reading became popularized by TR and KJV." (p.820)

Thanks, Rip! I suspected that Minuscule 1 was probably the only extant Greek document (of several hundred that contain Revelation) that actually has the reading carried by the TR.