Ed Edwards said:
Personally I'm getting tired of it.
What doctrine is changed by the 'omission' of these
verses?
(Note you have to know what the doctrines of
your church are and how they were derived.
Most people who damn my NIV Bible don't bother
to even learn or teach their own churche's doctrine).
Here's one doctrine that totally changes by the omission of Acts 8:37--it's called baptismal regeneration. By the omission of Acts 8:37, this passage teaches baptismal regeneration.
36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"[
f] 38And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (NIV)
- Acts 8:36 Some late manuscripts baptized?" 37 Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Footnotes are useless--why not put the verse in the text? It makes more sense there:
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (Acts 8:36-38) (KJV)
This portion of Scripture are the strongest verses refuting the doctrine of infant baptism. Without verse 37, that portion teaches that you are saved by baptism (baptismal regeneration)
Changing the Word of God, does change doctrines.