Text variant

Variation in text occurs when transcribers, intentionally or unintentionally, make changes to the text they are copying. Some common changes include deleting or repeating words when the scribe's eyes return to a similar word in the wrong place in the original text. If he reaches an earlier word, there is a repetition ( dittography ). In a later word, it creates a gap or omission. Sometimes a copyist inserts text from his memory in a similar passage or parallel passage in another place. Sometimes the pronunciations change or synonyms are replaced. A pronoun is also changed into the appropriate noun . So “he said” later becomes “Jesus said”.

Although the range of text variants would fill entire volumes, the changes in meaning are very small. Translations of different text families can easily be read side by side.

Origen was one of the first to note the differences between the New Testament manuscripts and to make known his preferences among the readings. In Matthew 27: 16-17 he preferred "Barabbas" to "Jesus Barabbas" ( In Matt. Comm. Ser. 121). In John 1:28 he preferred “Bethabara” instead of “Bethany” as the place of John's baptisms ( Commentary on John VI.40 (24)). He also considered “Gergeza” more fitting than “Geraza” or “Gadara” ( Commentary on John VI.40 (24)). Origen noted two different readings in Hebrews 2: 9 “separated from God” and “by the grace of God”.

Mill estimated the number of variations of the New Testament at 30,000. Eberhard Nestle assumes a number around 150,000 to 200,000. In recent times Ehrman speaks of 400,000 variations.

Example Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 1:24

ἐγερθεὶς (awakened) - א , B , C , Z , 071 , f ¹

διεγερθεὶς (was awakened) - C ³ , D , L , W , 087 , f ¹³ , Mss of the Byzantine text type

Matthew 1:25

υἱὸν (son) - א, B, Z, 071, f ¹ , f ¹³ , 33

τὸν υἱὸν αὐτῆς τὸν πρωτότοκον (their firstborn son) - C, D, K , L (omit αὐτῆς), W, Δ , Π , 28 , 565 , 700 , 892 , 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1230 , 1241, 1242, 1365, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, ℓ 70 , ℓ 185 , ℓ 333 , ℓ 1761 , it ^{aur, f, ff 1} , vg

Matthew 5:47

ἐθνικοί (Nations) - א, Β, Δ, f ¹ , 33, 892, 1071, 1216, 1230, 1241, 1365, it, vg

τελῶναι (Zöllner) - Κ, L, W, Δ, Θ, Π, f ¹³ , 28, 565, 700, 1009, 1010, 1079, 1195, 1242, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it ^h , syr ^p , goth, geo

See also

• Textual criticism
• Alexandrian text type
• Byzantine text type
• Caesarean text type
• Western text type

literature

• Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine , ed. E. Nestle, K. Aland, Stuttgart 1981.
• Bart D. Ehrman : The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture. The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament. Oxford University Press , New York / Oxford 1996, pp. 223-227.
• Bruce M. Metzger : A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament: A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament. United Bible Societies , London & New York 1994.

Web links

• The Comparative Critical Greek New Testament (PDF; 2.5 MB)

Individual evidence

1. ^ E. Nestle: Introduction to the Greek New Testament. P. 23.