THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GREEK TEXTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

by David Blunt

THE PRINCIPAL TYPE of alteration in the modern Greek Text is omission of material found in the Received Text or "Textus Receptus" (T.R). There is a lesser number of substitutions, where words in the modern Text differ from those appearing at the same place in the T.R., and an even smaller number of additions of words not in the T.R. There is also a number of transpositions., in which words or phrases have been moved from the place they occupy in the T.R. to another place nearby, and of punctuation differences which affect meaning. Data on these alterations have been collated by Fowler, from which the following is largely derived:

A Summary of the Differences in the Greek between the received Text of the New Testament (Trinitarian Bible Society, 1976) and the United Bible Societies' Text (Third Edition, 1976).

(The NIV was largely based on this latter text, although in over 650 instances fails to follow it — Fowler, p. 22).

SUMMARY OF ALL WORD DIFFERENCES

Total Greek Word Count in T.R.  140,521
[in Waite, p.42]		 * Total Greek Word Count in U.B.S. Text  138,019 
[in Wright]
Greek words in T.R. omitted from U.B.S. Text  3,602 * Greek words in T.R. substituted in U.B.S. Text  3,146
Greek words not in T.R. added to U.B.S.Text  976 * Greek words in T.R. spelled differently in U.B.S. Text (but not different words)  950
Total Word Differences between Texts   8,674 (= 6 2% of words in T.R., 1 word in 16).
U.B.S. Text is 2,502 words shorter than T.R., or 1.8%, or 1 in every 56 words.
The reason why this figure is less than the total for Greek words omitted (3,602) minus Greek words added (976) [=2,626] is that some differences classed as substitutions involve the substitution of a longer phrase in the U.B.S. Text than the one being replaced in the Received Text, thereby increasing the total word count of the U.B.S. text.

SUMMARY OF DIFFERENCES WHICH AFFECT TRANSLATION

Places where Greek words in T.R. omitted from U.B.S. Text  1,309
1.
omissions of one or more whole verses
  17
2.
omissions of significant portions of verses
  185
3.
other omissions
  1,107
Number of Greek words involved  2,632
Places where Greek words in T.R. substituted in U.B.S. Text  587
4.
substitutions of words of dissimilar spelling
  288
5.
substitutions words of similar spelling
  283
6.
substitutions of several words
  16
Number of Greek words involved  603
7.
Places where Greek words in T.R. added to in U.B.S. Text
  161
Number of Greek words involved in 7. (above)  317
8.
Places where Greek words in T.R. transposed in U.B.S. Text
  9
9.
Places where Greek words in T.R. punctuated differently in U.B.S. Text so as to affect translation
  11
Total  Differences Affecting Translation  2,077
Total  Number of Greek Words Involved   3,572

With 3,572 out of 8,674 total word differences between the texts involved, over 40% of the textual changes are seen to affect translation.

SUMMARY OF THE NATURE OF THE DIFFERENCES AFFECTING TRANSLATION

Differences which affect the meaning   1,658
Differences that substantially affect the meaning  481
10. Differences presenting problems in translation  288
11. Differences affecting quotations from the O.T.  49
12. Differences which involve doctrine  44
13. Names of Deity omitted: 
Jesus (75), Christ (44), Lord (35), God (32), Other names (26),  ---->  Total
 212
14. Pronouns that refer to Deity omitted  157 
15. Other differences that downgrade Deity  41
16. Names of Deity added  29
Words enclosed in single brackets ("words, or portion of words, whose presence or position in text is regarded as disputed")  642
Words enclosed in double brackets ("passages which are regarded as later additions to the text, but which are of evident antiquity and importance")  427

References:

EXAMPLES
 

Significant examples are given of each type of alteration found in the U.B.S. Greek Text, mainly from the four Gospels, where the NIV has followed the alterations. Some examples may cover more than one type of alteration. The implications of such alterations for Christian doctrine and practice may he worked out by the reader.

 
Reference
Alteration
AV 
NIV
1. Matthew 17:21 Omit: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Footnote: Some manuscripts: But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.
2. Matthew 5:27 Omit: by them of old time Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery. You have heard that it was said, "Do not commit adultery".
3. Matthew 1:25 Omit: her firstborn And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
4.  Mark 3:29 Substitute: damnation by sin AV But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
5.  Luke 2:22 Substitute: her by their And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
6. Luke 6:48 Substitute: for it was founded upon a rock by because it was well built He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on a rock. When the flood canoe, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
7. Matthew 24:36 Add: nor the Son But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, (but only the Father.
Footnote: Some manuscripts do not have nor the Son.
8. Acts 13:19-20 Transpose: And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years to give: All of this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. He overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
9. Acts 2:47-3:1  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple becomes And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. One day Peter and John were going up to the temple. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 3:1. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 3:1. One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer — at three in the afternoon.
10. Mark 1:2 Substitute: the prophets by Isaiah the prophet (yet the first quotation is from Malachi)  As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way."
11. Luke 4:4 Omit: but by every word of God And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone'."
12. John 6:47 Omit : on me Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
13. Matthew 8:29
Omit: Jesus		 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted, "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
14. John 4:42 Omit: the Christ And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. They said to the woman, "We no longer believe, just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world".
15. Luke 9:57 Omit: Lord Arid it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go.
16. Matthew 6:33 Omit: of God But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
17. John 8:29 Omit: the Father And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.
18. John 8:38 Omit: my I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.
19. Luke 4:8 Omit: Get thee behind me, Satan And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only'.
20. Luke 10:21 Add: Holy In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

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