The Final Manuscript Controversies (4) The Bible Versions Study

Names of Christ Frequent criticism by KJV Only proponents: Deletion of “Lord” from name Frequent criticism by KJV Only proponents: Deletion of “Lord” from name Scripture ReferenceKJVModern Versions Matt 8:29Jesus, thou Son of GodSon of God Matt 16:20Jesus the Christthe Christ Romans 15:8, 2 Cor 4:6, 2 Cor 5:18Jesus ChristChrist Col 1:28, Phile 1:6, 1 Pet 5:10, 1 Pet 5:14 Christ JesusChrist Luke 7:19, Luke 10:39, Luke 10:41Jesusthe Lord Acts 19:10, 1 Cor 5:5Lord JesusLord Rom 16:18Lord Jesus ChristLord Christ 1 Cor 16:22, 2 Tim 4:22Lord Jesus ChristLord Rom 1:3Son Jesus Christ our LordSon

Names of Christ: analysis To attack deity, the scribe would have to leave out ‘Lord’ and ‘Christ’ consistently To attack deity, the scribe would have to leave out ‘Lord’ and ‘Christ’ consistently Reality: The deleted words are random, no consistency Reality: The deleted words are random, no consistency

Names of Christ: explanation Shorter readings usually correct – expanded by “expansion of piety” Shorter readings usually correct – expanded by “expansion of piety” Scribe devoted to Christ Scribe devoted to Christ As he works, he hears or sees “Lord Jesus” and writes “Lord Jesus Christ” As he works, he hears or sees “Lord Jesus” and writes “Lord Jesus Christ” Or he has two varying mss. to work from: includes all terms to avoid a mistake Or he has two varying mss. to work from: includes all terms to avoid a mistake –Ms. 1 “Lord Jesus” and Ms. 2 “Jesus Christ”

Names of Christ: conclusions This is particular question is “straining at gnats” – not a significant issue This is particular question is “straining at gnats” – not a significant issue If the ‘names of Christ’ issue were real, the perpetrator did a very bad job If the ‘names of Christ’ issue were real, the perpetrator did a very bad job In some cases a name might have been lost accidentally, but doubtful and very difficult to be sure which reading is correct in every case. In some cases a name might have been lost accidentally, but doubtful and very difficult to be sure which reading is correct in every case.

Key passages: deity – Jn 1.18 NIV John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. ESV John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. NAU John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. KJV John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Key passages: deity – Rm 9.5 NIV Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. ESV Romans 9:5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. NAU Romans 9:5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. KJV Romans 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Key passages: deity – Phil NIV Philippians 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ESV Philippians 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. NAU Philippians 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. KJV Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Key passages: deity – Col 2.9 NIV Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ESV Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, NAU Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, KJV Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Key passages: deity – 1 Tim 3.16 NIV 1 Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. ESV 1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. NAU 1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. KJV 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Notes: 1 Tim 3.16 Variant: KJV reading well attested here, and preferable Variant: KJV reading well attested here, and preferable How did variant come about? How did variant come about? –Uncial texts sometimes abbreviated the words for God and Jesus –God abbreviated thus: QS with a line above it to indicate an abbreviation –The word translated “He who” looks like this in uncial form: OS –The uncials were written on animal hides, which often had tiny flaws and lines in them. A scribe could well have taken the line in the middle of the Q to be a scratch in the hide, as well as the line above the abbreviation Greek texts behind modern versions have “he who” Greek texts behind modern versions have “he who”

Key passages: deity – Titus 2.13 NIV Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ESV Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, NAU Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, KJV Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Key passages: deity – 2 Pt 1.1 NIV 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: ESV 2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: NAU 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: KJV 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: