Textual variants in the Gospel of John

Last updated

Textual variants in the Gospel of John are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Contents

Origen, writing in the 3rd century, was one of the first who made remarks about differences between manuscripts of texts that were eventually collected as the New Testament. In John 1:28, he preferred "Bethabara" over "Bethany" as the location where John was baptizing (Commentary on John VI.40 (24)). "Gergeza" was preferred over "Geraza" or "Gadara" (Commentary on John VI.40 (24) see Matthew 8:28).

Some common alterations include the deletion, rearrangement, repetition, or replacement of one or more words when the copyist's eye returns to a similar word in the wrong location of the original text. If their eye skips to an earlier word, they may create a repetition (error of dittography). If their eye skips to a later word, they may create an omission. They may resort to performing a rearranging of words to retain the overall meaning without compromising the context. In other instances, the copyist may add text from memory from a similar or parallel text in another location. Otherwise, they may also replace some text of the original with an alternative reading. Spellings occasionally change. Synonyms may be substituted. A pronoun may be changed into a proper noun (such as "he said" becoming "Jesus said"). John Mill's 1707 Greek New Testament was estimated to contain some 30,000 variants in its accompanying textual apparatus [1] which was based on "nearly 100 [Greek] manuscripts." [2] Peter J. Gurry puts the number of non-spelling variants among New Testament manuscripts around 500,000, though he acknowledges his estimate is higher than all previous ones. [3]

Legend

A guide to the sigla (symbols and abbreviations) most frequently used in the body of this article. [4] [5]

General sigla
# beginning with 0: uncial
# not beginning with 0: minuscule
* superscript: original reading
c superscript: scribal correction
ms superscript: individual manuscript
mss superscript: multiple manuscripts
pt superscript: partial attestation
vid superscript: uncertain reading
arab: Arabic versions
arm: Armenian versions
𝔐 orByz: Byzantine text-type
cop: Coptic versions
sa: Sahidic version
bo: Boharic version
eth: Ethiopic versions
ƒ: Greek manuscripts family
geo: Georgian versions
goth: Gothic versions
it: Italic/Vetus Latina
lat: most Italic and Vulgate
latt: all Italic and Vulgate
𝔓: papyrus
𝑙: individually numbered lectionary
Lect: most or all numbered lectionaries
parenthesized (): approximate reading
rell: all other extant manuscripts
slav: Slavic versions
syr: Syriac versions
vg: Latin Vulgate
ς: Textus Receptus
Uncial sigla
א: Codex Sinaiticus (01)
A: Codex Alexandrinus (02)
B: Codex Vaticanus (03)
C: Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (04)
Dea: Codex Bezae (05)
Dp: Codex Claromontanus (06)
Ke: Codex Cyprius (017)
Kap: Codex Mosquensis I (018)
Le: Codex Regius (New Testament) (019)
Lap: Codex Angelicus (020)
Papr: Codex Porphyrianus (025)
S: Codex Vaticanus 354 (028)
V: Codex Mosquensis II (031)
W: Codex Washingtonianus (032)
Z: Codex Dublinensis (035)
Γ: Codex Tischendorfianus IV (036)
Δ: Codex Sangallensis 48 (037)
Θ: Codex Koridethi (038)
Ξ: Codex Zacynthius (040)
Π: Codex Petropolitanus (New Testament) (041)
Φ: Codex Beratinus (043)
Ψ: Codex Athous Lavrensis (044)
Ω: Codex Athous Dionysiou (045)
ff1: Codex Corbeiensis I
ff2: Codex Corbeiensis II
g1: Codex Sangermanensis I
k: Codex Bobiensis
Critical editions
T8th: Tischendorf's 8th Edition of Editio Octava Critica Maior
WH: Westcott and Hort (1881)
NA: Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle–Aland)
UBS: United Bible Societies
ECM: Editio Critica Maior

Textual variants

Textual variants in the Gospel of John


5Textual variants in John 1
Codex Bezae, text of John 1:1-16 Codex Bezae 0202a.JPG
Codex Bezae, text of John 1:1-16

John 1:4

εν αυτῳ ζωη εστιν (in him is life) – א D it vgmss Irenaeuslat Heracleon Clement pt Origen pt
text omitted – Wsupp
εν αυτῳ ζωη ῃν (in him was life) – All other mss. (rell)

John 1:18

ο μονογενης υιος (the only-begotten son) – A C3 K X Δ Θ Π 063 0234 f1,13 28 565 700 892 1009 1010 1071 1079 1195 1216 1230 1241 1242 1253 1344 1365 1546 1646 2148 Byz, syrc Georgian mss. of Adysh (9th century)
ο μονογενης θεος (the only-begotten God) – 𝔓75 אc 33 copbo
μονογενης θεος (God [the] only-begotten) – 𝔓66 א* B C* L
ⲠⲚⲞⲨⲦⲈ ⲠϢⲎⲢⲈ ⲚⲞⲨⲰⲦ (only children God) – copsa

John 1:28

εν Βηθανιᾳ εγενετο – 𝔓59 vid, 𝔓75 , A, B, C,*, L, Wsupp, X, Δ, Θ, Ψ, 063, 28, 565, 700, 892*, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1195, 1216, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365*, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it, vg, syr
εγενετο εν Βηθανιᾳ – 𝔓66 , א*, ita, b, e, r1, copsa
εν Βηθαβαρᾳ εγενετο – C2, K, Ψ, 083, 0113, f1, f13, 33, 1079, 1230, 1365c, 1546, 1646c, and Byz
εν Βηθαραβᾳ εγενετο – 892, syrhmg, Origen
εγενετο εν Βηθαραβᾳ – א2

John 1:30

υπερ – 𝔓5 , 𝔓66 , 𝔓75 , א* B C* Wsupp
περι – א2 A C3 L Θ, Ψ, 063, 0101 f1 f13 Byz

John 1:34

ο εκλεκτος (the Elect One) – 𝔓5 𝔓106 vid 187 218 228 1784 itb*, e, ff2 syrs, c Ambrose Augustine
ο εκλεκτος του υιος (the elect Son) – ita,ff2c syrpalmss copsa
ο υιος (the Son) – rell

1Textual variants in John 2

John 2:3

οινον ουκ ειχον οτι συνετελεσθη ο οινος του γαμου, ειτα (they did not have wine because the wine of the wedding reception was finished, then) – א* itmss syrhmg
υστερησαντος οινου (they were running short of wine) – rell

3Textual variants in John 3

John 3:12

πιστευετε (ye believe) – 𝔓75 050 083 579 itaur,ff2,l vgmss cobomss
πιστευσετε (ye will believe) – rell

John 3:16

υιον – 𝔓66 𝔓75 א* B Wsupp
υιον αυτου – rell

John 3:20

τα εργα αυτου – א B Δ 050 063 083 086 28 700 1230 1242c 1253 1365 2148 Byz mss it copfay arm geo
αυτου τα εργα – 𝔓75 , A, K, Wsupp, Π, f1, 565, 892*, 1079, 1546,
τα εργα αυτου οτι πονηρα εστιν – 𝔓66 Θ f13 33 1009 1010 1071 1195 1216 1242* 1344 1646 2174 itr1 copsa,bo,ach2
τα εργα αυτου πονηρα εστιν οτι – L
τα εργα αυτου οτι πονηρα εισιν – Ψ
αυτου τα εργα οτι πονηρα εισιν – 892mg 1241

5Textual variants in John 4

John 4:9

ου γαρ συγχρωνται Ιουδαιοι Σαμαριταις (for Jews have no association with Samaritans) omitted by א* D ita,b,d, e, j copfay

John 4:37

Verse omitted in 𝔓75

John 4:42

ο χριστος (the Christ) – A C3 D L Xsupp Δ Θ Ψ 0141 f1,13 33 565 579 1071 Byz itmss syrp,h copbomss
text omitted – 𝔓66 𝔓75 א B C* Wsupp 083vidmss itmss vg syrc copsa,bomss arm Irenaeuslat Origen

John 4:46

ο Ιησους (Jesus) – A Θ Ψ f1,13 Byz itmss syrp,h copbomss
text omitted – 𝔓66 𝔓75 א B C* Wsupp 086 33 1241 itmss vg syrc copsa,bomss

John 4:53

text ο Ιησους omitted – א* N*
ο Ιησους (Jesus) – rell

2Textual variants in John 5

John 5:2

βηθζαθα – א 33 b 1 ff2
βηλζεθα – D a r1
βηζαθα – L e
βηθεσδα – A C Byz f q TR
βησθεσδα – N
βηθσαιδα – 𝔓75 B W 0125 aur c vg bo
βηδσαιδα – 𝔓66 sa

John 5:4

Verse omitted by 𝔓66 𝔓75 א B C* D T Wsupp 0141 33 157 821 2718 itmss vgmss syrc co arm geo

2Textual variants in John 6

John 6:1

της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας της Τιβεριαδος – א A B K L W Δ Π Ψ 063 f1,13 28 33 565
της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας – 𝔓66 1546
της θαλασσης της Τιβεριαδος – 0210 1242 1344 2174 184
της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας και της Τιβεριαδος – V itf goth
της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας εις τα μερη της Τιβεριαδος – D Θ 892 1009 1230 1253

John 6:4

Verse omitted by 472

2Textual variants in John 7

John 7:1

ου γαρ ειχεν εξουσιαν (for he did not have authority) – W 196 743 ita,b,ff2l,r1 syrc Chrysostom
ου γαρ ηθελεν (for he was not wanting) – All other mss. (rell)
P lacks John 7:53-8:11 Papyrus66.jpg
𝔓 lacks John 7:53-8:11

John 7:53-8:11

Include Dea, Fe, Ge, He, Ke, M, U, Γ, Π, 047, 0233, 28, 318, 700, 892, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1344, 1365, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, lat, syrpal, Didascalia, Didymus the Blind, Jerome, Augustine, Apostolic Constitutions
Exclude א, B, 𝔓75, 𝔓66, W, T, N, Ψ, C, A, goth

1Textual variants in John 8

John 8:8

ενος εκαστου αυτων τας αμαρτιας (the sins of every one of them) – U 73 331 364 658 700 782 1592 it arm
text transposed to John 8:6 – 264

1Textual variants in John 9

John 9:35

εις τον υιον του ανθρωπου (in the Son of Man) – 𝔓66 𝔓75 א Β D W 397 itd syrs cosa
εις τον υιον του θεου (in the Son of God) – A K L X Δ Θ Ψ 070 0141 0250 f1,13 28 33 565 700 Byz mss itmss vg syrp,h,pal cobo arm goth

1Textual variants in John 10

John 10:7

η θυρα (door) – majority
ο ποιμην (shepherd) – 𝔓75 copsa copac

0Textual variants in John 11

John 11:1


1Textual variants in John 12

John 12:28

δοξασον σου το ονομα (glorify thy name) – א A C K W Δ Θ Π Ψ 0250 28 565 700 892 1009 1010 1079 1195 1216 1230 1242 1344 1365 1546 1646 2148 Byz 69 70 211 1579 1761
δοξασον μου το ονομα (glorify my name) – B
δοξασον σου τον υιον (glorify thy son) – L X f1,13 33 1071 1241 vg syh mg, copbo
δοξασον σου το ονομα εν τη δοξη η ειχον παρα σοι προ του τον κοσμον γενεσται – D itd

1Textual variants in John 13

John 13:2

Ιουδας Σιμωνος Ισκαριωτου – L Ψ 0124 1241
Ιουδα Σιμωνος απο Καρυωτου – D it(d),e

1Textual variants in John 14

John 14:14

Verse omitted by X Λ* 0141 f1 565 1009 1365 76 253 itb vgms syrs,pal arm geo Diatessaronmss

0Textual variants in John 15

John 15:1


1Textual variants in John 16
P with fragment of John 16:22-30 P. Oxy 208 John 16,22-30.jpg
𝔓 with fragment of John 16:22-30

John 16:28

εξηλθον παρα του πατρος (I came forth from the Father) omitted in D W itb,d,ff2 syrs copmss

1Textual variants in John 17

John 17:14

καθως εγω ουκ ειμι εκ του κοσμου (just as I am not of the world) omitted in 𝔓66 * D f13 it syrs

3Textual variants in John 18

John 18:5

ο παραδιδους αυτον (the one betraying him), the phrase is omitted in 𝔓66 * syrs

John 18:11

παντες γαρ οι λαβοντες μαχαιραν εν μαχαιρα απολουνται – Θ

John 18:21

ερωτας – א* A B C L W Θ Ψ 054 0250 33 1424 al
επερωτας – Dsf1f13 Byz

2Textual variants in John 19

John 19:29

υσσωπω – 𝔓66 אc A Dsupp K L X Π Ψ 054 f1 28 33 565 700 1009 1010 1071 Byz
μετα χολης και υσσωπου – Θ 892supp 1195 2174

John 19:39

μίγμα – 𝔓66 אc A Dsupp K L X Θ Π 054 f1f13 28 33 565 700 1009 1010 1071
ἕλιγμα – א* B W copbo
σμίγμα – Ψ 892supp 2174 47
σμῆγμα – 1242* 181 syrpal
malagmani – ite

2Textual variants in John 20

John 20:21

ο Ιησους (Jesus) omitted in א D L W Ψ 050 lat syrs co

John 20:31

ζωην αιωνιον (life eternal) – א C(*) D L Ψ 0100 f13 33 it vgmss syrp, h copsa,bo Irenaeuslat
ζωην (life) – rell

1Textual variants in John 21

John 21:7

οι δε ειπον δι οληϲ (τηϲ) νυκτοϲ εκοπιαϲαμεν και (κοπιαϲαντεϲ) ουδεν ελαβομεν επι δε τω ϲω ρηματι (ονοματι) βαλουμεν (and they said: we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word we will let down) – 𝔓66 , א1, Ψ, some mss of Vulgate, copbo

See also

Related Research Articles

In textual criticism of the New Testament, the Western text-type is one of the main text types. It is the predominant form of the New Testament text witnessed in the Old Latin and Syriac translations from the Greek, and also in quotations from certain 2nd and 3rd-century Christian writers, including Cyprian, Tertullian and Irenaeus. The Western text had many characteristic features, which appeared in text of the Gospels, Book of Acts, and in Pauline epistles. The Catholic epistles and the Book of Revelation probably did not have a Western form of text. It was named "Western" by Semmler (1725–1791), having originated in early centers of Christianity in the Western Roman Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codex Bezae</span> Handwritten copy of the New Testament in Greek and Latin

The Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis, designated by siglum Dea or 05, δ 5, is a bi-lingual Greek and Latin manuscript of the New Testament written in an uncial hand on parchment. It contains most of the four Gospels and Acts, with a small fragment of 3 John. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it is currently dated to the 5th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caesarean text-type</span> New Testament text type

In textual criticism of the New Testament, Caesarean text-type is the term proposed by certain scholars to denote a consistent pattern of variant readings that is claimed to be apparent in certain Koine Greek manuscripts of the four Gospels, but which is not found in any of the other commonly recognized New Testament text-types. In particular a common text-type has been proposed to be found: in the ninth/tenth century Codex Koridethi; in Codex Basilensis A. N. IV. 2 ; and in those Gospel quotations found in the third century works of Origen, which were written after he had settled in Caesarea. The early translations of the Gospels in Armenian and Georgian also appear to witness to many of the proposed characteristic Caesarean readings, as do the small group of minuscule manuscripts classed as Family 1 and Family 13. However, some text-critics, such as Kurt and Barbara Aland have disputed the existence of a Caesarean text-type.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syriac Sinaiticus</span> Manuscript of the New Testament in Old Syriac

The Syriac Sinaiticus or Codex Sinaiticus Syriacus (syrs), known also as the Sinaitic Palimpsest, of Saint Catherine's Monastery, or Old Syriac Gospels is a late-4th- or early-5th-century manuscript of 179 folios, containing a nearly complete translation of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament into Syriac, which have been overwritten by a vita (biography) of female saints and martyrs with a date corresponding to AD 697. This palimpsest is the oldest copy of the Gospels in Syriac, one of two surviving manuscripts that are conventionally dated to before the Peshitta, the standard Syriac translation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papyrus 45</span> New Testament manuscript

Papyrus 45, designated by siglum 𝔓45 in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts, is an early Greek New Testament manuscript written on papyrus, and is one of the manuscripts comprising the Chester Beatty Papyri, a group of early Christian manuscripts discovered in the 1930s, and purchased by business man and philanthropist, Alfred Chester Beatty. Beatty purchased the manuscript in the 1930s from an Egyptian book dealer, and it was subsequently published in The Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri, Descriptions and Texts of Twelve Manuscripts on Papyrus of the Greek Bible by palaeographer, biblical and classical scholar Frederic G. Kenyon in 1933. Manuscripts among the Chester Beatty Papyri have had several places of discovery associated with them, the most likely being the Faiyum in Egypt. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been dated to the early 3rd century CE. This therefore makes it the earliest example of not only the four Gospels contained in one volume, but also the Acts of the Apostles. It contains verses in fragmentary form from the texts of Matthew chapters 20–21 and 25–26; Mark chapters 4–9 and 11–12; Luke chapters 6–7 and 9–14; John chapters 4–5 and 10–11; and Acts chapters 4–17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codex Regius (New Testament)</span> 8th century Greek uncial manuscript of the 4 canonical gospels

Codex Regius, designated by siglum Le or 019, ε56, is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament written on parchment. Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it has been assigned to the 8th century. The manuscript has several gaps. Textual critic Frederick H. A. Scrivener described it as "by far the most remarkable document of its age and class."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minuscule 33</span> New Testament manuscript

Minuscule 33, δ 48 (Soden), before the French Revolution was called Codex Colbertinus 2844. It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on parchment, dated palaeographically to the 9th century. The manuscript is lacunose. It has marginalia. According to the textual critics it is one of the best minuscule manuscripts of the New Testament.

Minuscule 892, ε 1016 (Soden). It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on 353 parchment leaves. It is dated palaeografically to the 9th century.

Textual variants in the New Testament manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to the text that is being reproduced. Textual criticism of the New Testament has included study of its textual variants.

Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, two of the great uncial codices, representatives of the Alexandrian text-type, are considered excellent manuscript witnesses of the text of the New Testament. Most critical editions of the Greek New Testament give precedence to these two chief uncial manuscripts, and the majority of translations are based on their text. Nevertheless, there are many differences between these two manuscripts. A recent scientific comparative study of interest published on these two Alexandrian codices is "The Relationship between Vaticanus & Sinaiticus and the Majority Text in Galatians" by Dr. Graham G. Thomason and "THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SPLIT TEXT-TYPES FOR THE RECOVERY OF THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT" by Dr LESLIE McFALL - both are freely made available on the internet. Historically, the true character of these two Alexandrian manuscripts was quickly and thoroughly challenged by Dean John William Burgon's exhaustive analysis: "It is in fact easier to find two consecutive verses in which these two MSS differ the one from the other, than two consecutive verses in which they entirely agree."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textual variants in the Gospel of Matthew</span> Differences in New Testament manuscripts

Textual variants in the Gospel of Matthew are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Gospel of Mark are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Gospel of Luke are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Acts of the Apostles are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Epistle to the Romans are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the First Epistle to Timothy are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Epistle of James are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Textual variants in the Second Epistle of John are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced.

Textual variants in the Third Epistle of John are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

References

  1. Adam Fox, John Mill and Richard Bentley: A Study of the Textual Criticism of the New Testament 1675–1729 (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1954), pp. 105–115; John Mill, Novum Testamentum Graecum, cum lectionibus variantibus MSS (Oxford 1707)
  2. Metzger and Ehrman (2005), p.154
  3. Peter J. Gurry, "The Number of Variants in the Greek New Testament: A Proposed Estimate" New Testament Studies 62.1 (2016), p. 113
  4. Metzger, Bruce Manning; Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 54, 62–86, 102–103. ISBN   0-19-516667-1.
  5. J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Legenda tekstkritische notities". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 May 2022.

Further reading