That was an interesting (and irenic!) presentation of the data by Dr. White. A few comments by me:
Kevin James, in his excellent book,
The Corruption of the Word: The Failure of Modern New Testament Scholarship (Micro-Load Press 1990; ISBN: 0962442003), has a brief section on Col 1:14. He says,
Some manuscripts and the modern versions omit “through his blood.” This is a supposed addition made to harmonize 1:14 with Ephesians 1:7 where the same words appear. Because there is no law that says Paul cannot repeat himself in a letter to a different destination, it could also be an erroneous omission.
The King James finds support from 76, 221, and 1611, some Latin Vulgates, one Syriac version, and the early Christian writer Irenaeus. Manuscripts 222, 440, and 0142, Aleph and codex B, and some Latin Vulgates omit the words. (pp. 224, 225)
When I checked the reference to Irenaeus [A.D. 120-202] (in
Against Heresies, Book V, Chap. II, 2), the epistle the verse was cited from wasn’t noted by Irenaeus, though I assume the editor’s footnote citing Col 1:14 was due to Colossians having
amartiwn sins (as written by Irenaeus) instead of Ephesians’
paraptwmatwn trespasses. (I don’t have Irenaeus’ work in Greek.)
I note that the OPC’s
The Confession of Faith and Catechisms (2005), in the LC 97 footnote w, Col 1:12-14 is cited as per the AV.
Dr. Thomas Holland, in his excellent
Crowned With Glory: The Bible from Ancient Text to Authorized Version, p. 219, asks the questions,
Quote:
First, why would the phrase be found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and not in his letter to the Colossians? Second, how is it possible to have redemption without divine payment for that redemption? Clearly the phrase should remain in regard to this doctrine. The Greek manuscripts are evenly divided as to its inclusion or omission. This can be demonstrated with the two editions of the Majority Text.*
Footnote:
*Zane C. Hodges and Arthur L. Farstad, eds., The Greek New Testament According to the Majority Text (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), 605. The critical apparatus of this edition of the Majority Text shows that the phrase, dia tou aimatos autou (through his blood) is found in about half of the Byzantine manuscripts consulted. However, the phrase is found in the Greek text of The New Testament in the Original Greek according to the Byzantine/Majority Textform, (Original Word Publishers, 1991) by Maurice A. Robinson, William G. Pierpont, and William David McBrayer. Therefore, it is more likely to be the majority reading and should be maintained in the text.
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In Robinson & Pierpont’s work, the phrase in question is in brackets. But these are not like the brackets of the modern versions! This is what they say (pp. xlix, l):
Quote:
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From time to time certain works will be found enclosed in square brackets [ ]. This indicates that at such a point the Byzantine/Majority manuscripts (or, in the Revelation, the An and Q texts) are divided, and it is questionable whether the words in brackets should or should not be considered part of the autograph text…[footnote: …Almost all bracketed readings from Matthew-Jude, however, fall into the category of nearly equally-divided support (60% or less for the main text).
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In post #1 of the
Answering Alan Kurschner of aomin thread, when responding to Kurschner’s reason number 1, I discuss why the “Majority Text” is not necessarily the true majority, seeing as most of the Byzantine-type manuscripts have been suppressed prejudicially and the
real majority is not known.
An internal consideration of great importance, one that Dr. Holland touched on above: note the verse in both AV and MV (modern versions):
AV: In whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins [‘even’ supplied by AV translators]
MV: In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins
Redemption is not the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness of sins results from redemption, which is the redeeming/purchasing of our souls by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; 1Pet 1:18, 19; Eph 1:14, etc). There is an empty space in the MV’s meaning.
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Jason,
I hope this answers your question. Or at least brings a balance to the scale, for better discernment. If you keep listening to CT/ET advocates – such as Dr. White – you will continually be seeking to discern what is the truth behind the literally
hundreds – no
thousands! – of variant readings, and it will never end.
As for myself, I really can’t be coming to the defense of these hundreds and thousands of problem areas the CT introduces into our Bibles, as I have souls and lives to take care of, some of which are in real danger. In some of my fuller threads (Answering Alan Kurschner, What is the authentic New Testament text?, etc) I give lists of books and articles (a good number of them available online) which help the serious inquirer to find a paradigm which explains the disparities of views and enables one to come to an intelligent understanding – and defense of – the Bible God preserved for His people. I have sought to cover a multitude of bases, and to give a wide regimen of pertinent readings.
In a school situation (I realize this is not such), a teacher is not expected to do all the legwork for his students, but to primarily open doors / vistas and show those desirous to learn how to continue learning and what are fruitful directions to take.
I much appreciate your hunger to know, and sympathize with your perplexity at contradictory statements regarding that most precious of possessions: the word of our Savior and God. At some point you are going to have to come to a place of decision, for we must take a stand or be tossed about in the winds of deceit and confusion – both sides of this contest (and there are basically only two) cannot be right, at least one has to be false.
A list of books can be found here:
http://www.puritanboard.com/313024-post29.html
A book not on that list is Jack Moorman’s,
Hodges/Farstad 'Majority' Text Refuted By Evidence (also titled
When the King James Departs from the “Majority Text”, and is available from Bible for Today. This book deals with the TR–Majority Text differences – an excellent resource.
I have told the Lord that when it comes to caring for souls or writing (such as here), the former will be my priority. I will be praying that you come to clarity on these things that so interest you.
Steve