Bible Query – Early Manuscripts of 2 Corinthians
November 15, 2009 version
Q: In 2 Cor, what are early New
Testament manuscripts we have preserved today?
A: Here are many of them.
p46
First
half of 3rd century - 1936 - Frederic G. Kenyon according to The Complete
Text of the Earliest New Testament Manuscripts.
2nd
century, 200 A.D. - 1935 - Ulrich Wilken according to The Complete Text of
the Earliest New Testament Manuscripts.
200
A.D. - 1968 - The Text of the New Testament.
81-96
A.D. - 1988 - Young Kyu Kim according to The Complete Text of the Earliest
New Testament Manuscripts.
About
200 A.D. - 1975 - Aland et al. Third edition.
About
200 A.D. - 1998 - Aland et al. Fourth revised edition.
Early
to middle 2nd century - 1999 - The Complete Text of the Earliest New
Testament Manuscripts. This is based in part on the handwriting being very
similar to Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 8 (late first or early second century) and Papyrus
Oxyrhynchus 2337 (late first century).
p34
- 1 Cor 16:4-7; 10; 2 Cor 5:18-21; 10:13-14; 11:2,4,6-7 (7th century)
Alexandrian text.
7th
century - 1968 - The Text of the New Testament.
Vaticanus
325-350 A.D.
Sinaiticus
340-350 A.D.
Bohairic Coptic
3rd/4th century
Sahidic Coptic
3rd/4rth century
Gothic
493-555 A.D.
Ephraemi Rescriptus
5th century
Palestinian
Syriac [Syr Pal] from c.6th century
Peshitta
Syriac [Syr P] 411-435 A.D... Over 350 manuscripts.
Harclean
Syriac [Syr H] 616.A.D Thomas of Harkel
Q: In 2 Cor, what are the manuscript variations with the Textus
Receptus, the basis for the KJV?
A: Jay P. Green, Sr. in the Interlinear Bible records
variations in approximately 45 words between the Textus Receptus and the
majority text. These are in 34 places (in every chapter). In addition, he also
records approximately 5 words (3 places) of alternates.
Q: In 2 Cor, what are some of the
manuscript variations?
A: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians has a total of
4,477 Greek words in 257 verses. This is the count in both Aland et al. 3rd
edition and Aland et al. 4th revised edition, including 10 words in brackets.
You can see the text of the 3rd edition on-line at http://www.greekbible.com. 2
Corinthians has an estimated word-for-word accuracy of 98.7%, with 56
words in question. These are in 34 verses (43 places).
Below are the variations with the primary
choice and the top alternate choice. Aland et al 4th revised edition and
3rd edition, from which this primarily is based, also give a judgment of
the degree of certainty per variation. The list below does not include many
places where the evidence for a particular reading is so strong that the
alternatives are very unlikely. See the next question for which manuscripts
support which variants.
2 Cor 1:6-7 placement of words: “and salvation, whether we are comforted it is for
your comfort” (8 words)
2 Cor 1:9 “raises the dead” vs. “raised the dead” (p46, apparently Bohairic
Coptic, apparently Latin Vulgate) (1 letter different)
2 Cor 1:10
“great a “death” vs. “great a danger”
2 Cor 1:10
“and delivers” vs. “and flows”
2 Cor 1:10
“hope that even” vs. “hope even"
2 Cor 1:11
“your(plural) behalf” vs. “our behalf”
2 Cor 1:12
“simplicity” vs. “holiness”
2 Cor 1:14
“day of the Lord” vs. “day of our Lord”
2 Cor 1:15
“benefit” vs. “pleasure”
2 Cor 2:1
“for” vs. a word that adds emphasis
2 Cor 2:7
“you more” vs. “more you”
2 Cor 2:9
“if” vs. “than”
2 Cor 2:17
“like so many” vs. “like the others”
2 Cor 3:2
“your” vs. “our”
2 Cor 3:3
“heart” vs. “hearts” (1 letter)
2 Cor 3:9
“the” vs. “that” (1 letter)
2 Cor 4:5
“of Jesus” vs. “Jesus” vs. “of Christ”
2 Cor 4:10 “dying of the Lord Jesus” vs. “dying of
Jesus” (Syriac, Irenaeus in Against Heresies book 5 ch.13 p.540) (1
word)
2 Cor 4:10 “Jesus” vs. “Christ” (only in Bezae
Cantabrigiensis so 1 word not counted in the totals)
2 Cor 5:3
“take it off” vs. “put if on”
2 Cor 5:3 “being
clothed” (p46, Vaticanus, Alexandrinus, Ephraemi Rescriptus, 2nd corrector to
Claromontanus, Byzantine Lectionary) vs. “unclothed” (original Claromontanus)
(1 word not counted in the totals)
2 Cor 5:6,8
“Lord” vs. “God” (two times) (2 words not counted in the totals)
2 Cor 5:15 “he
died for all” vs. “Christ died for all” (only in Armenian and later manuscripts
so 1 word not counted in the totals)
2 Cor 5:17
“the new has come” vs. “all things new have come”
2 Cor 6:16
“temple” vs. “temples”
2 Cor 6:16
“we” vs. “you”
2 Cor 7:8
“I see for that” vs. “I see that"
2 Cor 8:7
“our love for you(plural)” vs. “your(plural) love for us” (2 words)
2 Cor 8:9 “sake of you (plural)” (p46, Sinaiticus,
Vaticanus, Claromontanus, Byzantine Lectionary) vs. “sake of us” (Ephraemi
Rescriptus) (1 word not counted in the totals)
2 Cor 8:19
“therefore” vs. “in”
2 Cor 8:19
“Lord” vs. “Lord Himself”
2 Cor 9:4
“we” vs. “I”
2 Cor 9:4
“undertaking” vs. “boasting”
2 Cor 9:12
case of “thanksgivings”
2 Cor 10:12-13
case of perceptive/wise.
2 Cor 11:3
“simplicity” vs. “purity/holiness” vs. “simplicity and purity/holiness” (2
words)
2 Cor 11:4 “different Jesus” vs. “different Christ”
(Vulgate, Armenian. The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture p.136 says
there is little doubt concerning the original text.) (1 word not counted in the
totals)
2 Cor 11:17 “Lord” vs. “God. “Lord” is in p46, Sinaiticus,
Vaticanus, Bezae Cantabrigiensis, Byzantine Lectionary, some Italic, Palatine
Syriac, Harclean Syriac, Sahidic Coptic, Bohairic Coptic, Armenian, Georgian,
Chrysostom). “God” is in some Italic. Not counted in the totals
2 Cor 11:21
“we have been week” (p46, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus) vs. “we were weak”
(Claromontanus, Byzantine Lectionary, Chrysostom)
2 Cor 11:32
“seize” vs. “in order to seize” vs. “desiring me to seize”
2 Cor 12:1
“but” vs. “should” (1 letter)
2 Cor 12:1 “I do not profit” vs. “not profitable to me”
2 Cor 12:7
“Therefore” is absent at the beginning of the verse.
2 Cor 12:7
“that I not be made proud” is absent (5 words)
2 Cor 12:9
“for power” (original Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, original Claromontanus, Sahidic
Coptic) vs. “for my power” (2nd corrector of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus,
Byzantine Lectionary, Chrysostom)
2 Cor 12:10
“and” vs. “in”
2 Cor 12:15
added “and”
2 Cor 12:15
“I love” added a letter (nu) at the end of agape. This is very similar to in
English using the word “an” instead of “a”.
2 Cor 12:19
“And do you (plural) think” (original Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Vaticanus,
Sahidic Coptic) vs. “were/since and you (plural) think” (p46) vs. “Again do you
(plural) think” (2nd corrector to Sinaiticus, Claromontanus, Byzantine
Lectionary, Chrysostom) (2 words)
2 Cor 13:4
“by God’s power to/towards you” (Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, original
Claromontanus, Byzantine Lectionary) vs. “to you by God’s power” (Vaticanus,
Chrysostom) (2 words)
2 Cor 13:4
we are weak “in Him” vs. “in ourselves” vs. “with Him” (2 words)
Some manuscripts have the postscript, “To Corinthians Second
written from Philippi of Macedonia, by/of/through/via Titus and Lucas” (11
words)
Bibliography for this question: The Greek New Testament
Third Edition by Kurt Aland et al., The Greek New Testament Fourth
Edition by Kurt Aland et al., Interlinear Greek-English New Testament by
George Ricker Berry, the Interlinear Bible by Jay P. Green, The
Expositor’s Bible Commentary volume 8, A Textual Commentary on the Greek
New Testament 2nd edition by Bruce M. Metzger, The Orthodox Corruption
of Scripture by Bart Ehrman, The Complete Text of the Earliest New
Testament Manuscripts edited by Philip W. Comfort and David P. Barrett, The
Expositor’s Greek Testament edited by W. Robertson Nicoll, and footnotes in
the NASB, NIV, NKJV, and NRSV Bible translations. Manuscripts of the Greek
Bible : An Introduction to Paleography by Bruce M. Metzger also has
interesting information on the characteristics and quality of the copying of
each manuscript.
A: The table below shows each of the places in question, and
the number says which variant is in each manuscript.
|
Place |
words |
p46 |
Si |
A |
B |
C |
D |
Sah |
Boh |
Fay |
Iren |
Clem A |
Origen |
Cyp |
Ital b |
Ital d |
Hilary |
Lucif. |
Vulgate |
Pelag |
Eth |
Chrys |
Byz |
Arm |
Geo |
Syr Pal |
Syr P |
Syr H |
|
2 Cor 1:6-7 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
- |
- |
|
- |
(1) |
4 |
4 |
(1) |
4 |
- |
(1) |
- |
|
2 Cor 1:9 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 Cor 1:10a |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
1 |
2 |
- |
3 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
3 |
1 |
1/3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 1:10b |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
- |
1/ 2 |
- |
3 |
3 |
- |
- |
|
3A |
3 |
2/3 |
2 |
1 |
|
- |
3 |
- |
|
2 Cor 1:10c |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
- |
1/ 4 |
- |
4 |
4 |
- |
- |
|
4 |
(3) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
- |
(1) |
4 |
|
2 Cor 1:11 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1/ 2 |
1 |
1/ 2 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 1:12 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
- |
- |
2 |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
1/ 2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 1:14 |
1 |
- |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1/ 2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 1:15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 2:1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
1/3 |
1/3 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 2:7 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
(1) |
3 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 2:9 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
(2) |
1 |
- |
- |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 2:17 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
1/ 2 |
2 |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 3:2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 3:3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
(2) |
(2) |
|
- |
|
1/ 2 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
- |
|
2 |
(2) |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
(2) |
(2) |
(1) |
|
2 Cor 3:9 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
- |
- |
|
- |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 4:5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1? |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
2/3/4 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
4 |
2 |
|
- |
|
2 |
(1) |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2/3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 4:14 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
|
1 |
1 |
4 |
1/ 4 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
4 |
1 |
1/ 4 |
1 |
4 |
1/3 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 5:3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
3 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1/3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 Cor 5:17 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
(2)/3 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
2/3 |
2 |
1/3 |
1 |
(1) |
2 |
|
2 Cor 6:16 (both) |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1/ 3 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
3/ 4 |
3 |
2/3 |
1 |
(3) |
3 |
|
2 Cor 7:8 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
2 |
2 |
|
- |
|
3 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 8:7 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
- |
|
2 |
2 |
(2) |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 8:9 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 18:19a |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
- |
|
- |
|
3A |
3A |
|
- |
|
3A |
2 |
|
|
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 8:19b |
1 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 9:4a |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
1/ 2 |
2 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
- |
1 |
|
- |
|
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 9:4b |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
(2) |
2 |
2 |
1/ 2 |
|
(2) |
2 |
|
2 Cor 10:12-13 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
|
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
5 |
5 |
|
- |
|
4 |
|
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 11:3 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
2? |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
3 |
|
- |
2 |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 11:17 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1/ 2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 11:21 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
- |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
(1) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 Cor 11:32 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
2 Cor 12:1a |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
4 |
1/3 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
4 |
3 |
2 |
1/ 2 |
1 |
4 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 12:1b |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
4 |
4 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
4 |
4 |
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
2 Cor 12:7a |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
- |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
2 Cor 12:7b |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
1/ 2 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
- |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 12:9 |
1 |
1? |
|
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
1/ 2 |
|
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 12:10 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
- |
|
- |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 12:15a |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
3A |
|
- |
|
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1/ 2 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
2 Cor 12:15b |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
(2) |
(2) |
|
- |
- |
|
2 Cor 12:19 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
2 Cor 13:4a |
2 |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
2 Cor 13:4b |
2 |
1? |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
- |
|
1 |
1 |
|
- |
|
1 |
|
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
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1 |
1 |
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Postscript |
11 |
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Place |
words |
p46 |
Si |
A |
B |
C |
D |
Sah |
Boh |
Fay |
Iren |
Clem A |
Origen |
Cyp |
Ital b |
Ital d |
Hilary |
Lucif. |
Vulgate |
Pelag |
Eth |
Chrys |
Byz |
Arm |
Geo |
Pal Syr |
P Syr |
H Syr |