Many criticize the Byzantine Text because of its smoothness over and against the Alexandrian Text which is not nearly as smooth in its Greek renderings. These critics claim that the smoothness is proof of an editing process to refine the language. Here is my take on that issue and a couple of other issues surrounding the textual debate...
One of the reasons the Byzantine Text reads smoother is because it was transcribed by those who knew the Greek language.
There’s evidence that some Alexandrian manuscripts were copied by scribes who weren’t well learned in the source language, but rather copied syllable by syllable or letter by letter. For instance, P66 seems to have been produced by a scribe who didn’t know Greek because of the simple mistakes that any Greek reader would have detected. P75 has similar issues pointing to a non-Greek scribe.
You don't have that issue in Byzantium since they kept the Greek language long after the Alexandrian and Western Church. The point being that Byzantium would have been better fit for having scribes who were well adept in the Greek language.
Consider that before 200 A.D. those areas that spoke Latin stopped using Greek, though Byzantium kept the language alive. Aland speaks of this fact in - K. and B. Aland, The Text of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981), pp. 52-53
And not only did the Byzantine Text become a predominant text, it also became a more uniformed text.
Generally speaking, as texts move further from their source in time and distance they become more and more divergent. How then could the manuscripts become more and more uniform as they moved past the 4th century, and the Byzantine Text-type began to take predominance? If it was not based on an early exemplar one would expect to find more divergence as time passed and as the regions that it was found in expanded. But we find quite the opposite. We actually find that, though time from the exemplars increased and the territories that it was found in spread, the text became more uniform. This would at least hint to an early exemplar(s) that the different regions began to go back to after the church was settled from much persecution.
Though the preservation of Scripture is “providential” and not “miraculous” in nature…none the less, it is a preservation that keeps the original language text “pure in all ages.”
We know from history that the Alexandrian Greek text was not promulgated after the Muslims took over the region those texts were found in.
Further, the Western Church did not promulgate the Greek text since Latin was its official language, and the Vulgate became its official version.
The Eastern Church was not affected by the Muslims until much later than the Alexandrian region, nor was its official language any other than Greek. Therefore, the Eastern Church was, in fact, the only Church that kept the Greek text preserved up until around the time of the Reformation.
Can't we look at this historical evidence and come to the conclusion that it was only Byzantium that kept the Greek text preserved since these other two regions neglected the Greek text in toto?
2010-04-30
2010-04-28
A Sobering Video...
Idol Worship is placing anything thing before God... Think about what you do on the Lord's Day...
Watch this one and a half minute video: Idol Worship - The Skit Guys
Watch this one and a half minute video: Idol Worship - The Skit Guys
Your brother and servant in Christ,
Joshua Morrison
Joshua Morrison
Owner/Contributor of The Reformation Underground
Student of The North American Reformed Seminary
Student of The North American Reformed Seminary
Member of The Westminster Fellowship
Clearly and Unequivocally Proclaiming What It Means To Be Reformed Christians
Clearly and Unequivocally Proclaiming What It Means To Be Reformed Christians
- C.A.R.M. - C.R.T.A. - Monergism - Theopedia - SermonAudio - Wretched Radio - Pirate Christian Radio -
2010-04-05
The Old Gray Dog Ponders. . . Why Was Jesus Resurrected?
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in
Luke 24: 1-7
One word of truth outweighs the whole world.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the essential tenets of Christianity. The New Testament teaches the certainty of our Savior's literal, physical resurrection as a matter of historical fact. All four Gospels authenticate this event by offering the many witnesses of the empty tomb and Jesus' resurrection appearances. Immediately following the resurrection, in
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Acts 1: 1-3
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Act
But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
Acts 3: 14-15
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Acts 4: 8-10
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to
Acts 5: 30-32
If there was one person at any of these gatherings who could disprove the apostles' witness they would have done so. But neither the street crowds, nor the legal proceedings could produce one person to refute the fact that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
I Cor. 15: 3-8
Paul considered the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ to be indisputable proof that the Gospel was true.
The Two-fold Meaning of the Resurrection
Validation of Limited, Substitutionary Atonement
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
"O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
I Cor. 15: 50-58
Jesus' resurrection demonstrated His victory over death, vindicated Him as righteous, and confirmed His divinity. The historical event led to His ascension, enthronement and present Heavenly reign. The reality of the resurrection guarantees the saints' forgiveness, justification, and eternal security.
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Heb. 7: 25
Not through any merit of our own, but solely through the merit of Christ's perfect sacrifice for His sheep, every believer can know they are going to Heaven.
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14: 1-3
Because He lives, we shall live forever!
From Judgment to Glory
Christ's resurrection moves the focus from divine judgment on the total depravity of this present age to the glorious promise of the future. Jesus rose from the grave so that He might be glorified and reign forever.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Phil 3: 20-21
Because Christ is resurrected, we have become citizens of His Heavenly kingdom.
But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Heb. 7: 24-25
Though sin continues to ensnare us in this life, the risen Christ makes intercession for us.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Rom.
Because of the resurrection, we do not have to face life's trials and temptations on our own. We are empowered by the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. To suggest that God expects us to exercise "free will" when confronted with life's challenges would be to negate the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom. 6: 4
We live in newness of life even as Jesus does.
Make no mistake about it, Christ's resurrection is just as essential to our salvation as His limited, substitutionary atonement on the Cross.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
"O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Cor. 15: 42-57
It is by union with His resurrection that our mortal bodies are made imperishable and fit our eternal estate in Heaven.
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
I Cor. 15: 12-19
Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our faith would be in vain. We would still be dead in our sins; we would still be under God's righteous judgment; we would be still be barred from Heaven. Please, don't let anyone try to tell you that the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ isn't important.
God sent His Son - they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory - and I'll know He lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Bill Gaither
Glory be to Thee, O Heavenly Father,
who didst raise up Thy Son from the dead and made us partakers of His victory
over sin and death.
Glory be to Thee, O Christ,
who for us and our salvation has overcome death
and opened to us the gate of eternal life.
Glory be to Thee, O Holy Spirit,
who dost lead us into all truth as it is in the risen Christ.
Praise be to Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God,
Who brings life and immortality to light through Thy Gospel!
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen
Blessed are the saints who are equipped with the sound doctrines of TULIP!
The Old Gray Dog
Jim Tuckett
The Westminster Fellowship
Clearly and Unequivocally Proclaiming What It Means To Be Reformed Christians http://www.westminsterfellowship.org
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