Overview comparison of Greek Manuscripts

 

Comparison of Greek Texts:

A general overview of major differences between the Textus Receptus (or Received Text, which is behind the KJV / NKJV) and 26th/27th editions of Novum Testamentum Graece by Nestle-Aland (used in the NASB/ESV) of the Greek New Testament.

This is not meant to be a complete listing. If you have additions you feel are significant, please contact me so I can add them to this listing.

Note: Every word in Scripture is significant and important. However, when it comes to doctrine and the understanding of what a particular verse means, these are the verses I have found that significantly vary between the manuscripts.

I trust this page will help you realize the reliability of the Scriptures of truth.

It should be stressed that no fundamental doctrine is put into question by the variants in the texts. This is remarkable, and further confirms to us the inspiration of the Scriptures.

Note: a good presentation on the reliability of the New Testament may be viewed here.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Matthew

Note: Matthew is listed in more detail based on a detailed listing of changes/omissions by the Trinitarian Bible Society (which is not in favor of the Nestle-Aland texts, so I expect they did a thorough review). This is a listing of those passages I feel to be most significant, so it is somewhat subjective, but I trust it gives the reader a better understanding of the general extent of the variations in the manuscripts. Passages where meanings did not change are not included, such as where the name Jesus is omitted but implied.

1:7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
TR Asa
NA Asaph

Asaph is used by ESV but not NASB. ESV has footnote that Asaph is probably an alternate spelling for Asa.

1:10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
TR Amon
NA Amos

Amos is used by ESV but not NASB. ESV has footnote that Amos is probably an alternate spelling for Amon.

1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
TR firstborn
NA firstborn not present
5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:
TR without a cause
NA without a cause not present

Ephesians 4:26 reminds us that there is such a thing as righteous anger.

5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present
6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
TR openly (also verses 6 and 18)
NA openly not present
6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

NASB brackets the missing text; ESV provides the missing text in a footnote.

8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
TR Jesus
NA Word Jesus not present
17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
TR let us
NA I will
17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in a footnote.

18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in a footnote. Note that a similar phrase IS in Nestle-Aland in Luke 19:10.

19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

Note that the thought not present here in Nesle-Aland IS present in Matthew 5:32. NASB places the content in brackets, ESV in a footnote.

19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God…
TR there is none good but one, that is, God:
NA There is only One who is good; (NASB)
20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

This idea is not left out of NA: it is found in Matthew 22:14.

20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

The portion not present is still found in Mark 10:38.

22:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

The portion not present is still found in Mark 10:39.

23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present
23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present.

This thought IS in NA in Mark 12:40.

24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
TR Bold text below not present.
NA But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (NASB)

neither the Son is found in TR in Mark 13:32.

26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

The words new covenant are found in 1 Corinthians 11:25 in both TR and NA.

27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

The fact that Pilate was saying Jesus was righteous is apparent even without this word, and is also demonstrated in John 19:4.

27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
TR sour wine
NA wine
27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present
Mark
7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
TR Whole verse included.
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in a footnote. The statement is included in Mark 4:23, however.

9:44,46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
TR Whole verse included
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verses in brackets, ESV in a footnote. An identical verse IS included in NA in verse 48.

11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in a footnote. The content of this verse IS in the NA in Matthew 6:15.

15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
TR Whole verse included.
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in a footnote. The idea in this verse is found in NA in Luke 22:37.

16:9-20 Now when Jesus was risen early… with signs following. Amen.
TR These verses are included.
NA I think they are included in brackets.
Luke
4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

Matthew 4:4 in NA includes the part not found here.

17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
TR Whole verse included.
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in footnote. The content of this verse is in Matthew 24:40.

23:17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
TR Whole verse included.
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in footnote. The idea of this verse is found in Matthew 27:15 and Mark 15:6.

23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
TR bold text included
NA only “Jesus” included: “And he was saying, Jesus, remember me…”
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.
TR Son
NA God
3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
TR bold words included
NA bold words not present
5:3-4 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
TR bold text included
NA NASB places verse in brackets, ESV in a footnote.
7:53-8:11 (The woman taken in adultery.)
TR Includes these verses
NA Included in brackets

ESV notes that the earliest manuscripts do not include these verses. NASB states that later mss add the story of the adulterous woman.

9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
TR God
NA Man

ESV notes some manuscripts have “Son of God.” NASB does not note the difference. “Son of God” is in keeping with the rest of John’s gospel in relation to faith (6:69, 11:27) as well as the focus of the book (20:31).

Acts
2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present
8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present

NASB places verse in brackets; ESV places in footnote.

15:34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present

NASB places verse in brackets; ESV places in footnote.

28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present.

NASB places verse in brackets; ESV places in footnote.

Romans
16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
TR Whole verse
NA Whole verse not present

NASB places verse in brackets; ESV places in footnote.

1 Corinthians
5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

“The day of the LORD” gives an implication of judgment upon the unsaved during the tribulation. “The day of the Lord Jesus” implies a saved person’s judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The fact that this refers to salvation in that day, and not from that day, seems to imply that “Jesus” is more consistent with the rest of the Scriptures.

5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

Many manuscripts do not have for us. A.T. Robertson in Word Pictures of the New Testament gives the rendering, For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ, and states, “Paul means that the Lamb was already slain on Calvary and yet you have not gotten rid of the leaven.”

15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
TR bold words included
NA bold words not present
2 Corinthians
4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
TR by Jesus
NA with Jesus
Galatians
6:17 …for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
TR the Lord Jesus
NA Jesus
Ephesians
3:9 …which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
TR bold words included
NA bold words not present

Hebrews 1:2 in NA plainly demonstrates that the Lord Jesus is Creator of the world.

5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
TR Spirit
NA Light

NASB has the Light, ESV has light

2 Thessalonians
2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
TR Christ
NA the Lord

The day of the LORD would make more sense in this context as a time linked with judgment upon the ungodly on the earth.

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.
TR God
NA He who

ESV includes in footnote: some manuscripts God

James
5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
TR save a soul
NA save his soul

A.T. Robertson (Word Pictures of the New Testament) states, “The soul of the sinner (hamartolon) won back to Christ, not the soul of the man winning him. A few MSS. have autou added (his soul), which leaves it ambiguous…”

2 Peter
1:21 but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
TR bold word included
NA bold word not present
1 John
2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
TR ye know all things.
NA you all know.
4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God….
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present
5:7-8 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

A.T. Robertson says that the bolded text is “found in no Greek MS. save two late cursives….The fact and the doctrine of the Trinity do not depend on this spurious addition.” (Word Pictures of the NT)

5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present
Revelation
1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book
TR bold text included
NA bold text not present

The same idea is found in verse 17 of NA.

22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life…
TR do His commandments
NA wash their robes
22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
TR book of life
NA tree of life

Note: I do not wish to debate the authenticity of various Scriptures. If you like to do that there are such forums out there. My desire here is to demonstrate that the differences in the manuscripts do not affect the main teaching of Scripture and are very minimal when you consider that they were hand written and copied.

Be aware that the differences between manuscripts include very minor differences, and even then represents only about 2% of the words in the Textus Receptus. A brief discussion regarding the differences may be found here.