12-30-2014, 11:56 AM
Refereeing Conflicting Greek Manuscripts, Part 3
It's a great shame that the Diatesseron isn't consulted by modern translators of the New Testament. It's an even greater shame that the original Aramaic Peshitta isn't used, while Greek translations of the original Aramaic, and conflicting Greek manuscripts, are used. The fog of confusion generated by the conflicting Greek manuscripts could be easily dispelled, were only the Aramaic Peshitta-- augmented for the 4 Gospels by the Diatesseron-- consulted.
The NIV mentions a few of the variants in Greek manuscripts, the ESV mentions more, and the HCSB mentions a lot. I'm wondering just how many Greek variants there are out there. Perhaps NT critic & ex-Christian Bart Ehrman has published a list of the variants.
After noting where the HCSB says there's a variant, I locate the corresponding passages in the Diatesseron by using a table that's in my Hope Hogg (1897) and Hamlyn Hill (1894) copies of the Diatesseron.
Diatesseron quotations are from
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf09.txt">http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf09.txt</a><!-- m -->
Doing a "control - f"/ find for say "section xxi" on that webpage can bring one quickly to a particular section.
"Younan" refers to the interlinear translation of the 4 Gospels plus Acts 1-16 present at peshitta.org, with my word order and additional transliterations and modifications, present in draft form at
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://preview.tinyurl.com/k6tvrcd">http://preview.tinyurl.com/k6tvrcd</a><!-- m -->
John 1:27 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%201%3A27&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
He is the One coming after me,[a:
Other mss add _who came before me_]
whose sandal strap I?m not worthy to untie."
The phrase "who came before me" was had as of A.D. 175, and is present in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 4:10-11
this is he who I said cometh after me
and was before me,
the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.
John 1:27 (Younan)
This is he who will come after me,
yet is before me,
that I'm not worthy to loosen the straps of his sandals."
=======================.
John 1:34 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1%3A34&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!?[a:
Other mss read _is the Chosen One of God_]
The reading "is the Son of God" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 4:41
And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.
John 1:34 (Younan)
And I saw and I testified that he is the Son of Allaha [God]."
=========================.
John 1:42 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1%3A42&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
When Jesus saw him, He said,
"You are Simon, son of John.[a: Other mss read _Simon, son of Jonah_]
You will be called Cephas" (which means "Rock").
The reading "son of Jonah" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 5:11
And Jesus looked upon him and said,
Thou art Simon, son of Jonah:
thou shalt be called Cephas.
John 1:42-43 (Younan)
and Yeshua gazed at him and said,
"You are Shimon Bar-d'Yonah [the son of Yonah].
You will be called Keepa [Rock]."
43. And on another day?.
Note also how the Greek translator supplied a definition of the Aramaic word "keepa."
============================.
John 3:13 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A13&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
No one has ascended into heaven
except the One who descended from heaven?
the Son of Man.[a:
Other mss add _who is in heaven_]
The phrase "who is in heaven" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 32:39
And no man hath ascended up into heaven,
except him that descended from heaven,
the Son of man,
which is in heaven.
John 3:13 (Younan)
And no man has ascended into heaven
except he who descended from Heaven,
the Son of Man,
he who is in Heaven.
===========================.
John 3:15 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A14-16&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in Him
will[a: Other mss add _not perish, but_] have eternal life.
16 "For God loved the world in this way:
He gave His One and Only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him
will not perish but have eternal life.
Verse 15 had "will not perish, but have eternal life" as of A.D. 175:
Diatesseron 32:40-42
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so is the Son of man to be lifted up;
so that every man who may believe in him
may not perish, but have eternal life.
God so loved the world,
that he should give his only Son;
and so every one that believeth on him
should not perish, but should have eternal life.
Verse 15 has "will not perish, but have eternal life" in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
John 3 (Younan)
14. And as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [or: desert],
thus the Son of Man is about to be lifted up,
15. (so) that everyone who believes in him
will not perish, but have life that is eternal.
16. For thus Allaha loved the world:
so as he would give His Son, Ekhadaya [THE ONE],
that whoever would believe in him
would not perish [literally: be destroyed], but would have life that is eternal.
============================.
John 3:25 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A25&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
Then a dispute arose between John?s disciples and a Jew[a: Other mss read _and the Jews_] about purification.
John?s disciples were here disputing with only 1 person as of A.D. 175, and in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 6:8-9
And there was an inquiry between one of John's disciples and one of the Jews about purifying.
John 3:25 (Younan)
And a question had arisen about purification to one of the talmida [students] of Yukhanan with a certain Yehudean.
===========================.
John 3:34 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A34&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
For God sent Him,
and He speaks God?s words,
since He[a: Other mss read _since God_] gives the Spirit without measure.
The phrase "God gives" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 17-18
And he whom God hath sent
speaketh the words of God:
God gave not the Spirit by measure.
John 3:34 (Younan)
For whoever that Allaha [God] sends,
he speaks the words of Allaha.
For it is not in measure Allaha gives the Rukha [Spirit].
============================.
John 4:1 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A1&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
When Jesus[a: Other mss read _the Lord_] knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John?.
The line mentioned "Jesus" as of A.D. 175, and this is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 6:20-21
And Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he had received many disciples, and that he was baptizing more than John?.
John 4:1 (Younan)
Now Yeshua knew that the Pharisees had heard he made many talmida and was baptizing more than Yukhanan?.
==========================.
John 4:9 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A9&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
"How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?? she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[b: Other mss omit _For Jews do not associate with Samaritans_.]
The explanatory remark about non-association was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 13-14
And that Samaritan woman said unto him, How dost thou, being a Jew, ask me to give thee to drink, while I am a Samaritan woman? (And the Jews mingle not with the Samaritans)
John 4:9 (Younan)
That Shamaritan woman said to him, "How is it (that) you are a Yehudean, and you ask from me to drink, for I'm a Shamaritan woman?"-- for the Yehudeans do not have social dealings with the Shamaritans.
=====================.
John 4:42 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A42&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
And they told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world."[a: Other mss add _the Messiah_]
The phrase "the Messiah" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 21:46
and they said to that woman, Now not because of thy saying have we believed in him: we have heard and known that this truly is the Messiah, the Saviour of the world.
John 4:42 (Younan)
and they were saying to that woman that, "From henceforth it is not because of your word that we believe in him, for we have heard and know that this is certainly the Meshikha, the Life-Giver of the world!"
It's a great shame that the Diatesseron isn't consulted by modern translators of the New Testament. It's an even greater shame that the original Aramaic Peshitta isn't used, while Greek translations of the original Aramaic, and conflicting Greek manuscripts, are used. The fog of confusion generated by the conflicting Greek manuscripts could be easily dispelled, were only the Aramaic Peshitta-- augmented for the 4 Gospels by the Diatesseron-- consulted.
The NIV mentions a few of the variants in Greek manuscripts, the ESV mentions more, and the HCSB mentions a lot. I'm wondering just how many Greek variants there are out there. Perhaps NT critic & ex-Christian Bart Ehrman has published a list of the variants.
After noting where the HCSB says there's a variant, I locate the corresponding passages in the Diatesseron by using a table that's in my Hope Hogg (1897) and Hamlyn Hill (1894) copies of the Diatesseron.
Diatesseron quotations are from
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf09.txt">http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf09.txt</a><!-- m -->
Doing a "control - f"/ find for say "section xxi" on that webpage can bring one quickly to a particular section.
"Younan" refers to the interlinear translation of the 4 Gospels plus Acts 1-16 present at peshitta.org, with my word order and additional transliterations and modifications, present in draft form at
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://preview.tinyurl.com/k6tvrcd">http://preview.tinyurl.com/k6tvrcd</a><!-- m -->
John 1:27 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%201%3A27&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
He is the One coming after me,[a:
Other mss add _who came before me_]
whose sandal strap I?m not worthy to untie."
The phrase "who came before me" was had as of A.D. 175, and is present in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 4:10-11
this is he who I said cometh after me
and was before me,
the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.
John 1:27 (Younan)
This is he who will come after me,
yet is before me,
that I'm not worthy to loosen the straps of his sandals."
=======================.
John 1:34 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1%3A34&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!?[a:
Other mss read _is the Chosen One of God_]
The reading "is the Son of God" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 4:41
And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.
John 1:34 (Younan)
And I saw and I testified that he is the Son of Allaha [God]."
=========================.
John 1:42 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1%3A42&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
When Jesus saw him, He said,
"You are Simon, son of John.[a: Other mss read _Simon, son of Jonah_]
You will be called Cephas" (which means "Rock").
The reading "son of Jonah" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 5:11
And Jesus looked upon him and said,
Thou art Simon, son of Jonah:
thou shalt be called Cephas.
John 1:42-43 (Younan)
and Yeshua gazed at him and said,
"You are Shimon Bar-d'Yonah [the son of Yonah].
You will be called Keepa [Rock]."
43. And on another day?.
Note also how the Greek translator supplied a definition of the Aramaic word "keepa."
============================.
John 3:13 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A13&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
No one has ascended into heaven
except the One who descended from heaven?
the Son of Man.[a:
Other mss add _who is in heaven_]
The phrase "who is in heaven" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 32:39
And no man hath ascended up into heaven,
except him that descended from heaven,
the Son of man,
which is in heaven.
John 3:13 (Younan)
And no man has ascended into heaven
except he who descended from Heaven,
the Son of Man,
he who is in Heaven.
===========================.
John 3:15 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A14-16&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,
so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in Him
will[a: Other mss add _not perish, but_] have eternal life.
16 "For God loved the world in this way:
He gave His One and Only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him
will not perish but have eternal life.
Verse 15 had "will not perish, but have eternal life" as of A.D. 175:
Diatesseron 32:40-42
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
so is the Son of man to be lifted up;
so that every man who may believe in him
may not perish, but have eternal life.
God so loved the world,
that he should give his only Son;
and so every one that believeth on him
should not perish, but should have eternal life.
Verse 15 has "will not perish, but have eternal life" in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
John 3 (Younan)
14. And as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [or: desert],
thus the Son of Man is about to be lifted up,
15. (so) that everyone who believes in him
will not perish, but have life that is eternal.
16. For thus Allaha loved the world:
so as he would give His Son, Ekhadaya [THE ONE],
that whoever would believe in him
would not perish [literally: be destroyed], but would have life that is eternal.
============================.
John 3:25 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A25&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
Then a dispute arose between John?s disciples and a Jew[a: Other mss read _and the Jews_] about purification.
John?s disciples were here disputing with only 1 person as of A.D. 175, and in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 6:8-9
And there was an inquiry between one of John's disciples and one of the Jews about purifying.
John 3:25 (Younan)
And a question had arisen about purification to one of the talmida [students] of Yukhanan with a certain Yehudean.
===========================.
John 3:34 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3%3A34&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
For God sent Him,
and He speaks God?s words,
since He[a: Other mss read _since God_] gives the Spirit without measure.
The phrase "God gives" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 17-18
And he whom God hath sent
speaketh the words of God:
God gave not the Spirit by measure.
John 3:34 (Younan)
For whoever that Allaha [God] sends,
he speaks the words of Allaha.
For it is not in measure Allaha gives the Rukha [Spirit].
============================.
John 4:1 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A1&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
When Jesus[a: Other mss read _the Lord_] knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John?.
The line mentioned "Jesus" as of A.D. 175, and this is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 6:20-21
And Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he had received many disciples, and that he was baptizing more than John?.
John 4:1 (Younan)
Now Yeshua knew that the Pharisees had heard he made many talmida and was baptizing more than Yukhanan?.
==========================.
John 4:9 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A9&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
"How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?? she asked Him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[b: Other mss omit _For Jews do not associate with Samaritans_.]
The explanatory remark about non-association was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 13-14
And that Samaritan woman said unto him, How dost thou, being a Jew, ask me to give thee to drink, while I am a Samaritan woman? (And the Jews mingle not with the Samaritans)
John 4:9 (Younan)
That Shamaritan woman said to him, "How is it (that) you are a Yehudean, and you ask from me to drink, for I'm a Shamaritan woman?"-- for the Yehudeans do not have social dealings with the Shamaritans.
=====================.
John 4:42 (HCSB)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A42&version=ESV;HCSB;MOUNCE;DLNT">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... OUNCE;DLNT</a><!-- m -->
And they told the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world."[a: Other mss add _the Messiah_]
The phrase "the Messiah" was had as of A.D. 175, and is in the original Aramaic of the Peshitta:
Diatesseron 21:46
and they said to that woman, Now not because of thy saying have we believed in him: we have heard and known that this truly is the Messiah, the Saviour of the world.
John 4:42 (Younan)
and they were saying to that woman that, "From henceforth it is not because of your word that we believe in him, for we have heard and know that this is certainly the Meshikha, the Life-Giver of the world!"