9 Boyd Corruption Unveiled of UBS Bible

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favor of a particular reading. As Burgon argued, this principle is often illustrated in the
independent yet consentient testimony of the whole body of the cursives and the later
193
Borland, A General Introduction to the New Testament, 162.
194
Ibid.
195
John Burgon, The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels in Unholy Hands on the Bible, A-27.
196
Borland, A General Introduction to the New Testament, 162.
197
Maynard, 89.
Corruption Unveiled 81
uncials, 198 not the so-called older and better readings of the UBS4. For the most part,
the readings contained in the Textus Receptus has continuity on its side, the UBS4 does
not.
The final two tests of truth are pretty self-explanatory and deal with internal evidence
(context and reasonableness). It is rather apparent that the UBS4 likewise fails in this
area, for many of their selected readings go against overwhelming internal evidence in
favor of older and better manuscripts (e.g., Matthew 1:7,10; Luke 23:45; John 5:4; I
Thessalonians 2:7; I Timothy 3:16). Context focuses upon the surrounding passages of a
reading in a particular manuscript. In other words, if a manuscript can be shown to be
faulty in several instances in the context of a particular reading, then it is logical that
mistakes have a tendency to repeat themselves in the same or other shapes. 199
Reasonableness, on the other hand, focuses more on the grammatical, geographical,
scientific, and/or historical possibilities of a reading: If a particular reading is
grammatically, geographically, scientifically, and historically impossible, then it must not
be accepted if other readings do not present such problems. 200 For example, the UBS4
accepts a variant reading in Luke 23:45 that is a scientific impossibility. Each of the
synoptic Gospels contains the phrase �� (there was darkness) (cf.
Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44). However, Luke adds an additional phrase
regarding the sun. The Textus Receptus reads �� (and the sun
was darkened) while the UBS4 reads �� (The sun was eclipsed).
Like the UBS s faulty readings in Matthew 1:7,10, this reading implies an error in Luke s
original autograph: A solar eclipse is impossible astronomically during the full moon of
198
John Burgon, The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels in Unholy Hands on the Bible, A-32.
199
Ibid., A-34.
200
Borland, A General Introduction to the New Testament, 164.
Corruption Unveiled 82
the Passover when sun and moon are 180 degrees apart in relation to the earth. 201 Luke,
being an astute physician, would not have made such a blundering mistake. This reading
fails the test of reasonableness because it is scientifically impossible. Therefore, it needs
to be added to the long list of corrupt readings found in the UBS4 that should be
discarded.
The aforementioned seven tests of truth are valuable in trying to determine a particular
reading as opposed to the presuppositions of the UBS editors. If one applies these tests
honestly, the result will essentially be the text of the Textus Receptus. However, these
should not be applied too mechanically and without consideration of God s inspiration
and preservation. Perhaps the best way to utilize these tests is for the purpose of showing
fault in modern Greek editions such as the UBS4. When one starts to use them to
question readings in the Received Text, he begins to step on shaky ground. Picking and
choosing what should be in the Bible as the UBS editors do is equivalent to following
David Spangler who argues, The evolution of the race is for every man not to learn to
obey the law but to be the law . . . We can take all the scriptures . . . and have a jolly good
bonfire . . . Once you are the truth, you do not need it externally represented. 202 There
are readings in the Textus Receptus that do not pass every test. Nevertheless, they have
been preserved. For starters, one should try following the disparate renderings of
Colossians 2:2 with its corresponding manuscript evidence:
Colossians 2:2 (at least seven other variations besides ones listed)
�� - Byz, Dc, K, pm Lect
�� - Alephb, �, pc, syh
�� - 0208, 1908, syp
�� - A, C, itpt, sapt, bo
�� - Aleph, 048
201
Borland, Re-examining New Testament Textual-Critical Principles and Practices Used to Negate
Inerrancy, 504.
202
Russell Chandler, Understanding the New Age (London: Word Publishing, 1988), 285-286.
Corruption Unveiled 83
�� - P46, B
�� - Db, H, P, 436,1881, sapt
Such a wide range of variation can also be found in extant Greek manuscripts in passages
such as Matthew 10:3; 13:28; 15:14; Mark 12:17; Romans 6:12; I Thessalonians 3:2;
Luke 9:10; Luke 12:18; John 8:51. One might be inclined to give heed to Shirley
Maclaine s dictum We are not under the law of God. We are the law of God! Gail
Riplinger promulgates, So . . . maybe we Christians only throw in the fire several dozen
Scriptures relating to the deity of Christ or Acts 8:37 on the eunuch s salvation. These
flares may not make a bonfire, but will smolder in our spirits, searing the soul toward
God and parching our spiritual progress. 203 As James 3:5 asserts, How great a matter a
little fire kindleth. If God s words are not preserved in the Textus Receptus, then the
Almighty hid the true text in the sands of Egypt where it was not utilized until 1881.
This is hardly possible.
203
Riplinger, New Age Bible Versions, 507.
Corruption Unveiled 84
CHAPTER 8
CONCLUDING IMPLICATIONS
Having conducted a cursory analysis of the United Bible Societies Fourth Edition
Greek New Testament while pointing out the apostate editors and the numerous fallacies
that underlie the text and accompanying critical apparatus, one is forced to consider the
implications and relevance of such a study.
The UBS4 is not a Reliable New Testament in the Original Greek
First of all, it is obvious that the UBS4 is far from being a reliable New Testament
translation. Perhaps this edition could prove profitable for studying the Greek language,
but it should never be substituted for the true text of the New Testament as contained in
the Textus Receptus. To refer to the UBS4 as the Original Greek is to be strangely
misinformed, for it is a combination of many Greek texts. Also, with reference to the
critical apparatus, it can serve as a helpful evaluation of manuscript evidence, but as has
been demonstrated, the information contained therein is far from honest and oftentimes
proves to be misleading.
It is very unfortunate that the UBS4 is used in Greek classes in almost every college
and seminary in the country, for many young students are being led to believe that the
faulty reasoning and haphazard guesswork contained therein is scholarship. More weight
is given to the work of men than to the simple and eternal promises of God Almighty.
Furthermore, it is sad fact that it is possible for a student to sit through five semesters of
Greek at Liberty University and never even hear of an alternative such as the Textus
Receptus.204 It seems as if college professors are subtly leading students to believe that
204
The author himself minored in Greek at Liberty University and experienced this particular situation
first-hand.
Corruption Unveiled 85
this distorted representation of the Holy Scriptures is the New Testament in the Original
Greek.
Modern Versions of the Bible do not Contain the New Testament
This study also proves relevant with regard to modern versions of the Bible. Almost
every modern English translation (NAS, NIV, NEB, RSV, etc.) comes from a critical [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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