True and most helpful, but the doctrine of perfect preservation is affected by variants if not one of them is the original. It’s easy to argue this teaching is found in Ps.12.6 for example.
In addition of the tiny handful of ‘viable and meaningful’ variants, a few of the altered texts do have significant doctrinal weight, the ‘only begotten god’ in Jn 1.18, in the reputable NASB and others is highly heterodox, to the point of heresy. There is little doubt too that heretics did do their work in corrupting the scriptures in Paul’s time – he testifies and warns of it and subsequently. Care in the use of a careful and accurate translation is most important for spiritual health – my conviction is that the TR is better preserved than the Majority Text, and as for the Aleph MSS, Codex SInaiticus, foundational to Westcott and Hort’s RV and its progeny versions, it is its own witness to its degeneracy, despite a venerable age. Many have well said it was no surprise it was found in a waste paper basket.
Some of the manuscripts Dr Wallace has photographed can be viewed here: http://www.csntm.org/manuscript
True and most helpful, but the doctrine of perfect preservation is affected by variants if not one of them is the original. It’s easy to argue this teaching is found in Ps.12.6 for example.
In addition of the tiny handful of ‘viable and meaningful’ variants, a few of the altered texts do have significant doctrinal weight, the ‘only begotten god’ in Jn 1.18, in the reputable NASB and others is highly heterodox, to the point of heresy. There is little doubt too that heretics did do their work in corrupting the scriptures in Paul’s time – he testifies and warns of it and subsequently. Care in the use of a careful and accurate translation is most important for spiritual health – my conviction is that the TR is better preserved than the Majority Text, and as for the Aleph MSS, Codex SInaiticus, foundational to Westcott and Hort’s RV and its progeny versions, it is its own witness to its degeneracy, despite a venerable age. Many have well said it was no surprise it was found in a waste paper basket.