THE following words and phrases are rejected from the original text by Griesbach, and many of them by other eminent critics and collators of ancient manuscripts.

      Many of the these interpolations and spurious readings have crept into the text by the remissness of transcribers. Few of them could have been inserted from any design to favor any private opinions. In the historical books, many of them are taken from the other historians. The copyists of Matthew sometimes adding from his recollections words from Mark, or Luke, or John; and in like manner, in transcribing parallel passages in the others, added from Matthew, &c.

      The marginal readings, which were at first (like our supplements) for explanation, in process of time became the fruitful source of interpolation, being frequently transplanted into the text. The devotion of the transcriber sometimes added an "Amen," and "For thine is the kingdom," &c. And thus, [29] without any evil intention, many spurious readings have crept into the text. Some few, however, appear to have been the result of design. After the Arian heresy enlisted the passions of the belligerents in the war of orthodoxy, there appears to be some ground for ascribing to the pride and jealousy of the polemics, a design to foist into the text some words favorable to their distinguishing tenets. Some of these were soon detected, and others have continued for many generations. The Greek text now in use has already undergone several purgations; and it is now generally admitted that Griesbach, Michaelis, Tholuc, (to say nothing of Mill and Wetstein,) and their contemporaries, have left little or nothing of this sort for those who succeed them.

      The reader will see, without any suggestion from us, how little the faith of Christians is jeopardizing by all the interpolations now rejected from the common text. No fact, no cardinal truth of Christianity is in the least affected, admitting every word found in the following table to be rejected with the unanimous concurrence of all Christendom. Some, indeed, appear to be rejected without a very overwhelming authority; but all, I think, have more than a bare majority of votes regarding both number and character, against their standing in the text.

      Arranged as they appear in the following table, the reader will be able to survey the whole array of them, without any other emotion than that of wonder how, in 2000 years, so few interpolations are now found in the sacred writings, so often transcribed, and by so many hands, when the classics of Greece and Rome yet afford so many.

      But it may be gratifying to the student of this volume to have a single extract from Michaelis on this subject:--

      "The various readings in our manuscripts of the New Testament have been occasioned by one of the five following causes:--

      "1. The omission, addition, or exchange of letters, syllables, or words, from the mere carelessness of the transcribers.

      "2. Mistakes of the transcribers in regard to the true text of the original.

      "3. Errors or imperfections in the ancient manuscript from which the transcriber copied.

      "4. Critical conjecture, or intended improvements of the original text.

      "5. Wilful corruptions to serve the purposes of a party, whether orthodox or heterodox.

      "To the last cause alone, I apply the word corruption; for though every text deviates from original purity, may so far be said to be corrupted; yet as the term is somewhat invidious, it is unjust to apply it to innocent or accidental alterations."

      Passing over his very interesting illustrations of the first four causes, we shall make an extract or two from what he says under the fifth cause. After referring to the attempted corruptions of the text by the early heretics, Marcion, Lucian, Tatian, Asclepiodotus, Hermophilus, Appollonius, Hesychius, he observes--

      "Of all the sects into which the Christian church has been divided, none have had it in their power to alter the New Testament in a higher degree than the Arians, because they were more than once the ruling party. They have been accused of the most violent corruptions of the sacred text; but though it cannot be denied, that when in power they were as much inclined to persecution as the orthodox themselves; yet the crime of corruption has never been proved in a single instance. They are charged by the ancient fathers of having erased a passage found in the old Latin Version of John's gospel, 'quia Deus Spiritus est,' ch. iii. 6. Now at least one half of the assertion is false, as appears from Blanchini Evangeliarium quadruplex; but admitting the whole to be true, the orthodox convict themselves of error; and not the Arians; for every man acquainted with the criticism of the New Testament, knows that these words are spurious, unless the Latin version is better authority than the [30] Greek original. We have no reason, therefore, to suppose that the celebrated passage in the first epistle of John, which is universally omitted in the old Greek manuscripts, was erased by the fraud of the Arians; and those who support the argument, contradict the accounts of their own party, who relate that when Huneric, king of the Vandals in Africa, made his confession of faith, the true believers appealed to this passage in the Latin version, and that the Arians made no objection.

      ----"Though no advocate for heresy, I candidly confess that the orthodox themselves have been guilty of the charge which they have laid to others; nor do I confine this assertion to those who have assumed the title without deserving it, but extend it even to such as have even taught the pure and genuine doctrines of the Bible. The hope of acquiring an additional proof of some established doctrine, or of depriving an adversary of some argument in his favor, may seduce even a true believer to the commission of a pious fraud. Or blinded by prejudice, and bound by the fetters of a theological system, he finds his favorite doctrine in every line; he expounds, therefore, not by reason, but by system; his explanations acquire the form of marginal notes, and these marginal notes are at length obtruded on the text. The words oude o uios, Mark xiii. 32. were thought to afford an argument against the divinity of Christ; Ambrose, therefore, was of opinion that they ought to be erased, and says that they were omitted in the old Greek manuscripts. I will not positively affirm that Ambrose was guilty of falsehood, but this at least is certain, that no manuscript exists at present, in which they are not found. But admitting the pious father to have spoke the truth, and that he had actually a copy of a Greek manuscript, in which the words were omitted, it is natural to attribute the omission to the same motives as those by which he was actuated himself."

      We arranged the spurious readings, so far as they are at all worthy of notice, in the order of the books in which they are found. Some of them, found in the article and in particles not always translated, are unworthy of notice.

      No. 1, chapter iv. verse 18. Jesus. No. 2, v. 27. By the ancients. No. 3, vi. 13. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Other copies read it, For thine is the kingdom, for ever. Amen. And others read it, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. No. 4, vi. 18. Openly. No. 5, viii. 25. His. No. 6, viii. 29. Jesus. No. 7, viii. 32. Of swine, (before the word rushed.) No. 8, ix. 13. To reformation. No. 9, ix. 35. Among the people. No. 10, xii. 8. Even. No. 11, xii. 35. Of the heart. No. 12, xiv. 19. And, (before took.) No. 13, xiv. 22. Jesus. No. 14, xiv. 22. His, (before disciples.) No. 15, xiv. 25. Jesus. No. 16, xv. 4. They, (before father.) No. 17, xv. 8. Address me with their mouth. No. 18, xvi. 8. To them. No. 19, xvi. 20. Jesus. No. 20, xviii. 25. And, (after go.) No. 21, xviii. 29. At his feet and. No. 22, xviii. 35. Their trespasses. No. 23, xix. 19. They, (before father.) No. 24, xix. 25. His. No. 25, xx. 6. Idle. No. 26, xx. 22, And to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. No. 28, xx. 26. But. No. 29, xxi. 33. Certain. No. 30, xxiii. 8. The Messiah. No. 31, xxiv. 20. The, (before Sabbath.) No. 32, xxiv. 36. The, (before hour.) No. 33, xxiv. 36. My, (before father.) No. 34, xxv. 9. But, (before go.) No. 35, xxv. 13. Wherein the Son of Man cometh. No. 36, xxv. 31. Holy. No. 37, xxv. 44. Him. No. 38, xxvi. 9. Ointment. No. 39, xxvii. 35. 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. No. 40, xxvii. 54. By night. No. 41, xxviii. 19. Therefore. No. 42, xxviii. 20. Amen. [31]

      No. 43, i. 2. Before thee. No. 44, i. 13. There. No. 45, ii. 17. To repentance. No. 46, iii. 5. Whole as the other. No. 47, iv. 4. Of heaven, (after birds.) No. 48, iv. 9. To them. No. 49, iv. 19. This, (before world.) No. 50, iv. 24. Unto you that hear more shall be given. No. 51, v. 12. All, (before friends.) No. 52, v. 40. Lying, (after child.) No. 53, vi. 2. That, (before such.) No. 54, vi. 11. Indeed, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. No. 55, vi. 16. Or. No. 56, vi. 33. The people. No. 57, vi. 33. Him. No. 58, vi. 34. Jesus. No. 59, vi. 44. About. No. 60, vii. 2. They found fault. No. 61, viii. 1. Jesus. No. 62, viii. 35. The same. No. 63, ix. 7. Saying. No. 64, ix. 24. Lord. No. 65, ix. 38. And he followeth not us. No. 66, x. 2. The. No. 67, x. 14. And. No. 68, x. 31. The. No. 69, xi. 4. The, (before colt.) No. 70, xi. 10. In the name of the Lord. No. 71, xi. 14. Jesus. No. 72, xi. 15. Jesus. No. 73, xii. 5. Again. No. 74, xii. 25. Which. No. 75, xii. 27. God, (before the living.) No. 76, xiii. 14. Spoken of by Daniel the Prophet. No. 77, xiv. 22. Eat. No. 78, xvi. 8. Quickly.

      No. 79, i. 75, Of life. No. 80, iii. 19, Philip's. No. 81, iv. 8, Get thee behind me, Satan, for. No. 82, iv. 18, He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted. No. 83, iv. 41, Christ. No. 84, v. 20, To him. No. 85, vi. 26, To you. No. 86, vi. 26, All. No. 87, vii. 31, And the Lord said. No. 88, vii. 44, Her head. No. 89, viii. 21, It. No. 90, viii. 34, And went. No. 91, ix. 1, Disciples. No. 92, ix. 56, For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save. No. 93, x. 11, To you. No. 94, x. 20, Rather. No. 95, x. 23, And turning to his disciples, he said. No. 96, xi. 2, Our. No. 97, xi. 2, Who art in heaven. No. 98, xi. 3, Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth. No. 99, xi. 4, But deliver us from evil. No. 100, xi. 28, It. No. 101, xi. 29, The Prophet. No. 102, xi. 44, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. No. 103, xiii. 35, Desolate. No. 104, xv. 19, And. No. 105, xvii. 24, Also. No. 106, xvii. 34, The, (before one.) No. 107, xvii. 36, Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. No. 108, xx. 9, Certain. No. 109, xxii. 45, His. No. 110, xxii. 60, The. No. 111, xxii. 62, Peter. No. 112, xxiii. 25, Unto them. No. 113, xxiv. 36, Jesus. No. 114, xxiv. 49, Jerusalem. No. 115, xxiv. 53, Amen.

      No. 116, i. 29, John. No. 117, i. 44, Jesus. No. 118, ii. 22, To them. No. 119, v. 30, The Father. No. 120, vi. 2, His. No. 121, vi. 22, That, (before one.) No. 122, vi. 43, Therefore. No. 123, vi. 45, Therefore. No. 124, vi. 58, The manna. No. 125, vi. 68, Then. No. 126, vii. 33, To them. No. 127, viii. 20, Jesus. No. 128, viii. 48, Then. No. 129, viii. 59, Going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Other copies read it, And passing through the midst of them, he went out, and in this manner escaped. No. 130, ix. 29, Then. No. 131, xi. 41, Where the dead was laid. No. 132, xiii. 31, Then. No. 133, xiv. 30, This, (before world.) No. 134, xvi. 3, To you. No. 135, xvi. 19, Then. No. 136, xvi. 25, But. No. 137, xviii. 11, They, (before sword.) No. 138, xviii. 24, Then. No. 139, xx. 14, And. No. 140, xx. 28, And. No. 141, xx. 29, Thomas. No. 142, xxi. 13, Then. No. 143, xxi. 25, Amen.

      No. 144, i. 14, And in prayers. No. 145, ii. 30, According to the flesh he would raise up Christ. No. 146, ii. 31, His soul. No. 147, ii. 33, Now. No. 148, iii. 22, For. No. 149, iii. 26, Jesus. No. 150, v. 23, Without. No. 151, v. 25, Saying. No. 152, v. 41, His. No. 153, vi. 3, Holy. No. 154, vi. 13, Blasphemous words. No. 155, vi. 13, This, (before place.) [32] No. 156, vii. 14, His. No. 157, vii. 37, Your, (before God.) No. 158, vii. 48, Temples. No. 159, viii. 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. Some Greek manuscripts read it, And he said to him, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou shalt be saved. And he replied, I believe in Christ, the Son of God. No. 160, ix. 18, Immediately. No. 161, ix. 19, Saul. No. 162, ix. 26, Saul. No. 163, x. 6, He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. Others, He shall tell thee words by which thou shalt be saved, and thy house. No. 164, x. 11, Whom. No. 165, x. 21, That were sent to him from Cornelius. No. 166, xi. 13, Men. No. 167, xi. 28, Cesar. No. 168, xii. 20, Herod. No. 169, xiii. 17, Israel. No. 170, xiii. 50, And, (before honorable.) No. 171, xiv. 3, And, (before granted.) No. 172, xiv. 8, Being. No. 173, xiv. 13, Their, (before city.) No. 174, xiv. 28, There. No. 175, xv. 11, Christ. No. 176, xv. 36, Our. No. 177, xvi. 1, Certain, (before woman.) No. 178, xix. 4, Indeed. No. 179, xix. 4, Christ. No. 180, xix. 10, Jesus. No. 181, xix. 12, From them. No. 182, xix. 35, Goddess. No. 183, xx. 19, Many. No. 184, xxi. 8, That were of Paul's company. No. 185, xxii. 20, To his death. No. 186, xxii. 26, See. No. 187, xxii. 30, From his bands. No. 188, xxii. 30, Their. No. 189, xxiii. 9, Let us not fight against God. No. 190, xxiii. 11, Paul. No. 191, xxiii. 15, To-morrow. No. 192, xxiii. 34, The governor. No. 193, xxiv. 20, If. No. 194, xxv. 5, This. No. 195, xxv. 16, To die. No. 196, xxviii. 30, Paul.

      No. 197, i. 16, Of Christ. No. 198, vi. 11, To be. No. 199, vi. 11, Our Lord. No. 200, viii. 1, That walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. No. 201, x. 3, Righteousness, (after their own.) No. 202, xi. 3, Saying. No. 203, xi. 6, But if it be of works, it is no more of grace; otherwise work is no more work. No. 204, xiii. 1, The powers, (before that be.) No. 205, xiii. 9, You shall not be a false witness. No. 206, xv. 24, I will come to you for. No. 207, xv. 29, Of the gospel. No. 208, xvi. 20, Amen.

      No. 209, ii. 13, Holy. No. 210, iii. 5, But. No. 211, iii. 17, The. No. 212, v. 1, Named. No. 213, vi. 20, And in your spirits, which are God's. No. 214, vii. 5, Fasting. No. 215, vii. 29, That, (before time.) No. 216, vii. 39, By law. No. 217, x. 13, You, (before escape.) No. 218, x. 23, For me, twice. No. 219, x. 24, Each. No. 220, x. 28, For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. No. 221, xi. 24, Take, eat. No. 222, xiv. 8, My. No. 223, xiv. 25, And thus. No. 224, xv. 20, Has become. No. 225, xv. 37, Flesh.

      No. 226, iv. 10, Lord. No. 227, iv. 16, Then. No. 228, ix. 4, Of boasting. No. 229, x. 7, Of Christ. No. 230, xii. 11, In glorying. No. 231, xiii. 2, I write. No. 232, xiii. 14, Amen.

      No. 233, iii. 1, That you should not obey the truth. No. 234, iii. 12, The man. No. 235, iv. 24, The, (before two covenants.) No. 236, iv. 26, Of all.

      No. 237, iii. 9, Through Jesus Christ. No. 238, iv. 9, First. No. 239, v. 23, The, (before man.) No. 240, vi. 12, Of this world. No. 241, vi. 24, Amen.

      No. 242, iii. 16, The same rule, and mind the same thing, in order that it may. No. 243, iii. 21, In order that it may become. No. 244, iv. 13, Christ. [33]

      No. 245, i. 2, And Jesus Christ our Lord. No. 246, i. 10, You. No. 247, i. 14, Through his blood. No. 248, i. 28, Jesus. No. 249, ii. 2, And of the Father and of Christ. No. 250, ii. 11, Of sins. No. 251, ii. 20, Then. No. 252, iii. 18, Own.

      No. 253, ii. 9, For. No. 254, ii. 15, Own. No. 255, v. 3, For. No. 256, v. 28, Amen.

      No. 257, ii. 4, As God.

      No. 258, i. 17, Wise. No. 259, ii. 7, In Christ. No. 260, iii. 3, Not covetous. No. 261, iv. 12, In spirit. No. 262, iv. 4, Good and. No. 263, vi. 21, Amen.

      No. 264, iv. 1, Of the Lord. No. 265, iv. 22, Amen.

      No. 266, iii. 15, Amen.

      No. 267, verse 25, Amen.

      No. 268, ii. 7, And didst set him over the works of thy hands. No. 269, iii. 1, Christ. No. 270, vi. 10, And labor. No. 271, ix. 1, Tabernacle. No. 272, ix. 10, And, (before carnal ordinances.) No. 273, x. 9, God. No. 274, xi. 13, And were persuaded of them. No. 275, xii. 20, Or thrust through with a dart.

      No. 276, ii. 5, This, (before world.) No. 277, ii. 13, And, (before mercy.) No. 278, ii. 24, Therefore.

      No. 279, i. 23, For ever. No. 280, v. 8, Because. No. 281, v. 14, Amen.

      No. 282, iii. 10, In the night.

      No. 283, iv. 3, Christ came in the flesh. No. 284, v. 7, In heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one: and there are three that bear witness on earth. No. 285, v. 13, To them who believe in the name of the Son of God. No. 286, v. 21, Amen.

      No. 287, verse 7, His.

      No. 288, verse 4, God, (after Lord.) No. 289, verse 25, Wise.

      No. 290, i. 8, Beginning and end. No. 291, i. 11, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, and. No. 292, i. 11, Which are in Asia. No. 293, i. 17, To me. No. 294, i. 18, Amen. No. 295, ii. 18, To eat of. No. 296, ii. 19, And, (before thy.) No. 297, ii. 20, A few things. No. 298, ii. 24, And, (before as many.) No. 299, iii. 4, Even. No. 300, iii. 11, Behold. No. 301, iv. 3, Was. No. 302, iv. 4, I saw them. No. 303, iv. 4, And they had. No. 304, v. 4, And to read. No. 305, v. 5, Which is. No. 306, v. 5, To loose. No. 307, v. 14, The twenty-four. No. 308, v. 14, Him that [34] liveth for ever and ever. No. 309, vi. 7, The voice. No. 310, vi. 11, A little. No. 311, vi. 12, Behold. No. 312, viii. 7, Angel. No. 313, ix. 4, Only. No. 314, ix. 16, And, (before I heard.) No. 315, x. 4, Their voices, the second time. No. 316, x. 4, To me. No. 317, xi. 1, And an angel stood. No. 318, xi. 17, And art to come. No. 319, xiii. 3, I saw. No. 320, xiii. 5, War. No. 321, xiii. 17, Or. No. 322, xiv. 3, As it were. No. 323, xiv. 5, Before the throne of God. No. 324, xiv. 8, The city beheld, (before them.) No. 325, xiv. 13, To me. No. 326, xiv. 15, To thee. No. 327, xv. 2, And his mark. No. 328, xv. 5, Behold. No. 329, xvi. 4, Angel. No. 330, xvi. 5, Lord. No. 331, xvi. 6, For. No. 332, xvi. 7, Another form. No. 333, xvi. 8, Angel. No. 334, xvi. 10, Angel. No. 335, xvi. 12, Angel. No. 336, xvi. 14, Of the land, and. No. 337, xvi. 17, Angel. No. 338, xvii. 1, To me. No. 339, xvii. 10, And, (before one is.) No. 340, xviii. 6, To you. No. 341, xviii. 9, Her. No. 342, xix. 1, And, (before after.) No. 343, xix. 1, And the honor. No. 344, xix. 5, Both. No. 345, xix. 14, And, (before clean.) No. 346, xix. 15, And, (before wrath.) No. 347, xx. 4, Their, (before faces.) No. 348, xxi. 4, God. No. 349, xxi. 9, To me. No. 350, xxi. 10, Great. No. 351, xxi. 11, And, (after God.) No. 352, xxii. 1, Clean. No. 353, xxii. 2, One. No. 354, xxii. 9, For. No. 355, xxii. 12, And, (before lo!) No. 356, xxii. 17, And, (before whomsoever.) No. 357, xxii. 21, Our.

      It would have been in accordance with general usage, to have given these spurious readings in the Greek language; but this would not have benefited those for whom the version is made.

[TLO4 29-35]