Philemon 1:20 - Dogmatic Alterations in the New Testament
Often times readers of the Bible encounter difficult passages and are consoled that the actual Greek will rectify and allay any concerns that might arise from that. However, when comparing the Westcott-Hort, Textus Receptus and Byzantine manuscripts we find some inconsistencies that appear to be fueled by an attempt to make the text adhere to certain Christian doctrines.
Philemon 1:20 states:
“Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.”
In the three major Greek codices of the New Testament we have:
nai adelfe egw sou onaimhn en kuriw anapauson mou ta splagcna en kuriw
nai adelfe egw sou onaimhn en kuriw anapauson mou ta splagcna en kuriw
“Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.”
[Textus Receptus]
nai adelfe egw sou onaimhn en kuriw anapauson mou ta splagcna en kuriw
nai adelfe egw sou onaimhn en kuriw anapauson mou ta splagcna en kuriw
“Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.”
[Byzantine]
nai adelfe egw sou onaimhn en kuriw anapauson mou ta splagcna en cristw
nai adelfe egw sou onaimhn en kuriw anapauson mou ta splagcna en CHRISTOU
“Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in CHRIST.”
[Westcott-Hort]
Looks a lot like someone wanted the text to say something that it didn’t. Interestingly enough, this is one case where some English translators didn’t buy into it. This is why in the differing versions of the English New Testament some say “…in Christ” and others say “…in the Lord”.
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As Salam Alikum
Sidi I have a question for you, and please keep in mind I’m not good with this topic lol.
To the christian Christ is both Messiah and the Lord.
Christ is a greek word which means Messiah.Given that Jews and Christians beleive that the Messiah is divine. To herald the title “Lord” in no way diminishes that position and neither does this textual variant.
Given that to use the term “messiah” is to infer Lordship/the Lord in judeo/christian thinking. Would they not consider this as a contradiction or corruption by utilising either term as to use either is to infer the other?
Musa, not a problem. I appreciate your analysis and request for clarification. However, to sum it up in short: Your conclusion is based upon incorrect data.
The word Mashîyach from which the English word “Messiah” is derived does not indicate any divinity whatsoever in Judaism, nor even in many sects of Christianity.
The root of the word is משח (mashach) which simply means “to rub”. This is because kings and leaders in ancient Israel were anointed with oils as an induction.
Never have the Jews expected their Messiah to be a human incarnation of God. This was a belief commonly held by their neighbors such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. However, it was strongly resisted throughout the centuries by the Jewish people.
Regarding your interchanges over at the ‘do the right thing’ blog.
1. The owner of that blog instigates the hatred directed towards your faith.
2. On another blog he has referred to you as ‘pedeophile enablers’ and
3. On the same blog he actually brags about you being trounced by his religious right wing neocon friends over at his blog.
Just wanted to let you know the true face of what you’re dealing with over here. The pastor is duplicious in his dealings with anyone who doesn’t agree with his mindset.
Raoul, these observations of yours probably alarm you a lot more than they alarm me
When these people resort to such deceptive and duplicitous tactics, they are only confessing the failure of their totem pole deity to give them the “new heart” that they claim to acquire upon being “born again”.
Anyone who witnessed that discussion clearly saw Pastor “Do The Right Thing” delete my posts when he and his minions could not answer them.
No skin off my back. Though, I’m sure their actions bearing witness against their own deity is a cause for far more consternation for them than it is for me
May God guide us all to His Truth.