The Bible Student's Guide to
New Testament Textual Variants

Paul's First Letter to Timothy

1 Timothy 1:2-6:17


1 Timothy 1:2:

TEXT: "Grace, mercy, [and] peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A D* F G I 33 81 104 1739 1881 most lat most cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "Grace, mercy, [and] peace from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 D3 K L P Psi 630 1241 Maj one lat some vg syr most cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV CSBn

COMMENTS: The word "our" seems to have been borrowed from verse 1. The text reading is supported by early manuscripts of multiple text types.

1 Timothy 1:12:

TEXT: "I thank the One who has strengthened me, Christ"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)c A D G H I K P Psi 81 104 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect most lat vg syr(p,h) cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "I thank the One who strengthens me, Christ"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* 33 one lat cop(south)
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn

COMMENTS: Some copyists apparently borrowed the present tense "strengthens" from Philippians 4:13.

1 Timothy 1:17:

TEXT: "to the King of ages, imperishable, invisible, the only God"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A D* F G H* 33 1739 lat syr(p) cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "to the King of ages, imperishable, invisible, the only wise God"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 D1 Hc K L P Psi 81 104 630 1241 1881 Maj syr(h)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV CSBn

COMMENTS: The word "wise" seems to have been added by copyists from Romans 16:27. The text reading is supported by early manuscripts of multiple text types.

1 Timothy 2:7:

TEXT: "(I am telling the truth, I am not lying)"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 A D* F G P Psi 81 104 1739 1881 Lect lat vg syr cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "(I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying)"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* D2 H K L 33vid 614 630 1241 2495 Byz
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSVn CSBn

COMMENTS: The additional words "in Christ" were apparently added by copyists who remembered Paul's statement in Romans 9:1. There is no reason that they would have been omitted if they were original. The text reading is supported by early manuscripts of multiple text types.

1 Timothy 3:1:

TEXT: "The saying is faithful:"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A Dc G K P Psi 33 81 104 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect most lat vg syr(p,h) cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEBn REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "The saying is human:" or "The saying is popular:"
EVIDENCE: D* three lat
TRANSLATIONS: NRSVn NEB REBn

COMMENTS: Although the text reading might have been borrowed from such passages as 1 Timothy 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11, and Titus 3:8, the manuscript evidence indicates that it is original.

1 Timothy 3:16:

TEXT: "He was made apparent in the flesh" <literally, "Who was made apparent in the flesh">
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A* C* G 33 syr(pal) syr(p,h)? cop?
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "God was made apparent in the flesh"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)e A2 C2 Dc K L P Psi 81 104 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASVn RSVn NRSVn ESVn NASV73n NIV84n CSBn

NOTES: "Which was made apparent in the flesh"
EVIDENCE: D* lat vg syr(p,h)? cop?
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn RSVn NRSVn ESVn

COMMENTS: The word "who" was changed to "which" by some copyists to refer to "mystery." In an older manuscript that does not have accents and breathing marks, all that is required to change the Greek word for "who" (OS) to the abbreviation for "God" (ΘS) is to add two marks. This happened to several manuscripts, apparently to give a definite subject to the following verbs.

1 Timothy 4:10:

TEXT: "to this [end] we labor and struggle"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A C F G K Psi 33 104 1175
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV1989 NRSV2021n ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "to this [end] we labor and are reproached"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)c D L P 81 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect lat vg syr(p,h) cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV RSVn NRSV1989n NRSV2021 ESVn NEBn TEVn CSBn

COMMENTS: A majority of the UBS Textual Committee felt that the evidence for the text reading was slightly stronger.

1 Timothy 4:12:

TEXT: " an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A C D F G I Psi 33 81 104 1739 1881 lat syr cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: " an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity"
EVIDENCE: K L P 630 1241 Maj
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV CSBn

COMMENTS: Later copyists may have been influenced by Colossians 1:8 to add "in spirit." There was no good reason to omit it. The shorter text reading is supported by early manuscripts of multiple text types.

1 Timothy 5:16:

TEXT: "If any believing woman has [relatives who are] widows"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A C F G P 048 33 81 1739 1881 three lat earlier vg cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEBn REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "If any believing man or woman has [relatives who are] widows"
EVIDENCE: D K L Psi 104 614 630 1241 2495 Byz Lect three lat syr(p,h)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV RSVn NRSVn NEB CSBn

NOTES: "If any believing man has [relatives who are] widows"
EVIDENCE: three lat later vg
TRANSLATIONS: RSVn NRSVn

COMMENTS: Although it is possible that copyists accidently omitted "believing man and" when their eyes jumped from "believing man" to "believing woman," it is more likely that other copyists added "believing man" to balance the command.

1 Timothy 6:5:

TEXT: "supposing that reverence is a means of gain."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A D* F G 048 33 81 1739 1881 most lat vg cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: A

NOTES: "supposing that reverence is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such [people]."
EVIDENCE: Dc K L P Psi 061 104 614 630 1241 2495 Byz Lect some lat syr
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSVn CSBn

COMMENTS: There is no good reason for the extra statement to be omitted if it were original. It is missing from early manuscripts of multiple text types.

1 Timothy 6:7:

TEXT: "nothing into the world, and neither can"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A F G 048 061vid 33 81 1739 1881 two lat
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "nothing into the world; [it is] evident that neither can"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)c Dc K L P Psi 104 614 630 1241 2495 Byz Lect most lat? syr(p,h) vg?
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV RSVn NRSVn ESVn NASV73n CSBn

OTHER: "nothing into the world; [it is] true that neither can"
EVIDENCE: D* three lat most lat? vg?

COMMENTS: The same Greek word can be translated "because" or "that"; thus the differences in the readings are in the additions of "evident" or "true." The Coptic version has "and" which is apparently a paraphrase of "because." It seems that "evident" and "true" are additions by copyists designed to smooth out the grammar.

1 Timothy 6:17:

TEXT: "have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches but on God"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A F G I P Psi 3381 104 1739 1881 early vg most cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches but on the living God"
EVIDENCE: D K L 630 1241 Maj some lat later vg syr some cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV CSBn

COMMENTS: The text reading, which is supported by manuscripts from multiple text types, was apparently expanded by copyists from I Timothy 3:15 and 4:10.

1 Timothy 6:21:

TEXT: "Grace [be] with plyou."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A F G 33 81 one lat some cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV? NRSV ESV NASV? NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "Grace [be] with you."
EVIDENCE: D* 1881 two lat
TRANSLATIONS: NRSVn

NOTES: "Grace [be] with plyou. Amen."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 P most cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: NRSVn

NOTES: "Grace [be] with you. Amen."
EVIDENCE: D1 K L Psi 104 614 630 1241 1739 2495 Byz Lect most lat vg syr(p,h) one cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV? NRSVn

COMMENTS: Since the letter is addressed to Timothy, copyists were more likely to change the plural to the singular than vice versa. Copyists often added "Amen" to the end of a book they had copied. Some English translations leave the second person pronoun ambigious, here marked with a question mark. The south Coptic manusripts omit the whole sentence.



Paul's Second Letter to Timothy

2 Timothy 1:11-4:10


2 Timothy 1:10:

TEXT: "our Savior Christ Jesus"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A D* some vg
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV1989 NRSV2021n ESV NASV NIV TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "our Savior Jesus Christ"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 C D2 F G K L P Psi 33 81 104 630 1241 1739 1881 Maj most lat syr
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021 NEB REB

COMMENTS: While it is possible that copyists were influenced by verse 9 to change the order of words, the text reading is supported by the earliest manuscripts.

2 Timothy 1:11:

TEXT: "I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A I syr(pal)
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher of Gentiles"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)c C D G K P Psi 81 104 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect lat vg syr(p,h) cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV CSBn

OTHER: "I was appointed a preacher and apostle and servant (or, deacon)"
EVIDENCE: 33

COMMENTS: Although most manuscripts contain the word translated "of Gentiles," there is no good reason for it to have been omitted if original. Apparently copyists borrowed it from the similar verse in 1 Timothy 2:7.

2 Timothy 2:13:

TEXT: "for he cannot deny himself"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* Avid C D F G L P 048vid 33 81 104 1739 1881 syr(p) most cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV1989 NRSV2021n ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "he cannot deny himself"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 K Psi 630 1241 Maj lat syr(h) most cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021

COMMENTS: The text reading is supported by the earliest manuscripts.

2 Timothy 2:14:

TEXT: "charge [them] before God not to be fighting"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) C G I 614 630 2495 most lat most cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn RSVn NRSV1989 NRSV2021n ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "charge [them] before the Lord not to be fighting"
EVIDENCE: A D K P Psi 048 81 104 1241 1739 1881 Byz Lect five lat vg syr(p,h) some cop(north) one cop(south)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV RSV NRSV1989n NRSV2021 ESVn CSBn

COMMENTS: Although it is possible that "before God" was taken from 1 Timothy 5:4, 21 and 2 Timothy 4:1, a majority of the UBS Textual Committee felt that this was probably Paul's original usage.

2 Timothy 2:18:

TEXT: "saying that the resurrection has already happened"
EVIDENCE: A C D K P Psi 81 104 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV RSV NRSV1989 NRSV2021n ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "saying that a resurrection has already happened"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) G 048 33
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn NRSV2021

COMMENTS: The word "the" is enclosed in brackets in the UBS text. The great majority of evidence indicates that it original. Latin and Syriac do not have a definite article.

2 Timothy 4:10:

TEXT: "Crescens has gone to Galatia"
EVIDENCE: A D F G K L P Psi 33 614 630 1241 1739 1881 2495 Byz Lect lat later vg syr(p,h) some cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "Crescens has gone to Gaul"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) C 81 104 earlier vg most cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn RSVn NRSVn ESVn NASVn NEBn REBn

COMMENTS: There are only two letters' difference in the spelling of "Galatia" and "Gaul" in Greek. Since the two places were inhabited by the same race of people, in the early centuries of this era "Gaul" was called "Galatia." Thus the reading "Gaul" may be due to a misspelling or it may be due to copyists who felt that the "Galatia" referred to was actually "Gaul." Gaul is in modern day France, while Galatia is in modern day Turkey.

2 Timothy 4:22:

TEXT: "Grace [be] with plyou."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A C G 33 81 1881 two lat some cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "Grace [be] with plyou. Amen"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 Dc K P Psi 104 614 630 1241 1739 2495 Byz Lect some lat vg syr(h) some cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSVn

OTHER: "Grace [be] with you. Amen"
EVIDENCE: syr(p) one cop(north)

OTHER: "Be well in peace. Amen"
EVIDENCE: D* three lat

COMMENTS: Copyists often added "Amen" to the end of a book they had copied. The south Coptic manusripts omit the whole sentence.



Paul's Letter to Titus


Titus 1:4:

TEXT: "Grace and peace"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) C* D G P Psi 088 (33) lat vg syr(p) most cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "Grace, mercy, peace"
EVIDENCE: A C2 K 81 104 614 630 1241 2495 Byz Lect syr(h) one cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSVn

COMMENTS: While it is possible that the word "mercy" was omitted to make the greeting like that in most of Paul's letters, it is also possible that it was added from 1 Timothy 1:2 and 2 Timothy 1:2. The text reading is supported by the majority of early manuscripts of multiple text types.

Titus 2:7:

TEXT: "In [your] teaching [show] integrity , dignity,"
EVIDENCE: p32vid Aleph(א) A C D* F G P 33 81 1739 1881 lat cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "In [your] teaching [show] integrity , dignity, incorruptibility,"
EVIDENCE: D2 K L Psi 104 630 1241 Maj syr(h)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV CSBn

COMMENTS: The word "incorruptibility" (also found in 2 Timothy 1:10 among other places) was perhaps added by later copyists as an explanation of the rare word translated "integrity" or "incorruption." The text reading is supported by early manuscripts of multiple text types.

Titus 3:15:

TEXT: "Grace [be] with plyou all."
EVIDENCE: p61vid Aleph(א)* A C D* 048 1739 1881 one lat most cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "Grace [be] with plyou all. Amen."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 D1 G H K P Psi 104 614 630 1241 2495 Byz most Lect most lat bg syr(p,h) most cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSVn

COMMENTS: Copyists often added "Amen" to the end of a book they had copied.



Paul's Letter to Philemon

Philemon 2-25


Philemon 2:

TEXT: "to Apphia [our] sister"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A D* F G I P 048 0278 33 81 104 1739 1881 early vg most cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "to Apphia [our] beloved"
EVIDENCE: D2 K L Psi 630 1241 Maj syr(p) some cop(south)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021n CSBn

OTHER: "to Apphia [our] beloved sister"
EVIDENCE: some lat later vg syr(h)

COMMENTS: The text reading is supported by early manuscripts of multiple text types.

Philemon 6:

TEXT: "every good thing that is in us for Christ."
EVIDENCE: A C D K Psi 048vid 81 614 630 1241 2495 Byz Lect three lat
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn RSV NRSV ESV NASV73n NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "every good thing that is in plyou for Christ."
EVIDENCE: p61 Aleph(א) G P 33 104 1739 1881 five lat vg syr(p,h) cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV NRSV2021n NASV CSBn

OTHER: "every good thing that is for Christ."
EVIDENCE: four lat

COMMENTS: The words "us" and "plyou" were pronounced alike in later Greek. Because of all the second person pronouns in the context, "us" was more likely to be misunderstood as "plyou" than vice versa.

Philemon 6:

TEXT: "every good thing that is in us for Christ"
EVIDENCE: p61 Aleph(א)* A C 33 cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "every good thing that is in us for Christ Jesus"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 D F G K L P Psi 0278 81 104 630 1241 1739 1881 Maj lat vg syr(p)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021n

COMMENTS: Copyists had a tendency to add to divine names. The text reading is supported by the earliest manuscripts.

Philemon 7:

TEXT: "For I had much joy"
EVIDENCE: p61vid Aleph(א) A C F G P 048 0278 33 81 104 1739 1881 one lat vg cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "For we had much joy"
EVIDENCE: D K L Psi 630 1241 Maj one lat syr
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021n

COMMENTS: The text reading is supported by the earliest manuscripts.

Philemon 11:

TEXT: "useful both to you and to me"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)*,2 F G 33 104 vg syr(p)
TRANSLATIONS: [RSV NRSV ESV ("indeed")] NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "useful to you and to me"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)c A C D K L P 0278 81 630 1241 1739 1881 Maj old lat syr(h)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV

COMMENTS: The same Greek word kai can be translated as "and," "indeed," or "both" depending upon usage. It is found in brackets in the UBS text. The original NRSV double translates it as "indeed ... both"; the updated edition has a footnote which does the same.

Philemon 12:

TEXT: "I have sent him back to you, [yes], him, this one who is my [very] heart."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)* A {F G} 33
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "I have sent him back to you, [yes], receive him, this one who is my [very] heart."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א)2 C D {K L P} Psi {0278 81 104 630 1241 1739 1881 Maj lat (syr)}
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021n CSBn

COMMENTS: Apparently copyists introduced the word "receive" at various places in the sentence from verse 17 to smooth out a rather awkward construction. The evidence in braces has the subject "you" rather than "to you."

Philemon 20:

TEXT: "Refresh my heart in Christ"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) A C D* F G L P Psi 33 81 104 630 1241 1739 1881 one vg syr cop
TRANSLATIONS: ASV RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: -

NOTES: "Refresh my heart in the Lord"
EVIDENCE: D2 K Maj one lat most vg
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV NRSV2021n

COMMENTS: The text reading is supported by the earliest manuscripts.

Philemon 25:

TEXT: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ"
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) P 33 81 104 1739 1881 syr(h,pal)
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: C

NOTES: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ"
EVIDENCE: A C D K Psi 614 630 1241 2495 Byz Lect lat vg syr(p) cop
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV CSBn

COMMENTS: There was a tendency for copyists to expand the name and titles of Jesus.

Philemon 25:

TEXT: "[be] with plyour spirit."
EVIDENCE: A D* 048vid 33 81 1881 two lat some cop(north) cop(south)
TRANSLATIONS: ASVn RSV NRSV ESV NASV NIV NEB REB TEV CSB
CERTAINTY: B

NOTES: "[be] with plyour spirit. Amen."
EVIDENCE: Aleph(א) C Dc K P Psi 104 614 630 1241 1739 2495 Byz most lat vg syr(p,h,pal) most cop(north)
TRANSLATIONS: KJV NKJV ASV NRSV2021n NASVn

COMMENTS: There was a tendency for copyists to add "Amen" at the end of a letter.


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