A Textual Key to the New Testament
A list of Omissions and Changes

by G. W. Anderson

Please note: What follows is an abridged edition of this article. For the complete article in PDF format, please click here.

In recent years, much has been said and written regarding the excellence, accuracy and readability of the modern versions of the New Testament. It is often stated that these versions are more accurate than the Authorised (King James) Version because the newer translations are based upon older and better manuscripts than those upon which the Authorised Version is based. There are many today, however, who would not agree with this assessment. It is their contention that the manuscripts of the New Testament used in the modern versions are corrupted and, in effect, detract from essential doctrines of the Bible. The Trinitarian Bible Society has provided the list below as a useful guide in opposing the use of these manuscripts and modern translations.

The list below is a compilation of the most important verses in which the modern versions have followed corrupted manuscripts and made drastic alterations to the printed editions of the traditionally accepted text of the New Testament. (For a more complete list, please request printed copies of A Textual Key to the New Testament, available from our International Headquarters or our nearest Branch.) The central purpose of this list is to aid the Bible student in discerning and evaluating whether his translation is founded upon these few 'older' manuscripts, and how far astray his translation goes. A simple comparison of the verses below with any modern translation will show the extent of corruption in our modern versions.

The comparison of these modern versions needs to be made by using a copy of the Authorised Version. While perfection is not claimed for the Authorised Version or for any other version, it is an accurate and excellent translation which follows the Traditional or Received Text of the New Testament and was not affected by the current rage of paraphrasing. Some versions will be difficult to compare because of the modern tendency among translators to use 'dynamic equivalence' methods of translation. (See New International Version: What today's Christian needs to know about the NIV, published by the Society, for further information on dynamic equivalence.)

This list of variant readings is not complete. It is designed to show the many and most serious omissions in the modern editions of the New Testament. In addition to omissions, a few instances of change and additions are included. Unless otherwise stated, each variant listed represents an omission.

It is hoped that many will see the problems with the modern texts and versions and will change back to a 'complete' edition of the New Testament. It is the prayer of the Trinitarian Bible Society that God will be pleased to use his textual variant list to call His people back to a day of purer translations and sounder principles of translation and textual criticism.

A list of Omissions and Changes
Found in Most Modern New Testaments

Unless otherwise noted, the variant listed represents an omission from the Traditional Text.

In instances of change, the Authorised Version reading, which represents the reading of the Traditional Text, is given in comparison with the critical text reading as found in the New American Standard Bible.

Matthew

1.25 -- 'firstborn'
4.12 -- 'Jesus'
4.18 -- 'Jesus'
4.23 -- 'Jesus'
5.44 -- 'bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,' and 'despitefully use you, and'
6.33 -- AV: 'the kingdom of God'; NASB: 'His kingdom'
8.3 -- 'Jesus'
8.5 -- 'Jesus'
8.7 -- 'Jesus'
8.29 -- 'Jesus'
9.12 -- 'Jesus'
12.25 -- 'Jesus'
13.36 -- 'Jesus'
13.51 -- 'Jesus saith unto them'
13.51 -- 'Lord' ['Yea, Lord']
14.14 -- 'Jesus'
14.22 -- 'Jesus'
14.25 -- 'Jesus'
15.16 -- 'Jesus'
15.30 -- 'Jesus'
16.20 -- 'Jesus'
17.20 -- 'Jesus'
17.21 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
18.2 -- 'Jesus'
18.11 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
19.9 -- 'and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.'
20.22 -- 'and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?' [see also verse 23]
20.23 -- 'and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:' [see also verse 22]
22.37 -- 'Jesus'
23.8 -- 'even Christ'
23.14 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
24.2 -- 'Jesus'
26.28 -- 'new' ['of the new testament']
27.24 -- 'just' [AV: 'the blood of this just person'; NASB: 'this Man's blood']
27.35 -- 'that it ... lots' [last half of the verse is omitted]

Mark

1.1 -- 'the Son of God' [omitted in some versions and margins]
1.2 -- 'the prophets' is replaced by 'Isaiah the prophet', an obvious error
1.14 -- 'of the kingdom' [AV: 'the gospel of the kingdom of God'; NASB: 'the gospel of God']
1.41 -- 'Jesus'
2.17 -- 'to repentance'
5.13 -- 'Jesus' is changed to 'he'
5.19 -- 'Jesus'
6.11 -- 'Verily I say ... than for that city' [last part of the verse is omitted]
6.34 -- 'Jesus'
7.8 -- 'as the washing ... ye do' [last half of the verse is omitted]
7.16 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
7.27 -- 'Jesus'
8.1 -- 'Jesus'
8.17 -- 'Jesus'
9.24 -- 'Lord' [referring to Jesus]
9.29 -- 'and fasting'
9.42 -- 'in me'
9.44 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
9.45 -- 'into the fire that never shall be quenched'
9.46 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
10.21 -- 'take up the cross'
11.11 -- 'Jesus'
11.14 -- 'Jesus'
11.15 -- 'Jesus'
11.26 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
12.30 -- 'this is the first commandment
12.41 -- 'Jesus'
13.33 -- 'and pray'
14.22 -- 'Jesus'
14.22 -- 'eat' [AV: 'Take, eat.' NASB: 'Take it'.]
14.24 -- 'new' ['of the new testament']
15.28 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
15.39 -- 'cried out'
16.9-20 -- Omitted or bracketed in most Bibles [with variations]. Although missing in the Vatican and Sinai manuscripts, it is found in almost every Greek manuscript which contains Mark's Gospel. In addition it is quoted by Church Fathers including Irenaeus and Hippolytus in the second and third centuries [thus predating the two old manuscripts, Vatican and Sinai].

Luke

2.14 -- 'good will toward men' is changed to 'toward men of good will' or 'among men with whom he is pleased'
2.33 -- 'And Joseph and his mother' is changed to 'and his father and mother' [note that the change affects the Virgin Birth of our Lord]
2.40 -- 'in spirit'
2.43 -- 'and Joseph and his mother' is changed to 'his parents' [cf. 2.33]
4.4 -- 'buy by every word of God'
4.8 -- 'Get thee behind me, Satan: for'
4.41 -- 'Christ' [first instance; the reference to Jesus' Messiahship is eliminated]
7.19 -- 'Jesus'
7.22 -- 'Jesus'
8.38 -- 'Jesus'
9.43 -- 'Jesus'
9.56 -- 'For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them'
9.60 -- 'Jesus'
10.21 -- 'Jesus'
10.39 -- 'Jesus' [Critical Text has 'Lord']
10.41 -- 'Jesus' [Critical Text has 'Lord'],
11.2 -- 'our' ['Our Father ...']
11.2 -- 'which art in heaven'
11.2 -- 'Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth'
11.4 -- 'but deliver us from evil'
11.11 -- 'bread' and 'will he give him a stone? or if he ask'
12.31 -- 'the kingdom of God' is changed to 'his kingdom'
13.2 -- 'Jesus'
17.36 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
21.4 -- 'of God'
22.6 -- 'Jesus'
22.43 -- some versions omit all of this verse or put it in brackets
22.44 -- some versions omit all of this verse or put it in brackets
22.57 -- 'him' [first instance, referring to Jesus] is omitted or changed to 'it'
22.63 -- 'Jesus'
23.17 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
23.34 -- 'Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' [some versions bracket this or have notes which say that this is not original]
23.42 -- 'Lord' [the thief on the cross recognizes Jesus' Lordship]
23.43 -- 'Jesus'
23.45 -- 'And the sun was darkened' is changed to 'the sun being obscured', 'eclipsed' or 'failing', or a marginal reading is given to add this naturalistic effect.
24.6 -- 'He is not here, but is risen' is omitted from or bracketed in some versions, or a problematic footnote is given
24.36 -- 'Jesus'
24.40 -- Some versions omit or bracket this verse. It is found in every Greek manuscript of Luke except for one fifth century Western manuscript. The omission results from radical New Testament criticism principles. Some versions have misleading or incorrect footnotes regarding this.
24.52 -- Some versions omit 'they worshiped him' from this verse for the same reasons as in the case of the omissions in 24.40; however, some critical editions of the Greek New Testament include it. Without it the risen Lord is not receiving worship from His people.

John

1.18 -- 'only begotten Son' is changed to 'only begotten God'
3.2 -- 'Jesus'
3.13 -- 'which is in heaven' [thus an attribute of God is removed from Jesus]
4.16 -- 'Jesus'
4.42 -- 'the Christ' [note: Jesus' Messiahship is obscured]
4.46 -- 'Jesus'
5.4 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
6.14 -- 'Jesus'
6.47 -- 'on me' [note: not just 'believing' secures everlasting life, but believing 'in me' (Jesus)]
6.69 -- 'thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God' is changed to 'you are the Holy One of God' [note: Messiahship and Deity/Sonship are missing]
7.39 -- 'Holy' ['Holy Ghost']
7.53-8.11 -- the entire section is omitted or in brackets in many modern versions
8.9 -- 'Jesus'
8.16 -- AV: 'the Father'; NASB: 'He'
8.20 -- 'Jesus'
8.21 -- 'Jesus'
9.4 -- 'I must work the works' is changed to 'we must work the works'
9.35 -- 'Son of God' is changed to 'Son of man'
11.45 -- 'Jesus'
13.3 -- 'Jesus'
14.15 -- the command 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' is changed to a statement, 'If you love me, you will keep my commandments'
16.16 -- 'because I go to the Father'
17.12 -- 'I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me' is changed to 'I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou hast given me'
18.5 -- 'Jesus' [second instance]
19.38 -- 'Jesus' [third instance]
19.39 -- 'Jesus'

Acts

2.30 -- 'according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ'
2.47 -- 'to the church' is changed to 'to their number'
3.26 -- 'Jesus'
7.30 -- 'of the Lord'
8.37 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
9.20 -- 'Christ' is changed to 'Jesus'
9.29 -- 'Jesus' [part of verse 28 in the Critical Text]
15.11 -- 'Christ'
15.34 -- ALL of this verse is omitted
16.31 -- 'Christ'
19.4 -- 'Christ'
19.10 -- 'Jesus'
20.21 -- 'Christ'
20.25 -- 'of God' ['kingdom of God']
24.6-8 -- 'and would have judged ... commanding his accusers to come unto thee' is omitted [ the last part of verse 6, ALL of verse 7, and the first part of verse 8]
28.29 -- ALL of this verse is omitted

Romans

1.16 -- 'of Christ' ['the gospel of Christ']
8.1 -- 'who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit'
8.26 -- 'for us' [regarding the Holy Spirit's intercession] is omitted or italicized in some versions
10.15 -- 'preach the gospel of peace'
10.17 -- 'God' is changed to 'Christ'
13.9 -- 'Thou shalt not bear false witness'
14.9 -- 'and rose'
14.10 -- 'Christ' is changed to 'God' [note: if 'Christ' is read in verse 10, then He is the God of verse 12. If the reading in verse 10 is 'God', then the Deity of Christ is missing in this passage]
15.8 -- 'Jesus'
15.29 -- 'of the gospel' ['of the gospel of Christ']
16.18 -- 'Jesus' ['Lord Jesus Christ']
16.20 -- 'Christ'
16.24 -- ALL of this verse is omitted

1 Corinthians

2.13 -- 'Holy' is omitted from 'Ghost'
5.4 -- 'Christ' is omitted twice
5.5 -- 'Jesus' [in some versions]
5.7 -- 'for us'
6.20 -- 'and in your spirit, which are God's'
9.1 -- 'Christ'
9.18 -- 'of Christ'
10.9 -- 'Christ' is changed to 'the Lord'
11.24 -- 'Take, eat' [speaking of the Lord's Supper]
11.24 -- 'broken' [speaking of Christ's body]
11.29 -- 'unworthily'
11.29 -- 'Lord's' ['the Lord's body']
15.47 -- 'the Lord' [the Deity of Christ is obscured]
16.22 -- 'Jesus Christ'
16.23 -- 'Christ'

2 Corinthians

4.6 -- 'Jesus'
4.10 -- 'the Lord'
5.18 -- 'Jesus'
10.7 -- 'Christ' [third instance)
11.31 -- 'our'
11.31 -- 'Christ'

Galatians

1.15 -- 'God' is changed to 'He'
3.17 -- 'in Christ' [the Abrahamic covenant was 'in Christ']
6.15 -- 'in Christ Jesus'
6.17 -- 'the Lord'

Ephesians

3.9 -- 'by Jesus Christ'
3.14 -- 'of our Lord Jesus Christ'
5.9 -- 'fruit of the Spirit' is changed to 'fruit of the light'

Philippians

3.16 -- 'let us mind the same thing'
4.13 -- 'Christ which strengtheneth me' is changed to 'him who strengthens me'

Colossians

1.2 -- 'and the Lord Jesus Christ'
1.14 -- 'through his blood'
1.28 -- 'Jesus'
2.18 -- 'not' ['hath not seen' is changed to 'has seen']
3.6 -- 'on the children of disobedience'
3.13 -- 'Christ' is changed to 'the Lord'
3.15 -- 'God' is changed to 'Christ'
3.22 -- 'God' is changed to 'the Lord'

1 Thessalonians

1.1 -- 'from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ'
2.19 -- 'Christ'
3.11 -- 'Christ' [AV: 'our Lord Jesus Christ'; NASB: 'Jesus our Lord']
3.13 -- 'Christ'

2 Thessalonians

1.8 -- 'Christ'
1.12 -- 'Christ' [first instance]
2.2 -- 'day of Christ' is changed to 'day of the Lord'
2.4 -- 'as God' [AV: 'he as God sitteth'; NASB: 'he takes his seat']

1 Timothy

1.1 -- 'Lord'
1.17 -- 'wise' ['only wise God']
2.7 -- 'in Christ' ['I speak the truth in Christ']
3.16 -- 'God' is replaced with 'he', 'he who', or 'what' [see Article no. 103, God was Manifest in the Flesh, regarding this passage, available through the Society]
6.5 -- 'from such withdraw thyself'

2 Timothy

2.19 -- 'name of Christ' is changed to 'name of the Lord'
4.1 -- 'Lord'
4.22 -- 'Jesus Christ'

Titus

1.4 -- 'Lord' is omitted, and 'Jesus Christ' is reversed

Philemon

verse 6 -- 'Jesus'
verse 12 -- 'Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels' is changed to 'And I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart'

Hebrews

1.3 -- 'by himself'
1.3 -- 'our' ['purged our sins']
2.7 -- 'and didst set him over the works of thy hands' in omitted in many versions
3.1 -- 'Christ'
7.21 -- 'after the order of Melchisedec'
10.9 -- 'O God' is omitted in many versions
10.30 -- 'saith the Lord'
11.11 -- 'was delivered of a child'. Some modern versions add, with no Greek manuscript support, and entire section about Abraham being enabled to beget children, as discussed in the Society's Article, New International Version: What today's Christian needs to know about the NIV
11.13 -- 'were persuaded of them'
11.37 -- 'were tempted' is omitted from most versions

James

2.20 -- 'faith without works is dead' is changed to 'faith without works is useless'
4.4 -- 'adulterers and'
5.20 -- 'a soul' is changed to 'his soul'

1 Peter

1.16 -- 'Be ye holy' [a command] is changed to 'you shall be holy' [future tense]
1.22 -- 'through the Spirit'
3.15 -- 'God' is changed to 'Christ'
4.1 -- 'for us' ['Christ hath suffered for us']
5.10 -- 'Jesus'
5.14 -- 'Jesus. Amen.'

2 Peter

1.21 -- 'holy' ['holy men of God']
3.10 -- 'shall be burned up' is changed to 'discovered'; some versions have this change as a footnote only

1 John

1.7 -- 'Christ'
2.20 -- 'ye know all things' is changed to 'you all know'
3.19 -- 'we know' is changed to 'we shall know' [but note the context]
4.3 -- 'Christ is come in the flesh'
4.19 -- 'we love him' is changed to 'we love'
5.7-8 -- Many versions omit 'in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth,' [see Article no. 102, Why 1 John 5.7-8 is in the Bible, available from the Society.]
5.13 -- 'and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God'

2 John

verse 3 -- 'the Lord'
verse 9 -- 'of Christ' [second instance]

Jude

verse 1 -- 'sanctified' is changed to 'beloved'
verse 4 -- 'God'
verse 25 -- 'wise' ['only wise God']

Revelation

1.5 -- 'loved us, and washed us' is changed to 'loves us and released us'
1.9 -- 'Christ' is omitted twice
1.11 -- 'I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last and'
5.14 -- 'him that liveth for ever and ever'
6.1-3, 5, 7 -- 'and see' ['Come and see']
7.5b-8b -- 'were sealed' is omitted in ten of the twelve instances
8.13 -- 'I heard an angel' is changed to 'I heard an eagle'
11.1 -- AV: 'and the angel stood, saying'; NASB: 'and someone said' [RSV: 'and I was told']
11.17 -- 'and art to come'
12.17 -- 'Christ'
14.5 -- 'before the throne of God'
16.5 -- 'O Lord'
19.1 -- 'the Lord'
20.9 -- 'God out of'
20.12 -- 'before God' is changed to 'before the throne'
22.14 -- 'do his commandments' is changed to 'wash their robes'
22.19 -- 'book of life' is changed to 'tree of life'
22.21 -- 'Christ'

A variety of articles is available from the Society. Please contact our International Headquarters or our nearest Branch for ordering information.

A Textual Key to the New Testament A list of Omissions and Changes