Examples of Vagaries in Marginal Notes

54

Matthew 1: 18 in the A. V. reads: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.” The R. V. marginal note says, “Some ancient authorities read ‘of the Christ’ “ — that is to say, they omit the Name Jesus. But Dean Burgon says:

“Now what are the facts? Not one single known manuscript omits the word Jesus; while its presence is vouched for by the fathers Tatian, Irenaeus, Origen, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Chrysostom, Cyril, in addition to every known Greek copy of the Gospels, and not a few of the versions.”

“Thine is the Kingdom”

In Matthew 6 : 13 the Revisers have rejected the important clause: ‘’For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen”; and in the margin they have put this: “Many authorities, some ancient but with variations, add, ‘For Thine is’ “—etc. Concerning this radical alteration of the Text, and concerning the marginal note thereon, Dean Burgon has this to say:

“All the manuscripts in the world” — over 500, remember — ‘’hut nine contain these words. Is it in any way credible that, in a matter like this, they should all have become corrupted? No hypothesis is needed to account for this, another instance of omission in copies which exhibit a mutilated text on every page.

“The Son of God”

In the Gospel of Mark the first marginal note relates to the supremely important words of verse 1, ‘’the Son of God.” The note says: “Some ancient authorities omit ‘the Son of God.’ “ But the fact is (according to Dean B.) that ‘’the words are found in every known copy hut three, in all the Versions, and in many fathers. The evidence in favor of the clause is therefore overwhelming.” What can have been the object of the Revisers in raising suspicion regarding a verse of supreme importance, as to the authenticity of which the proofs leave no room for any doubt whatever?

“Where Their Worm Dieth Not’’

Concerning Mark 9 : 44-48 and other passages. Dean Burgon, in his “Revision Revised,” says: * ‘ Not only has a fringe of most unreasonable textual mistrust been tacked on to the margin of every in spired page (as from Luke 10:41-11;11) ; not only has many a grand doctrinal statement been evacuated of its authority (as by the shameful mis-statement found in the margin against John 3 :13, affecting the important words which is in heaven, and the vile Socinian gloss which disfigures the margin of Romans