The Mathematics of Mistake

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The Puzzles of God: The Variations in the Manuscripts

See the Superscription of the Cross for a prime example of a mystery of the text that was solved by mathematics.

In Psalm 30 verse 3 we find an unusual scribal error where the fearful object of the sentence (the Pit) is misspelled and mixed up with the prior word. The mathematics of the corrected version reveals that it is the salvation through the name (and number) of Jesus Christ that redeems one soul from the grave.

Psalm 30:3

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave:

thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Psalm 30:3 (Kethib/As written) = 2372

יהוה העלית מן־שאול נפשי חייתני מיורדי־ ור

Psalm 30:3 (Qere/Corrected) = 2368

יהוה העלית מן־שאול נפשי חייתני מירדי־בור

Jesus Christ = 2368

Psalm 79

The Christian Bible, perhaps history’s largest document, is of course, a book of many books, by many authors from many ages. This wondrous volume of work has the undisputed best documented provenance (verifiable lineage) of any collection of historical manuscripts. It is also the product of tens of thousands of unknown and unthanked scribes.

The ancient manuscripts of the New Testament alone number over 5,000 in the Greek, 10,000 in Latin and 9,000 in other ancient languages. All these manuscripts provide the single greatest amassing of evidence of any document in history. It also created the greatest dilemma in the academic arena of textual criticism.

Textual criticism is the study of how the original historical manuscripts are altered via scribal transmission. Prior to the advent of the printing press, all the writing of the past was slavishly copied by hand. This copying process is inherently vulnerable to scribal error. Textual critics attempt to restore the writing to as close as possible to the original, using a wide variety of well established techniques.

This study has created a long list of well known difficulties with many of the books of the New Testament. The disparities of the text are quite numerous as would be expected from a collection of this size: Ten thousand scribes will produce more than ten thousand errors. It must be emphatically stated here, however, that the vast majority of these errors are utterly trivial and nothing more than typos. These minor variations are not considered by any serious theologian to constitute a legitimate threat to the consistency of theology.

This is of course all academic.

However, the Bible is not any ordinary book of history. It is the holy book of the world’s largest religion and purported to be inspired by the Supreme Being by means of the Holy Spirit. Many hold the book to be inerrant (without error) and this disparity has created a rift between the layman and the formally educated scholar.

The Christian layman declares the Bible to be perfect. The scholar responds the manuscripts are rife with error. Is there a middle way? The solution is surprisingly found in an obscure field of mathematics.

The Bible was originally written in the languages of Hebrew and Greek. Both of these languages have strong historical traditions of gematria. Before the introduction of Hindu-Arabic numerals, Hebrew and Greek writers used the letters of their alphabets to represent numbers.

Cryptographically, this makes all the ancient manuscripts of the Bible the world’s largest historical mathematical document.

What is stupendously curious then about the various discrepancies of the manuscripts, is that they appear again and again in the form of a mathematical puzzle. These puzzles, once recognized, are then solved through the application of Biblical gematria.

This paper will outline a number of the more famous discrepancies in the text and how they pose as cryptic puzzles solved by the mathematical application of Hebrew and Greek gematria.

The most famous reference in history to gematria is in the final book of the Bible, Revelation. The number 666, the number of the beast, besides being the infantile obsession of Satanists and heavy metal rock groups, was initially a code written by St. John while imprisoned on the isle of Patmos.

נרונ קסר = Nero Caesar = 666

This number is considered by most historians to be a reference to the then reigning Emperor Nero whose name in transliterated Hebrew comes to 666. For a more thorough examination of this coding see my paper:

ROME 666

One of the variations of this text happens to be found in this very verse. Here again we can see the sort of triviality that many of these discrepancies offer. The Textus Receptus (the source text of the King James Bible) has John’s 666 represented by only the three numbers themselves. However, the Novum Testamentum Graece edition spells out in the numbers in full.

Textus Receptus:

Χξς Six Hundred and Sixty Six

Novum Testamentum Graece:

εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα εξ Six Hundred and Sixty Six

Is this an important distinction? No. Is it a viable variation? Possibly. How does gematria solve this puzzle? Mathematically.

The answer is in what is called the Ordinal Numeration or the place order of the letters in their respective alphabets. Both the Hebrews and Greeks employed the ordinal as indexing numerals for chapter headings and the like. When we apply the ordinal to the spelled out variation of 666, we find a confirmation of both the ordinal application and the historical interpretation of the Caesar Nero hypothesis.

εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα εξ = Six Hundred and Sixty Six = 199

Αυτοκρατωρ Καισαρ = Emperor Caesar = 199

John tells us, in Revelation, that the number of the beast (666) is the number of a man. Here we see that number in two separate ways represents the ruling power of Rome in the person of the Emperor himself. More importantly and shockingly, it suggests that the variations in the manuscripts are not errors, but a further elaboration of the original code.

One of the techniques in the mathematical analysis of the variations is to compare the sum of the main original text to that of the variation portion. Here the sum of the original text of the verse, without the variable 666, comes to 13,525.

Revelation 13:18 (w/o 666) = 13,525

The spelled out portion of the variable, found in the Novum Testamentum Graece comes to an unremarkable 1,025.

εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα εξ = 1,025 (standard Greek)

These sums could have been easily calculated by the author and or any subsequent scribe. What would have been much more difficult to calculate or even suspect is the absolutely remarkable pattern we see in the prime factors of these two numbers.

5 x 5 x 541 = 13,525

5 x 5 x 41 = 1,025

The chances that these numbers would pattern up like this as a random occurrence, is extremely remote. There are only five numbers under 20,000 that would fit this pattern of prime factorization. The chances, then, of this occurring by random chance once, is about one in four thousand or 0.025%. We would multiply these two chances together to get an estimate on the chances of both of these segments finding this rare prime factoring pattern.

5 x 5 x 41 = 1,025

5 x 5 x 241 = 6,025

5 x 5 x 541 = 13,525

5 x 5 x 641 = 16,025

5 x 5 x 941 = 23,525

5 out of 20,000 = 0.025%

(0.025%) x (0.025%) = 0.00000625% = 1 in 10 Million

That’s roughly about one in a ten million chance of this pattern happening by chance. The math of probability theory informs us here, that something other than a simple scribal error is at work.

Another variation in this verse comes from the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus and other manuscripts, which has the number of the beast as a somewhat subdued and domesticated 616. Some scholars have theorized this might be Nero Caesar again, but dropping the ‘N’ that ends Neron.

נרונ קסר = Nero Caesar = 666

נרו קסר = Nero Caesar = 616

This is possible, but what is much more compelling is that this variation perfectly aligns with another strong candidate for the imperial ‘Beast,’ in that of Caligula, whose Roman name was Gaius Caesar. John says there are two beasts who deify themselves. Both Caligula and Nero declared themselves living gods and demanded that they be worshipped, so it is perfectly fitting that the only variant to 666 is 616 which sums perfectly to Gaius Caesar (Caligula).

Gaios Caesar (Caligula) = Γαιος Καισαρ = 616

Γ α ι ο ς Κ α ι σ α ρ

3+1+10+70+200+20+1+10+200+1+100 = 616

A statue depicting the monstrous Gaius ‘Caligula’ Caesar.

If these were the only incidents of this kind they might be safely ignored. However, we see this type of pattern repeated again and again in many of the well known variations of the text.

One of the most famous and controversial discrepancies is in Matthew 6:13 with the final portion of the Lord’s Prayer.

Like a dagger hanging over the heart of Christianity, this threatens the veracity of the whole prayer itself. Yet we find in this supposed discrepancy, a host of highly improbable coincidences that align with this most footnoted of texts, as if something beyond the author and scribes was manipulating events to draw our attention to these telling mathematical marvels.

The first rendition below is found in the Textus Receptus and is the traditional reading. The second is the Critical Text (a variation found in other ancient manuscripts) that omits the latter half of the verse.

Matthew 6:13

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

When we look at the gematria of this verse it does NOT appear as a problem but instead as more of an exposition of extraordinary mathematics. Once again the solution is found in the Greek ordinal. Numbering the two sections we find the first to have a value of 633 while the second section comes to 591.

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

= 633

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

= 591

The fundamental feature of any number is its prime factors. Prime factorization is the basis of modern number theory, which is the basis of mathematics, which is the basis of science itself. What is unusual is that both of these numbers are semi-prime meaning that they only have two prime factors. This alone is noteworthy as it is unlikely.

3 x 211 = 633

3 x 197 = 591

Semi-prime numbers represent around 20% of all the whole numbers. So it is unusual to see these two match up like this. What makes this doubly unusual is that they both share the factors of three. Numerically this may be unremarkable, but in the context of the New Testament the number three has the very distinct meaning of the Trinity.

More interestingly these factors correspond to two very important words in Hebrew gematria, that expand upon the meaning of the verse.

3 x 211 = 633

הדבר = The Word = 211

3 x 197 = 591

עמנואל = Emmanuel = 197

That these segments of the variation would so nicely fit a pattern like this, is strongly suggestive that a divine hand is at work even after the original composition of the text. Since this sort of patterning is of such of a high degree of complexity, one could even espouse a theory that variations in the text were not only allowed for, but prepared for by the divine hand in anticipation of the composition of the text.

This verse is a most important verse for the foundation of the Christian religion as it is the very prayer of its founder. We find in this variation something that initially gave us pause, but now should very much make us praise.

We find that our 633 is not only ‘The Word’ times three is also the Word of God in Greek.

3 x 211 = 633

הדבר = The Word = 211

Ρημα Θεου = Word of God = 633

Incredibly, this number also corresponds to a very important declaration that is extrabiblical, but of no less historic importance in the founding of Christianity. Here we find that the very first line of the Apostle’s Creed in the ordinal matches our 633 again.

The Apostle’s Creed

I Believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth.

Πιστευω εις Θεον Πατερα παντοκρατορα ποιητην ουρανου και γης

= 633

Since this verse (Mat. 6:13) is so critical to the foundation of Christianity, it would seem that God does not allow it to be altered without covering it in a great cloud of coincidence. For even more, we find the ordinal sum of the entire verse to be one of the most famous numbers in Greek gematria.

In John 21:11 we have Simon Peter hauling in a net full of fish that were numbered at 153. Since this citation is rather specific, commentators have long sought a further explanation of the number itself. Here again, we find a puzzle whose solution is mathematical.

The verse references three aspects that are related mathematically. The Net, Fishes and One Hunderd and Fifty-Three. To a Greek reader of this passage it wouldn’t take much mathematical sleuthing to see the connection, as ‘The Net’ and the word for ‘Fishes’ are equal and what’s more is a multiple of 153.

το δικτυον = The Net = 1224

Ιχυες = Fishes = 1224

153 x 8 = 1224

This simple puzzle was most likely known to the early church. The author’s John Michell and David Fideler (City of Revelation & Jesus Christ Sun of God) claim early commentators cited this example.

The meaning of the solution to the 153 fishes puzzle, may not be obvious, but it is found in the number Eight itself. This is the number of Jesus and his name, which comes to 888 in the Greek. This ‘Eightness’ is related to the mystery of the eighth day, that is the new Sunday of his resurrection, the resurrected day of the week. All of this then relates to the Icthus or The Fish of Christ, that acronym of Christ and the most ubiquitous bumper sticker of the modern world.

These coincidences are all meant to point one to the ultimate reference of this number. For in the Greek, 1224, is the full name of the Lord God, that uniquely Hebrew expression perfectly translated and clearly the fullest meaning of this number.

Ο Κυριος Ο Θεος = The Lord God = 1224

Going back to Matthew 6:13, it is remarkable that this highly contentious verse, this verse with a most curious omission in a most prominent part of the Gospel, should have the same value as this famous gematria number, the number of the Lord God.

Matthew 6:13

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

και μη εισενεγκης ημας εις πειρασμον αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου οτι σου εστιν η βασιλεια και η δυναμις και η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην

= 1224 (Greek Ordinal)

In this light, the variation in this verse no longer seems an error, but rather a highlighting of the text by a supernatural agency, highlighted so that its mathematical mysteries may someday be revealed.

These variations of the text are well known by scholars, what wasn’t known however, is they may all be mathematical puzzles. An easy one for instance, is found in Mark 9:49. Here the critical text omits the latter underlined portion of the verse.

Mark 9:49

For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

πας γαρ πυρι αλισθησεται και πασα θυσια αλι αλισθησεται

The seasoning with salt of the sacrifice, is a reference to the Old Testament practice of salting the sacrifice on the altar. Here we find another incredible coincidence related to the omitted portion. This segment is the equivalent to the word that means things offered to idols in Greek, that is to say a sacrificial meat offering. This is not any grand theological pronouncement, it is simply an alphanumerical rhyme in the numbers, something like a mathematical pun.

And every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt

και πασα θυσια αλι αλισθησεται = 1748

Ειδωλοθυτον = ‘Things-offered-to-idols’ = 1748

We have another simple puzzle in John 1:18 where one critical text replaces ‘The only begotten Son’ with the dubious ‘Only begotten God.’ The mathematical puzzle here couldn’t be more direct. One is to compare the number of the name of God to that of the Son. When we do so we find this simple equation provides our answer.

God + The Jesus = Son

Θεος + היהושע = Υιος

284 + 396 = 680

The name and spelling of this Jesus is the Hebrew name for Joshua the name that the New Testament translates as Jesus (Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8). This is without doubt the way Jesus would have spelled his name in Hebrew and the Yeshua of modern Hebrew is a corruption of a corruption of a corruption of the name.

In Luke 1:28, a portion of the verse ‘Blessed art thou amongst women’ does not appear in all manuscripts. Here the solution is found in the ordinal and it is a play on the number 17 and what 17 means in Hebrew.

The whole verse has 17 words and this is the key. The omitted portion has 25 letters, which is 5 squared (5 x 5 = 25). The ordinal sum of the 25 letters is 289, which is 17 squared (17 x 17 = 289) 289 is the sum of the word for shape in Greek and its value is a shape, a square. The meaning of the shape, this square, is found in its dimensions, which are 17 and 17 in Hebrew means ‘Good’. What could be more blessed than ‘Good?’

Ειδος = Shape = 289

289 = 17 x 17

17 = Good טוב

Another variant problem in Biblical Textual Criticism is that the Textus Receptus sometimes stands alone in its representation of a verse. One of these is in Acts 8:37.

Acts 8:37

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.

Ειπεν δε ο φιλιππος ει πιστευεις εξ ολης της καρδιας εξεστιν αποκριθεις δε ειπεν πιστευω τον υιον του θεου ειναι τον ιησουν χριστον

5,9,16,5, 13, 4,5, 15, 21,9,11,9,16,16,15,18, 5,9, 16,9,18,19,5,20,5,9,18, 5,14, 15,11,7,18, 19,7,18, 10,1,17,4,9,1,18, 5,14,5,18,19,9,13,1,16,15,10,17,9,8,5,9,18, 4,5, 5,9,16,5,13, 16,9,18,19,5,20,24, 19,15,13, 20,9,15,13, 19,15,20, 8,5,15,20, 5,9,13,1,9, 19,15,13, 9,7,18,15,20,13, 22,17,9,18,19,15,13,

Ordinal Value = 1338

Here the puzzle is solved in the word Sothesomai. The ordinal sum of the verse comes to 1338 which is the same as the Greek for ‘I shall be made whole,’ from Mat. 9:21, where the wounded women needed only to touch the hem of Christ’s garment to be made whole again.

Σωθησομαι = I shall be made whole = 1338

Acts 8:37 = 1338

The riddle here has a double meaning in that the text is made whole by the understanding of this connection and that a believer can be made whole by a confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In a similar vein we have a trinity of puzzles that are all solved by inflections of the same word. The word is Pleroma which means fullness. This word is most well known from the verse speaking of patching an old garment with a new piece of cloth.

Matthew 9:16

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to full up (το Πληρωμα/ The Pleroma) taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

ουδεις δε επιβαλλει επιβλημα ρακους αγναφου επι ιματιω παλαιω αιρει γαρ το πληρωμα αυτου απο του ιματιου και χειρον σχισμα γινεται

This word, somewhat playfully, ‘patches’ the omissions of three separate verses. This Pleroma is a semantic and mathematical patch for this omission. It echoes the intended fullness of the text.

In Matthew 20:16 we see a critical text that omits the final underlined portion. The sum of this last segment comes to 1429 the same value for The Pleroma, the patch that is the fullness.

The underlined portion is omitted in some ancient manuscripts.

Mat. 20:16

So the last will be first and the first last. For many are called but few are chosen.

Omitted text = 1429

το Πληρωμα = The Fullness = 1429

This appears to be a bit of Divine wordplay. For we see this again in Revelation 1:8, where the words ‘Beginning and End’ and ‘God’ are omitted in the critical text. The sum of these words comes to 1629, which is the same as the genitive version (possessive form) of the pleroma.

Αρχη και τελος = Beginning and End = 1345

Θεος = God = 284

1345 + 284 = 1629

Πληρωματος = Of the Fullness = 1629

Once more, this word solves the dilemma in Matthew 24:36 where some critical texts have inserted ‘Not the Son,’ the value of which is the same ‘To fill up’ the aorist infinitive inflection of this word.

Ουδε ο Υιος = Not the Son = 1229

Πλγρωσαι = To Fill up = 1229

It would appear that God is not without a sense of humor. But do not let the comedy of it undermine the theological implication. For the meaning of these findings, if taken at face value, is evidence of divine providence. In order for these variations to be coordinated like this would require an anticipation of the eventual scribal error, such that the text could be mathematically prepared beforehand to resolve the dilemma.

This, in a way, splits the hair in half. Like Christ rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, here we see both Arminianism (Free will) and Calvinism (Predestination) at work. The scribal errors are acts of freewill, while the predestined solution, is the providence of God. So in a way, we are free to error, but it has already been anticipated.

These little puzzles are too many and in some instances far too improbable, to be easily ignored. When we place them in the light of the other marvelous mathematical discoveries that have been made in Biblical numerics in the last few years, we are forced to reexamine our current perspective on Biblical textual criticism.

In textual criticism only the original composition of the text is important However, if we believe that the text is co-authored by the Supreme Being, we have no reason to restrict our focus to such a narrow window of time. The Supreme Being, as co-author, can guide and inspire the text throughout all the ages of man. It appears that when he does so, He leaves an indelible mark in the mathematics.

To see the darkest puzzle in the Bible read: Judas Iscariot

The following list of variations found in the ancient manuscripts of the New Testament may seem to the skeptic as problems. To this author, this list also appears as a series of problems, but problems that are not problematic. These variations look to the student of Biblical gematria as quiz questions posed by the hand of the most high, that is, problems waiting to be solved.

Variations between Majority Text/Textus Receptus and critical text

The following list contains texts where the Majority Text is in agreement with the Textus Receptus, against the critical text.

MT = Majority Text. CT = Critical text

Gospels

Matthew 5:44

MT: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

CT: But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 6:13

MT: And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

CT: And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 17:21

MT: However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

CT: Verse omitted

Matthew 18:11

MT: For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

CT: Verse omitted

Matthew 20:16

MT: So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.

CT: So the last will be first, and the first last.

Matthew 20:22, 23

MT: But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.

CT: But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.

Matthew 23:14

MT: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.

CT: Verse omitted

Most manuscripts omit this verse. It may have been inserted from Mark 12:40 or Luke 20:47. This passage is called the Seven Condemnations of Jesus, however, if this verse is included, it would make EIGHT condemnations.

Tradition holds this happened on Holy Tuesday, the third day of the week, making this a 3/7 connection.

Matthew 24:36

MT: But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

CT: But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but My Father only.

Matthew 27:16

MT: At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.

CT: At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called [Jesus] Barabbas.

Mark 2:16

MT: “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” (see Lk 5:30)

CT: “Why is He eating with tax collectors and sinners?”

Mark 6:11

MT: And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

CT: And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them.

Mark 7:8

MT: For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.

CT: For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men.

Mark 7:16

MT: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!

CT: Verse omitted

Mark 9:43-46

MT: If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

CT: If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell.

Mark 9:49

MT: For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.

CT: For everyone will be seasoned with fire.

Mark 10:24

MT: And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

CT: And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

Mark 11:26

MT: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

CT: Verse omitted

Mark 14:19

MT: And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?”

CT: And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?”

Mark 15:28

MT: So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.

CT: Verse omitted

Mark 16:9-20

Omitted in the critical text.

Luke 1:28

MT: And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

CT: And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you!”

Luke 2:14

MT: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

CT: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 9:55-56

MT: But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

CT: But He turned and rebuked them. And they went to another village.

Luke 11:2-4

MT: So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

CT: So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.”

Luke 11:11

MT: If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

CT: If a son asks from any father among you for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

Luke 22:43-44

MT: Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

CT: Verses marked as a later addition

Luke 23:17

MT: (for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast)

CT: Verse omitted

Luke 23:34

MT: Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

CT: And they divided His garments and cast lots. (The first sentence is marked as a later addition)

John 1:18

MT: No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

CT: No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

John 5:3-4

MT: In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

CT: In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed.

John 6:69

MT: Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

CT: Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.

John 7:53-8:11

Passage omitted in the critical text.

John 8:59

MT: Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

CT: Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

Acts

Acts 2:30

MT: Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne

CT: Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, He would seat one on his throne

Acts 13:42

MT: So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

CT: And when they went out, they begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

Acts 15:24

MT: Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment

CT: Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no such commandment

Acts 18:21

MT: but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

CT: but took leave of them, saying, “I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.

Acts 23:9

MT: Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

CT: Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

Acts 24:6-8

MT: "He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

CT: "He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

Acts 28:29

MT: And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

CT: Verse omitted

Pauline epistles

Rom 8:1

MT: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

CT: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom 10:15

MT: And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

CT: And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Rom 11:6

MT: And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

CT: And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Rom 14:6

MT: He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

CT: He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Rom 16:24

MT: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

CT: Verse omitted

1 Cor 6:20

MT: For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

CT: For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

1 Cor 9:20

MT: and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law

CT: and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, though not being myself under the law that I might win those who are under the law

1 Cor 14:38

MT: But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

CT: But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

Gal 3:1

MT: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

CT: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

Eph 5:30

MT: For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

CT: For we are members of His body.

Php 3:16

MT: Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

CT: Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same.

1 Tim 3:16

MT: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

CT: By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

1 Tim 6:5

MT: useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

CT: useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

General epistles

Hebrews 10:34

MT: for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

CT: for you had compassion on the prisoners, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.

1 Peter 2:2

MT: as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby

CT: as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby up to salvation

1 Peter 4:14

MT: If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

CT: If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

2 Peter 1:21

MT: for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

CT: for prophecy never came by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

1 John 3:1

MT: Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

CT: Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! And we are. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

1 John 4:3

MT: and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

CT: and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

1 John 5:13

MT: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

CT: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Jude 22-23

MT: And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

CT: And on some have compassion, who are doubting; but others save, pulling them out of the fire, and on some have mercy with fear hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Jude 25

MT: To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

CT: To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Before all time, now and forever. Amen.

Revelation

Rev 22:14

MT: Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

CT: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Variations between Textus Receptus and Majority Text

The following list contains texts where the Majority Text varies from the Textus Receptus. Critical text readings are indicated where these diverge from both.

TR = Textus Receptus. MT = Majority text. CT = critical text

Gospels

Matthew 27:35

TR: Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

MT/CT: Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots.

Luke 17:36

TR: Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.

MT/CT: Verse omitted

Acts

Acts 8:37

TR: Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

MT/CT: Verse omitted

Acts 9:5-6

TR: And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

MT/CT: And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Acts 10:6

TR: “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

MT/CT: “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

Acts 10:21

TR: Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

MT/CT: Then Peter went down to the men, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

Acts 15:34

TR: However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

MT/CT: Verse omitted

Pauline epistles

Romans 16:25-27

MT: Verses are placed after Rom 14:23

General epistles

Hebrews 2:7

TR: You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.

MT/CT: You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor.

Hebrews 12:20

TR: For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”

MT/CT: For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”

1 John 5:7-8

Main article:

TR: For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

MT/CT: For there are three that bear witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Revelation

Rev 1:8

TR: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

MT/CT: “I am the Alpha and the Omega” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Rev 1:11

TR: saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

MT/CT: saying, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Rev 2:20

TR: Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman, Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

MT: Nevertheless I have against you that you tolerate your wife Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, and teaches and seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

CT: Nevertheless I have against you that you tolerate that woman, Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, and teaches and seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Rev 4:2-3

TR/CT: Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

MT: Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Rev 5:14

TR: Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

MT/CT: Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped Him.

Rev 8:7

TR: The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

MT/CT: The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth and a third of the earth was burned up. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

Rev 11:17

TR: saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned."

MT/CT: saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned."

Rev 14:5

TR: And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

MT/CT: And in their mouth was found no falsehood, for they are without fault.

Rev 16:5

TR: And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things."

MT/CT: And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, The One who is and who was, the Holy One, Because You have judged these things."

Rev 21:24

TR: And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

MT: And the nations shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations to Him.

CT: And the nations shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Rev 22:19

TR: and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

MT: and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the Tree of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

CT: and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Tree of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

In this last citation, we find an intriguing connection in the difference between the primary variation, which is 'The Book of Life' and 'The Tree of Life.' The difference between the two, and book and tree for that matter, in Greek is 296, the 8th multiple of 37 and the final word in the first verse of the Bible, meaning 'The Earth.'

In Hebrew The Tree of Life = 233.

עץ החיים

= 233

296 = 233rd composite number

To any mystics who like to speculate about such things as the Tree of Life, such a 296 variation, might make all the 'difference' in the world....

The Greek sum of 'The Book of Life' is almost exactly the same as The Golden Ratio to the 16th power, 16 itself being the first approximation of 1.618 Golden Ration and for all intents and purposes the same.

The Book of Life (το βιβλος της ζωης) = 2207

Phi^16 (φ¹⁶) 2206.9969

This is made doubly interesting as the ordinal difference between Tree and Book is another 16 (73 - 57 = 16).

Want to get the latest discoveries in biblical mathematics? Then email johnelias@israelmail.com Subject Line: Updates!

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