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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

Explore the nuances of Matthew 3:7 through a detailed analysis of its textual variants. This article examines the differences between early and later Greek manuscripts, offering insights into the original meaning of the verse and its context within the Gospel of Matthew. Understand the significance of each variant and how they contribute to our comprehension of the New Testament narrative.

Introduction

The passage in question, Matthew 3:7, presents a textual variant that warrants a thorough examination. In the realm of New Testament textual criticism, the goal is to ascertain the most likely original wording of the text as it was penned by the author. This involves analyzing the available manuscript evidence, considering the context, and weighing the internal and external evidences.

Manuscript Evidence and Analysis

Textual Variants Overview

Textus Receptus (TR) and Nestle-Aland/United Bible Societies (NU) Reading:
- Greek: ἐρχομένους ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ (erchomenous epi to baptisma autou)
- Translation: “they were coming to his baptism”
- Manuscript Support: א1, C, D, L, W, 0233, f1, 33, Majority Text, Latin, Syriac, Coptic
Variant/Westcott-Hort (WH) Reading:
- Greek: ερχομενους επι το βαπτισμα (erchomenous epi to baptisma)
- Translation: “they were coming to the baptism”
- Manuscript Support: א*, B, Coptic, Origen

External Evidence

The variant reading has support from some of the earliest and most reliable manuscripts, notably Codex Sinaiticus (א*) and Codex Vaticanus (B). These manuscripts, generally dated to the 4th century, are critical in the Alexandrian text-type. The absence of “αὐτοῦ” (his) in these texts suggests a more primitive form of the text.

The TR/NU reading, while supported by a wider range of manuscripts, including later Byzantine texts and versions, may reflect a clarifying alteration. The addition of “αὐτοῦ” (his) could have been an editorial decision to emphasize that the people were coming specifically to John’s baptism.

Internal Evidence

From an internal perspective, the shorter reading “ερχομενους επι το βαπτισμα” (they were coming to the baptism) aligns with the succinct style typically found in early manuscript traditions. The absence of the possessive “αὐτοῦ” (his) does not diminish the clarity of the narrative but rather maintains a focus on the baptismal event itself. This suggests a likelihood that the original text may have been more general without specifying whose baptism it was.

Conclusion

Considering both external and internal evidence, it appears that the original wording of Matthew 3:7 most likely did not include “αὐτοῦ” (his). The earliest and most reliable manuscripts support this reading, and the textual variant seems to align with the more concise and general style of early Christian writings. The later addition found in the TR/NU texts likely served to clarify the context but does not reflect the original authorial intent. Therefore, the original reading of Matthew 3:7 is best represented by “ερχομενους επι το βαπτισμα” (they were coming to the baptism), as found in the Alexandrian manuscripts. This conclusion aligns with the documentary approach and gives precedence to the earliest textual evidence while still considering the broader manuscript tradition and internal stylistic analysis.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).