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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

In the scholarly endeavor to discern the original wording of Matthew 6:28, we find ourselves at the intersection of textual criticism, paleography, and papyrology. This analysis, informed by a documentary method that gives precedence to the manuscripts themselves while considering internal evidence, seeks to navigate the complexities of textual variants within the framework of a conservative biblical scholarship.

Matthew 6:28 offers two notable readings:

(TR) WH NU The primary reading, supported by the majority of textual witnesses including Codex Sinaiticus’s corrected form (א1), Codex Vaticanus (B), and others, renders the verse as “καταμάθετε τὰ κρίνα τοῦ ἀγροῦ πῶς αὐξάνουσιν· οὐ κοπιῶσιν οὐδὲ νήθουσιν” (“consider how the lilies of the field grow, they neither labor nor spin”).
Variant A variant reading, discovered through the examination of Codex Sinaiticus under ultraviolet light and corroborated by Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 655 (P.Oxy. 655), suggests a different construction: “καταμαθετε τα κρινα του αργου πως ου ξαινουσιν ουδε νηθουσιν ουδε κοπιωσιν” (“consider how the lilies of the field do not card nor spin nor labor”).

The discovery of this variant in Codex Sinaiticus, particularly the use of ξαινω (xainō, “to card wool”) instead of αυξανουσιν (auxanousin, “they grow”), presents a compelling case for reconsideration of the traditional text. The late second-century noncanonical gospel fragment P.Oxy. 655, which echoes the variant reading, provides additional weight to the argument that the original text of Matthew might have included a more detailed description of the lilies’ inactivity, emphasizing their lack of engagement in the preparatory work for weaving, in addition to not laboring.

This nuanced reading not only aligns with the thematic elements of divine provision found in Matthew 6:25-34 but also parallels the triple verbal description concerning the birds in 6:26 (“they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns”). The symmetry and poetic balance achieved through this triadic construction would be consistent with the rhetorical style of Jesus’ teachings, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.

The examination of Codex Sinaiticus under ultraviolet light, revealing the original wording beneath the corrected overlay, underscores the importance of paleographic evidence in textual criticism. This methodological approach, which prioritizes the earliest and most reliable documentary evidence, suggests that early scribes might have inadvertently or intentionally altered the text, leading to the traditional reading found in the majority of later manuscripts.

Considering the evidence from both Codex Sinaiticus and P.Oxy. 655, alongside the methodological principles of preferring the more difficult reading (lectio difficilior potior) and the earlier and more widespread geographic distribution of a reading, the variant that includes the actions of carding and spinning (without mentioning growth) emerges as a plausible contender for the original text of Matthew 6:28. This reading not only offers a clearer thematic link to the surrounding passages but also reflects a more intricate understanding of the natural world’s passivity in the face of divine provision.

In conclusion, while acknowledging the complexity of the textual tradition and the nuances of manuscript evidence, the variant reading that highlights the lilies’ lack of carding, spinning, and laboring presents a compelling case for being closer to the original wording of Matthew 6:28. This conclusion, reached through a careful and conservative examination of the available evidence, reinforces the dynamic and evolving nature of biblical textual scholarship.

About the Author

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