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The Reading Culture of Early Christianity

In Matthew 8:21, we encounter a textual variation that has sparked debate among scholars regarding the precise wording and its implications for understanding the narrative context. The verse records a disciple’s request to Jesus, providing a unique lens through which we can examine the nature of discipleship and commitment. Here, we meticulously analyze the variant readings to discern the most probable original text.

Main Reading (TR NU):

Text: ἕτερος δὲ τῶν μαθητῶν [αὐτοῦ] (“another of his disciples”)
Support: Manuscripts C, L, W, Θ, 0250, f,13, Maj

Variant (WH):

Text: ετερος δε των μαθητων (“another of the disciples”)
Support: Codex Sinaiticus (א), Codex Vaticanus (B), Manuscript 33, it, cop

The critical question hinges on the presence or absence of the word “αὐτοῦ” (“his”), distinguishing whether the disciple in question was explicitly one of Jesus’ own or more generally one of the broader group of followers. The primary reading, endorsed by the Textus Receptus and the Nestle-Aland editions, includes “αὐτοῦ,” while the variant found in the Westcott-Hort edition and supported by the earliest and most significant manuscripts omits it.

The context is pivotal: a disciple expresses the desire to first bury his father before following Jesus fully. This scenario opens a window into the demands of discipleship and the total commitment Jesus requires. The absence of “αὐτοῦ” in the earliest manuscripts may indeed reflect Matthew’s original wording, aimed at portraying a broader category of followers, thereby avoiding the implication that a member of Jesus’ inner circle was seeking to delay their commitment.

Given the variant’s implications, it’s crucial to consider the scribal practices and the narrative context. The omission of “αὐτοῦ” in the earliest manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus points toward a broader interpretation of discipleship, suggesting that the individual was among the wider circle of followers, not necessarily from Jesus’ immediate group. This broader categorization aligns with Matthew’s portrayal of various followers’ challenges in fully committing to Jesus’ call.

The inclusion of “αὐτοῦ” in later manuscripts likely serves to specify and clarify, possibly to ensure readers understand the disciple as being closely associated with Jesus. However, this specification could be a scribal addition, reflecting a tendency to align with common grammatical structures in Matthew’s Gospel rather than the author’s original intent.

Bruce M. Metzger’s commentary highlights the Committee’s ambivalence in deciding the presence of “αὐτοῦ” within square brackets, acknowledging the strong manuscript evidence for its omission but also recognizing the potential for misunderstanding regarding the disciple’s identity. This decision underscores the complexity of textual criticism, where both documentary evidence and the interpretive possibilities of the text must be carefully balanced.

Considering the principles of textual criticism, the argument for the originality of the variant reading without “αὐτοῦ” is compelling. This reading not only has strong manuscript support from the earliest and most reliable sources but also fits within the broader thematic concerns of Matthew’s Gospel regarding the nature of discipleship. The absence of “αὐτοῦ” allows for a wider interpretation of who might be considered a disciple, reflecting the inclusive call to follow Jesus.

In conclusion, after weighing the manuscript evidence and the narrative context, “another of the disciples” (ετερος δε των μαθητων) without the possessive “αὐτοῦ” emerges as the reading that most likely reflects Matthew’s original wording. This analysis underscores the nuanced nature of biblical texts and the importance of a careful and informed approach to textual criticism in understanding the New Testament.

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).