The Johannine Comma: Inspiration? Or Interpolation?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Eliseus

First off, the arguments which suggest that the Johannine Comma is an interpolation are insufficient to warrant removing the passage from the Scripture. The words of God are extremely important, and therefore it is with extreme caution that we should even contemplate striking words from the text. I do not imagine God would take kindly to us willy-nilly altering God's Word.

Also, we must be extremely wary of succumbing to the temptation of cultism, which whispers in our ear that if a particular passageof Scripture does not suit our doctrine, we should simply cry 'interpolation!' and get rid of it. In fact, if we as a movement begin to promote the idea that the Johannine Comma is an interpolation and ought to be removed, we will find ourselves severely rebuked by trinitarians for this very thing. They will accuse us of simply altering the words of God to better fit our doctrine, of removing offending passages that contradict our doctrine, and so forth. Therefore, we had better be able to show beyond any reasonable doubt whatsoever that the passage in question is without any question an interpolation, and not worthy of inclusion in the canon of Scripture.

Furthermore, imagine the surprise elicited from someone you are witnessing to, when you tell them 'Well, I know this verse sounds like it reads thus, but in reality this verse doesn't even belong in the Bible...' What seeds of doubt have you just planted in their minds concerning the integrity of the Word of God? What else may need to be excised? And if they agree that various portions of Scripture ought to be excised, where will it end? What cult may they fall victim to, having already agreed to the premise that all those 'difficult' verses may be freely expunged from the record?

I would suggest then the subject is no easy come, easy go subject. Anyone who would lightly undertake to correct the Bible or say 'this verse, long accepted by Christians everywhere, ought to be withdrawn and forgotten' is foolhardy at best. This does not mean we should not 'prove all things, hold fast that which is good' but it does mean we better have our ducks lined up perfectly lest we be found guilty of adding to and taking away from God's words.

Randy, you want "references" for this post? Seriously?

[Scott Pitta]

If we translate the NT from Latin, there would be more manuscript support for the comma. But only 4 manuscripts demands detailed justification for being included in the text. Should we include every reading that only has 4 manuscripts for support ??

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Scott Pitta

If we translate the NT from Latin, there would be more manuscript support for the comma. But only 4 manuscripts demands detailed justification for being included in the text. Should we include every reading that only has 4 manuscripts for support ??

Was there not a claim made that without the Comma the grammar of the text is damaged?

[Scott Pitta]

I have not seen such a comment.

Does anyone have any documentation along this line ??

Good question.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Steven Avery

The 4th and 5th and 6th century Greek mss are woefully corrupt, and differ from each other in thousands of spots.

Which forth century MSS are you referring to?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Now look, this forum does NOT have any emoticons that accurately represent the explosive force of the guffaw that erupted from my throat when I read this bolded portion above. I didn't even have a drink on hand but I think I still managed to spit something out onto my screen, possibly cerebral fluid.

Please, be careful, some of us might have trouble, a man can almost die laughing around here.

Seriously?

You didn't know that Revelation was originally written in Paleo Hebrew and that is the reason why Dan is missing from Revelation 7:5-8?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Seriously?

You didn't know that Revelation was originally written in Paleo Hebrew and that is the reason why Dan is missing from Revelation 7:5-8?

Okay, now I'm hurting.

[Scott Pitta]

We already covered the Dan omission in Rev. and it has nothing to do with the Greek text. 2 names are left out of the list and are replaced by 2 others.

There are no variations to the Greek text of Revelation to indicate any scribal change.

There are presently no Paleo Hebrew manuscripts for us to review or translate.

Please, let's focus on the comma, before Esaias goes into a coma over a comma

[randyabrown]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Randy, you want "references" for this post? Seriously?

Start at post 20 then. The question was for all of your claims, not only post 19. I'm simply asking for references for each of your claims. When I was in college, if I turned a paper in that said "David Bernard says..." but didn't provide the book title and page number (we used APA citation) I would get a failing grade.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by randyabrown

Start at post 20 then. The question was for all of your claims, not only post 19. I'm simply asking for references for each of your claims. When I was in college, if I turned a paper in that said "David Bernard says..." but didn't provide the book title and page number (we used APA citation) I would get a failing grade.

This thread is several years old! I am not turning in a paper for a grade! I also don't feel like digging back and doing all the work AGAIN just to put up a bibliography.