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GREEK:
THE BYZANTINE/MAJORITY GREEK NEW TESTAMENT
As edited by
William G. Pierpont
and
Maurice A. Robinson
Prepared in the present format by
Maurice A. Robinson, Ph.D.
Version 1.0, 1 July 1990
(c) 1990 and Released as FREEWARE by the Editors
FREEWARE DECLARATION:
Jesus stated in John 2:16, "Do NOT make my Father's
house a house of merchandise!" (mh poieite ton oikon
tou patrov mou oikon emporiou). This Bible product
therefore may NOT be sold for commercial profit.
A SMALL copying/distribution charge may be assessed
for these Greek New Testament files as distributed
but even this fee must be kept to a minimum.
Publishers of commercial products are specifically
prohibited from including these files within a program
or other package intended for commercial gain without
making prior arrangement with the copyright holder.
A generous donation to your favorite evangelical
organization is encouraged. If you have none, the
author would suggest Thru the Bible Radio, Box 7100,
Pasadena, CA 91109, through which he first heard the
Word of God TAUGHT verse-by-verse.
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 2
INTRODUCTION
The entire Byzantine/Majority Text Greek New Testament is
included in the present collection of files. The text appears
in a simple transliterated ASCII format, whereby a single
English letter represents a single Greek letter according to
the following scheme:
Alpha = a Nu = n
Beta = b Xi = x
Gamma = g Omicron = o
Delta = d Pi = p
Epsilon = e Rho = r
Zeta = z Sigma = s
Eta = h Tau = t
Theta = y Upsilon = u
Iota = i Phi = f
Kappa = k Chi = c
Lambda = l Psi = q
Mu = m Omega = w
Sigma final = v
This transliteration method agrees closely with the placement
of keys on Greek-language typewriters and is identical with that
used by the commercial printer/font driver software LETTRIX,
published by Hammerlab, Inc. Through the use of LETTRIX or other
dot-matrix font drivers, the present Greek New Testament text can
be printed in hard copy on a dot-matrix printer using actual Greek
characters with an optional mixture of additional text in various
English, Hebrew, or even Russian fonts. Further information
regarding LETTRIX appears at the end of this documentation.
For convenience in study, the user may utilize the various Greek NT files
into ASCII form using UED or other word processors. With a proper font
driver, these ASCII files then can be printed in their native Greek
characters.
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 3
THE NATURE OF THE BYZANTINE/MAJORITY TEXT
The Byzantine/Majority Text contained herein is that edited and
refined by William G. Pierpont and Maurice A. Robinson, during the
period 1974-1990. The primary textual apparatus utilized in the
preparation of the present edition was that of Hermann Freiherr
Von Soden, "Die Schriften des Neuen Testaments in ihrer altesten
erreichbaren Textgestalt" (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht,
1911).
This same Von Soden apparatus was utilized by Zane C. Hodges and
Arthur L. Farstad in their edition of "The Greek New Testament
According to the Majority Text," 2nd ed. (Nashville: Thomas
Nelson, 1985). For the bulk of the New Testament, the present
text appears quite similar to that of Hodges/Farstad. However,
since the Hodges/Farstad text was constructed on the basis of
slightly differing principles, the present text is not always
identical with their edition.
Textual differences from Hodges/Farstad are due either to the
different interpretation of identical data, the use or rejection
of additional data, or because some items in the difficult-to-read
Von Soden apparatus were neglected or misinterpreted by human
error. These differences are noticeable in closely-divided
Byzantine readings appearing from time to time in Matthew through
Jude (marked "Mpt" in Hodges/Farstad), but especially in John
7:53-8:11 (the "Pericope Adultera"), as well as in the entire book
of the Revelation.
The differences between the present edition and that of Hodges/
Farstad in the Pericope Adultera and the Revelation derive from
the Hodges/Farstad use of a stemmatic-genealogical approach for
reconstructing a basic text, following Von Soden and Herman C.
Hoskier respectively. The present edition does not apply a
stemmatic-genealogical approach anywhere in the New Testament.
Rather, the present text of the Pericope Adultera reflects a
differing interpretation of Von Soden's data (Von Soden there
provided stemmatic rather than his normal K-group data). In
editing this passage, the evidence of the Von Soden apparatus
and introduction has been carefully compared with that of other
critical editions, including the current and generally accurate
Nestle-Aland 26th edition. The resultant text attempts to
recreate a basic Byzantine text for the Pericope Adultera,
as evidenced among the earliest extant MSS which contain that
passage.
For the book of the Revelation, the present editors have
constructed a working "Traditional Text" from the full
collation data of Herman C. Hoskier's "Concerning the Text
of the Apocalypse" (London: Bernard Quaritch, 1929). In the
Revelation there is not a single unified "Byzantine/Majority"
Textform (as exists in the rest of the New Testament), but two
complementary textual traditions, each supported by an
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 4
approximately equal number of MSS. One tradition is called the
"An" text (named for Andreas, whose commentary accompanies most
MSS of this type); the other tradition is called the "Q" text
(the remaining mass of MSS).
Where "An" and "Q" agree, a true "Byzantine/Majority" consensus
text exists. Where they disagree, however, a working text has
been reconstructed on the basis of acceptable external and
internal standards of New Testament Textual Criticism, following
the basic criteria of John W. Burgon rather than the stemmatic-
genealogical approach of Hodges/Farstad. The original (and
strictly "majority-consensus") working text of Revelation was
developed in 1977 for dissertation research purposes by M. A.
Robinson, but since that time has been carefully and extensively
revised to reflect a more generally acceptable "traditional" text.
The present edition reflects the latest and most complete revision
of that text.
In the New Testament, the Byzantine/Majority Textform reflects a
general agreement with early printed editions which were based
upon Byzantine-era manuscripts (even though no single manuscript
or printed edition is 100% identical with the Byzantine Textform).
Such MSS are commonly termed "Textus Receptus" or "Received Text"
documents, based upon the name finally given those early printed
Greek editions in 1624. These include the editions of Erasmus
1516, Stephens 1550, Beza 1598, and (the one actually termed
"Textus Receptus") Elzevir 1624. George Ricker Berry correctly
noted that "in the main they are one and the same; and [any] of
them may be referred to as the Textus Receptus" (George Ricker
Berry, ed., "The Interlinear Literal Translation of the Greek New
Testament" [New York: Hinds & Noble, 1897], p.ii).
All these early printed Greek New Testaments closely parallel the
text of the English-language King James (or Authorized) Version
of 1611. That version was based closely upon Beza 1598, which
differed little from its Textus Receptus predecessors or from
the general aggregate text of the Byzantine manuscripts. This
"Byzantine" Textform (otherwise called the "Majority" or
"Traditional" Text) predominated throughout the greatest period
of manual copying of Greek New Testament manuscripts. Many
evangelical Greek scholars have begun to re-evaluate the
authenticity-claims of the Byzantine Textform over against the
subjectively-based textual preferences of the past century and
a half, whether stemming from documentarians such as Lachmann,
Tregelles or Westcott and Hort; from modern "reasoned" eclectic
theorists such as Metzger, Aland or Fee; or from "rigorous"
eclectic theorists such as Kilpatrick or Elliott.
One should note that the present Byzantine/Majority Textform
edition does NOT agree with modern critical editions such as
those published by the United Bible Societies or the various
Nestle-Aland editions. These editions follow a predominantly
"Alexandrian" Greek text, as opposed to the Byzantine Textform
found in the vast majority of manuscripts. For more information
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 5
on these technical text-critical matters, consult the
bibliographical resources listed below.
The significant translatable differences between the modern
critical texts, the King James Version, and the Byzantine/Majority
Textform are most clearly presented in the NU- and M-text
footnotes appended to editions of the New King James Version,
published by Thomas Nelson Co. The M-notes in that edition,
however, reflect the Hodges/Farstad Majority Text and do not
always coincide with the present Byzantine/Majority Textform
edition.
One should remember that NO printed Receptus Greek text agrees
100% with the aggregate Byzantine/Majority manuscript tradition.
However, the printed Receptus texts DO approximate the Byzantine
Textform closely enough (around 98% agreement) to claim a near-
identity of reading between any Receptus edition and the majority
of all manuscripts.
ORTHOGRAPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Following Berry, the present editors have standardized their
presentation of the Greek text of Matthew through Jude by
adopting certain stylistic conventions concerning the movable
letters -n and -v (final "s"). These in no way affect the actual
meaning of the Greek text, being solely matters of orthography
(spelling variations) for ease of pronunciation. As Berry states
in his "Introduction" (p.ii),
we have . . . added the final -n to the third person
singular and plural in -si; third singular in -e;
in datives plural in -si &c. For "outw" we have
given "outwv." [Greek modified to current format]
While these changes differ but slightly from the format of the
original Stephens 1550 Textus Receptus, they do deviate from
contemporary practice in printed Greek New Testaments, where the
movable letters are added or omitted in accordance with strict
grammatical rules. Note, however, that the presence or absence
of movable letters in no way affects the meaning of the Greek
text. Note also that Berry's method is more in accord with the
practice of the earliest Greek manuscripts than modern structured
grammars would suggest.
For the book of the Revelation, however, the later "grammatical"
usage of the MSS themselves is followed rather than Berry, simply
because the data for that book were derived from Hoskier's exact
and complete collation of those manuscripts. Because of this, the
Revelation does not reflect the same stylistic or orthographic
conventions found in the remainder of the NT. This judgment is
made solely by appeal to the collation data, and does not reflect
the normal prerogative of the editors.
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 6
In other matters of orthography, words like "tout estin" are used
uniformly throughout where the Stephens 1550 TR sometimes printed
"toutestin" but also "tout estin." So too with "dia ti" as well
as with "ouketi". Other words which were combined in Stephens
1550 are often separated, or vice versa, in conformity with modern
orthographical practice. Also, "dauid" replaces the TR "dabid"
from Matthew-Jude, being closer to early uncial orthography as
well as to the Hebrew form of "David" than that of the TR. The
majority of MSS generally read the abbreviation "dad", leaving the
user to fill in the missing letters. This follows the practice of
scribes with the so-called "nomina sacra" abbreviations, such as
"ys" [= "yeov"] or "cu" [= "cristou"]). Note that in the
Revelation, the abbreviation "dad" remains, since for that book
the evidence of the MSS is followed in this regard.
Numbers are from time to time represented by Greek letters,
though generally spelled out in full (e.g., "ib" = "dwdeka").
The present edition follows a majority consensus in this regard
throughout the New Testament, as indicated by either Von Soden or
Hoskier. The reader is expected to recognize numerical forms as
such whenever they occur.
CHAPTER AND VERSE NUMBERING
The verse numbering scheme has been made to conform to that found
in most standard English versions of the New Testament, following
the Authorized Version of 1611. Early manuscripts and even the
original Stephens 1550 and earlier printed editions had no verse
numbers (these were first added by Stephens in his 1551 edition;
later Textus Receptus editions differ slightly in the numbering
of some verses). Similarly, early manuscripts also lack chapter
divisions, these having been added in the thirteenth century AD.
Modern convention has been followed throughout in this regard.
In the present Byzantine/Majority format, certain verses do not
appear because they are not found in most manuscripts. Therefore,
Lu.17:36, Ac.8:37, 15:34 and 24:7 are indicated only by a verse
marker with no text following.
Other verses, although actually transposed in the Byzantine/
Majority Textform, remain in their traditional location
Thus, Rom.16.25-27 properly should appear at the end of Rom.14:23,
but is retained in its numerical location to facilitate the cross-
comparison of text against other versions which do not so relocate
the verses.
The proper location of such verses within the Byzantine/Majority
tradition is indicated by the verse references appearing in brackets
following the traditional verse numbering (e.g., 16:25 [14:24]).
Another similar transpositional change also appears within the
present computer version: Mt.23.13-14 in the Byzantine/Majority
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 7
Textform is reversed from the order found in the KJV English
text. However, these verses are here presented in the KJV order
to facilitate text comparison with other versions.
The Byzantine/Majority Textform order is similarly indicated by
brackets following the traditional verse numbering, as mentioned
in the preceding paragraph (e.g. 23:14 [23:13]).
Some verse divisions differ from those found in Berry (who
followed Bruder), and have been made to conform to those appearing
in the Authorized Version. Thus, 2 Co.13:12 is split into two
verses; 3 John 15 is joined to verse 14; and Rev.12:18 is joined
to Rev.13.1.
Such changes reflect no deliberate malice but simply follow the
readings of the Byzantine/Majority Textform, which differ in
places from the common Receptus text. Since verse numbers were
only added for reference beginning in 1551 AD, as has been
mentioned, these alterations should cause no difficulty to the
user. Note that in many places, portions of a verse found in
Textus Receptus editions no longer appear, even though the verse
numbering is not affected (e.g., Ac.9.5-6; 1 Jn.5.7).
BREATHINGS, ACCENTS, CAPITALIZATION, AND PUNCTUATION
In the present text all breathings, accents, capitalization, and
punctuation have been omitted. This too is more in keeping with
the form of ancient Greek manuscripts (though at that time all
words would have been written in CAPITALS and without division
between words as well). The present omission of accents and
breathings, however, is more for the user's convenience. The
insertion of extra code to reflect accents and breathings would
have made the intermediate product virtually unreadable.
For example, "elegcw" would become "e^}le^'gcw."
This would force the user always to print out a
hard copy of all files in Greek characters in order to read them
easily, whereas the present unaccented/unaspirated text is readily
readable in most cases.
Note also that the inclusion of accents
and breathings would have made the computer rapid search
features nearly useless, since accents (and sometimes even
breathings) often change within a word due to contextual or
conjugational/declensional considerations without affecting
that word's meaning.
Where doubt might arise due to words which are otherwise
identical but distinguished only by breathing or accent, the
user is expected to possess a printed Greek New Testament for
consultation. Thus the rapid search features will not distinguish
between "h" as an article, relative pronoun, or a form of the verb
"to be." The user can eliminate unwanted forms from a verse list
by using the editing functions provided by any word processor.
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 8
Similarly, no capitalization or punctuation marks appear within
the present files, since intermittent capitalization and
punctuation are the prerogative of modern editors and were not
originally indicated in early manuscripts. Different exegetical
interpretations based upon capitalization and/or punctuation could
produce honest disagreement among some users (e.g., the specific
interpretation of "pneuma" or "Pneuma" in certain passages as the
human or Holy Spirit). Those who prefer to print Greek hard copy
in accented, aspirated, punctuated and capitalized form should
consult printed Greek New Testaments and the LETTRIX for proper
instructions for altering the basic ASCII output in preparation
for such printing.
BOOK TITLES AND DIVIDED READINGS
The titles of each New Testament book (bracketed and in [CAPS])
have never been considered part of the inspired or canonical New
Testament text itself, and their wording or even inclusion varies
in different editions of the Greek New Testament. These have been
capitalized and placed in brackets throughout the New Testament.
From time to time certain words will be found enclosed in square
brackets [ ]. This indicates that at such a point the Byzantine/
Majority MSS (or, in the Revelation, the "An" and "Q" texts) are
closely divided, and it may be questioned whether the words in
brackets should or should not be considered part of the autograph
text. The words so marked are to be included or omitted by the
user as determined in the light of known and valid principles of
NT textual criticism as applicable to each case. In the text of
the Pericope Adultera (John 7:53-8:11) and the Revelation there
appear more bracketed words than anywhere else in the NT, due to
the unique circumstances of the transmission of those portions of
Scripture; nevertheless, the basic text of those portions remains
well-established in the form presented herein.
In two places (1 Jn.2:23 and 3:1) there appear bracketed words
which do not appear in the vast majority of Byzantine MSS, nor
even in divided testimony of that majority. These words are
included in the present text because they satisfy six out of the
seven critical canons of John W. Burgon regarding the nature of
the autograph text, especially the canon of "continuity." In no
other place in the New Testament does text unsupported by a
majority or a split majority of the Byzantine Textform MSS appear.
Note that no English text appears within these Greek NT files to
indicate notes or variant readings; the brackets are the only
indication of such.
There remain other places where the Byzantine/Majority MSS (or
the "An" and "Q" texts in the Revelation) are closely divided but
which are not externally indicated in this edition. Such cases
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 9
involve the substitution or transposition of words as opposed to
their mere omission or inclusion. In these situations, the
editors have simply made what they consider the best possible
judgment regarding the original text. Later editions will
identify these places as containing variant readings within the
Byzantine/Majority Textform, and allow them to be displayed by
pressing a key. A textual apparatus will also be provided the
reader at a later time. The present edition is concerned only
with providing an immediately workable Byzantine/Majority TEXT
edition for those who wish to do rapid-search study within this
particular Textform, utilizing the finest and best materials
available today for that purpose.
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR FURTHER TEXT-CRITICAL RESEARCH
Aland, Kurt, et al., eds. "The Greek New Testament." 3rd ed.
New York: United Bible Societies, 1975.
________. "Novum Testamentum Graece." 26th edition. Stuttgart:
Deutsche Bibelstifung, 1979.
________, and Aland, Barbara. "The Text of the New Testament:
An Introduction to the Critical Editions and to the Theory
and Practice of Modern Textual Criticism." Grand Rapids:
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987.
Berry, George Ricker, ed., "The Interlinear Literal Translation
of the Greek New Testament." New York: Hinds & Noble, 1897.
Burgon, John William. "The Last Twelve Verses of the Gospel
according to S. Mark." With an Introduction by Edward
F. Hills. Grand Rapids: Associated Publishers and Authors
rep.ed., n.d. [1871].
________. "The Causes of the Corruption of the Traditional Text
of the Holy Gospels." Arranged, completed, and edited by
Edward Miller. London: George Bell and Sons, 1896.
________. "The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels Vindicated
and Established." Arranged, completed, and edited by
Edward Miller. London: George Bell and Sons, 1896.
________. "The Revision Revised." Paradise, PA: Conservative
Classics rep.ed., n.d. [1883].
Carson, D. A. "The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism."
Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979.
Ewert, David. "From Ancient Tablets to Modern Translations."
Grand Rapids: Academie Books/Zondervan Publishing House,
1983.
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 10
Finegan, Jack. "Encountering New Testament Manuscripts: A
Working Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism."
Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974.
Greenlee, J. Harold . "Introduction to New Testament Textual
Criticism." Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Company, 1964.
________. "Scribes, Scrolls, and Scripture: A Student's Guide to
New Testament Textual Criticism." Grand Rapids: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1985.
Hodges, Zane C., and Farstad, Arthur L., eds. "The Greek New
Testament According to the Majority Text." 2nd ed.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985.
Hoskier, Herman C. "Concerning the Text of the Apocalypse."
2 vols. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1929.
Metzger, Bruce M. "The Text of the New Testament: Its
Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration." 2nd ed.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1968.
________. "A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament."
New York: United Bible Societies, 1971.
Miller, Edward. "A Guide to the Textual Criticism of the New
Testament." Collingswood, NJ: The Dean Burgon Society
rep.ed., 1979 [1886].
Pickering, Wilbur N. "The Identity of the New Testament Text."
Revised Edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1980.
Pierpont, William G., and Robinson, Maurice A., eds. "The
Byzantine/Majority Text of the Greek New Testament."
Unpublished manuscript and computer disk files, 1975-90.
Sturz, Harry A. "The Byzantine Text-Type and New Testament
Textual Criticism." Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,
1984.
Van Bruggen, Jakob. "The Ancient Text of the New Testament."
Winnipeg: Premier, 1976.
Von Soden, Hermann Freiherr. "Die Schriften des Neuen Testaments
in ihrer altesten erreichbaren Textgestalt." 2 vols. in
4 parts. Vol.2: "Text mit Apparat." Gottingen:
Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 1911.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
BYZTXT.DOC
Page 11
LETTRIX Version 3.6 is (c) 1987 by Hammerlab
Corporation, 938 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510,
(800) 351-4500 (in Connecticut (203) 624-0000). This
commercial product contains 17 English-text fonts
along with Greek, Hebrew, and Cyrillic (Russian),
and may be obtained directly from Hammerlab or its
distributors.
The ONLINE BIBLE is a Freeware Product (donation to a
favorite evangelical organization requested) (c) 1988-
1990 by Larry Pierce, Timnathserah, Inc., R.R.2, West
Montrose, Ontario N0B 2V0, Canada, and is available from
Timnathserah directly as well as from various Shareware/
Public Domain distributors and free bulletin board systems
in the United States and Canada.
A future transliterated Greek New Testament edition is
planned for the text of the Nestle-Aland 26th Edition
(= the United Bible Societies' 3rd Edition). Presently
available is the Stephens 1550 Textus Receptus edition,
which served as the editing base for the present work.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Maurice A. Robinson, Ph.D.
Department of Biblical Studies and Languages
Luther Rice Seminary
7565 Beach Boulevard, Suite 100
Jacksonville, Florida 32216
(904) 724-4722
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
END DOCUMENTATION
