Intentional Corruptions in Mainstream Bible Translations
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 10:48 pm
1 John 5:7 in the NKJV (NT portion published in 1979) reads:
Regarding the latter half of the verse, i.e. "in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one", the Jerusalem Bible notes that these words are "not in any of the early Greek MSS, or any of the early translations, or in the best MSS of the Vulg[ate] itself." Because of this, most modern Bible translations do not include these words, commonly known as the "Johannine Comma".
During a lecture in a Biblical Hermeneutics class, Dr. Robert Stein recounts a story of a NKJV editor's justification for its inclusion:
"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one."
Regarding the latter half of the verse, i.e. "in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one", the Jerusalem Bible notes that these words are "not in any of the early Greek MSS, or any of the early translations, or in the best MSS of the Vulg[ate] itself." Because of this, most modern Bible translations do not include these words, commonly known as the "Johannine Comma".
During a lecture in a Biblical Hermeneutics class, Dr. Robert Stein recounts a story of a NKJV editor's justification for its inclusion:
When the New King James Version came out, I was teaching at Bethel Theological Seminary and one of the editors came out and gave everybody—faculty and students—a copy of this after chapel address and then there was a time for questions...
[Audience Question:]"Why did you include 1 John 5:7?"
The editor said, "You know the editorial staff really felt that we shouldn't include it, but the publisher said that if we don't include it, the translation won't sell."
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