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Textual variants in the Gospel of John are the subject of the study called textual criticism of the New Testament. Textual variants in manuscripts arise when a copyist makes deliberate or inadvertent alterations to a text that is being reproduced. An abbreviated list of textual variants in this particular book is given in this article below.

Origen, writing in the 3rd century, was one of the first who made remarks about differences between manuscripts of texts that were eventually collected as the New Testament. In John 1:28, he preferred "Bethabara" over "Bethany" as the location where John was baptizing (Commentary on John VI.40 (24)). "Gergeza" was preferred over "Geraza" or "Gadara" (Commentary on John VI.40 (24) – see Matthew 8:28).

Some common alterations include the deletion, rearrangement, repetition, or replacement of one or more words when the copyist's eye returns to a similar word in the wrong location of the original text. If their eye skips to an earlier word, they may create a repetition (error of dittography). If their eye skips to a later word, they may create an omission. They may resort to performing a rearranging of words to retain the overall meaning without compromising the context. In other instances, the copyist may add text from memory from a similar or parallel text in another location. Otherwise, they may also replace some text of the original with an alternative reading. Spellings occasionally change. Synonyms may be substituted. A pronoun may be changed into a proper noun (such as "he said" becoming "Jesus said"). John Mill's 1707 Greek New Testament was estimated to contain some 30,000 variants in its accompanying textual apparatus which was based on "nearly 100 manuscripts." Peter J. Gurry puts the number of non-spelling variants among New Testament manuscripts around 500,000, though he acknowledges his estimate is higher than all previous ones.

Legend

A guide to the sigla (symbols and abbreviations) most frequently used in the body of this article.

General sigla

# beginning with 0: uncial

# not beginning with 0: minuscule

superscript: original reading

superscript: scribal correction

superscript: individual manuscript

superscript: multiple manuscripts

superscript: partial attestation

superscript: uncertain reading

arab: Arabic versions

arm: Armenian versions

𝔐 or Byz: Byzantine text-type

cop: Coptic versions

sa: Sahidic version

bo: Boharic version

eth: Ethiopic versions

ƒ: Greek manuscripts family

geo: Georgian versions

goth: Gothic versions

it: Italic/Vetus Latina

lat: most Italic and Vulgate

latt: all Italic and Vulgate

𝔓: papyrus

𝑙: individually numbered lectionary

Lect: most or all numbered lectionaries

parenthesized (): approximate reading

rell: all other extant manuscripts

slav: Slavic versions

syr: Syriac versions

vg: Latin Vulgate

ς: Textus Receptus

Uncial sigla

א‎: Codex Sinaiticus (01)

A: Codex Alexandrinus (02)

B: Codex Vaticanus (03)

C: Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (04)

D: Codex Bezae (05)

D: Codex Claromontanus (06)

K: Codex Cyprius (017)

K: Codex Mosquensis I (018)

L: Codex Regius (New Testament) (019)

L: Codex Angelicus (020)

P: Codex Porphyrianus (025)

S: Codex Vaticanus 354 (028)

V: Codex Mosquensis II (031)

W: Codex Washingtonianus (032)

Z: Codex Dublinensis (035)

Γ: Codex Tischendorfianus IV (036)

Δ: Codex Sangallensis 48 (037)

Θ: Codex Koridethi (038)

Ξ: Codex Zacynthius (040)

Π: Codex Petropolitanus (New Testament) (041)

Φ: Codex Beratinus (043)

Ψ: Codex Athous Lavrensis (044)

Ω: Codex Athous Dionysiou (045)

ff: Codex Corbeiensis I

ff: Codex Corbeiensis II

g: Codex Sangermanensis I

k: Codex Bobiensis

Critical editions

T8th: Tischendorf's 8th Edition of Editio Octava Critica Maior

WH: Westcott and Hort (1881)

NA: Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle–Aland)

UBS: United Bible Societies

ECM: Editio Critica Maior

Textual variants

John 1:4

εν αυτῳ ζωη εστιν (in him is life) – א D it vg Irenaeus Heracleon Clement Origen

text omitted – W

εν αυτῳ ζωη ῃν (in him was life) – All other mss. (rell)

John 1:18

ο μονογενης υιος (the only-begotten son) – A C K X Δ Θ Π 063 0234 f 28 565 700 892 1009 1010 1071 1079 1195 1216 1230 1241 1242 1253 1344 1365 1546 1646 2148 Byz, syr Georgian mss. of Adysh (9th century)

ο μονογενης θεος (the only-begotten God) – 𝔓 א 33 cop

μονογενης θεος (God only-begotten) – 𝔓 א* B C* L

ⲠⲚⲞⲨⲦⲈ ⲠϢⲎⲢⲈ ⲚⲞⲨⲰⲦ (only children God) – cop

John 1:28

εν Βηθανιᾳ εγενετο – 𝔓, 𝔓, A, B, C,*, L, W, X, Δ, Θ, Ψ, 063, 28, 565, 700, 892*, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1195, 1216, 1241, 1242, 1253, 1344, 1365*, 2148, 2174, Byz, Lect, it, vg, syr

εγενετο εν Βηθανιᾳ – 𝔓, א*, it, cop

εν Βηθαβαρᾳ εγενετο – C, K, Ψ, 083, 0113, f, f, 33, 1079, 1230, 1365, 1546, 1646, and Byz

εν Βηθαραβᾳ εγενετο – 892, syr, Origen

εγενετο εν Βηθαραβᾳ – א

John 1:30

υπερ – 𝔓, 𝔓, 𝔓, א* B C* W

περι – א A C L Θ, Ψ, 063, 0101 f f Byz

John 1:34

ο εκλεκτος (the Elect One) – 𝔓 𝔓 187 218 228 1784 it syr Ambrose Augustine

ο εκλεκτος του υιος (the elect Son) – it syr cop

ο υιος (the Son) – rell

John 2:3

οινον ουκ ειχον οτι συνετελεσθη ο οινος του γαμου, ειτα (they did not have wine because the wine of the wedding reception was finished, then) – א* it syr

υστερησαντος οινου (they were running short of wine) – rell

John 3:12

πιστευετε (ye believe) – 𝔓 050 083 579 it vg co

πιστευσετε (ye will believe) – rell

John 3:16

υιον – 𝔓 𝔓 א* B W

υιον αυτου – rell

John 3:20

τα εργα αυτου – א B Δ 050 063 083 086 28 700 1230 1242 1253 1365 2148 Byz ℓ it cop arm geo

αυτου τα εργα – 𝔓, A, K, W, Π, f, 565, 892*, 1079, 1546,

τα εργα αυτου οτι πονηρα εστιν – 𝔓 Θ f 33 1009 1010 1071 1195 1216 1242* 1344 1646 2174 it cop

τα εργα αυτου πονηρα εστιν οτι – L

τα εργα αυτου οτι πονηρα εισιν – Ψ

αυτου τα εργα οτι πονηρα εισιν – 892 1241

John 4:9

ου γαρ συγχρωνται Ιουδαιοι Σαμαριταις (for Jews have no association with Samaritans) omitted by א* D it cop

John 4:37

Verse omitted in 𝔓

John 4:42

ο χριστος (the Christ) – A C D L X Δ Θ Ψ 0141 f 33 565 579 1071 Byz it syr cop

text omitted – 𝔓 𝔓 א B C* W 083 ℓ it vg syr cop arm Irenaeus Origen

John 4:46

ο Ιησους (Jesus) – A Θ Ψ f Byz it syr cop

text omitted – 𝔓 𝔓 א B C* W 086 33 1241 it vg syr cop

John 4:53

text ο Ιησους omitted – א* N*

ο Ιησους (Jesus) – rell

John 5:2

βηθζαθα – א 33 b 1 ff

βηλζεθα – D a r

βηζαθα – L e

βηθεσδα – A C Byz f q TR

βησθεσδα – N

βηθσαιδα – 𝔓 B W 0125 aur c vg bo

βηδσαιδα – 𝔓 sa

John 5:4

Verse omitted by 𝔓 𝔓 א B C* D T W 0141 33 157 821 2718 it vg syr co arm geo

John 6:1

της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας της Τιβεριαδος – א A B K L W Δ Π Ψ 063 f 28 33 565

της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας – 𝔓 1546

της θαλασσης της Τιβεριαδος – 0210 1242 1344 2174 ℓ 184

της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας και της Τιβεριαδος – V it goth

της θαλασσης της Γαλιλαιας εις τα μερη της Τιβεριαδος – D Θ 892 1009 1230 1253

John 6:4

Verse omitted by 472

John 7:1

ου γαρ ειχεν εξουσιαν (for he did not have authority) – W 196 743 it syr Chrysostom

ου γαρ ηθελεν (for he was not wanting) – All other mss. (rell)

John 7:53-8:11

Include D, F, G, H, K, M, U, Γ, Π, 047, 0233, 28, 318, 700, 892, 1009, 1010, 1071, 1079, 1195, 1216, 1344, 1365, 1546, 1646, 2148, 2174, lat, syr, Didascalia, Didymus the Blind, Jerome, Augustine, Apostolic Constitutions

Exclude א, B, 𝔓75, 𝔓66, W, T, N, Ψ, C, A, goth

John 8:8

ενος εκαστου αυτων τας αμαρτιας (the sins of every one of them) – U 73 331 364 658 700 782 1592 it arm

text transposed to John 8:6 – 264

John 9:35

εις τον υιον του ανθρωπου (in the Son of Man) – 𝔓 𝔓 א Β D W 397 it syr co

εις τον υιον του θεου (in the Son of God) – A K L X Δ Θ Ψ 070 0141 0250 f 28 33 565 700 Byz ℓ it vg syr co arm goth

John 10:7

η θυρα (door) – majority

ο ποιμην (shepherd) – 𝔓 cop cop

John 11:1

John 12:28

δοξασον σου το ονομα (glorify thy name) – א A C K W Δ Θ Π Ψ 0250 28 565 700 892 1009 1010 1079 1195 1216 1230 1242 1344 1365 1546 1646 2148 Byz ℓ 69 ℓ 70 ℓ 211 ℓ 1579 ℓ 1761

δοξασον μου το ονομα (glorify my name) – B

δοξασον σου τον υιον (glorify thy son) – L X f33 1071 1241 vg sy, cop

δοξασον σου το ονομα εν τη δοξη η ειχον παρα σοι προ του τον κοσμον γενεσται – D it

John 13:2

Ιουδας Σιμωνος Ισκαριωτου – L Ψ 0124 1241

Ιουδα Σιμωνος απο Καρυωτου – D it

John 14:14

Verse omitted by X Λ* 0141 f 565 1009 1365 ℓ 76 ℓ 253 it vg syr arm geo Diatessaron

John 15:1

John 16:28

εξηλθον παρα του πατρος (I came forth from the Father) omitted in D W it syr cop

John 17:14

καθως εγω ουκ ειμι εκ του κοσμου (just as I am not of the world) omitted in 𝔓* D f it syr

John 18:5

ο παραδιδους αυτον (the one betraying him), the phrase is omitted in 𝔓* syr

John 18:11

παντες γαρ οι λαβοντες μαχαιραν εν μαχαιρα απολουνται – Θ

John 18:21

ερωτας – א* A B C L W Θ Ψ 054 0250 33 1424 al

επερωτας – D f f Byz

John 19:29

υσσωπω – 𝔓 א A D K L X Π Ψ 054 f 28 33 565 700 1009 1010 1071 Byz

μετα χολης και υσσωπου – Θ 892 1195 2174

John 19:39

μίγμα – 𝔓 א A D K L X Θ Π 054 f f 28 33 565 700 1009 1010 1071

ἕλιγμα – א* B W cop

σμίγμα – Ψ 892 2174 ℓ 47

σμῆγμα – 1242* ℓ 181 syr

malagmani – it

John 20:21

ο Ιησους (Jesus) omitted in א D L W Ψ 050 lat syr co

John 20:31

ζωην αιωνιον (life eternal) – א C(*) D L Ψ 0100 f 33 it vg syr cop Irenaeus

ζωην (life) – rell

John 21:7

οι δε ειπον δι οληϲ (τηϲ) νυκτοϲ εκοπιαϲαμεν και (κοπιαϲαντεϲ) ουδεν ελαβομεν επι δε τω ϲω ρηματι (ονοματι) βαλουμεν (and they said: we toiled all night and took nothing, but at your word we will let down) – 𝔓, א, Ψ, some mss of Vulgate, cop

See also

• Alexandrian text-type
• Biblical inerrancy
• Byzantine text-type
• Caesarean text-type
• Categories of New Testament manuscripts
• Comparison of codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus
• List of New Testament verses not included in modern English translations
• Textual variants in the New Testament
  • Textual variants in the Gospel of Matthew
  • Textual variants in the Gospel of Mark
  • Textual variants in the Gospel of Luke
• Western text-type

References

1. Adam Fox, John Mill and Richard Bentley: A Study of the Textual Criticism of the New Testament 1675–1729 (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1954), pp. 105–115; John Mill, Novum Testamentum Graecum, cum lectionibus variantibus MSS (Oxford 1707)
2. Metzger and Ehrman (2005), p.154
3. Peter J. Gurry, "The Number of Variants in the Greek New Testament: A Proposed Estimate" New Testament Studies 62.1 (2016), p. 113
4. Metzger, Bruce Manning; Ehrman, Bart D. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 54, 62–86, 102–103. ISBN 0-19-516667-1.
5. J.P. van de Giessen (2003). "Legenda tekstkritische notities". bijbelaantekeningen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 May 2022.

Further reading

• Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine, ed. E. Nestle, K. Aland, Stuttgart 1981.
• Bruce M. Metzger & Bart D. Ehrman, "The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration", OUP New York, Oxford, 4 edition, 2005
• Bart D. Ehrman, "The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture. The Effect of Early Christological Controversies on the Text of the New Testament", Oxford University Press, New York - Oxford, 1996, pp. 223–227.
• Bruce M. Metzger, "A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament: A Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament", 1994, United Bible Societies, London & New York.

External links

• The Comparative Critical Greek New Testament
• Variantes textuais (in Portuguese)
• Varianten Textus receptus versus Nestle-Aland
• The Gospel of John part of the Holy Bible

• Greek New Testament manuscripts
• Biblical criticism
• Textual criticism
• Gospel of John