Re: Ambiguous NT Readings

Carlton Winbery (winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net)
Mon, 21 Jul 1997 20:57:43 +0400

Nichael Cramer wrote;
>B Metzger in his discussion of script continuo (in his TotNT) points out
>that the internal cues in Greek (and in particular in Greek read aloud) are
>such that there are only a half dozen or so places in the whole of the NT
>in which any ambiguity of meaning results. (Furthermore, context removes
>any genuine ambiguity from all but only a couple of these cases.)
>
>Metzger then goes on to cite a couple of specific examples. Does anyone
>have --or can they point to-- an exhaustive list of such readings?
>
Two that come to mind (most oft cited as I recall) are Mark 10:40 and Matt 9:18.

Mark 10:40 (variant in UBS #10) ALLOIS hHTOIMASTAI ("it has been prepared
for others") or ALL' OIS hHTOIMASTAI ("but [it is] for those for whom it
has been prepared.") The best textual evidence supports the later reading
by far. The first reading is supported by 225 part of the Old Latin,
Sahidic Coptic and Ethiopic.

Matt 9:18 (variant only in N-A27) EIS ELQWN or EISELQWN. The variant is
much more complicated for a number of other readings such as EIS PROSELQWN
are introduced by various scribes. The original is probably the former for
that is the more difficult reading. ". . . behold, one ruler having come
was worshipping him . . ."

There are others but I cannot recall their location at the moment. The
mind seems to be slipping a bit.

Carlton Winbery
LA College