Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

The last clause of Rom 8:1 is omitted in most of the principle Greek manuscripts that are available, omitted in most of the translations, and omitted in translations and quotes by early church Fathers. It thus does not have a strong presence across earliest copies of various manuscripts.

It's earliest appearance seems to be the Latin Vulgate (written fourth, earliest copy is from the fifth) and Syriac Peshitta, with two early quotes of the verse in the late third and fourth centuries. It is found in the majority of manuscripts between the 11th and fifteenth century.

It is more probable that it is a later addition than that it was originally part of the text. Perhaps a scribe added it for clarity, or a copyist accidentally repeated a clause from verse four into verse one.

However, as the clause is repeated in Rom 8:4, then a translator is probably safe in either choice; to leave it in, or leave it out. It seems as if the trend in modern translations is to drop a clause when in doubt and footnote it, vs. Leaving something in when it is probably a later addition.

April 21 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

This phrase is not in the best manuscripts (the external evidence and the internal evidence are compelling for the shortest reading.)

who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit —The evidence of manuscripts seems to show that this clause formed no part of the original text of this verse, but that the first part of it was introduced early and the second later, from Ro 8:4, probably as an explanatory comment, and to make the transition to Ro 8:2 easier.

May 17 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report