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'''Textus Receptus''', or "received text," refers to the Greek text of the New Testament that was used by the translators of the [[King James Version]] in 1611, as well as by other Reformation-era translators. This includes [[William Tyndale]] and [[Martin Luther]]. The earliest edition was put together by Erasmus in 1516. The name comes from a Latin inscription found in an edition published in 1633: ''Textum ergo habes, nunc ab omnibus receptum'' (So [the reader] has the text which all now receive.)

'''Textus Receptus''', or "received text," refers to the Greek text of the New Testament that was used by the translators of the [[King James Version]] in 1611, as well as by other Reformation-era translators. This includes [[William Tyndale]] and [[Martin Luther]]. The earliest edition was put together by Erasmus in 1516. The name comes from a Latin inscription found in an edition published in 1633: ''Textum ergo habes, nunc ab omnibus receptum.'' (So [the reader] has the text which all now receive.)<ref>Bruce Metzger has described this as an advertizing bulb.</ref>

==Erasmus==

==Erasmus==

The Gospels were taken directly from Codex 2^e, Acts and epistles from 2^ap, and Revelation from 1^r. Where these manuscripts had gaps, back-translations from the [[Vulgate]] were used. In fact, 2^e and 2^ap were sent directly to the printer for typesetting. Erasmus’ handwritten annotations can be seen between the lines, although the printer often ignored these. 1^r could not be treated this way because it mixes text and annotation. Erasmus separated these by referring to the Vulgate. As a result of this haphazard process, there were numerous typographical errors in the first edition.

The Gospels were taken directly from Codex 2^e, Acts and epistles from 2^ap, and Revelation from 1^r. Where these manuscripts had gaps, back-translations from the [[Vulgate]] were used. In fact, 2^e and 2^ap were sent directly to the printer for typesetting. Erasmus’ handwritten annotations can be seen between the lines, although the printer often ignored these. 1^r could not be treated this way because it mixes text and annotation. Erasmus separated these by referring to the Vulgate. As a result of this haphazard process, there were numerous typographical errors in the first edition.

Some 400 corrections were made for the second edition (1519). Erasmus obtained access to 3^eap, a nearly complete New Testament text. But there is no indication that he made much use of it. Many readers criticized the first two editions of TR because they lacked the ''Comma Johanneum'' found in the Vulgate.<ref>"the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (NKJV 1 John 5:7b–8a). No church leader cited this passage during the Trinitarian controversies of the fourth century, so it does not appear to have been part of scripture at that time.</ref> Erasmus added it to the third edition (1522), citing Codex 61. This was a recently produced manuscript, probably a response to TR. Although Erasmus was skeptical of this manuscript, he thought it wiser to reverse himself. For the 1527 edition, Erasmus further revised the text using the ''Complutensian Polyglot'', a Greek text edited by Francisco Jiménez. A final edition was published in 1535.

Some 400 corrections were made for the second edition (1519). Erasmus obtained access to 3^eap, a nearly complete New Testament text. But there is no indication that he made much use of it. Many readers criticized the first two editions of TR because they lacked the ''[[Comma Johanneum]]'' found in the Vulgate.<ref>"the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (NKJV 1 John 5:7b–8a). Despite the Trinitarian controversy, no fourth century writer cites this passage. So it does not appear to have been part of scripture at that time.</ref> Erasmus added it to the third edition (1522), citing Codex 61. This was a recently produced manuscript, and probably a response to TR. Although Erasmus was skeptical of this manuscript, he thought it wiser to reverse himself. For the 1527 edition, Erasmus made extensive revisions based on the ''Complutensian Polyglot'', a Greek text edited by Jiménez de Cisneros. A final edition was published in 1535.

==Later texts==

==Later texts==

In 1550 Robert Stephanus produced a beautifully printed edition that added footnotes containing text from the Bezae and Regius codices. This classic is referred to as Editio Regia (Royal edition). In 1551, Stephanus added a verse numbering system that is still used in modern Bibles. As for the text itself, Stephanus did little to improve on what Erasmus published. Since Stephanus had access to a significantly wider range of primary sources, this suggested that the Erasmus text was already being treated with undue reverence. The KJV translators used both the 1550 Edito Regia and a 1598 reprint by Theodore Beza.

In 1550 Robert Stephanus produced a beautifully printed edition that added footnotes containing text from the Bezae and Regius codices. This classic is referred to as Editio Regia (Royal edition). In 1551, Stephanus added a verse numbering system that is still used in modern Bibles. As for the text itself, Stephanus did little to improve on what Erasmus published. Since Stephanus had access to a significantly wider range of primary sources, this suggested that the Erasmus text was already being treated with undue reverence. The KJV translators used both the 1550 Edito Regia and a 1598 reprint by Theodore Beza.

In the 19th century, the authority of Textus Receptus was challenged by the emerging science of text criticism. Even though 90 percent of surviving manuscripts are of the Byzantine type that Erasmus used, F. J. A. Hort argued that this text type must be discounted because it developed later than the Alexandrian text. In 1881, Hort and Westcott published a revised Greek text based on this theory. The modern Greek text is based on Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus, Alexandrian texts that pre-date the manuscripts Erasmus used by almost a thousand years.

In the 19th century, the authority of Textus Receptus was challenged by the emerging science of text criticism. Even though 90 percent of surviving manuscripts are of the Byzantine type that Erasmus used, F. J. A. Hort argued that this text type must be discounted because it developed later than the Alexandrian text. In 1881, Hort and Westcott published a revised Greek text based on this theory. This text is based on [[Codex Vaticanus]] (4th century) and [[Codex Sinaiticus]] (5th century), Alexandrian texts that pre-date the manuscripts Erasmus used by almost a thousand years. It is the basis for most modern translations, including the [[English Standard Version]].

The [[King James Version]] and the [[New King James Version]] are both based on TR. Together, they constitute a large portion of Bible sales, even today.

The [[King James Version]] and the [[New King James Version]] are both based on TR. Together, they constitute a large portion of Bible sales, even today.