# How Many Variations Is There Of The New Testament Textual variants in the New Testament refer to any differences in spelling, word order, omission, addition, substitution, or total rewrite of the text from a standard text such as a printed version or a specific manuscript. According to [[Daniel2009-ce|Daniel B Wallace]], a leading textual critic, there are approximately *400,000* variations in the New Testament alone-about three variants per word ([[International_Greek_New_Testament_Project_undated-kl.|IGNTP]]), [[Wasserman2018-jq.]]). This staggering number of variants can be classified into four categories ([[Barnett_undated-aa.|Tim Barrnet]]). **Category 1: Neither meaningful nor viable** - The first category includes over [[Wallace_undated-mx.|200,000+]] variants that are neither viable nor meaningful. **These comprise over 75% of all textual variants**, which means over 75% of textual variants have no effect on anything whatsoever. These variants mostly consist of spelling mistakes and do not alter the original text. (they *don’t* change the meaning and have *no* chance of being original) **Category 2: Viable but not meaningful ** - The second category includes viable but not meaningful variants, which could alter the text but not change its meaning or intent. For instance, a variant in the spelling of a name. (they *don’t* change the meaning and have a chance of being original) **Category 3: Meaningful but Not viable** - The third category comprises meaningful but not viable variants, which are changes to the text that alter its message, such as adding a phrase or words that were not in the original text. (they *do* change the meaning, but have *no* chance of being original) **Category 4:Both Viable and meaningful** - Finally, the fourth and most significant category includes viable and meaningful variants, which have a good chance of being authentic and change the meaning of the text. However, this category accounts for less than 1% of all textual variants. (they *do* change the meaning and do *have* a chance of being original) For Category 4, this example is from Bereanpatroit.com >[!quote] >I have a rather humorous example: > >>[!bible] 1 Thessalonians 2:7 >>But we proved to be *gentle* among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. > >There’s a Textual Variant for the word “gentle”. Most manuscripts read “gentle”, some read “little children” and one manuscript reads “horses”. It’s easy to explain these variants when you see how these words are spelled in Greek, so here are the first three words of the verse in each Textual Variant: > > - Alla Egenēthēmen *ēpioi* (gentle) > - Alla Egenēthēmen ***n**ēpioi* (little children) > - Alla Egenēthēmen ***hi**ppioi* (horses) > >Context tells us that nēpioi (little children) can’t be intended, and since the previous word begins with “n”, it’s easy to see how the mistake was made (doubling the “n”). Often, one scribe would read while several other scribes copied. If you heard it read, you’d realize it’s an easy mistake to make because they sound almost identical. (Because the previous word ends with an “n” sound) > >Further, there’s <u>no possible way</u> that ***hi**ppioi* (horses) was intended. It was a simple scribal error, easily noticed and just as easily corrected. (With a good chuckle. 🙂 ) Both Textual Variants are meaningful, but it’s nearly impossible for them to be original (they aren’t viable). Despite the high number of variations, skeptical scholars such as [[Ehrman2005-qj.|Bart D. Ehrman]] agree that these variations do not affect the Christian doctrine ([[Carson1978-no.]])). No substantial historical fact about Jesus or important Christian doctrine is questioned by the variations found in early Christian manuscripts. Most of the changes found in these manuscripts are a result of errors, such as slips of the pen, accidental omissions, inadvertent additions, misspelled words, and other blunders. Even though there are over 400,000 variations, most of these are insignificant spelling mistakes and only about 40 lines or 400 words in the entire New Testament are in doubt. None of these 400 words affect any significant doctrine. Therefore, despite the variations, over [[Wallace_undated-mx.|99%]] of the New Testament is the original words of the first Christians ([[Geisler1995-fy.]]). These variations are a testament to how important preserving the gospel message has always been for Christians. Since the early church days when the apostles first wrote their gospels and epistles, Christians and scribes have taken great care to preserve the Bible and its message for future generations. Christians have taken great care to preserve the Bible and its message for future generations, and the variations are a testament to the importance of preserving the gospel message.