Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TEXTUS RECEPTUS

The form of NT text that became standard in the 16th-17th centuries. Johann Froben, a Swiss printer, learning of the intent of Cardinal Ximines to produce a Greek NT, asked Desiderius Erasmus in April 1515 to prepare an edition of the NT as quickly as possible. Using six manuscripts at hand, only one of which (Cod. 1) was of any relative antiquity, Erasmus’ edition was begun in September and published in March 1516. Ximines’ edition, the Complutensian Polyglott, was printed in 1522, although it had actually been completed in 1514.

Robert Stephanus published four editions of the Greek NT between 1546 and 1551, using the texts of Erasmus and Ximines. His 3rd edition (1550), which gave variant readings from 15 manuscripts, became the standard text in Great Britain and the U.S. Theodore Beza, Calvin’s successor in Switzerland, published nine editions of the Greek NT from 1565 to 1604, essentially presenting the text printed by Erasmus and Stephanus; his reputation helped establish the form of the printed Greek text.

The two Elzevir brothers published in Holland seven editions of the Greek NT between 1624 and 1678, all based upon the text presented by Erasmus, Stephanus, and Beza. In the preface of their 2nd edition (1633), which became the standard text printed in Europe, they wrote: “You have therefore the text now received by all: in which we give nothing altered or corrupt.” The term textus receptus, then, refers to a “commonly published” text.

This text, based upon the text form of the Byzantine era, became the accepted printed form by mere chance. It is not a “bad” or misleading text, but it is a later form of text. Three centuries were to pass before scholars would succeed in replacing this hastily prepared text with one having evidence of being closer to the NT autographs.

Carroll D. Osburn

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

TEXTUS RECEPTUS

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)