Tuesday Teaching Tips | Episode 266
This week I respond to a message from Selena…
Hello Brother Malcolm,
I was just reading Romans chapter 16 NIV. It’s missing verse 24 . Do you think this is on purpose or a misprint?
Kindly,
YLSIC, Selena
“At this point, as RSV margin says, ‘Other ancient authorities insert verse 24, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.’ The western text, which lacked the doxology (verses 25–27), brought the letter to an end with this benediction (omitting that in verse 20b). The Byzantine text (followed by the Received Text and AV) took over the western benediction here as well as the earlier one in verse 20b.
A few witnesses (codices P 33 104 365 436, with the Syriac Peshitta and Armenian versions, and Ambrosiaster’s Latin text) put this benediction after the doxology (as verse 28) and not before it (as verse 24). In its present position the benediction should not be too readily dismissed as unauthentic; if the dox-ology is not original (either absolutely or in its position at the end of chapter 16), the benediction forms a very fitting conclusion to the letter.”
Tyndale Commentary
Similar issues can be found with the ending of Mark, in John 8:1-11 and Acts 8:27. The verses are not ‘missing’, it is unlikely they were there in the first place. However, they do not contradict anything else the Scriptures teach.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/).
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm
