Makewetalknow

The modern Bible, which has been translated into over 7,000 languages, has been heavily edited by the cultures that created it throughout history. Each stage brought new information and modifications, starting with the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts and continuing through Latin translations like the Vulgate and later translations by academics like William Tyndale and the King James translators.

The Bible’s first compilation began with Moses on Mount Sinai, assembling the first five books of the Old Testament (Exodus 24:7). Prophets guided by God then added more passages, which were supplemented with additional books like the Prophets and the Writings.

Around 458 BC, Ezra established the Old Testament canon, including texts like Tobit and 1 and 2 Maccabees. However, the modern Protestant Bible recognizes a different canon, with 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

The early church faced challenges from false teachers attempting to alter the scriptural canon, and church leaders carefully selected texts they believed were divinely inspired. Despite this, human biases led to different translations and interpretations, resulting in at least 34 different versions of the Bible.

One of the most controversial doctrines to emerge from this human biases is the Trinity, which proposes that there are three persons in God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Even though the term itself is not found in the Bible, this teaching has grown in importance within the Catholic Church and other Christian organizations.

The fact that there are at least 34 different versions of the modern Bible shows that some dishonest people added teachings that were not intended by God. Since both Christians and non-Christians have disagreed on this issue, I took my time to pray and do my research. The results you are about to read are what I found. 

The Origin of the Trinitarian Doctrine

To understand the Trinity’s origins, let’s revisit the 16th-century contributions of Desiderius Erasmus, a celebrated Dutch scholar. Erasmus’ groundbreaking work on the New Testament’s Latin and Greek editions earned him recognition. He prepared the first scholarly edition of the Greek New Testament in 1516 and went on to publish four revised editions, incorporating corrections and expanded notes, in 1519, 1522, 1527, and 1531.

Desiderius Erasmus, born in Rotterdam in 1469, was a renowned scholar whose translations of the New Testament into Greek and Latin earned widespread recognition. His printed edition of the Greek New Testament served as a critical scholarly reference.

Initially, Erasmus omitted the phrase “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one” (1 John 5:7-8) from his translation because it was absent from the Greek manuscripts he consulted. This decision sparked controversy, with the Catholic Church accusing him of undermining the Trinity doctrine.

To verify the phrase’s authenticity, Erasmus arranged for a friend to inspect a manuscript along with catholic priests. The examination confirmed the phrase’s absence, supporting Erasmus’ concerns. The examination confirmed that the phrases “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one” were indeed absent from the manuscript, supporting Erasmus’ assertion.

Despite this evidence, the Catholic Church continued to pressure him, and Erasmus reluctantly included the Holy Trinity phrases in his third edition. These phrases were then incorporated into subsequent Greek editions and the King James Bible.

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one.

I John 5:7-8

Furthermore, certain passages, like the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) and the longer ending of Mark (Mark 16:9-20), are not present in the Codex Sinaiticus, a 4th-century manuscript of the New Testament. Additionally, the Johannine Comma (1 John 5:7-8) was also absent from Codex Sinaiticus.

Certain Christians quote this Johannine comma to defend the Trinitarian doctrine, as it is present in the modern-day verses of John 5:7-8 of the First Epistle of John. However, the truth is that the early manuscript did not contain it.

⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

1 John 5 verse 7-8 (King James version)

Another problem with the added phrase in John 5:7-8 is that it is only found in Latin Vulgate manuscripts and not in most early Greek manuscripts. Even more surprising is that this verse (John 5:7-8) is the only one in the Bible that talks about three people in the Godhead.

The original manuscript of 1 John 5:7-8 actually references three witnesses: the Spirit, Water, and Blood. This raises a question: where did the words “Father,” “Word,” and “Holy Spirit” originate in the modern Bible’s rendition of John 5:7-8?

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Erasmus’ inclusion of the “Johannine Comma” in 1 John 5:7-8 in his translated Greek testament was likely due to pressure from the early Catholic Church. This resulted in the creation of the Johannine Comma, which was later incorporated into his subsequent editions.

These versions served as the basis for later Greek New Testament editions, which were used by translators to create the versions read today. Over time, these editions influenced the translation of the King James Bible, a primary source of New Testament information.

The authors of the modern King James Bible continued with this deception by including the accounts of the woman who was caught in adultery, the final 12 verses of Mark that mention the resurrection, and the Johannine comma, even though none of these accounts were found in the earliest versions. 

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There are other manuscripts that date back to the fourth century AD, like the codex Sinaiticus, which does not have the Trinity doctrine, Johannine comma, the story of the woman caught in adultery, or the earliest resurrection appearances in the gospel. 

Conclusion

The idea of God being three persons in one, as stated in the Holy Trinity verse, does not accurately capture the essence of our Creator. In fact, it was never part of the original Greek manuscript. It was only added to the Bible by some evil people in the early church to diminish the glory of God.

Furthermore, most modern Bibles do not include the Johannine Comma (the doctrine of the Trinity). To demonstrate my point, you should look them up and find out for yourself. 

Sources

Whose Word is it?: The Story Behind Who Changed The New Testament and Why: Ehrman, Bart D.: 9781847063144: Amazon.com: Books. (n.d.). https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Word-Behind-Changed-Testament/dp/1847063144

Desiderius Erasmus: Dutch scholar and Catholic priest. (n.d.). Vaia. https://www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/history/protestant-reformation/desiderius-erasmus/#:~:text=He%20used%20humanist%20scholarship%20to,made%20by%20early%20Church%20Councils.

Burgraff, D. (2024, January 10). Current issues in Trinitarian studies. Shepherds Theological Seminary – Development. https://shepherds.edu/current-issues-in-trinitarian-studies/#:~:text=There%20was%20even%20less%20understanding,of%20Christ%20on%20the%20other.

Houston Christian University. (2023, November 2). Erasmus and the renaissance of the Bible. Houston Christian University. https://hc.edu/museums/dunham-bible-museum/tour-of-the-museum/past-exhibits/erasmus-an-the-renaissance-of-the-bible/

 

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