Comparative Theology · Additions & Interpolations

Theologically Motivated Changes: Luke 3:22 and John 1:18

Handle with care. Ehrman argues these are orthodox corruptions; other scholars dispute his reading. Attribute the argument to him rather than presenting it as settled consensus.

In short

• 1.Luke 3:22: 'today I have begotten you' in Codex Bezae, versus 'with you I am well pleased' elsewhere
• 2.John 1:18: 'the only begotten Son' versus 'the only begotten God'
• 3.The direction of change consistently raises the status of Jesus (PBUH)

The claim being examined

Some variants are not additions of new stories but small changes to the wording of Christology — and they change what the text says about who Jesus (PBUH) is.

The Islamic position

Islam teaches that Jesus (PBUH) is God's servant and messenger, not His begotten son (Q 19:35). Where the manuscripts differ, they often differ precisely on this point.

Analysis

At the baptism, an early form of Luke 3:22 quotes Psalm 2:7 word for word: "You are my Son; today I have begotten you." Read plainly, that sounds like Jesus (PBUH) becoming God's son at that moment — an awkward reading, which is usually a sign it is the original one, since copyists smooth difficulties rather than create them. The alternative wording simply matches Mark. In John 1:18 the oldest papyri say "only begotten God" while many later copies say "only begotten Son". Either way, the copyists were adjusting the Christology of the text (Christology = how Christians describe who Jesus (PBUH) is) as they copied it.

Side by side

From the Qur'an

From the Bible

Sources

More in Additions & Interpolations

• The Bloody Sweat and 'Father, Forgive Them'
• 1 Corinthians 14:34-35: The Silence of Women
• The Comma Johanneum (1 John 5:7-8)
• The Woman Caught in Adultery (John 7:53-8:11)
• The Long Ending of Mark (16:9-20)
• John 5:4 and the Angel at the Pool