The Textus Receptus

Textus Receptus is known by other names: Traditional Text, Majority Text, Byzantine Text, or Syrian Text. In his essay Texual Criticism, Dr. Thomas Cassidy writes:

“The Traditional text of the New Testament has existed from the time of Christ right down to the present. It has had many different names down through the years, such as Byzantine Text, Eastern Text, Received Text, Textus Receptus, Majority Text, and others. Although no complete Bible manuscripts have survived which would allow us to date the Traditional text to the first century, there is a strong witness to the early existence and use of the Traditional text by the early church in its lectionaries.”

A few facts showing the respected historical position of the Textus Receptus are in order. It’s prominence and respect did not begin in 1611 with the KJV translators--they merely recognized (as others before them had), that the Textus Receptus was God’s preserved word in the original New Testament language. Consider the following:

• All English Bibles since Tyndale’s first New Testament (1526) are based on the Textus Receptus. This includes: Miles Coverdale's Bible (1535), Matthew's Bible (1500-1555), The Great Bible (1539), The Geneva Version (1560), The Bishops' Bible (1568), and the King James Version (1611). [Ref. STORY OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE, by W Scott]

Quoted from: http://home.sprynet.com/~eagreen/kjv-3.htm

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