Browse / Mike Winger / Idea

Textual variants and extra verses in modern translations do not undermine inerrancy or preservation — they represent more, not less

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 26) 01:19:24 – 01:21:55

Q18 from Chris Levy: How do we reconcile inerrancy and preservation when modern translations say verses have been added (e.g., ending of Mark, Acts 8:37)?

Winger explains that the vast majority of the Bible has no textual dispute whatsoever. There are a handful of passages (Mark 16 ending, Acts 8:37, etc.) where translators are uncertain whether a verse is original; they typically include it in the text with a footnote, or in a footnote with a superscript. Crucially: in no case do the disputed verses teach false or unorthodox theology. They add nothing theologically contradictory to the rest of Scripture. Therefore, the situation is that we have the complete inspired text (inerrancy preserved) and possibly a few additional verses. Having "the whole Bible plus maybe a little more" is not an inerrancy problem — it is an overage, not a deficit. Inerrancy and preservation are intact. The right instinct when uncertain about a verse is to include it, not exclude it.

Your Tags

Personal labels you apply to any item — separate from system topics. Tags are shared across all databases. Visit /tags to browse all your tags.

...more

Ask Claude about this