WHY Does the NESTLE-ALAND 28th Greek New Testament DISCOUNT Manuscripts for 1 John 4:3 ?

OMITTING THE EVIDENCE for INCLUDING 1 JOHN 4:3

Why does the NA 28^th Greek New Testament discount 

66 manuscripts which include the TEST phrase in 1 John 4:3 

. . .  INCLUDING a number of Alexandrian manuscripts

which are in good standing in the Alexandrian camp ?

AND / OR . . .

WHY did the Nestle-Aland 28^th Edition IGNORE Polycarp’s citation of 1 John 4:3 … the earliest possible attestation to that verse ? 

Polycarp lived between 69—156 AD . Yet NA 28^th cited 5^th and 6^th century Christian apologists for 1 John 4:3 but ignored the solid testimony of Polycarp. WHY ? 

LIKEWISE  . .   

.

Why did the NESTLE-ALAND 28^TH Edition NOT follow

its foundational standards which they normally use

to evaluate the value of the words or phrases

 found in their favored Alexandrian Manuscripts  ?

These are words , phrases , and verses which veer from the Textus Receptus, the STANDARD from which every manuscript is collated ( compared critically.)

So, let’s look at the DATA on this verse to see CLEARLY what the NA 28^th has actually done with 1 John 4:3.

The NA 28^TH Apparatus for 1 John 4:3 is found printed in David Robert Palmer’s on-line comparison of the Nestle-Aland 28^th edition Greek Text with Robinson-Pierpont’s Byzantine Text Form.  [ See this link: http://bibletranslation.ws/palmer-translation/

Here is the NA28th verse of 1 John 4:3 . . .

“And every spirit which confesses not JESUS, out of GOD not is;and this one is the spirit of the antiChrist which you heard that it is coming and now in the world it is already .”

 3 καὶ πᾶν πνεῦμα ὃ μὴ ὁμολογεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν· καὶ τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου ὃ ἀκηκόατε ὅτι ἔρχεται, καὶ νῦν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἐστὶν ἤδη.

 http://www.nestle-aland.com/en/read-na28-online/text/bibeltext/lesen/stelle/72/40001/49999/

In our earlier post on Going Deeper With CHRIST [ See Does Nestle-Aland’s 28^th Edition WEIGH the Evidence FAIRLY ?], we examined the data regarding the manuscripts cited by NA 28^th for OMITTING that TEST phrase in 1 John 4:3.

The data revealed that  NA 28^th  TRUNCATED this verse on the basis of  11 minuscules --- 8 of which were Alexandrian and of the same family, 1739 --- and two Alexandrian uncials, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Vaticanus. 

But here, we see that SAME  NA 28^th apparatus citing 64  --- yes, 64 --- minuscules which INCLUDE the TEST phrase: JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh

 

Here is the list of minuscules in NA 28^th apparatus which INCLUDE that phrase.  

Courtesy of David Robert Palmer’s First Epistle of John at   http://bibletranslation.ws/palmer-translation/

 Note: The MINUSCULES start in yellow.

‖ L. 1: add ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθότα ℵ K L Ψ 049 056 0142 1 5 6 18 81 82 88 93 94 104 175 181 206 221 307 326 330 424 429 436 442 450 451 454 456 457 459 468 469 614 623 627 629c 630 757 920 1067 1127 1175 1243 1292 1409 1505 1611 1678 1837 1845 1846 1852 1862 1875 1891 2080 2138 2127 2147 2200 2412 2464 2492 2495 2541 2805 2818 LeontH PsOec TR HF RP

[  LeontH PsOec = These are early Christian apologists’ writings in which 1 John 4:3 is included in its entirety, of the 5^th or 6^th Centuries. TR = Textus Receptus, HF = Hodges and Farstaad, RP = Robinson-Pierpont 2005 Byzantine Textform ]

‖ L. 4: add ἐν σαρκὶ ἐληλυθεναι 33 2344 Thdrt 

[ Thdrt = An early Christian apologist’s writing in which 1 John 4:3 is included with this different verb form. Theodoret, circa 466 AD. See explanation below.  This is the verb form used in the Epistle of Polycarp when POLYCARP circa  69 – 156 AD,   is quoting 1 John 4:3 in its entirety. ] 

Courtesy of David Robert Palmer’s First Epistle of John at http://bibletranslation.ws/palmer-translation/

Some other manuscripts have left out JESUS; some have omitted CHRIST ( like NA 28^th did, above ). Some manuscripts have inverted the word order. 

Be that as it may, the phrase in focus …is come in the flesh is indeed in ALL of these 64 manuscripts, regardless of word order or a half-omission of The LORD’S name and / or title.

Furthermore, two more minuscule manuscripts ( MS), the “venerable” Alexandrian MS 33 and the Alexandrian MS 2344 , do indeed include that TEST phrase but show a different VERB form. 

BOTH manuscripts are Alexandrian, with MS 33 playing a leading role amongst the Alexandrian textual critics , i.e., they cite MS 33 as one of the more reliable and out-standing witnesses in their apparatuses.

Robert Waltz ( SKYPOINT website)  points out that MS 33 was called the “Queen of the Cursives” . This was due to its VERY CLOSE affinity with the Alexandrian text type found in the Vaticanus, according to DEAN John Burgon, The Last Twelve Verses of Mark, p. 123.

About the Differing Verb Forms

The “is come” of the KJV is actually a participle perfect active: “having come.” ( ELHLUTHOTA )    Some English versions state: “has come.”  

The different VERB FORM is the “come” verb in MSS 33 and 2344 . It is an infinitive perfect active form  ELHLUTHENAI, i.e., “to have come.”  

The difference in the verb form found in MSS 33 and 2344 hardly affects the meaning. BOTH verb forms are in the Perfect Tense. They both, therefore, refer to an EVENT IN THE PAST, an event that was PERFECTED, according to the Greek grammar of both verb forms, an event that was FINISHED.

That different VERB FORM  in MSS 33 and 2344, the  infinitive perfect active form  ELHLUTHENAI, i.e., “to have come”  is the form found in POLYCARP’S Epistle.

 

Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna, friend of Ignatius, and a disciple of the Apostle John , circa  69 – 156 A.D., uses this verb form when quoting 1 John 4:3, in its fullness.  See Epistle of Polycarp, Ante-Nicene Fathers, volume 1, pg. 34, chapter 7, “Avoid the Docete and Persevere in Fasting and Prayer.”

But as is apparent in the NA 28th apparatus above, as listed by Mr. Palmer, Polycarp’s name is not referenced for this verse. Neither was it referenced in the NA 26^th apparatus as bearing witness to this phrase by the Early Christians. WHY THE OMISSION of this well-known and highly-respected Bishop of Smyrna  in the Nestle-Aland’s editions?

 

So now, counting BOTH verb forms . . .

brings us to a TOTAL of 66 minuscules

--- including the venerated Alexandrian MS 33 ---

cited in the NA 28^th apparatus itself

as having included 

JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh .

So now, let’s look at the manuscript data in the tables.

Here is the data for the minuscule manuscripts included in the NA 28^th apparatus, sorted by century.  

 Note: The TEXT TYPE is for the TEXT TYPE found in the General, Catholic Epistles  NOT NECESSARILY the TEXT TYPE found throughout that manuscript.  This information is documented by Robert Waltz on his SKYPOINT site.

Minuscule manuscript list sorted by Century.

Table of Minuscule MSS which CONTAINED I John 4:3’s CHRIST is come in the flesh

#	MINUSCULE NUMBER	CENTURY	PAGES	TEXT TYPE	EXTRA INFO	IN/ NOT IN SKYPOINT	IN NA 26TH BYZ LIST
1	1862	9TH	429	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
2	2464	9TH	213	ALEX		SKY	NO
3	33	9TH	143	ALEX	Has “ to have come in flesh”	SKY	NO
4	82	10TH	246	BYZ		SKY	YES
5	221	10TH	382	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
6	307	10TH	254	MIX		SKY	NO
7	326	10TH	206	ALEX		NOT SKY	NO
8	450	10TH	177	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
9	454	10TH	244	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
10	456	10TH	377	?		NOT SKY	NO
11	457	10TH	294	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
12	627	10TH	187	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
13	920	10TH	239	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
14	1611	10TH	312	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
15	1837	10TH	181	?		NOT SKY	NO
16	1845	10TH	247	MIX		NOT SKY	NO
17	1875	10TH	181	?		NOT SKY	NO
18	1891	10TH	233	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and Caesarean	SKY	NO
19	175	10- 11TH	247	BYZ		SKY	NO
20	181	10-11TH	155	BYZ		SKY	NO
21	436	10TH	165	ALEX		SKY	NO
22	81	11TH	225	ALEX		SKY	NO
23	93	11TH	270	BYZ		SKY	NO
24	104	11TH	286	ALEX		SKY	NO
25	424	11TH	353	BYZ		SKY	NO
26	451	11TH	161	BYZ		SKY	NO
27	459	11TH	276	BYZ		NOT SKY	NO
28	623	11TH	187	MIX		SKY	NO
29	1175	11TH	203	BYZ		SKY	NO
30	1243	11TH	281	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and CAESAREA	NOT SKY	NO
31	1846	11TH	125	?		NOT SKY	NO
32	2138	11TH	398	MIX		SKY	NO
33	2344	11TH	61	ALEX	Has “ to have come in flesh”	in SKY under MS 36	NO
34	2147	11-12TH	229	NON-BYZ	family 2138	NOT SKY	NO
35	1	12TH	297	BYZ		SKY	NO
36	88	12TH	123	MIX	Mostly Byz	NOT SKY	NO
37	330	12TH	287	BYZ		SKY	NO
38	1127	12TH	345	?		NOT SKY	NO
39	1505	12TH	273	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
40	2127	12TH	229	BYZ		SKY	NO
41	2412	12TH	151	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
42	2541	12TH	147	?		NOT SKY	NO
43	2818	12TH	245	MIX		NOT SKY	NO
44	94	12-13TH	302	MIX		SKY	NO
45	442	12-13TH	129	ALEX		NOT SKY	NO
46	2805	12-13TH	354	?		NOT SKY	NO
47	5	13TH	342	MIX	close to 623	SKY	NO
48	6	13TH	235	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and Caesarean	SKY	NO
49	206	13TH	397	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
50	468	13TH	200	BYZ		NOT SKY	NO
51	469	13TH	229	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
52	614	13TH	276	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
53	757	13TH	414	BYZ		NOT SKY	YES
54	1292	13TH	239	NON-BYZ	family 2138	NOT SKY	NO
55	1852	13TH	182	NON-BYZ	family 2138	NOT SKY	NO
56	2492	13TH	178	BYZ		SKY	NO
57	630	12-14TH	215	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
58	18	14TH	444	BYZ		SKY	YES
59	429	14TH	185	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
60	629	14TH	265	BYZ	Mostly Byz	SKY	NO
61	1067	14TH	55	ALEX		in SKY under 436	NO
62	1409	14TH	226	ALEX		SKY	NO
63	1678	14TH	334	?		NOT SKY	NO
64	2080	14TH	278	?		NOT SKY	NO
65	2200	14TH	286	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and Caesarean	SKY	NO
66	2495	15TH	222	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO

[ Family 1739 MSS are Alexandrian with Caesarean mix. “ Family 1739  derives from archetype of about the 5^th or 6^th century and was the product of scholarly activity , probably in the library of Caesarea.” Alands placed this MS Family in Categories 1 and 2  . . . meaning they were heavily Alexandrian texts. See this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_1739  ]

[ Family 2138 = Manuscripts aligned with the Harklean Syriac version, 616 AD, which closely followed the Greek. It is cited in the UBS4 edition in the Catholic [ general ] Epistles. Family 2138  is NON-BYZANTINE in the Catholic Epistles, according to information on SKYPOINT under family 2138. ]

The 64 + 2 minuscules which include the TEST phrase are from the 9^th to the 15^th Century , a slightly earlier range of age in these manuscripts than that of the OMISSION minuscules cited, with three MINUSCULE MSS coming from the 800’s AD. [

 

On this second table, the data is sorted by TEXT TYPE found in the General, Catholic Epistles. 

Among those 64 + 2 MSS which include the TEST: 

24 are predominantly Byzantine, written between the 9^th and 14^th Century. 

Table of Minuscule MSS which CONTAINED I John 4:3’s CHRIST is come in the flesh

MINUSCULE NUMBER	CENTURY	PAGES	TEXT TYPE	IN/ NOT IN SKYPOINT	IN NA 26TH BYZ LIST
1	12TH	297	BYZ	SKY	NO
18	14TH	444	BYZ	SKY	YES
82	10TH	246	BYZ	SKY	YES
93	11TH	270	BYZ	SKY	NO
175	10- 11TH	247	BYZ	SKY	NO
181	10-11TH	155	BYZ	SKY	NO
221	10TH	382	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
330	12TH	287	BYZ	SKY	NO
424	11TH	353	BYZ	SKY	NO
450	10TH	177	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
451	11TH	161	BYZ	SKY	NO
454	10TH	244	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
457	10TH	294	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
459	11TH	276	BYZ	NOT SKY	NO
468	13TH	200	BYZ	NOT SKY	NO
469	13TH	229	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
627	10TH	187	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
757	13TH	414	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
920	10TH	239	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
1175	11TH	203	BYZ	SKY	NO
1862	9TH	429	BYZ	NOT SKY	YES
1891	10TH	233	BYZ	SKY	NO
2127	12TH	229	BYZ	SKY	NO
2492	13TH	178	BYZ	SKY	NO

10 which include the TEST are  predominantly Alexandrian. These  minuscules cover the range from the 9^th Century to the 14^th Century. 

Table of Minuscule MSS which CONTAINED I John 4:3’s CHRIST is come in the flesh

MINUSCULE NUMBER	CENTURY	PAGES	TEXT TYPE	IN/ NOT IN SKYPOINT	IN NA 26TH BYZ LIST
33	9TH	143	ALEX	SKY	NO
81	11TH	225	ALEX	SKY	NO
104	11TH	286	ALEX	SKY	NO
326	10TH	206	ALEX	NOT SKY	NO
436	10-11TH	165	ALEX	SKY	NO
442	12-13TH	129	ALEX	NOT SKY	NO
1067	14TH	55	ALEX	in SKY under 436	NO
1409	14TH	226	ALEX	SKY	NO
2344	11TH	61	ALEX	NOT SKY	NO
2464	9TH	213	ALEX	SKY	NO

8 are a mix of different text types, usually part Alexandrian and part Byzantine, and that to various degrees.  A few are mixed with the Western text type , also. [ All would be in Aland’s Category 3.]

Table of Minuscule MSS which CONTAINED I John 4:3’s CHRIST is come in the flesh

307	10TH	254	MIX		SKY	NO
1845	10TH	247	MIX		NOT SKY	NO
623	11TH	187	MIX		SKY	NO
2138	11TH	398	MIX		SKY	NO
88	12TH	123	MIX	Mostly Byz	NOT SKY	NO
2818	12TH	245	MIX		NOT SKY	NO
94	12-13TH	302	MIX		SKY	NO
5	13TH	342	MIX	close to 623	SKY	NO

15 were of Family Groups that were NON-BYZANTINE in their Text Type. 

Table of Minuscule MSS which CONTAINED I John 4:3’s CHRIST is come in the flesh

1611	10TH	312	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
1891	10TH	233	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and Caesarean	SKY	NO
1243	11TH	281	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and CAESAREA	NOT SKY	NO
2147	11-12TH	229	NON-BYZ	family 2138	NOT SKY	NO
1505	12TH	273	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
2412	12TH	151	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
6	13TH	235	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and Caesarean	SKY	NO
206	13TH	397	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
614	13TH	276	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
1292	13TH	239	NON-BYZ	family 2138	NOT SKY	NO
1852	13TH	182	NON-BYZ	family 2138	NOT SKY	NO
630	12-14TH	215	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
429	14TH	185	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO
2200	14TH	286	NON-BYZ	family 1739 = ALEX and Caesarean	SKY	NO
2495	15TH	222	NON-BYZ	family 2138	SKY	NO

[ Family 1739 MSS are Alexandrian with Caesarean mix. “ Family 1739  derives from archetype of about the 5^th or 6^th century and was the product of scholarly activity , probably in the library of Caesarea.” Alands placed this MS Family in Categories 1 and 2  . . . meaning they were heavily Alexandrian texts. See this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_1739  ]

[ Family 2138 = Manuscripts aligned with the Harklean Syriac version, 616 AD, which closely followed the Greek. It is cited in the UBS4 edition in the Catholic [ general ] Epistles. Family 2138  is NON-BYZANTINE in the Catholic Epistles, according to information on SKYPOINT under family 2138. ]

9 had no information online about their predominant text type.

Table of Minuscule MSS which CONTAINED I John 4:3’s CHRIST is come in the flesh

456	10TH	377	?		NOT SKY	NO
1837	10TH	181	?		NOT SKY	NO
1875	10TH	181	?		NOT SKY	NO
1846	11TH	125	?		NOT SKY	NO
1127	12TH	345	?		NOT SKY	NO
2541	12TH	147	?		NOT SKY	NO
2805	12-13TH	354	?		NOT SKY	NO
1678	14TH	334	?		NOT SKY	NO
2080	14TH	278	?		NOT SKY	NO

The DATA on these tables clearly shows us that out of 66 manuscripts which INCLUDE the TEST phrase in 1 John 4:3:

24 are Byzantine

10 are Alexandrian

15 are NON-BYZANTINE family types

  8 are MIXED

  9 text type unknown : the information was not available online.

IN SUMMARY, then . . . we can look at the data and justifiably state:

The NESTLE-ALAND 28^th Edition did NOT follow the 25 manuscripts which were either Alexandrian or else of a NON-Byzantine Family . . . and INCLUDE the TEST phrase in 1 John 4:3.

Thus, NA 28^th went AGAINST the witness of 7 uncials ( 2 predominantly Alexandrian and 5 predominantly Byzantine) plus 25 minuscules which were NOT Byzantine, in the decision to OMIT the TEST phrase in 1 John 4:3. 

The standards which are NORMALLY followed

by the Nestle-Aland camp

seem to have NOT BEEN followed

for this important variant in 1 John 4:3.

NESTLE-ALAND Greek New Testament  Standard # 1:

The earlier the manuscript,

the more reliable the reading or variant.

Yet in 1 John 4:3, we see the early manuscripts of the Sinaiticus and 6 other UNCIALS  vouch for the validity of CHRIST is come in the flesh ,  the important TEST phrase for Christians to identify wicked spirits. 

Furthermore, there are only two UNCIALS which omit the TEST phrase. [ See post : Does Nestle-Aland’s 28^th Edition WEIGH the Evidence FAIRLY ?]

So, the NA 28^th breaks its own standard here amongst the uncials , for if EARLY MSS were the predominant factor in accepting a VARIANT, then the TEST PHRASE should have REMAINED IN NA 28^th GREEK TEXT.

The minuscules of all text types which include that TEST phrase have the same range of manuscript years: from the 9^th to 15^th centuries. Three of these minuscules, it will be noted, are from the 9^th century.  

In comparison, there are NO 9^th century minuscules among the 11 which OMIT the TEST phrase.  [ See the table below for reference.]

THE EVIDENCE for the OMISSION of 1 John 4:3’s TEST Phrase, Presented in Nestle-Aland’s 28^th Edition Apparatus from “Does Nestle-Aland’s 28^th Edition WEIGH the Evidence FAIRLY ?”

SOURCE OF NA 28TH APPARATUS	MINUSCULE NUMBER	CENTURY	PAGES	TEXT TYPE	IN/ NOT IN SKYPOINT	FAMILY 1739
PALMER	398	10TH	251	BYZ	NOT SKY	NO
PALMER	1735	10TH	233	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	1739	10TH	189	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	323	11TH	374	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	945	11TH	347	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	2298	11TH	?	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	720*	12TH	296	MIX	NOT SKY	NO
PALMER	1241	12TH	193	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	629*	14TH	216	MIX	SKY	NO
PALMER	1881	14TH	126	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739
PALMER	322	15TH	134	ALEX	SKY	FAM 1739

NA 28^TH Standard # 2: FAVORED MANUSCRIPT STATUS

.

The Codex Sinaiticus and Minuscule 33 ( often considered a replica of the Codex Vaticanus )  and Minuscule 81 are give high priority ratings wherever textual variants are involved.  

But for 1 John 4:3, the NA 28^th  discounted all three of them this time from being witnesses of the highest quality. 

The odd thing about this is that Codex Sinaiticus, MS 33, and MS 81 were ACCOMPANIED by several other Alexandrian MSS which ALSO TESTIFIED to the validity of the TEST phrase . 

Thus, we can see that the NA 28^th  editors were

inconsistent  in applying their own rules

[ of antiquity and “favored” manuscripts ]

when evaluating this passage.

ALSO . . . keep in mind that the 1904 NESTLE Greek Critical Text of the ALEXANDRIAN MSS camp  DID INDEED retain this reading, as per https://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_john/4-3.htm .

 

WHY did Mr. Aland change this from Mr. Nestle’s original decision ?

Wilbur N. Pickering states that 2.5 % of ALL THE MANUSCRIPTS available have omitted that TEST phrase. [ See: The Sovereign Creator Has Spoken: New Testament Translation with Commentary, 2016, at www.prunch.org ]

That means, of course,

that 97.5 % of ALL the manuscripts

with this verse in the First Epistle of John

CONTAIN that TEST phrase, which: 

WOULD INCLUDE: Alexandrian manuscripts as well as Byzantine and Mixed text type MSS

WOULD INCLUDE: the spread of centuries – including the 4^th Century 

WOULD INCLUDE: geographic variety and differing church bishoprics from where the manuscripts originated

WOULD INCLUDE: the “respectability” of the manuscripts , i.e., that they were valid copies of the Holy Writ .  Most of these hand-written manuscripts were HUNDREDS of pages long according to the data on these tables. None of them were fragmentary bits that required educated “guesses” as to what the letters --- or parts of letters --- were.  

Many of the MSS have “correctors” which means some Church authority TRIED to ensure the flock would have the best manuscript available to them at that point in history. 

The DATA reveals that goodly a number of bona fide Alexandrian manuscripts do indeed bear testimony to the authenticity of 1 John 4:3’s JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh .

Thus . . . 

WHAT are the REAL , WORKING, FUNCTIONAL CRITERIA

WHICH GUIDE THE NESTLE-ALAND EDITIONS AND EDITORS ?

Could it be something OTHER than their beloved “oldest” manuscripts and preferred “NON-Byzantine” minuscules ? 

As the DATA tables reveal, they certainly did not follow their own criteria when TRUNCATING 1 John 4:3. Their OWN CRITERIA would have RETAINED all of the original words in 1 John 4:3. 

WHY was their adopted methodology discarded ? Is it rational to discard a working standard or functional methodology AT WILL ? 

Perhaps a closer look at the philosophy of their guiding hand for so many years, Kurt Aland, might reveal their REAL, OPERATING CRITERIA in omitting so many words, phrases, and verses from the New Testament, the HOLY WORD of GOD.  

. . . A philosophy, alas, that has infected the United Bible Societies ( UBS ) , the American Bible Society of Eugene Nida, and Wycliffe translators, and thus, has afflicted all Christians across the globe, in one way or another, CREATING AN AVALANCHE OF APOSTASY.