08-18-2008, 06:19 PM
Hi Mike,
A quick note here: it all depends on what you consider a "variant."
In the Greek/Latin manuscript traditions, the "variants" that are found include everything from minor spelling errors to different readings altogether. And everything in between.
In the eastern canon of the Peshitta, most of the "variants" (if you can call them that) are minor spelling errors, missing letters or an occasional contraction. For instance, in English we can say "He is risen" or "He's risen". That type of contraction is common with some Aramaic phrases like "Bar Nasha" (son of man) becomes "barnash", etc.
Most of the "variants" in the eastern canon are like that, minor spelling or contraction that really depended on the preference of the scribe and have no impact at all on the meaning.
+Shamasha Paul
A quick note here: it all depends on what you consider a "variant."
In the Greek/Latin manuscript traditions, the "variants" that are found include everything from minor spelling errors to different readings altogether. And everything in between.
In the eastern canon of the Peshitta, most of the "variants" (if you can call them that) are minor spelling errors, missing letters or an occasional contraction. For instance, in English we can say "He is risen" or "He's risen". That type of contraction is common with some Aramaic phrases like "Bar Nasha" (son of man) becomes "barnash", etc.
Most of the "variants" in the eastern canon are like that, minor spelling or contraction that really depended on the preference of the scribe and have no impact at all on the meaning.
+Shamasha Paul