Hovis Kristi Hovis McClain RBLA 423 April 19, 2010 Textual Criticism According to UBS Categories: [D]

Romans 14:19 This verse represents a likely case of itacism between two of its three known readings. The preferred reading uses diw,kw in the hortatory subjunctive while the first alternative

reading uses the indicative. The third reading displays the second singular imperative. Since the imperative has weak external evidence and does not as readily fit the context, one only needs to examine the evidence for the first two readings. External Evidence The indicative use shows the best manuscript evidence with the support of Codeces Sinaiticus (4th century), Vaticanus (4th century), and Alexandrinus (5th century) as well as other Alexandrian and Byzantine uncials. The subjunctive spans the widest geographical area, however. Its earliest witness is Codex Ephraemi (5th century). The indicative, i.e., the alternative reading, does not win by a wide margin. Internal Evidence In examining possible transcriptional errors, context, and authors style, the two readings are nearly even. One reading developed from the other due to itacism. The indicative use corresponds to Pauls style of a;ra ou=n plus indicative construction. The hortatory subjunctive, however, corresponds better to the context of Romans 14 (cf. vv. 3, 13). Throughout the practical portion of Romans (12-15), Paul uses imperatives and subjunctives to

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give instructionor perhaps, more accurately, the behavioral implications of the gospel set forth in Chapters one through eleven. Therefore, even in discussing heart attitudes behind whether to eat certain foods or observe certain days, It is more likely that Paul would use diw,kwmen over diw,komen. To further explain, Paul says in the previous verses that in situations of food and special days the real matter at stake is the gospel. For if a man harms his brother by causing him to stumble by what he eats, he dishonors the gospelfor he is no long walking in love (v. 15) thus letting what he regards as good be spoken of as evil (v. 16). Out of love for the gospel and for the brothers and sisters let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Hovis Works Cited Aland, Kurt, Barbara Aland, et al. The Greek New Testament. 4th rev. ed. New York: United Bible Societies, 2004.