Matthew 20:16

 

Matthew 20:16

(KJV) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

(1611 KJV) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many bee called, but fewe chosen.

(1587 Geneva Bible) So the last shalbe first, and the first last: for many are called, but fewe chosen.

(1526 Tyndale) Soo the laste shalbe fyrste and the fyrste shalbe laste. For many are called and feawe be chosen.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) "So the last will be first, and the first last."
(NIV) "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

(NASV) So the last shall be first, and the first last."

(ESV) So the last will be first, and the first last."

(HCSB) "So the last will be first, and the first last."

(1901 ASV) So the last shall be first, and the first last.

(CEV) Jesus then said, "So it is. Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is last will be first."

(NKJV) Footnote>>NU-Text omits the last sentence of this verse.

(RSV) So the last will be first, and the first last."

(NAB-Roman Catholic) Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) In this way the last ones will be first, and the first ones last.”

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

outwV esontai oi escatoi prwtoi kai oi prwtoi escatoi polloi gar eisin klhtoi oligoi de eklektoi

 

Hort Westcott - Critical Text

outwV esontai oi escatoi prwtoi kai oi prwtoi escatoi

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

L 019 - Seventh century

Z 035 - Sixth century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century

D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century

W 032 - Fourth/fifth century

Theta 038 - Ninth century

1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century

13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Omit “for many be called, but few chosen”

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Weiss, Bernhard - 1894

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

 

Affected Teachings

The second part of this verse is the qualifier for God’s salvation plan. When that portion is removed, it gives the indication that there is going to be universal salvation. The Bible teaches very clearly that God is the one who chooses His Elect for salvation. (2 Th 2:13 KJV) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: The Gospel call goes out through all the world and many hear the Gospel but only those who are chosen from the foundations of the world will respond to the Gospel and become saved. So when the second part of this verse was removed, it also removed the method whereby God will be accomplishing His salvation plan until the last day. “Many be called but few chosen,” which means we send forth the Gospel to everybody we can but only those whom God has qualified to hear the Gospel and be saved, will become saved. Universal salvation or universal atonement is never taught in the Bible. The removal of the qualifier does not negate the truth that it omits.

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