Ephesians 5:9
 
Ephesians 5:9
(KJV) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
(1611 KJV) (For the fruite of the spirit is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse & trueth.)
(1568 Bishops Bible) For the fruite of the spirite (is) in all goodnesse, and righteousnesse, & trueth,
(1526 Tyndale) For the frute of the sprete is in all goodnes rightewesnes and trueth.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth
(NIV) (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
(NASV) (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
(THE MESSAGE) The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around.
(AMP) For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
(NLT) For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
(ESV) (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
(CEV) and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful,
(1901 ASV) (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
(NLV) This light gives us truth. It makes us right with God and makes us good.
(HCSB) for the fruit of the light [results] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth
(NCV) Light brings every kind of goodness, right living, and truth.
(RSV) (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
(NAB-Roman Catholic) for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
(DOUAY-RHEIMS Roman Catholic) For the fruit of the light is in all goodness, and justice, and truth;
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) for the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth.
 
Textus Receptus- Traditional Text
o gar karpoV tou pneumatoV en pash agaqwsunh kai dikaiosunh kai alhqeia
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
o gar karpoV tou jwtoV en pash agaqwsunh kai dikaiosunh kai alhqeia
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (original)
P 025 - Ninth century
P 49 - Third century
33 (Miniscule) - Ninth Century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (corrected)
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 46 - circa 200 AD
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Reads “light” instead of “Spirit”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
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
One of the most popular tenets of Gnosticism is their rejection of spirit, especially the Holy Spirit. So we see in this verse that they changed the word “Spirit” to “light.” Since they disregard God’s thoughts, they probably changed the words to reflect the usage of “light” in verse 8 in belief they are continuing the thought. However, this is a very subtle but major change. Verse 9 is speaking of the Fruit of the Spirit which gives goodness, righteousness, and truth. These are all tenets of the born again Christian and the light that is in view in verse 8 is really speaking of the true Gospel. The children of light, in verse 8, are the true Children of God by regeneration.
There is a second danger of changing “spirit” to “light” and that is the New Age implication of “inner light.” The inner light of the New Age movement is actually demon possession. People like Shirley MacLaine and Kevin Ryerson who trance channeled demons believed they were walking in inner light given by the ascended masters. The New Age movement puts Jesus in the same category as Confucius, Buddha, and other false teachers whom the New Age movement touts as giving light for a new age. When you read Eph 5:9 with the word “light” it makes for a great New Age teaching and proof text. This is why the modern versions fit perfectly into false teachings including the New Age. We can thank the Lord that He has preserved His Word in the King James Bible because it does not send us into false teachings but protects us from them.

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