Matthew 27:54
(KJV) Now when
the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake,
and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was
the Son of God.
(1611 KJV) Now when the Centurion,
and they that were with him, watching Iesus, saw the earthquake, & those things
that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truely this was
the Son of God.
(1587 Geneva Bible) When the
Centurion, and they that were with him watching Iesus, saw the earthquake, and
the thinges that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truely this was
the Sonne of God.
(Bishops Bible 1568) When the
Centurion, and they that were with hym watchyng Iesus, sawe the earthquake, and
those thynges that were done, they feared greatly, saying: truely, this was
the sonne of God.
(Great Bible 1539) When the Centurion
and they that were with him watchinge Iesus, sawe the erth quake, those thinges
which happened, they feared greatly, saying: Trulye, this was
the sonne of God.
(1526 Tyndale) When the Centurion and
they that were with him watchinge Iesus sawe ye erth quake and those thinges
which hapened they feared greatly sayinge. Of a surete this was
the sonne of God.
Counterfeit Versions
All of these modern versions contain the word “the”
when translating the Centurion’s testimony about Christ being “the Son of God.”
Many of us remember Dr. Robert A. Cook and I remember something he said, “The
large print giveth and the small print taketh away.” This is another case of the
footnotes attacking the text and taking away from the actual text. In each of
these versions I will place the footnote text.
(1881 RV) “a son of God”
(1901 ASV) “a son of God”
(ESV) “a son of God”
(LB) “A godly man”
(NASV) “a son of God or a son of a god”
(NRSV) “a son of God”
(RSV) “a son”
The word “the” is a direct article naming a specific
person in this case. The text is saying that Jesus was “the” Son of God. When
the indirect article is used, it is claiming that Jesus is just one of many.
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
ο δε εκατονταρχος και οι μετ αυτου τηρουντες τον
ιησουν ιδοντες τον σεισμον και τα γενομενα εφοβηθησαν σφοδρα λεγοντες αληθως
θεου υιος ην ουτος
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
ο δε εκατονταρχος και οι μετ αυτου τηρουντες τον
ιησουν ιδοντες τον σεισμον και τα γινομενα εφοβηθησαν σφοδρα λεγοντες αληθως
θεου υιος ην ουτος
Corrupted Manuscripts
As seen above, both the Traditional and Critical Text
agree on this verse. However, in the following manuscripts, two words are
reversed causing the footnotes of these versions to state “a son.”
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
In the regular text, the term “the son of God” is
written as following “θεου υιος” but in these three manuscripts the word are
reversed “υιος θεου.“ These seven modern versions follow the three manuscripts.
B 03 & D 05 are known to be two of the most corrupt extant manuscripts and yet
they were followed by those seven versions. This is why it is so important that
Christians know exactly what they are using in their spiritual walk.