This episode marks a major shift in the discussion over Bible translations: most modern translations of the Bible reject the Majority Text (Textus Receptus) in favor of the Critical Text. The Majority Text approach established the underlying Greek Text based on the majority of manuscripts, regardless of age. Critical Text proponents reject establishing the text based purely on "majority rule," and instead maintain that newly discovered OLDER manuscripts should carry more weight in establishing the Greek text than the simple majority. The Critical Text therefore incorporates new manuscript evidence when determining the basic text from which to translate into English. The dispute then between TR proponents and Critical Text adherents can simplistically be stated as "majority rule" vs. "older is better." The argument mirrors the early 20th century dispute between fundamentalism and modernity. The episode contends that "modernity" (the discovery of new manuscript evidence) need not be rejected, but should rather be integrated in establishing the underlying text upon which translators depend.
