In the New Testament, particularly the Gospels, certain passages stand out as textual variants—sections whose presence varies across ancient manuscripts, suggesting they were added later, expanded, or preserved unevenly. The most well-known are the Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53–8:11), the story of the woman caught in adultery, and the Longer Ending of Mark (Mark 16:9–20). Most Bibles include footnotes noting this, and it can feel disconcerting when some of our earliest and most reliable manuscripts simply omit them.
How then should we respond? Three gentle observations may help.
First, let us meet these passages with humility, not panic. The Christian tradition has long been honest about its own history. Textual variants do not signal conspiracy or corruption; they reflect the very human process of copying sacred texts. Scribes faithfully reproduced what they received, and sometimes beloved traditions—perhaps preserved in margins or oral memory—were eventually woven into the main body of the manuscript.
Second, even with uncertain origins, these passages can still nourish the church. The story in John 8 rings true to the heart of Jesus. It feels like an authentic memory of His character, even if it was not part of the original Gospel text. Similarly, Mark’s Longer Ending gathers themes found in Matthew and Luke.
Third, we must carefully distinguish edification from ultimate authority. Such texts should be read with gratitude and preached with wisdom, yet they should not become the sole or decisive foundation for doctrine. For instance, Mark 16:16 should not carry the full weight of proving
baptism’s necessity for salvation—especially when undisputed passages exist.
Ultimately, our confidence rests not in flawless human transmission or in the named authors alone, but in the Holy Spirit who speaks to and through the whole church. He has guided her across centuries to recognize what is truly apostolic and life-giving. Textual variants gently
remind us that God entrusts His precious oracles to jars of clay.
Maranatha,
Jordy
