666 or 616?
When discussing the Bible manuscripts differences with various people I hear one argument all the time: these differences are insignificant as they don’t change the meaning of the passages. I would like to show you an episode understanding of which may have vital consequences.
Revelation 13:14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
Basically all versions of the Bible in English and Russian have 666 as the number, without any indications that the number might be different. The only version casting doubt on this number is CSB; they put number 666 in the main text and make a footnote: Other Gk mss read 616.
Why is this issue so important?
Revelation 14:9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Do you see the potential consequences of misreading the number of the beast? If not, please read the passage above one more time and do it very carefully.
Let’s move on and see evidence for the mark from Greek uncial manuscripts:
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Papyrus P47 (3rd century). It reads 666:
Papyrus 115 (3–4th century). It reads 616:
Codex Vatianus (4th century). 666:
Codex Sinaiticus (4th century). 666
Codex Alexandrinus (5th century). 666
Codex Ephraemi (5th century) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Ephraemi_Rescriptus: “Revelation 13:18 “The number of the beast” is written as hexakosiai deka hex, lit. six hundred sixteen (616)”
Uncial 051 (10th century). 666:
Here https://ru.scribd.com/document/176308106/Revelation it’s stated that Codex Porphyrianus (9th century) and Uncial 046 (10th century) read 666.
Here is a summary of what we have with Greek uncial manuscripts:
In addition, the Majority Text supports 666, backed up by Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (4th century). As you can see, Greek manuscripts are overwhelmingly in favor of 666.
Next time I will share with my findings on patristic evidence. And then I will make my final conclusion.
