FABRICATIONS · INTERPOLATION
Addition of His Flesh and Bones
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
The NIV and ESV omit this phrase due to earlier manuscripts like Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, which don’t include it. The added phrase intensifies the believer’s union with Christ, but its absence in older texts suggests it wasn’t original, showing another instance of textual fluidity.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
The added phrase underscores the intimate union between Christ and believers, found in other scriptural metaphors. Scribes added these words to amplify a known truth, not to introduce new concepts, as a helpful clarification.
THE ISLAMIC POSITION
This still represents a scribal adjustment. If scribes expanded metaphors to intensify theological imagery, then the text isn’t a static witness to original teachings. This highlights the Bible’s susceptibility to human alteration and raises questions about its authenticity. These cases collectively challenge the notion that the Bible has been perfectly preserved over time.
Debate this entry — and get coached.
Spar against a steel-manned AI opponent on this topic; a coach scores your rhetoric, citations, and adab after every turn.
The most common person you'll meet. Low on doctrine, high on feeling — meet them with warmth, not a barrage of arguments.
Addition of His Flesh and Bones