FABRICATIONS · INTERPOLATIONS
“Get Behind Me, Satan” Extension
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God...
This phrase is absent in some early Luke manuscripts. Its insertion aligns Luke with Matthew’s version of the temptation scene. Recognizing this harmonization reveals a scribal tendency to conform texts to each other, demonstrating that even Jesus’ spoken words could be reshaped by later hands. NIV and ESV omit this phrase for it's weaknes in manuscripts.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Some manuscripts omit this phrase, but it closely matches Matthew’s account. A scribe likely harmonized Luke with Matthew, reinforcing a familiar rebuke. It does not alter Jesus’ mission or character, only ensuring readers recognize a known admonition.
THE ISLAMIC POSITION
If Luke originally lacked this phrase, it means there was a discrepancy between the witness accounts. Such textual adjustments show scribes imposing uniformity on distinct accounts. This editorial smoothing raises doubts about each Gospel’s independent authenticity and whether we truly have their original words.
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“Get Behind Me, Satan” Extension