FABRICATIONS · INTERPOLATION
Wash robes vs do commandments
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life... [Variant: Blessed are those who wash their robes...]
The KJV follows the Textus Receptus, which reads "do his commandments". The NIV and ESV follow earlier Greek manuscripts, such as Codex Sinaiticus / Alexandrinus, which read "wash their robes". The discrepancy shows the text’s instability. It’s another piece of evidence of textual evolution, supporting the stance that the Bible has not been preserved as firmly as the Quran.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Both variants encourage purity, whether by obedience or symbolic cleansing. The difference does not undermine salvation’s message. Instead, we see two traditions that complement each other’s call to holiness, maintaining theological integrity.
THE ISLAMIC POSITION
This variant affects the understanding of how believers attain purity—through obedience or cleansing. Even crucial moral instructions vary. If it’s unclear whether the text originally emphasized obeying commandments or washing robes, the reliability of the message suffers. Such variations bolster the claim that the Bible’s final form does not accurately represent the original revelation.
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Wash robes vs do commandments