Theological Significance in the Text Variance in Acts
9:31
Jebidiah Porter, M.A.
Student at Heritage Baptist University
In Acts 9:31 there is a textual variance between the TR and WH text. In
the TR ekklhsiai occurs but in the WH it is ekklhsia. In the King James
the verse reads, "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and
Galilee and Samaria..." This verse has the potential of definitely
affecting the doctrine of ecclesiology. The local versus universal
question is an aspect of church doctrine that is much debated. If the TR
reading is the one accepted then the verse does not decide the question
because it is generally accepted that the church does exist in local
assemblies. However, if the WH reading is accepted then there is a
definite change required in how some view the doctrine of the church.
There is the position that the church is to be organized only in local
assemblies. The WH reading makes this position untenable. The WH reading
would not necessarily exclude the idea of local assemblies but it
definitely allows for the application of the singular ekklhsia to a group
of churches. The reading could even lend itself to the idea of a diocese.
One could then legitimately refer to the American church, the French
church, the English church, etc. Therefore, those arguing for a local
church only organization could not do so in the light of the WH reading.
They would have to acknowledge that sometimes it is acceptable to refer to
the churches within a given region as a singular church. Charles Ryrie in
his Basic Theology takes such a position. On page 395 in the
section dealing with the concept of the church, he writes, "Yet the
singular church is used to designate several churches in a region (Acts
9:31)." Based on this verse, he goes on to outline his
concept of the church as being the universal church–all believers, the
visible church–local churches within a given area, and the local church–a
particular assembly. Regardless of which position is correct concerning
the local versus universal question, the WH reading in Acts 9:31 would
have to be acknowledged as affecting theology. It is not the purpose of
this article to argue for one position or another regarding the local
versus universal question but only to point out that in this instance the
textual variance can affect theology.
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