Eastern vs.

Western Peshitta readings

The Eastern & Western texts are very, very close in their readings; indeed, they are practically identical
on every page, except for the Western 5 books (2 nd Peter, 2nd John, 3rd John, Jude, and Revelation) and
pericope adultera in John 7:53-8:11. In the few other places where they differ, there is essentially a
doctrinal controversy at stake between the Eastern and Western churches, which is over the doctrine of
the Person of Christ: Nestorianism in the East versus Monophysitism in the West. Nestorius taught that
Christ had two natures (human and divine) and two "qnomas" (one human and one divine) in one Person.
A "qnoma" is essentially translated "self" or "person" in the scriptures. Monophysitism teaches that Christ
has only one nature and one qnoma, both divine. It is likely that the Nestorian church essentially modified
a few verses to support their doctrines as the correct ones. If we look at the Greek mss., which represent
a 1st century translation of the NT, we find Eastern and Western type readings and mss, but in the
pertinent places where the Peshitta mss. differ most significantly- Acts 20:28 & Hebrews 2:9,16 primarily,
the Greek mss. almost universally support the Western readings. The items marked with an (*) are likely
Nestorian modifications to the Western mss. There are also many words reflecting a difference in dialect
that are not listed here; The name of God is written as “Marya” in the Eastern texts, and “Morya” in the
West, to name one. This is why the Eastern texts are commonly called the “Peshitta,” and the Western
scrolls are called the “Peshitto” as well.

Matthew 6:32 – Eastern has “the Gentiles of the World.” Western omits “World.”

Matthew 21:4 – Eastern has “All this happened…” Western omits “All.”

Mark 14:31 – Eastern has “also all the disciples said” at the end of the verse. Western omits “all.”

Luke 22:17-18 – Omitted in both Eastern and Western Peshitta.

John 7:53-8:11 – (pericope adultera) Omitted in Eastern texts, present in Western.

John 16:27 – Eastern has “from the father.” Western has “from God.”

Acts 8:37 – Omitted in both Eastern and Western Peshitta.

Acts 15:34 – Omitted in both Eastern and Western Peshitta.

*Acts 20:28 – Eastern has “feed the church of the Messiah.” Western has “feed the church of God.”

Romans 8:39 – Eastern has “to sever us.” Western has “to sever me.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Eastern has “that he received.” Western has “that they received.”

2 Thessalonians 3:18 – Eastern ends with “with all of you my brothers; Amen. Western omits “my
brothers.”

2 Timothy 4:22 – Eastern has “with us.” Western has “with you.”

*Hebrews 2:9 – Eastern ends with “for He, apart from God, tasted death in the place of everyone.”
Western has “for God himself, by his grace, tasted death in the place of every person.”
*Hebrews 2:16 – Eastern has “He did not take [the form] of angels, but he took [the form] of the children
of Abraham.” The Western has “For death was not authorized over the Angels, but over the children of
Abraham it was authorized.