Changing Bibles

One result of the debates between Jerome and Jovinian and others over the brothers of Jesus was that it highlighted the changing of Bibles. Around 380 AD the Egyptian texts came out, leaving out some 200 words and phrases that could directly impact debates over the ever-virginity, infant baptism, and the repentance of traditors.

We know the Catholic Bibles whereby we get the NIV and other modern Bibles were pro infant baptism compared to earlier manuscripts. They left out Acts 8:37 and Mark 16:15-16.

Since accusations of corrupt changes were used to rebut Jerome and his position by Helvidius and Jovinian, we can see that many did not accept the changes. Jerome could still make his case with passages in the new bibles, but it did hinder his opposition. Without the word firstborn in Matthew 1:25 they had less ammunition. Without Mark 16:9-20 there was less proof against infant baptism.

The new bibles were rendered more neutral, thus leaving acceptance of doctrines a matter of conjecture more than a matter of actual proof.

The altering of Bibles to reflect the Catholic position became a matter of history because of the debates.

We know that Jerome addressed the accusations.

The changes made it impossible for the church to fulfill God's directive "to prove all things".

Removal or alteration of key verses made doctrine more a matter of the churches voice over written scripture, thus the rise of today's Catholic theology.

The word firstborn was left out of Matthew 1:25 but was still in Luke, which is likely that Gospel that Paul preached. Luke said he got his Gospel from the Apostles. This was likely Paul, but used in the plural it shows he felt it was supported by much more than Paul himself. Multiple Apostles were in agreement. All the Apostles were unified over Luke's Gospel.

Luk 1:2  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

The plural shows all would consent to Luke's version.

Luke included the word firstborn.

Luk 2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.