Revelation 11:19
All three editions (TR WH NU) read η κιβωτος της διαθηκης αυτου (“the ark of his covenant”), with the
support of A C P. In context, this reads, “the temple of God was opened in
heaven and the ark of his covenant in his temple was seen.” There are two
variants on this: (1) η
κιβωτος της διαθηκης του κυριου (“the ark of the Lord’s covenant”) in 𝔓47 (2344) Maj syr cop; (2) η κιβωτος της διαθηκης του θεου (“the ark of God’s covenant”) in א. The documentary evidence for the TR WH NU reading, though
solid (with the combined testimony of A and C), is still not so substantial as
to rule out the other readings, especially the first variant. Had the text
originally read αυτου
(“his”), as in A and C, or του θεου (“God’s”), as in א, it is difficult to explain why scribes would change it to κυριου (variant 1). Thus, one could argue that
the text originally read “the covenant of the Lord” (variant 1), but this was
seen to be at odds with the previous mention of “God.” So it was either changed
to αυτου (“his”—with
reference to θεου)
or to θεου itself. But even if
the original wording were “the Lord,” it is likely that this is a reference to
“the Lord God”—a frequent appellation in the book of Revelation (1:8; 4:8;
11:15–17; 15:1–3; 16:7; 18:8; 19:6; 21:22). (Philip W. Comfort, New
Testament Text and Translation Commentary: Commentary on the Variant Readings
of the Ancient New Testament Manuscripts and How They Relate to the Major
English Translations [Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
2008], 839)
