Complete textual-variant dossier
Adverse entailment established
Sections distinguish readings, edition history, evidence, theological consequences, and the Research Center's evaluation. CBGM is an analytical tool; editorial committees—not the software—make textual decisions.
1Passage and issue
Passage
Issue
The received text says that the child Jesus grew and “waxed strong in spirit.” The critical text retains his growth, strengthening, wisdom, and divine grace but omits the explicit phrase “in spirit.”
Variant class
Omission / addition
2Textus Receptus
Greek reading
The child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.”
Authorized Version
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” — Luke 2:40
Edition note
The Research Center uses the received Greek text underlying the Authorized Version as its baseline; edition-specific differences are recorded when the variation unit requires them.
Historical annotation witness
Erasmus’s Annotationes
Erasmus’s printed Greek text, his Latin annotation, and the Research Center’s evaluation are distinct evidence. Each edition remains separately identified because Erasmus revised the Annotationes across his five editions.
Not yet assessed. No inference about Erasmus’s silence has been made. A Latin annotation and translation will appear here only after an edition and exact locus have been verified.
The Erasmus annotation audit has not yet been completed for this locus. Do not infer from this status that Erasmus was silent.
Westminster and Dutch annotation witnesses
Westminster Annotations
Not yet assessed. No inference from silence is made.
Dutch Annotations
Not yet assessed. No inference from silence is made.
3NA28 baseline and critical-text rationale
NA28 baseline reading
The child “grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom,” without “in spirit.”
Translation or explanation
The child “grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom,” without “in spirit.”
Metzger’s report of the UBS committee
No passage-specific Metzger synopsis has yet passed editorial verification for this record.
ECM / CBGM evidence and editors
No passage-specific ECM/CBGM editorial explanation is attached to this record. Official method sources describe the CBGM as a set of coherence procedures, not a decision-maker: editors define variation units and local stemmata and evaluate pre-genealogical, genealogical, and stemmatic coherence together with transcriptional, intrinsic, and other philological evidence.
4UBS6 and intended NA29 revision
UBS6 retains the NA28 / UBS5 Greek main-text wording in Luke, so no main-text change is shown for this passage. The separate project ledger covers Acts, Mark, and Revelation.
No change row is attached to this passage.
UBS6 is published, and the German Bible Society identifies its Greek main text as identical to the intended NA29 main text. The complete NA29 volume and its apparatus remain forthcoming. Project-ledger rows retain their source and verification statements until they are checked against the published UBS6 text and, when available, the NA29 apparatus.
5Doctrinal and four-point analysis
Effect class
Exegetical or interpretive consequence
Exact proposition affected
No single doctrinal proposition is directly changed; the principal consequence is exegetical, historical, or cumulative.
Doctrinal analysis
Neither direction requires a christological agenda.
Controlled source-list matches
Doctrinal significance and Westminster use
This passage is listed in one or both controlling research files. Their claims are reported with exact source identity and confessional use; list membership does not by itself establish the original reading or the Research Center’s final entailment.
Doctrinally significant variant listLuke 2.40
Doctrinally Significant Variants Itemised
Anonymous compilation — supplied source file pp. 15–16
Doctrine or doctrinal consequence identified by the source
Here we would defer to the Byzantine Text, in the first place, because, of the textual families, it is demonstrably the more reliable. The wild, erratic nature of the Alexandrian and Western Texts, the disagreement of the manuscripts amongst themselves, the wilfulness of its editors, the ultimate apostasy of Egyptian Church – these things would all bring us to look askance at curious readings of the Alexandrian Text. But over and above the greater reliability of the Byzantine Text, we must also consider that the reading 'waxed strong in spirit' plainly fits the context of this passage better. After all, this is not the history of Samson we are reading here! A relation of Christ's increasing in mere physical strength is really not to the point. To the contrary, we find in the very context of this verse the fact that Christ had just amazed the teachers of the Law with His knowledge of the Scriptures, and thus, was noteworthy, not in His physical strength, but rather in His spiritual excellence. We are also told by the Scriptures that there 'was no form no comeliness in him that we should desire him' (Isaiah 53.2), and accordingly, we are informed by Scripture that He was of no unusual physical appearance or abilities. Accordingly, it was in His spiritual character, not His physical strength or abilities, that He was 'fairer than the children of men' (Psalm 45.2). Accordingly, we are directed by the context of the passage us to be viewing Christ as continuing to grow in spiritual things, as He had already done by the age of twelve years. Therefore, the context of the passage militates that the Byzantine Text's reading of 'strong in spirit' is the correct one.
Source-reported readings and witness argument
Received reading reported
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40 Authorised Version)
Critical reading reported
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40 New Revised Standard) (COMMENT: The Critical Text omits the critically important words 'in spirit'.)
Manuscript and patristic support reported by the source
The omission of 'in spirit' is supported by Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and their Alexandrian allies. The inclusion of 'in spirit' is supported by the universal Byzantine Text going back to Codex Alexandrinus, a 5th century manuscript. The words 'strong in spirit' are also supported by Tatian's Diatessaron in the 2nd century and by Theodoret in his Dialogues in the 4th century. On the other hand, Augustine cites the Critical Text reading because his Old Latin text and the Latin Vulgate conforms to it.
Editorial qualification: The compilation’s doctrinal inferences and witness claims are reported as its argument, not silently adopted as verified fact. Exact entailment is retained: weakening an explicit statement is not automatically a formal denial of the doctrine.
Bahnsen four-point examination
Arbitrariness
At Luke 2:40, the critical choice avoids arbitrariness only to the extent that it states public manuscript, transcriptional, and intrinsic grounds. Editorial status: Preliminary record accepted for staging; independent review remains pending. The critical form lacks the words translated “in spirit.” Yet the critical text does not deny Christ’s spiritual life.
Inconsistency
The criteria used at Luke 2:40 must be applied to comparable readings as well. A principle such as age, difficulty, brevity, or coherence cannot be decisive here and quietly reversed elsewhere merely to escape a historical, grammatical, or theological difficulty.
Consequences
Exegetical or interpretive consequence: Neither direction requires a christological agenda.
Preconditions of intelligibility
The argument presupposes stable authorship, meaningful language, objective logical norms, transmissible evidence, and a coherent account of how Scripture can be received and identified by the church. The analysis tests whether the method can make those conditions intelligible without reducing the text to an indefinitely revisable editorial construct.
This framework examines an argument and its conditions; it does not claim to read an editor's private motives.
6Argument for the received reading
External and historical evidence
A source-level external-evidence synopsis remains open; consult the full essay and cited apparatus.
Internal and transcriptional evidence
The omission does not leave a weak or merely physical child. That parallel makes the received phrase thoroughly Lukan, but it also gives a copyist an obvious source from which to supply it. A scribe could add “in spirit” because he remembered John’s growth.
Reception and ecclesiastical use
After the return to Nazareth, the received text says that the child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.” Its phrase is at home in Luke, coherent in the sentence, and established in the church’s received copy.
Providential-preservation analysis
Providential preservation is not used as a substitute for evidence at Luke 2:40. It supplies the confessional context in which manuscript transmission, broad reception, and the church's actual possession of Scripture are evaluated together.
Canonical coherence with the rest of Scripture
Canonical coherence remains an explicit test: a proposed reading must make grammatical and theological sense within the immediate context and the rest of Scripture. No conflict is asserted merely because two editions differ; the claimed incoherence must be demonstrated at this passage.
Canonical-coherence verdict
The Authorized Version is retained where its representation of the TR forms a coherent reading within the immediate context and the rest of Scripture. Any competing form must demonstrate an equal or better canonical fit rather than merely invoke an edition or method label.
Response to the principal critical argument
Editorial status: Preliminary record accepted for staging; independent review remains pending. The critical form lacks the words translated “in spirit.” Yet the critical text does not deny Christ’s spiritual life.
Passage-specific evidence from consulted works
Core 0.6.3 supplied-source audit complete: 1 passage-specific note attached. Incidental citations and global-method sources are retained in the audit report rather than presented as local textual evidence.
Doctrinally Significant Variants ItemisedAttributed doctrinal and canonical-coherence argument
Anonymous compilation — supplied PDF pp. 15–16
Luke 2.40: It sets “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40 Authorised Version)” against “The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40 New Revised Standard) (COMMENT: The Critical Text omits the critically important words 'in spirit'.).” Its stated doctrinal argument is that Here we would defer to the Byzantine Text, in the first place, because, of the textual families, it is demonstrably the more reliable. The wild, erratic nature of the Alexandrian and Western Texts, the disagreement of the manuscripts amongst themselves, the wilfulness of its editors, the ultimate apostasy of Egyptian Church – these things would all bring us to look askance at curious readings of the Alexandrian Text. But over and above the greater reliability of the Byzantine Text, we must also consider that the reading 'waxed strong in spirit' plainly fits the context of this passage better. After all, this is not the history of Samson we are reading here!… The compilation appeals to The omission of 'in spirit' is supported by Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, and their Alexandrian allies. The inclusion of 'in spirit' is supported by the universal Byzantine Text going back to Codex Alexandrinus, a 5th century manuscript.…
Editorial use: The compilation’s doctrinal inferences and witness claims are reported as its argument, not silently adopted as verified fact. Exact entailment is retained: weakening an explicit statement is not automatically a formal denial of the doctrine.
Conclusion
The received wording has the advantage of balance. Bodily growth, inward strengthening, accumulating wisdom, and God’s grace are distinguished without being divided. “Waxed strong in spirit” does not imply moral immaturity or an imperfect divine nature. Luke is describing the real human development of the incarnate Son. The eternal Word did not pretend to be a child; in the unity of his person he assumed a human nature capable of growth.
The fuller text should be retained. Its phrase is at home in Luke, coherent in the sentence, and established in the church’s received copy. Yet the critical text does not deny Christ’s spiritual life. The difference is one of explicitness: the received reading names the sphere of strengthening that the shorter form leaves to wisdom and context.
Logical entailment
The Authorized Version serves as the faithful English representation. The preservation claim applies immediately to the authentic Hebrew and Greek texts—not to an English translation as though it were the inspired source.
Canonical-status rule: Physical printing is not canonical inclusion. If an edition prints a passage in double brackets while judging it secondary or non-original, it disagrees with the received text concerning the identity and extent of inspired Scripture.
Status: Established
Immediate textual or doctrinal consequence
At Luke 2:40, the received text reads “The child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.” and its Authorized Version representation reads “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” — Luke 2:40”. The assessed critical reading is “The child “grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom,” without “in spirit.”. The immediate consequence is that the critical text no longer states the received wording at this locus. The immediate local effect is exegetical or interpretive; this argument does not claim that a distinct Christian doctrine disappears from the verse.
Necessary reasoning chain
- At Luke 2:40, the received Hebrew/Greek form is “The child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.”; the Authorized Version represents it as “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” — Luke 2:40”. The assessed critical form is “The child “grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom,” without “in spirit.”.
- The received and critical forms are not the same at this locus. Therefore, if the competing critical form is original, the received form is secondary rather than the authentic wording at this place. The immediate consequence is: At Luke 2:40, the received text reads “The child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.” and its Authorized Version representation reads “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” — Luke 2:40”. The assessed critical reading is “The child “grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom,” without “in spirit.”. The immediate consequence is that the critical text no longer states the received wording at this locus. The immediate local effect is exegetical or interpretive; this argument does not claim that a distinct Christian doctrine disappears from the verse.
- If the received form at this place is secondary rather than original, then the authentic Hebrew/Greek text was not kept pure at this place in the received textual tradition; therefore the unqualified confessional preservation claim must be denied or redefined.
Ultimate preservation consequence
If the competing reading is original and the received reading is secondary, then God did not preserve and keep pure the authentic text at this place in the received textual tradition. The unqualified confessional claim that Scripture was kept pure in all ages must therefore be denied or redefined.
Sources
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)Chapter 1, section 8 — Governing confessional preservation claim
- F. H. A. Scrivener, The New Testament in the Original Greek according to the Text followed in the Authorized VersionReceived Greek reading
- German Bible Society — UBS6 publications and relation to NA29Current critical-edition, ECM, or editorial documentation
- Doctrinally Significant Variants Itemisedsupplied PDF pp. 15–16 — Attributed doctrinal and canonical-coherence argument
- German Bible Society — The Sixth Edition of the Greek New TestamentCurrent critical-edition, ECM, or editorial documentation
Read the full research essay and its sources
Passage: Luke 2:40
Received reading: The child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.”
Principal competing reading: The child “grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom,” without “in spirit.”
Editorial status: Preliminary record accepted for staging; independent review remains pending.
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” — Luke 2:40
Luke gives only a few lines to Jesus’ childhood, and every one of them bears weight. After the return to Nazareth, the received text says that the child “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.” The critical form lacks the words translated “in spirit.” Both forms then conclude, “and the grace of God was upon him.”
The omission does not leave a weak or merely physical child. The verb “became strong” can stand without an expressed sphere, while the participle “being filled with wisdom” immediately directs the strength beyond bodily growth. The modern text still presents extraordinary wisdom and divine favor.
Verse 40 should be read beside verse 52. The first summary looks at Jesus as a child; the second says that he advanced in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Luke also used comparable language for John, who “waxed strong in spirit” in 1:80. That parallel makes the received phrase thoroughly Lukan, but it also gives a copyist an obvious source from which to supply it.
The two explanations therefore run in opposite directions. A scribe could add “in spirit” because he remembered John’s growth. Another could omit the short phrase because the nearby participle already described inward development, or because an exemplar’s compact sacred-name and grammatical forms were visually crowded. Neither direction requires a christological agenda.
The received wording has the advantage of balance. Bodily growth, inward strengthening, accumulating wisdom, and God’s grace are distinguished without being divided. “Waxed strong in spirit” does not imply moral immaturity or an imperfect divine nature. Luke is describing the real human development of the incarnate Son. The eternal Word did not pretend to be a child; in the unity of his person he assumed a human nature capable of growth.
The fuller text should be retained. Its phrase is at home in Luke, coherent in the sentence, and established in the church’s received copy. Yet the critical text does not deny Christ’s spiritual life. The difference is one of explicitness: the received reading names the sphere of strengthening that the shorter form leaves to wisdom and context.
Sources and further reading
- Luke 1:80; 2:39–52; John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14–18.
7Related materials
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- Record
- VAR-2071
- Status
- Preliminary
- Version
- 1.1-dossier
- Review
- Level B — Editorial synthesis
- Editor
- Chris Thomas
- Reviewer
- Independent reviewer pending assignment
- First date
- 1st century · Date Range
- Last revised
- 2026-07-22
Evidence and editorial controls
- Verification
- Passage, principal readings, and stated editorial comparison checked against Scrivener’s received Greek text and the SBLGNT text and apparatus; exhaustive manuscript collation remains open. Metzger commentary entries were matched by exact passage where present; ECM/CBGM rationale is passage-specific only when an official editorial explanation is cited. Ledger rows are identified as UBS6 / intended NA29 data but retain their row-level verification caveats pending direct collation. Supplied-source audit completed in Core 0.6.3. Accepted local notes were matched by canonical passage and manually bounded; source claims remain attributed where current apparatus verification is pending.
- Rights and access
- Original editorial synthesis. Biblical readings are short scholarly quotations; cited editions and digital witnesses retain their stated rights and access conditions.
- Known limitations
- This staging record summarizes the principal variation unit and representative evidence. It is not a fresh collation of every extant manuscript, version, lectionary, or patristic citation.
Links from this record
No public outgoing links are recorded.
Records that cite or connect here
No public backlinks are recorded.
Corrections and evidence submissions
No correction submission is presently attached to this record. Submit evidence or read the correction policy.
Chris Thomas, “Luke 2:40 — “Waxed Strong in Spirit”: Has the Description of Christ’s Childhood Been Shortened?,” VAR-2071, Confessional Bibliology Research Center, version 1.0-staging, last revised 2026-07-22.
Revision history
- — Chris Thomas