In teaching a class on genetics-related issues I wanted to
contrast the old & incorrect "mixing of bloods" view of heredity with
the Mendelian model, and the phrase "[God] hath made of one blood all
nations of men" from Acts 17:26 KJV came to mind. Those committed to
the idea that the Bible always teaches accurate science might have some
scrambling to do here, while those who recognize that biblical language
is accomodated to the scientific knowledge of its time would see here
just another example of that.
HOWEVER on looking more closely at this one finds that the mss
vary. The text adopted by the UBS Greek text, followed by RSV, says
simply "from one (_ex henos_) every nation". Other mss have "from one
blood (_ex henos himatos_)". While the earlier mss (including
Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus & Vaticanus) have the shorter reading, the
Latin text of Irenaeus (e.g.) has the longer. UBS gives "from one" a
"very high degree of doubt" rating: All other things being equal, the
shorter of two readings is generally to be adopted.
Just thought you might want to know ...
George
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