Who Stole Matthew 17:21?
Depending on your Bible translation, you may be “missing” Matthew 17:21. This is because that additional phrase is not found in the oldest surviving copies of Matthew and was probably not in Matthew’s original writing. However, Mark 9:29 has the same phrase, though the earliest copies do not include "and fasting." The phrase found in Matthew 17:21 was probably unconsciously added as later scribes copied this passage and had Mark’s account memorized and on their mind. As I have worked with Hebrew and Greek in my seminary studies and ministry, I have found myself making similar mistakes easily, especially with well-known phrases or passages with similar or parallel appearances in other places in the Bible. The field of study called textual criticism focuses on what the original writings of the Bible said, as small mistakes in spelling, punctuation, phrasing, and even a few cases of apparent (but doctrinally harmless) additions like these are common when reading older versions o...