English Translations Omitting Luke 22:43

The passage of Luke 22:43-44, which describes an angel strengthening Jesus and Jesus sweating drops of blood in Gethsemane, is notably absent from some English Bible translations. This omission stems from significant textual variants in ancient manuscripts of the Gospel of Luke.

The verses in question read in the New King James Version: "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" ^[1].

These verses are part of Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, immediately following his request to the Father: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42 NKJV) ^[5]. The broader context of Luke 22 details the Last Supper, Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial, and the disciples' failure to pray with Him ^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}. The account of Jesus' agony in Gethsemane is also found in Matthew 26 and Mark 14, though without the specific details of the angel and bloody sweat ^[4].

The primary reason for the omission or bracketing of Luke 22:43-44 in modern translations is the lack of these verses in some of the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. Textual critics have observed that these verses are present in some manuscripts but absent in others, leading to scholarly debate about their originality ^[10]. The absence of these verses in certain ancient texts suggests they may have been later additions to the Gospel of Luke, rather than original components.

Theological implications of including or excluding these verses are significant. The presence of an angel strengthening Jesus emphasizes his humanity and his need for divine support during extreme suffering. It also highlights the intensity of his agony, described as "agony" (Greek: agonia) and resulting in "great drops of blood" (thromboi haimatos) ^[4]. This detail underscores the physical and emotional toll of his impending crucifixion. Cross-references for Luke 22:44 point to other biblical instances of intense suffering and prayer, such as Jacob wrestling (Genesis 32:24) and various psalms expressing deep distress (Psalms 22:1, 69:14, 88:1) ^[4]. The angel's appearance is also cross-referenced with other instances of angelic ministry, such as angels ministering to Jesus after his temptation (Matthew 4:11) and the general role of angels as ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14) ^[1].

Patristic writers, such as Augustine, frequently commented on the Gospels, often harmonizing accounts from Matthew, Mark, and Luke ^{[6, 7, 9]}. While Augustine discussed various aspects of Luke's Gospel, the specific textual variant of Luke 22:43-44 is not a prominent point of discussion in the provided excerpts. However, the broader patristic tradition, as seen in figures like Tertullian, was concerned with textual integrity and the potential for alterations, particularly in response to heretical interpretations ^[8].

Modern translations often indicate such textual uncertainties through footnotes, brackets, or by omitting the verses entirely. For example, some versions might place the verses in brackets, indicating their doubtful authenticity, while others might relegate them to footnotes. This practice reflects the scholarly consensus that while these verses are ancient and have been part of the Christian tradition for centuries, their original inclusion in Luke's Gospel is not universally supported by the earliest manuscript evidence. The decision to include or exclude these verses ultimately rests on the textual critical methodology employed by the translation committee.

Sources

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Luke 22:43 cross-references: Deuteronomy 3:28, Job 4:3, Psalms 91:11, Daniel 10:16, Daniel 11:1, Matthew 4:6, Matthew 4:11, Matthew 26:53, Luke 4:10, Luke 22:32, Acts 18:23, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:6, Hebrews 1:14, Hebrews 2:17”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Luke 22:37 cross-references: Isaiah 53:12, Matthew 26:54, Mark 15:27, Mark 15:28, Luke 18:31, Luke 22:22, Luke 23:32, Luke 24:44, John 10:35, John 17:4, John 19:28, Acts 13:27, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Luke 22:49 cross-references: Luke 22:38”
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Luke 22:44 cross-references: Genesis 32:24, Psalms 22:1, Psalms 22:12, Psalms 40:1, Psalms 69:14, Psalms 88:1, Psalms 130:1, Psalms 143:6, Isaiah 53:10, Lamentations 1:12, Lamentations 3:53, Jonah 2:2, John 12:27, Romans 8:32, Hebrews 5:7”
Luke “Luke 22:42 (Rotherham) — saying—Father! if thou please, bear aside this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be accomplished.”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. V.--A STATEMENT OF THE MANNER IN WHICH LUKE'S PROCEDURE IS PROVED TO BE IN HARMONY WITH MATTHEW'S IN THOSE MATTERS CONCERNING THE CONCEPTION AND THE INFANCY OR BOYHOOD OF CHRIST, WHICH ARE OMITT (part 3): Luke: as, for example, that the Lord was laid in a manger; and that an angel announced His birth to the shepherds; and that there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God; and that the shepherds came and saw that that was true which the angel had announced to them; and that on the day of His circumcision He recei”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP.LXXV.--OF THE PHARISEES WHO SIT IN (part 2): outside of the cup and platter."(1) And after this, Luke reports other utterances which were directed against the said Pharisees and scribes and teachers of the law, which are of a similar tenor to those which Matthew also recounts in this passage which we have taken in hand at present to consider.(2) Wherefore, although Matthew records these things in a manner which, while it is true indeed that the house of that Pharisee is not mentioned by name, yet does not specify as the scene where the wo”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — DR. HOLMES' NOTE (part 2): v. 17 and xv. 24. The third instance referred to by Lardner probably occurs at the end of chap. ix. of this same Book iv., where Tertullian 424 again mistakes Matt. v. 17 for a passage of Luke, and charges Marcion with expunging it; curiously enough, the mistake recurs in chap. xii. of the same Book.) In Luke x. 21 Marcion omitted the first <greek>pater</greek> and the words <greek>kai</greek> <greek>ths</greek> <greek>ghs</greek>, that he might not allow Christ to call His Father the Lord of earth, or of this world. The second <greek>pathr</g”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 3: Augustine — On the Holy Trinity — CHAP. 116.--LUKE EXPRESSES THE SUBSTANCE OF THESE SEVEN PETITIONS MORE BRIEFLY IN FIVE.: But the Evangelist Luke in his version of the Lord's prayer embraces not seven, but five petitions: not, of course, that there is any discrepancy between the two evangelists, but that Luke indicates by his very brevity the mode in which the seven petitions of Matthew are to be understood. For God's name is hallowed in the spirit; and God's kingdom shall come in the resurrection of the body. Luke, therefore, intending to show that the third petition is a sort o”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 71: other points relating to the forgiveness of sins, see the following chapter. 436 This sentence is wholly ommitted in the French. 437 Latin, “Dolere sibi simulant.”—French, “Ils alleguent;”—they allege. 438 All the previous sentences of this section, except the first , are omitted in the French. 439 1 John 5:10 , 19 ; Heb. 9:14 ; 10 29; Luke 1:74, 75 ; Rom. 6:18 ; Col. 3:1 ; Tit. 2:11 ; 1 Thess. 5:9 ; 1 Cor. 3:16 ; Eph 2:21 ; 5:8; 2 Cor. 6:16 ; 1 Thess. 4:3 , 7 ; 2 Tim. 1:9 ; Rom. 6:18 ; 1 John 4:10 ; 3:11; 1 Cor. 6:15 , 17 ; 12:12;”

Ask Your Own Question