DID PILATE CALL HIM RIGHTEOUS?
In a recent or forthcoming article (NTS 53 (2007), pp. 344-358), Ryan Wettlaufer gives some arguments favoring Pilate having called Jesus a "righteous man" in Mt 27:24, as many of the better manuscripts contain the adjective "righteous" here. The TJ also gives "righteous" or "just" in its near parallel verses at TJ 29:54. However, most modern scholars, and bibles, prefer the reading of the manuscripts that omit "righteous." The argument supporting the TJ version is now given in my web page under the discussion of Matthew 27:24-25.
In a recent or forthcoming article (NTS 53 (2007), pp. 344-358), Ryan Wettlaufer gives some arguments favoring Pilate having called Jesus a "righteous man" in Mt 27:24, as many of the better manuscripts contain the adjective "righteous" here. The TJ also gives "righteous" or "just" in its near parallel verses at TJ 29:54. However, most modern scholars, and bibles, prefer the reading of the manuscripts that omit "righteous." The argument supporting the TJ version is now given in my web page under the discussion of Matthew 27:24-25.