Intentional Errors in the New Testament Manuscripts
(1) Linguistic or Rhetorical Corrections. Linguistic or rhetorical corrections, no doubt often made in entire good faith under the impression that an error had previously crept into the text and needed correcting. Thus, second aorist terminations in α are changed to ο and the like.
(2) Historical Corrections. Under this head is placed all that group of changes similar to the case in Mar 1:2, where the phrase “Isaiah the prophet” is changed into “the prophets.”
(3) Harmonistic Corrections. These are quite frequent in the Gospels, e.g. the attempted assimilation of the Lord's Prayer in Luke to the fuller form in Matthew, and quite possibly the addition of the words “of sin” to the phrase in Joh 8:34, “Every one that doeth sin is a slave.” A certain group of harmonistic corruptions where scribes allow the memory, perhaps unconsciously, to affect the writing may rightly be classed under (4) above.
(4) Doctrinal Corrections. Of these it is difficult to assert any unquestioned cases unless it be the celebrated Trinitarian passage (King James Version, 1Jo 5:7, 1Jo 5:8) or the several passages in which fasting is coupled with prayer, as in Mat 17:21; Mar 9:29; Act 10:30; 1Co 7:5.
(5) Liturgical Corrections. These are very common, especially in the lectionaries, as in the beginning of lessons, and are even found in early uncials, e.g. Luk 8:31; Luk 10:23, etc.
From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co
(2) Historical Corrections. Under this head is placed all that group of changes similar to the case in Mar 1:2, where the phrase “Isaiah the prophet” is changed into “the prophets.”
(3) Harmonistic Corrections. These are quite frequent in the Gospels, e.g. the attempted assimilation of the Lord's Prayer in Luke to the fuller form in Matthew, and quite possibly the addition of the words “of sin” to the phrase in Joh 8:34, “Every one that doeth sin is a slave.” A certain group of harmonistic corruptions where scribes allow the memory, perhaps unconsciously, to affect the writing may rightly be classed under (4) above.
(4) Doctrinal Corrections. Of these it is difficult to assert any unquestioned cases unless it be the celebrated Trinitarian passage (King James Version, 1Jo 5:7, 1Jo 5:8) or the several passages in which fasting is coupled with prayer, as in Mat 17:21; Mar 9:29; Act 10:30; 1Co 7:5.
(5) Liturgical Corrections. These are very common, especially in the lectionaries, as in the beginning of lessons, and are even found in early uncials, e.g. Luk 8:31; Luk 10:23, etc.
From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co