Some people hold out the question “Which TR?” to Received Text advocates as if a definitive answer is needed or it is a deal breaker for the position. It is important to understand that the differences between its major editions are infinitesimal.
Here are some interesting quotes from “The Reformed Root of the English Bible: The Influence of Theodore Beza on the English New Testament” by Irena Backus (from the Princeton Monograph Series)…
Regarding Beza’s first edition she writes…
“Beza differed from Stephanus [1550] in about 25 places”
Regarding Beza’s subsequent editions she writes…
“Bezas 1582 version differed in about 40 places…” with subsequent editions differing little from it. (p. 2)
She also writes…
“Moreover, he [Beza] states openly that he was very unwilling to amend the basic text and was interested largely in readings which confirm it.” (pp. 6-7)
“Throughout Beza is more concerned with accurate interpretation of particular passages than with establishing a correct reading and thus shows considerable unwillingness to tamper with the Greek text of Robert Stephanus.” (p. 7)
This is in accordance with what Dr. Hills wrote in ‘Text and Time: A Reformed Approach to New Testament Textual Criticism”…
“The diffident manner in which Beza revealed these doubts [over certain textual variants] shows that he was conscious of running counter to the views of his fellow believers. As with Erasmus and Calvin, so also with Beza there was evidently a conflict going on within his mind between his humanistic tendency to treat the New Testament like any other book and the common faith in the current New Testament text. But in the providence of God all was well. God used this common faith providentially to restrain Beza’s humanism and lead him to publish far and wide the true New Testament text.”
Dr. Hills also provided the following list of 8 of what he thought were the most important variants among the different editions of the Received Text…
Luke 2:22 their purification, Erasmus, Stephanus, majority of the Greek manuscripts. Her purification, Beza, King James Elzevir, Complutensian, 76 and a few other Greek minuscule manuscripts, Latin Vulgate (?).
Luke 17:36 Two men shall be in the field: the one shall be taken and the other left. Erasmus, Stephanus 1 2 3 omit this verse with the majority of the Greek manuscripts. Stephanus 4, Beza, King James, Elzevir have it with D, Latin Vulgate, Peshitta, Old Syriac.
John 1:28 Bethabara beyond Jordan, Erasmus, Stephanus 3 4 Beza, King James, Elzevir, Pi 1 13, Old Syriac, Sahidic. Bethany beyond Jordan, Stephanus 1 2, majority of Greek manuscripts including Pap 66 & 75 Aleph A B. Latin Vulgate.
John 16:33 shall have tribulation, Beza, King James, Elzevir, D 69 many other Greek manuscripts, Old Latin, Latin Vulgate. have tribulation, Erasmus, Stephanus, majority of Greek manuscripts. Rom. 8:11 by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Beza, King James, Elzevir, Aleph A C, Coptic. because of His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Erasmus, Stephanus, majority of Greek manuscripts including B D, Peshitta, Latin Vulgate.
Rom. 12:11 serving the Lord, Erasmus 1, Beza, King James, Elzevir, majority of Greek manuscripts including Pap 46 Aleph A B. Peshitta, Latin Vulgate. serving the time, Erasmus 2345, Stephanus, D G.
1 Tim. 1:4 godly edifying, Erasmus, Beza, King James, Elzevir, D, Peshitta, Latin Vulgate. dispensation of God, Stephanus, majority of Greek manuscripts including Aleph A G.
Heb. 9:1 Here, Stephanus reads first tabernacle, with the majority of the Greek manuscripts. Erasmus, Beza, Luther, Calvin omit tabernacle with Pap 46 Aleph B D, Peshitta, Latin Vulgate. The King James Version omits tabernacle and regards covenant as implied.
James 2:13 without thy works, Calvin, Beza (last 3 editions), King James Aleph A B, Latin Vulgate. by thy works, Erasmus, Stephanus, Beza 1565, majority of Greek manuscripts.
In light of the above information, I’ll leave it to the reader to decide how relevant the “Which TR?” question is to the position for the Received Text. I’ll simply say that there are various ways this question can be answered but regardless of the answer, you’re going to have essentially the same text.