Editing Article:And These Three Are One by Jesse Boyd (section)

==The Test of Internal Considerations== 

This final test of truth focuses upon internal evidence, particularly of a grammatical and scientific nature.  "If a particular reading is grammatically, geographically, scientifically, and historically impossible, then it must not be accepted if other readings do not present such problems."   For example, the UBS4 accepts a variant reading in Luke 23:45 that is a scientific impossibility.  Each of the synoptic Gospels contains the phrase "skotoV egeneto" (there was darkness) (cf. Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44).  However, Luke adds an additional phrase regarding the sun.  The Textus Receptus reads "kai eskotisqh o hlioV" (and the sun was darkened) while the UBS4 reads "tou hliou eklipontoV" (The sun was eclipsed).  Like the UBS's faulty readings in Matthew 1:7,10, this reading implies an error in Luke's original autograph:  "A solar eclipse is impossible astronomically during the full moon of the Passover when sun and moon are 180 degrees apart in relation to the earth."   Luke, being an astute physician, would not have made such a blundering mistake.  This reading fails the test of reasonableness because it is scientifically impossible.  Therefore, it needs to be added to the long list of corrupt readings found in the UBS4 that should be discarded. 

The Johannine Comma, on the other hand, has much on its side in the area of internal considerations.  It not only fits the structure, style, and immediate context of I John, but its omission presents a bald grammatical difficulty—three neuter nouns governed by a masculine participle.  Let the Comma stand, and "the power of attraction" goes into effect.  The Comma thus passes the seventh and final test.