Who Is This For?
Best For:
Those interested in Byzantine text transmission, textual criticism study, manuscript research.
Not Ideal For:
General Bible reading, those wanting mainstream scholarly consensus, complete Bible.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the F35
- Unique textual approach
- Detailed apparatus
- Scholarly rigor
- Freely available online
- Continuous updates
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Controversial textual theory
- New Testament only
- Single scholar's work
- Not mainstream acceptance
Overview
The Family 35 New Testament is based on Wilbur Pickering's Greek New Testament reconstructed from the Family 35 manuscript group. Pickering argues this represents the most reliable line of transmission to the original New Testament text.
Want to read the F35 Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the F35
- Family 35 manuscript basis
- Percentage-based apparatus
- New Testament only
- Includes commentary
- Multiple format editions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Family 35 New Testament?
The Family 35 New Testament is based on Wilbur Pickering's Greek New Testament reconstructed from the Family 35 manuscript group. Pickering argues this represents the most reliable line of transmission to the original New Testament text.
How can I read the F35 Bible online?
You can read and search the Family 35 New Testament online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the F35 translation.
When was the F35 Bible published?
The Family 35 New Testament was first published in 2014. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 10th Grade reading level.
Who should use the F35 Bible?
Those interested in Byzantine text transmission, textual criticism study, manuscript research.
How does the F35 compare to other Bible translations?
The Family 35 New Testament (F35) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the F35 Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the F35 Translation
Wilbur Pickering, a missionary and textual scholar with a ThM and PhD in Linguistics, has devoted decades to studying Greek New Testament manuscripts. He argues that Family 35 (named after manuscript 35, a complete NT faithful to the family archetype) represents 'the only significant line of transmission, both ancient and independent, that has a demonstrable archetypal form in all 27 books.'
Pickering's Greek New Testament According to Family 35 includes a critical apparatus giving percentage of manuscript attestation to variant readings. The English translation makes this text accessible to readers without Greek knowledge. Multiple editions have appeared, with the fourth edition released in 2024.
Pickering joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1958 and worked with the Apurinã people in Brazil before focusing on textual research.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
Wilbur N. Pickering
Editor/Translator
Holds ThM and PhD in Linguistics. Former Wycliffe Bible translator who has devoted years to Greek manuscript research, particularly the Family 35 text type.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Based on Pickering's reconstruction of the Family 35 archetype, a subset of the Byzantine Majority Text representing what Pickering considers the purest line of transmission.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"Family 35 represents the best transmission line of the original text, being demonstrably the most carefully copied group of manuscripts in existence."
— Wilbur Pickering, The Greek New Testament According to Family 35 (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Pickering's theory that Family 35 represents the original text is not accepted by mainstream textual critics, who favor the eclectic approach of the NA/UBS text.
— Mainstream Textual Criticism, Family 35 Assessment (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 2 Major Revisions and Updates
- 2014 Initial editions published.
- 2024 Fourth edition released.
Compare Translations
See how the F35 compares to other English Bible translations.
Other Translations
Explore these popular Bible translations: