:TEXT: "The old is good." (literally, "kind") : p4 S B L W 1241 syr(p) cop : ASV RSV NASV NEB RANK: BNOTES: "The old is better." (literally, "kinder") : A C K X Delta Theta Pi Psi f1 f13 28 33vid 565 700 892 1010 Byz Lect three lat vg syr(h,pal) : KJV ASVn RSVn NIV : omit verse 39 : D most lat : The positive degree of the adjective was probably changed by copyists to the comparative to make the comparison clearer. The omission of verse 39 by some Western manuscripts is probably due to the influence of Marcion, who did not like the statement because it seemed to give authority to the Old Testament, which he rejected.