No one can turn from King James's version of this verse to that of the Revised Version without a sense of loss in the dignity and worthiness of the sentiment. In place of the gospel expression, "Good will toward men," we have tacked on to the phrase, "And on earth peace," the qualification, "Among men in whom he is well pleased." The arguments for the adding of the sigma, and the consequent reduction of the triplet to a doublet, are convincing enough; but if we can get no better meaning for it than the Revisers have found, we may well regret the effectiveness of textual criticism here.

The Revised Version's addition of "Among men in whom he is well pleased" in Luke 2:14 diminishes the dignity and worthiness of the sentiment, and may lead to regret for textual criticism's effectiveness in this case.

"Men of His Good Pleasure" (Luke 2:14)

Key Takeaway: The Revised Version's addition of "Among men in whom he is well pleased" in Luke 2:14 diminishes the dignity and worthiness of the sentiment, and may lead to regret for textual criticism's effectiveness in this case.