Byzantine priority theory

The Byzantine priority theory is a theory within Christian textual criticism held by a minority of textual critics. This view sees the Byzantine textform as the New Testament's most accurate textual tradition, instead of the theorized Alexandrian or Western text types, as well as, the Majority Text and Family 35 positions. The pioneers of this view are Maurice A. Robinson and the late William G. Pierpont, Where there are variant readings in different manuscripts, the most credible common Byzantine reading should be preferred, either strictly or as a rule-of-thumb.

It does not spring from the Majority Text methodology that takes the numerically most common readings from all New Testament manuscripts: most manuscripts are Byzantine texts therefore the Majority Text is Byzantine. Nor is it the same as the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchal Text (lectionary tradition), or the view of those who advocate the Textus Receptus (TR) like John Burgon, Salomon, E Hills and Theodore Letis. Other TR advocates hold a confessional position instead of adhering to a method of criticism. Given the TR's origin is in the Reformation so it must be good in their thinking. Although the Byzantine textform, Family 35, Majority Text, Patriarchal Text, and TR are sourced in Byzantine manuscripts, there are some differences between them due to different philosophies.