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 text-type as the New Testament's most accurate textual tradition, instead of the theorized Alexandrian or Western text types. Known advocates of this view include Maurice Robinson, Zane Hodges and John Burgon. 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 springs from, and to some extent endorses, the Majority Text methodology that takes the numerically most common readings from all New Testament manuscripts: most manuscripts are Byzantine text therefore the Majority Text is Byzantine. The Majority Text is distinguished from the view of those who advocate the Textus Receptus (TR) as, although the Majority Text is very similar to the TR because the TR mostly relies upon Byzantine manuscripts, the TR contains numerous minority readings which the Majority Text methodology does not select.

Byzantine priority is most commonly taught among conservative Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox circles.