25, [Greek: houtos] has dropped out of many copies and so out of the Received Text because by an Itacism it was written [Greek: outos] in many manuscripts.

Therefore [Greek: ekeinos outos] was thought to be a clear mistake, and the weaker word was accordingly omitted.

No doubt Latins and others who did not understand Greek well considered also that [Greek: houtos] was redundant, and this was the cause of its being omitted in the Vulgate.

But really [Greek: houtos], being sufficiently authenticated[115], is exactly in consonance with Greek usage and St.John's style[116], and adds considerably to the graphic character of the sacred narrative.

St.John was reclining ([Greek: anakeimenos]) on his left arm over the bosom of the robe ([Greek: en toi kolpoi]) of the Saviour.