Luke 18:11

The phrase ταῦτα πρὸς ἑαυτὸν προσηύχετο (“he prayed these things to his own self”) from the Nestle 1904 and Westcott and Hort 1881 editions suggests a reflective prayer, emphasizing the Separatist's inward focus. The preposition πρὸς (“to”) combined with ἑαυτὸν (“himself”) underscores that he is addressing his prayer to his own self, but it is going nowhere.

However, the textual variant σταθεὶς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα προσηύχετο (found in editions like the RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005 and Greek Orthodox Church) shifts the sense subtly to avoid this meaning.

The change in syntax and punctuation across manuscripts — particularly the placement of "πρὸς ἑαυτὸν" — crafts a significant shift.