Sunday, March 29, 2009

“Which Bible – 101”

Which "Bible" Translation do You use?

The Accuracy… of the Bible is determined on its… “Author”. Sorry no, I did not say its translation. It is not the KJV or the NIV or the NASB or on many of the “translations or transliterations”… such as the Living Bible which is not a translation.
(2Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is God-breathed, = and is profitable = for doctrine, = for reproof, = for correction, = for instruction in righteousness,
(2Ti 3:17) that the man of God = may be perfected, = thoroughly furnished = to every good work.

(2Peter 1:20-21) knowing this first, = that no prophecy of the Scripture = came into being = of its own = private interpretation.
(2Pet 1:21) For prophecy = was not borne at any time = by the will of man, = but = holy men of God = spoke being borne along = by the Holy Spirit.

God is… the Author of all Scripture. He has given it to mankind to reveal His Truth. Only those that are ‘Born Again’ by His Holy Spirit can truly understand His Truth! The God of the Bible who created all things, visible and invisible. He too preserves His Truth by means that we may readily see in these things.

Those that… do not believe the Bible are simply “Spiritually Blind”. Only when one is Born Again, by the Holy Spirit, only then do their Spiritual Eyes become ‘Opened!’ Hence we have this “TEST” to see if one is really… Born Again.

(1Corinthians 2:14) But the = natural man = does not receive = the things of the Spirit of God, = for they are = foolishness to him; = neither can he know them, = because they are = spiritually discerned.

When someone says… that they are A Christian and then says they ‘Don’t Believe’, “The Bible”, you may be sure that they do not have God’s Holy Spirit in them. It is the Holy Spirit of God that makes the Holy Scriptures come alive to their soul and spirit.

(Romans 8:16) The Spirit Himself = bears witness with = our spirit = that we are = the children of God.
The writings… of the Bible are first the Old Testament. The Accuracy of these texts and the methodology of their..."Copy" ... would leave one astonished! These OT texts are Over... "5-Thousand Years Old"… and still each copy has the “same complete text”.
Each letter and… each punctuation mark, each space, was counted and a total was written in each line. The lines were counted also! It was verified by 10-Independent Scribes... to assure a complete and accurate copy. Proof reading was designed into Gods plan to keep His Word, Pure.
For an example, (Exodus 20:13) You shall not Kill.
In the… OT Hebrew text there are… “5-different words”… for the English word, ‘kill’. Without knowing the Hebrew language one might draw the Wrong Conclusion that all killing is wrong. The Anti War protestors often use the above Bible Verse.
This ‘particular’ word… in the Hebrews means, “To take Innocent Life” Such would be in the case… of Abortion. The ‘Innocent Baby’ is murdered for the sake of the mother’s convenience. Perhaps the better translation into English would be, “You shall not ‘murder’ innocent life”
War is necessary… as a result of tyrants that would choose to rule the world. Had the Americans not intervened in the ‘World War 2’, we would all be speaking “Nazi German”. As a veteran, I am sorry to say that I do hate war, for the results to the innocent. But I still say it is necessary at times.
The validity of the Scriptures… was verified by “Christ Jesus” in this verse and many others. One I particularly like is Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man that He should not lie…!”
(Matthew 5:17-18) Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matt 5:18) For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
The New Testament… was written in Greek. This unlike American English, The Greek Text, agrees completely in... 'Person, Number and Gender.' A male verb, has a male subject, and a male adverb, and is in the same person and gender and voice. The Complete Accuracy is assured in its original Greek writing.
For example the... "144,000-Witness of the Tribulation!" They are All Males, All ‘Jewish’ [Sorry No JW'S or Gentiles]... and all are... 'Male Virgins!' For more read Revelation chapters 7 -&- 14.
(Revelation 14:4) These are those who were not defiled with women; = for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, as a first fruit to God and to the Lamb.
Now to the issue of… Which Bible?
I have friends… Who… Do ‘NOT’… Know either Greek or Hebrew yet… Strictly hold to the “KJV”, King James Version of the Bible. How can that be? Some where they have been convinced by someone that the KJV is the only accurate English Language Translation.
I tell them… the Word translated ‘James’ as in the Book of James, is really in its original language, the word for “Jacob!”. King James who commissioned the English Translation of the Scriptures into the Queens English was to break the Strangle Hold of the Catholic Church on the United Kingdom. Hence the ‘Church of England’ came about.
I have been… Born Again by the Holy Spirit of God for over 35-years. And No, God does not count seniority. As a new Christian someone gave me a ‘Strong’s Concordance’. It references every word in the Bible to its original language, both the Hebrew OT and the Greek NT. I used that till I got some Language Software.
The real question… “Which is it the Most Accurate”… version of the Scriptures. Perhaps I must explain first some other relevant ‘Facts” and then allow you to decide?
YES... there are quite a large number of issues with... "American English", not unlike ‘the Queens English’ [or old English].
YET... there seems to be the same... "Issue with Foreign Language DILECTS"... such as "Urdu and Hindi" and... many of the Asian Languages! Even the European Spanish differs from the South and Central American Spanish! German is spoken in Both... "High and Low German." Need I go into the... Slavic and Russian/Languages? NOT!Most "American English"... is derived from... "All the Foreign tongues"... that have blended into our culture! Many Latin and European words have been..."Transliterated!" Even the simple word… “AINT!” = a slang... for the contraction, 'are not!' Even the Scottish ‘English’ is different than the Welsh ‘English!’
Perhaps some of these references will help you... to understand the complexities of... "The American English Language?"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophone
http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/synonyms/page.html
Now... to the simple fact of... "Finding GOD… and… Knowing Him?" He simply says this In His Word!
(Jeremiah 29:13) And you shall seek Me = and find Me, = when you = search for Me = with all your heart.
He, the God of the Bible.... Speaks through His Word... and... To Know and Love Him... one needs to use ‘Their All!’
Now as to… the numerous… Internet Sites that speak about the documented differences of the different Translations of the Bible.
http://betterbibles.com/
http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/articles/niv.html
http://www.dtl.org/versions/e-mails/problems-nlt.htm
http://av1611.com/kjbp/articles/whitney-kjoc.html
I could go on… for hours about the different texts. Yet ‘No Single Site’, states the Supposed Errors… “And DO NOT Reference… the ‘Textus Receptus’ the Original Greek Text!” Instead they “Compare”… English Language Translations with “Other” English Language Translations.
Those that protect… the “KJV” and say it is the Only Valid Translation, “Do ERR!” Their error turns off many away from the Faith! Many do not like the “Thou’s and Wence comment?” and the like. Old English often offends the unschooled.
Have you ever… read Shakespeare? IF you have… Then you have read and ‘maybe understood’ the old English text. The Original KJV and the Modern JKV that we read in our churches today, are quiet different! Perhaps I may share some verses.
(1Corinthians 16:13) Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
(1Corinthians 16:13) Watch! Stand fast in the faith! Be men! Be strong!
Now to the… most accurate… “English Language Translation”… the ‘Amplified Bible’. It is more Accurate to the Greek Text. Why? Simply because the Geek Text… may need… ‘one or more’ English words… to completely convey… both the “Letter and the Spirit”… of the Text!
How then can one say… I Only Study the KJV and Be Accurate and True to the Word of God, the Scriptures? Especially when one, does not know or care to know… the ‘Greek and Hebrew’ text. Often a study of ‘Hebrew and Greek’ will open a new and more complete understanding of the Word of God!
Perhaps may I… now share to you that ‘The Bible’ is… “Real Spiritual Truth”… that can ‘only’ be taught by the Holy Spirit of God. The promise of… ‘Christ Jesus’… tells us that here and in many other verses.
You must first… understand, that “words” are use to form… ‘Cognitive Word Pictures’… in our ‘mind’ and in our ‘heart’. It is part of the… ‘Cognitive Work of Faith’… that the Holy Spirit uses to Validate …“The Truth of Scripture!”
(John 16:13) However, when He, = the Spirit of Truth, = has come, He will guide you into all Truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.

(John 14:26) But the Comforter, = the Holy Spirit = whom the Father will send in My name, = He shall teach you = all things = and bring = all things = to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.

(1Samuel 3:21) And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh. = For Jehovah = revealed himself = to Samuel = in Shiloh = by the Word = of Jehovah.

(Deuteronomy 29:29) The secret things = belong to Jehovah our God, = but the revealed things = belong to us and to our sons forever, = so that we may = do all the words of this Law.

Perhaps if you… have come to this point and only studied the KJV of the Bible, may I encourage you to now begin to study the Hebrew OT and the Greek NT? There are many books in any Christian Bible School book stores… that are excellent references for those Languages.

Remember this one thing… The Bible is a book of… ‘Life Time’ of “Study and Obedience”. Christian maturity and understanding does not come overnight. As you or I yield ourselves to God and allow His Holy Spirit to teach us from His Word… we will… “Grow in Grace!”

(Galatians 4:16) So have I now become your enemy for telling you the truth?

Thank you for Your EAR! Roger //Email// roger459@gmail.com
End…!