Monday, December 25, 2006
Part Two
Part Two
INTRODUCTION
In Part Two we will consider some 80+ texts in the King James Bible (KJV) which have been corrupted in the Revised Version of 1881, upon which most modern 'Bibles' are based. You are now invited to check the particular translation you are using against these texts; bearing in mind as you do so that this comparison, unless otherwise stated, is with the Revised Version of 1881.
See separate articles in which the KJV is compared with the New American Standard Version and the New International Version.
To appreciate the value of all these comparisons, carefully note the words printed in bold text.
They will highlight the:
- Missing words in the modern translations.
- Missing verses in the modern translations.
- [Bracketed verses or passages] with misleading notes which all cast doubt on the KJV.
- Critical Mistranslations.
Following some of the texts is a brief Comment. You should, however, also pause at texts which are not commented on and think about the effect of the error being pointed out.
THE PROOF
- Genesis 12:18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife. Comment: Some modern translations say: 'Why did you say she is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife.' This is a serious mistranslation. It implies that Pharaoh had sexual intercourse with Sarah and that the plagues that the Almighty had sent on Pharaoh's household to prevent just such an occurrence, had proved futile.
- Genesis 49: 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Comment: The word Shiloh, referring to Christ the Peacemaker, is missing.
- Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Commenting on this amazing error, Jasper Ray writes: "Here we have 'virgin' versus 'young woman.' In the Septuagint, the Bible of the Greeks, the word 'almah' in Isaiah 7:14 is translated virgin, as in the King James. 'Almah' is used seven times in the Old Testament, and always means virgin. In the RSV the words 'or virgin' being added in the footnote, could easily lead one to believe the term 'young women' was inserted in the text for a subtle purpose, thus making it possible for the orthodox, virgin birth believers, and those who deny the virgin birth to come together. In this way the 'ground' is being prepared for the progress of the Ecumenical Movement (i.e. the plan to unite all religious systems into one great body."(Ref: D4)
- Matthew 6:13 … And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Comment: This last part (in bold type) of the Lord's prayer is either [bracketed] as though the phrase should not be there, or the phrase is left out altogether, which is even worse. Remember the warning in Revelation 22:18-19.
- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Comment: The word begotten is also omitted in the following texts: John 1:14, 1:18, 3:18.
- Matthew 17: 21: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Comment: [Whole verse missing]
- Matt.18: 11: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Comment:[Whole verse missing]
- Mark 7:16: If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Comment: [Whole verse missing]
- Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. Comment: The whole verse is missing or bracketed, thereby casting doubt on the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12 which tells of the Saviour's crucifixion with transgressors.
- Romans 16: 24: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Comment: [Whole verse missing]
- Acts 10:30 and 1 Corinthians 7:5. Comment: the requirement to 'fast' is omitted. Hills comments further: 'These omissions are probably due to the influence of Clement of Alexandria and other Gnostics, who interpreted fasting in the spiritual sense and were opposed to literal fasting. (page 138)
- Mark 16:9-20. Comment: These 12 verses are all omitted in many modern translations; or they are [bracketed] and noted that they are 'not included in the oldest and best manuscripts;' or 'some ancient authorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8.' The fact is, the very opposite is true. These 12 verses are all included in the oldest and best manuscripts: best that is, not in appearance, but in telling the truth! These 12 verses are also present in ancient Bible versions (the Old Latin Bible, the Waldensian Bible, the Sahidic and the Gothic versions) which are all older than codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. These 12 verses are quoted by the ancients such as: Papias, Justin Martyr, Iranaeus, Tertullian and even by Jerome! So to say that they 'do not appear in the best manuscripts,' or 'in the most reliable early manuscripts' is untrue.
- Matthew 19:9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Comment: Pause awhile, dear reader, and try to imagine the effect this deletion has already had on the morals of our society. It has already opened the floodgates of adultery. See SBS articles on Adultery, Marriage and Divorce for more detail.
- Matthew 20: 16: So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- Matthew 27: 35: And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Comment: A powerful Messianic prophecy is here chopped to pieces. Fulfilled prophecy is the strongest evidence that the Bible is the Word of God. By failing to link this verse with Psalm 22:18 that link is broken.
- Mark 1.14: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Comment: The Saviour's main work in coming to earth was to preach the gospel of the kingdom; to invite mankind to enter the Kingdom of God. His life, death, resurrection and second coming will climax when ransomed believers enter the Kingdom of God. By deleting the words 'of the Kingdom' the whole objective of the Messiah's coming is missed.
- Mark 2: 17: When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Comment: Repentance is not a popular word these days. It means being sorry for committing sin, for breaking God's law. Is repentance important? Certainly it is. Jesus said: 'I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.' (Luke:13:3) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. (Acts 17:30) Failure to repent will lead to eternal death! Why was this important word omitted?
- Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Comment: Leaving out this reference to Sodom is obviously a very serious omission!
- Mark 9: 24: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Comment: Most modern translations leave out the word Lord. Others, posing as translations read: Sir, I believe…
- Mark 9:44 and 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
- Mark 11:10 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
- Mark 13: 14: But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains. Comment: This vital pointer to the prophecy of Daniel is deleted. Comparatively few Christians know that Daniel wrote several end-time prophecies. The prophet Daniel is mentioned only twice in the New Testament: in this verse and in Matthew 24:15. Of these two pointers to Daniel the prophet, one has been deleted.
- Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. Comment: Note the subtle change in many translations of the name Joseph to father. It reflects disbelief of the fact that the Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ is in fact the Almighty God of Israel, not Joseph.
- Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Comment: Another dangerous deletion which robs God's Word of its vital role in life. Also note the special reference to 'every word.'
- Luke 4: 8: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
- Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
- Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Messiah's Ascension to Heaven
Many translations (we can hardly call them versions for they are merely revisions of the Revised Version) reflect disbelief in the resurrection and bodily ascension to heaven of Jesus Christ; or even that he came from heaven in the first place. Consider the next few verses.
- Luke 24 :6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.
- Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Comment: [Whole verse missing]
- Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
- John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
- John 3:15. "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Comment: Do you know what the "B" (Vaticanus) and "Aleph" (Sinaiticus) manuscripts do to the three words, "should not perish"? They omit them. Try finding those three vital words in the NASV.
- 1 Cor.15:47: The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
- John 16:16: A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
- Acts 2: 30: Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. Comment: Here we have an extremely corrupt rendering in many modern translations. God swore an oath to king David that from his loins would come the Christ the Anointed One - the Messiah! What have the modern translators done with this divine oath? They have changed it to 'God would seat (or place) one of his (David's) descendants on his throne.' Pause dear reader and consider this error. I ask, why did God bother with an oath, when the likelihood of one of David's descendants sitting on his throne was inevitable? There was absolutely no need for an oath to a man who had so many sons. But to promise that one of David's sons would be the resurrected Messiah and would sit on David's throne is an entirely different matter. The divine oath has now become tremendously meaningful. But alas! the modern translators have made God's oath into something quite unnecessary by changing the word Christ to a descendant.
- John 4: 42: And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
- John 6: 47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Comment: Those two vital missing words 'on me' have been left out of most modern translations. The corrupted text now implies that all who believe - whatever or whoever they believe - will have everlasting life. A greater falsehood is hard to imagine. Pause and think about it!
- John 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. Comment: By removing the word 'yet' the NASV has turned Jesus into a liar: for in it he said he was not going to the feast, but went. Other modern translations [bracket] the word 'yet' and add the note 'Some early manuscripts do not have 'yet.' ' This Note, by implication, means that, at best, the Saviour didn't know what he was doing, or, at worst, was telling a blatant lie.
- John 7:53-8:11 All 12 verses are [bracketed] and/or noted as 'not being in the best manuscripts.' Comment: Another untruth! These 12 verses are all in the best ancient versions; which are some 200 years older than codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.
- Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
The Divinity of Jesus Christ
- Acts 8: 37: And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God! Comment: It is virtually impossible to attribute the omission of this vital statement to anything else than disbelief in the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The divinity of Jesus is a foundation doctrine of the Christian Church. To attack this doctrine is heresy of the most serious kind. Every modern translation that omits this vital fact (that Jesus is the Son of God or brackets this confession), regardless of its other merits, is unworthy of study. It should be set aside by all seekers of Truth.
- 1 Tim.3:16 … God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Comment: Modern translations have here substituted the word God with he: thereby undermining the greatest truth in all the Bible: that the Almighty God actually came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ!
Yes, Jesus Christ is God in a human body, God incarnate, God manifest in the flesh! This is the foundation truth of the Christian faith that God actually came down to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. But alas! the modern translators have either left the word God out or changed the word to he; all because they did not really believe that Jesus Christ is God manifest in human flesh. Pause dear reader and consider that enormous error. That single mistranslation should be enough to set aside any book posing as the Word of God. - Romans 14:10: …for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Comment: Here again the disbelief of the modern translators that Jesus Christ is God; and the One before whom all the world will stand at the Judgement. They have replaced Christ with God.
- John 9: 35: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? Comment: Many translations have changed this to read: Dost thou believe in the Son of Man? Once again, this is evidence of doubt that Jesus is the Son of God!
- Acts 16: 31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- Acts 17: 26: And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.. Comment: Most modern translations have either omitted the word 'blood' or replaced it with the word 'man.' I ask you, how is it possible for any translator to confuse the word blood with man? Any translator who confuses these two words has obviously opted for a corrupt manuscript. He may not have known it, but that act has made his work totally unacceptable to God. In the Good News for Modern Man Bible the word 'blood' is omitted 15 times. (Matthew 27:4, 27:24, 27:25, Acts 5:28, Acts 20:28, Romans 3:25, Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:13, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 1:20, Hebrews 10:19, 1 Peter 1:19, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 5:9). Bear in mind that it is the blood of Jesus that makes atonement for our souls. (Leviticus 17:11)
- Acts 20: 25: And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
- Acts 23: 9: And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
- Romans 9: 28: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
- Romans 13: 9: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Comment: Of the four commandments Jesus quoted, one has been left out.
- 1 Cor.7: 39: The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. Comment: The law of the Almighty has always been under attack, even within the church. This is another example where God's law is ignored.
- 1 Cor.10: 28: But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
- 1 Cor.11:24: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Comment: The new covenant Passover (communion) service is one of the most sacred in all the year: where the bread and the wine represent the body and blood of Jesus Christ - Yeshua the Messiah. Pause awhile dear reader and try to consider the danger this omission ('take, eat') represents.
Missing Name or Title
Many texts in the modern translations omit the Saviour's name Jesus or Christ, which means the Anointed One - the Messiah. Is it important? Very important; because by omitting such information the specific person being referred to and his mission are not identified. Scores of men in the Saviour's day were called Jesus. It was a common name. By omitting the word 'Christ' the one specific Jesus being referred to - the Messiah - is missed. By omitting the word 'Lord' his title is ignored. Here are a few examples of where such specific details are missing:
- Romans 1: 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Comment: The title Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah) is here missing in most modern translations. The word gospel, as most believers know, means 'good news.' And who can possibly be ashamed of bringing good news to anyone? But being 'ashamed of the gospel of Christ' is quite another matter: millions of Christians are secretly ashamed of the gospel: all the while forgetting that it is the 'gospel of Christ' which is 'the power of God unto salvation.'
- Galatians 4:7: Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
- Galatians 6:15: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
- Ephesians 3: 9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
- Ephesians 3: 14: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- 1 Cor.16:22-23 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- 2 Cor.4:6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
- 2 Cor.4:10: Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
- Galatians 3:1: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
- Colossians 1: 2: To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Colossians 1: 14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
- Hebrews 1: 3: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- Hebrews 7: 21: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
- 1 Peter 1: 22: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. Comment: Without the Holy Spirit it is absolutely impossible to purify one's soul or obey the truth with unfeigned love. In the rendering of this verse the modern translators have removed the Master Key to all spiritual achievement - the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Peter 4: 1: Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.
- 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
- James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Comment: The Greek word for 'faults' is praptomata. The Greek word for 'sins' is hamartias. The word 'sins' in most modern versions is therefore a mistranslation - an error! It supports the dubious practice of sinners confessing sins to a priest; who has absolutely no authority whatsoever to listen to, let alone forgive another's sins. It is one thing to confess your 'faults' (praptomata) to someone you've wronged: but quite another to confess your 'sins' (hamartias) to a priest. Faults are vastly different from sins. Impatience, a short temper, a weakness for drink etc. are faults. Whereas the sins these faults may lead to are: violence, revenge, drunkenness. According to Scripture it is blasphemy to attempt to forgive another's sins; as only God (and Jesus is God) can do that. (Mark 2:7) To be sure a victim can forgive a sinner, if forgiveness is requested; but an uninvolved third party - such as a priest - has absolutely no authority whatsoever to forgive the sins of another. See Confession to God or Priest
- Rev.1: 8: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
- Rev.1: 9: I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Rev.1: 11: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia…Comment: Ten words are missing!
- Rev.2: 13: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is…
- Rev.2:15: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
- Rev.5:14:And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Comment: By leaving out the words 'him that liveth for ever and ever' the text allows the worship of any God.
- Rev.11: 17: Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
- Rev.12: 12: Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath.
- Rev.12: 17: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Rev.14: 5: And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
- Rev.16: 17: And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
- Rev.20: 9: And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
- Rev.21: 24: And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. Comment: By leaving out the words 'of them which are saved' the RSV and many modern translations imply that the saved and unsaved of all nations will enter the New Jerusalem: which, of course, is not the case. Here we have 12 verses from the Book of Revelation that have been corrupted. Let no one foolishly suppose that the following divine warning will not apply to those who countenance these deletions. Revelation 22:18: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19: And if any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
The following quotation is taken from the Westminster Dictionary of the Bible page 33, article Apocrypha.
Quote: | " The [Greek word apokrypha means hidden or secret things, used by ecclesiastical writers for: 1) matters secret or mysterious. 2) of unknown origin, forged, spurious. 3) unrecognised, uncanonical.] The name generally given to the following 16 books: 1 and 11 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, the Rest of Esther, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch with The Epistle of Jeremy, The Song of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susanna, Bel and the dragon, The Prayer of Manasses, 1, 11, 111 and 1V Maccabees being omitted." "Unlike the books of the Old Testament, which are in Hebrew, with some portions in Aramaic, the apocryphal productions are in Greek…The Jewish Church considered them uninspired, and some of their writers disclaim inspiration, (prologue to Ecclesiasticus; 11 Macc.2:23; 15:38). The Apocrypha and Pseudopigrapha were produced between about 250 BC and somewhere in the early Christian centuries. They are not found in the Hebrew canon: they are never quoted by Jesus; and it cannot with certainty be affirmed that the apostles ever directly allude to them…" "The Church of England in the 6th of the Thirty-nine Articles published in 1562 calls the apocryphal treatises books which the 'Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners: but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine.' The Westminster Confession of 1643 declares, as a matter of creed, that 'the books, commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, or to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.'" "The Council of Trent at its sitting on April 8th, 1546,…pronounced an anathema against anyone who ventured to differ from it in opinion. This has since regulated the belief of the Roman Catholic Church."… "A controversy on the subject was carried on between the years 1821 and 1826, which resulted in the exclusion of the Apocrypha from all Bibles issued by the British and Foreign Bible Society." (Ref:H3) |
We can see from the above that neither the Saviour, the Apostles, the Jewish Nation nor the Protestant Church reckoned that the Apocrypha was inspired. The only major group which currently holds to the Apocrypha is the Roman Church. In view of these facts, Stewarton Bible School's advice is that you look upon the Apocrypha as the writings of uninspired men and certainly of no use whatsoever when deciding doctrine.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV)
This version is gaining in popularity. Strictly speaking it is not a version, but a revision like most of the other modern translations: which can all be traced back to the Revised Version. I, personally, in my ignorance have given away scores of copies of the NIV. May the Almighty pardon me.
As Edward F Hills says in his book The King James Version Defended:
Quote: | "Modern versions are rich in omissions. Time and again the reader searches in them for a familiar verse only to find that it has been banished to the footnotes. And one of the most familiar of the verses to be so treated is Matthew 6:13, the doxology with which the Lord's Prayer concludes." (Ref: G2) |
Try finding these verses in the NIV
- Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
- Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which is lost.
- Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
- Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
- Mark 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
- Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
- Luke 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
- Luke 23:17 For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.
- John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
- Acts 8: 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- Acts 15:34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
- Acts 24:7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands.
- Acts 28:29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
- Romans 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Bear in mind that the earliest versions of the Bible (the Peshitta, Italic and Old Latin Vulgate etc.) have all these verses: but the NIV leaves them out! Isn't that a serious string of omissions? Obviously the translators of the NIV are ignoring the command in Deuteronomy 4:2. and the awesome warning in Revelation 22:18-19
- Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
- For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
It is vital that you check these verses in the modern version you are using to see if these words, verses or passages are either missing or mistranslated. Once again I invite you to imitate the believers of Berea mentioned in the book of Acts.
Acts 17:11 | These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. |
God knows that after reading this article you can never say 'I didn't know.' See our article on the NIV.
THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION …1984
The title of this version is extremely deceptive and positively dangerous; because the unsuspecting believer will purchase it not knowing that he/she is getting an unholy counterfeit of the real Bible - the King James Version. In his book Final Authority author William P Grady says this concerning the NKJV.
Quote: | "From 1611 to 1881, God's foot soldiers wielded KJV swords while defending spiritual barley fields against Jesuits armed with Douay-Rheims Versions. Their grip grew tighter from 1881-1974 as one Alexandrian impostor after another was driven from the field. Suddenly, a profit-oriented corporation (the same crown who manufactured the enemies swords) would prevail upon the church to believe that the Holy Spirit had abruptly ordered a weapon change - in the very heat of the battle! Their corrupt rendering of Romans 1:25 says it best. Instead of the KJV's 'changed' we read, who 'exchanged the truth of God for a lie.' A true believer will never exchange his KJV for a NKJV. The reason for this resistance is the same today as it was in Bible days. With his very life at stake, the grip of the ancient warrior was so intense that warm water was often needed at battle's end to literally pry the weapon from his cramped hands. A person with an ounce of spiritual discernment can see that He who 'is not the author of confusion' would never pick such timing to introduce yet another English revision! The outstanding distinction of a spiritual warrior will always be that, 'his hand clave unto the sword' … The truth of the matter is that the New King James Version represents Satan's ultimate deception to oppose God's remnant in the closing days of the New Testament age . Having enlisted the lukewarm materialist with his NIV, the devil sets a trap for the diligent soul winner with the NKJV. Although his worldly counterparts embraced the oldest is best theory of manuscript evidences, the true Bible believer refused to abandon the Majority Text, retaining the Divine commendation of, 'thou has kept my word.' Thus we find Satan attempting to wean him away from his Authorised Version with the deceitful half-step of a generic look-alike, TRANSLATED FROM THE TRUSTWORTHY TEXTUS RECEPTUS! … Conservative estimates of the total translation changes in the NKJV are generally put at over 100,000! This is an average of 82 changes for each of the 1219 pages in the NKJV…Along this line of abuse, the most shocking revelation about the 'New' King James Version is that it is literally laced with 'old' readings from the Revised Standard and New American Standard Versions. This revival of Alexandrian readings is one of the best-kept secrets of the decade. Whenever there is a marked departure from the text of the KJV, the alternative reading is frequently taken from either the RSV, NASV, or oftentimes, both. For instance, in the first chapter of John's Gospel, there are 51 verses. Of this total, 45 (or 88%) have been altered by the NKJV. Among this number, 34 (75%) exhibit a distinct RSV or NASV reading while 6 show a partial reading. Only 5 (15%) appear unique to the NKJV." (Ref:E2) |
No doubt very soon another counterfeit Bible will make its appearance. Perhaps it will be called the New Authorized Version. All I can say to the Christian world is - BEWARE!
Comparisons with the KJV
In his book God Wrote Only One Bible Jasper Ray compares some 162 verses in 46 different Bible translations with the KJV which is based on Textus Receptus, the text used by the early churches and Protestant Reformers. His findings make the purchase of his book an absolute must. Very briefly here are a few of his findings:
VERSION………………………………CHANGES
- Luther's New Testament (1522)..… ……..……0
- King James Version (1611).………. .…………0
- Revised Version (1881-5)……………...….. 135
- American Standard Version (1901).… …..... 135
- Good News Bible (1976)…..…………...…. 144
- New American Standard Version (1971)..…..147
- Revised Standard Version(1952)…………... 158
- New International Version (1978)..………….160
Notice how each new translation contains more errors than the one that went before. Are you, dear reader, willing to recognise such error; and how Satan is gradually weakening the very foundation of Christian doctrine - the Holy Bible? Bear in mind that every verse, every word, every jot and tittle of Scripture is eternal: it will outlast the present universe!
Matthew 5:18 | For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. |
How presumptuous, then, for puny man to attempt to delete, amend and corrupt the sacred Scriptures. I tremble to think of the fate of those who are responsible. Believe it or not, when I learned these facts I was stunned, flabbergasted and ashamed all at the same time. To think that I had been taken in so easily - for so long! But once I saw the light I determined that if God would allow me to live after my heart attack and triple bypass operation - I would tell the world! The Internet is allowing me to do so. I pray that in the course of time millions will find out what I have learned these past months. You too may have a part in exposing the corruption in the modern translations of the Bible. The question is: Do you have the humility and the courage to face up to these facts? Have you the spiritual eyes to see that the real Bible for the English-speaking world is still the Authorised King James Version?
VITAL QUESTIONS
Now that you know these facts, and you ought to examine this issue till you are fully convinced in your own mind, several unavoidable questions will present themselves.- Question One: In future which Bible should I study?
Answer: In my opinion you should revert to the real Word of God, the King James Bible; simply because all modern translations of the Bible are infected with error and therefore unholy. Their underlying text is dangerously corrupt and many of their leading translators were/are unbelievers! By continuing to study their unholy output you will be aligning yourself with them: siding with the unbelieving Egyptian scribes who produced their erroneous manuscripts and also with the unbelieving translators who later built on their errors. - Question Two: What shall I do with all the modern translations of the Bible I currently possess?
Answer: You have two options. a) Throw them all away. b) Or keep them just for reference in case you need to prove your stand for the King James Bible. This is the option I have settled for. I have in my possession a CD with some 45 Bibles on it: one of which is the King James Bible. I have kept this CD. - Question Three: I am a preacher, what about quoting from modern translations of the Bible?
Answer: In the past I have quoted extensively from modern translations. You only have to read SBS articles written before March 1997 to realise this. But I will never again quote from a modern translation; simply because it would give the impression that I considered it to be the Word of God, which it isn't! I repeat: modern translations of the Bible are not the Word of God! They are unholy counterfeits! - Question Four: I am a writer, what should I do with the literature I have already produced and in which I have quoted from modern translations of the Bible?
Answer: This was the foremost question I had to answer for myself. I had two options. a) Throw away all SBS publications printed before March 1997 and reprint the lot. b) Or exhaust SBS stocks and correct all future reprints; making sure meanwhile that I offered a full explanation to my readers of my change of course. I settled for this option. Indeed, this article is part of that explanation. - Question Five: What about my Christian friends who do not agree with me on this Versions issue?
Answer: In spiritual matters, no mortal can open the eyes of another. My advice is, tell your Christian friends what you now know about this Version issue and, after praying for them, leave it at that. You would be guilty before God if you kept quiet. Your responsibility is to tell your Christian friends. What they do with the information is up to them.
These are vital questions all informed believers have to answer for themselves. We cannot ignore them. Should we continue to daily study corrupt "bibles" and risk the wrath of the Almighty God? Eating infected meat, by comparison, is of minor importance when we consider the awesome spiritual issue before us. Would you knowingly eat infected or unclean meat once it has been brought to your notice? Surely no one would knowingly eat polluted food, however attractive, appetising or nourishing it may otherwise be. The recent CJD and E-Coli outbreaks in Britain caused by eating infected food are simply low-level illustrations of how easily infection can spread and cause death. How much more serious do you suppose is this matter of eating unholy spiritual meat - polluted Bibles!
The Bible tells us that God overlooks people's ignorance; but once they know the truth, they are held accountable.
but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
(Acts 17:30)
Yes, as far as this Bible Version issue is concerned, you now know the Truth. You are no longer ignorant of it. What then are you going to do about it? For my part I will no longer study any "Bible" based on corrupt manuscripts and translated by unbelievers.
Moreover, ALL future Bible quotations at the SBS Internet site will only be from the Authorised King James Bible. SBS articles placed on the Internet before March 1997 will, in the course of time, be purged of quotations taken from modern Bible translations: simply because readers may think that I accept those translations as the inspired Word of God - which I no longer do. Existing hard copy stocks of SBS Booklets, Sermon Notes and Lessons held in Stewarton are being used up: and future reprinted Bible quotations will only be from the King James Version. Yahweh willing - this will be done.
A final comment by Rev. Gipp:
Quote: | "All the translations before and after 1881 which were going to replace the Authorized Version lie silently in the 'grave' right now. Those which do not, shall soon join their ranks in the halls of the 'improved,' 'thoroughly reliable,' 'truly accurate,' and 'starters of a new tradition,' - dead. They have failed to start one revival. They have failed to induce Christians back to reading their Bibles, and have only succeeded in casting doubt on the true Word of God. The question is, can we repair the damage already done and proceed from here? The answer is YES!" (Ref: B8) |
My sincere prayer is: That you will be amongst those who help repair the enormous damage already done.
Author: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
Part Three
REFERENCE BOOKSA) .. STORY OF OUR ENGLISH BIBLE by W Scott
- A1 … page 17
- A2 … page 39
- A3 … page 141
- A4 … page 153
- A5 … page 153
- A6 … page 31
- A7 … page 128
- A8 … page 160-161
- A9 … page 165-166
B) .. AN UNDERSTANDABLE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE by Rev. Samuel C Gipp. Bible believers Baptist Bookstore: 1252 East Aurora Road, Macedonia, Ohio 44056 USA
- B1 … page 63
- B2 … page 67-68
- B3 … page 65-66
- B4 … page 66
- B5 … page 70
- B6 … page 72-73
- B7 … page 78
- B8 … page 115
- B9 … page 154
- B10 .. page 196
- B11 .. page 197
C) .. LET'S WEIGH THE EVIDENCE by Barry Burton. Chick Publications: PO Box 662, Chino, CA 91708-0662 USA
- C1 … page 61
- C2 … page 60
D) .. GOD WROTE ONLY ONE BIBLE by Jasper J Ray, Eye Opener Publications: PO Box 7944, Eugene, Oregon, 974 01 USA
- D1 … page 94
- D2 ... page 98
- D3 … page 104
- D4 … page 74
E) .. FINAL AUTHORITY by William P Grady. Grady Publications: PO Box 506, Schererville, Indiana 46375. USA
- E1 ... pages 26-27
- E2 ... pages 303 and 305
- E3 ... page 129
- E4 ... page 133
- E5 … pages 161-162
- E6 … pages 139-140
- E7 … page 156
F) .. WHICH BIBLE by David Otis Fuller, D.D. published by The Institute for Biblical Textual Studies. Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. USA
- F1 … pages 196-197
- F2 . .. page 157
- F3 … page 3
- F4 … pages 298-300
- F5 … page 308
- F6 … page 210
- F7 … page 215
- F8 … pages 197-198
- F9 … page 201
- F10 .. page 196
- F11 .. Extracts from pages 86 - 103
G) .. THE KING JAMES VERSION DEFENDED by Edward F Hills. Christian Research Press PO Box 13023, Des Moines, Iowa 50310-0023 USA
- G1 … page 213
- G2 … page 146
- G3 … pages 218-219
- G4 … pages 242-243
H) .. WESTMINSTER DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE
- H1 … page 624 article 'Versions.'
- H2 … page 624 article 'Versions.'
- H3 … page 33 article 'Apocrypha'
J)..TRUTH TRIUMPHANT by Bejamin. G. Wilkinson, published by Teach Services, Route 1 Box 182, Brushton, USA
- J1 … pages 47-48
- J2 … page 50
- J3 … pages 83-84
- J4 … page 100
- J5 … page 108
K) .. FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS published by Zondervan Publishing House, Grand rapids, Michigan USA
L) .. TRINITARIAN BIBLE SOCIETY:
Tyndale House , Dorset Road, London SW19 3NN. http://biz.ukonline.co.uk/trinitarian.bible.society/
- L1 … From a tract entitled: What Today's Christian Needs to Know About The Greek New Testament
- L2 … From page 7 of a tract entitled: The English Bible, its Origin, Preservation and Blessing.
M) .. Answers to Tough Questions by Josh McDowell and Don Stuart. Scripture Press, Amersham-on-the-Hill, Bucks HP6 6JQ, England. (ISBN 0-946515-51-4)
- M1 … Pages 16-17
N) .. CREATION SCIENCE MOVEMENT
- N1 … From the Creation Journal Vol.9 No.10 January 1997. For more details write to: 50 Brecon Avenue, Portsmouth, UK PO6 2AW or to P.O. Box 2667, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA.
P) .. REVISION REVISED by Dean Burgon. Published by the Dean Burgon Society, Box 354, Collingswood, New Jersey 08108, USA Tel:609-854-4452
- P1 … page 319
- P2 … page 350
- P3 … page 365
- Q1 … page 41
- Q2 … page 105
Useful Addresses
Send to the following addresses for LISTS of books dealing with this Bible Version issue and study the matter further. You owe it to yourself, your family and your church group.- A.V. PUBLICATIONS: P.O. Box 280, Ararat, VA 24053 USA
web address: www.avpublications.com/ - Dean Burgon Society: Box 354, Collingswood, New Jersey 08108, USA Tel:609-854-4452
- The Bible for Today: 900 Park Avenue, Collingswood, New Jersey 08108 USA Tel: 609-854-4452
- Which Bible? Society, Inc: 1540 Plymouth, S.E., Apt. 8, PO Box 7096, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49510. Write for information.
- Eye Opener Publications: PO Box 7944, Eugene, Oregon, 974 01 USA
- Bible Baptist Bookstore: PO Box 7135, Pensacola, Florida 32534, USA (Tel:904) 477-8812, FAX (904) 4777-3795
- Chick Publications: PO Box 662, Chino, CA 91708-0662 USA
- TRINITARION BIBLE SOCIETY: Tyndale House, Dorset Rd, London, England. SW19 3NN Web site: http://biz.ukonline.co.uk/trinitarian.bible.society/
- Penfold Book & Bible House: PO Box 26, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX6 8PB, England.
- Thy Word is Truth: Harvester House, 96 Plaistow Lane, Bromley Kent, England BR1 3AS
- HIGHLAND BIBLE BOOKSHOP:
(Proprietor: Jim.V.Reynolds) Lochcarron, Ross-shire. SCOTLAND. IV54 8YB Tel: 01520-722593. (UK Customers only)
This article is just an introduction to the vital subject of Bible Versions. Leading believers of whatever church: bishops, priests, ministers, pastors, theological students, elders, deacons, Bible instructors etc. all have a grave responsibility to make sure that they do not sideline this issue as unimportant: because it is critical! Once again I urge all Christian leaders to write to one or more of the addresses above for lists of books dealing with this matter of Bible Versions: for great will be the wrath of Almighty God on those who knowingly and wilfully remain in darkness or keep their flocks in blissful ignorance.
Booklet Index Ref. Books on Bible Versions King James Version Sites
June 1999
Elder: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/vital/kjv/part2.html
catcmo2006 Thank You for stopping in this site it's about Jesus Christ first and prayers, intecessory prayer's and at other times about this vast world we live in today which this old world as we all know it is slowly departing to be reaching our home in glory.
Summary of Part One
Summary of Part One
PART ONE has brought many vital facts to your attention; the most important of which is that unbelieving copyists and unbelieving translators have laid the ground for the production of millions of modern English Bibles which are nothing more than counterfeits of the Real Word of God - the Authorised King James Version. Let me now summarise Part One.- Two great deceptions have now overtaken mankind. The first is the unproved Theory of Evolution and the second is the counterfeit evolving bibles that are currently flooding the market. Both cast doubt on the accuracy of the Real Word of God, the King James Bible. Unbelievers and believers alike are in grave danger of being taken in by one or the other of these deceptions. But the Almighty is faithful. He who inspired the Bible in the first place is well able to preserve His Word. Indeed He has preserved it down through the ages as promised: "The Word of the Lord abideth forever!"
- The original inspired autographs (Masters) which were penned by the prophets and apostles of old, have long since disappeared. They literally fell apart through constant use and are no more. There are none in existence today.
- Before the Old Testament Masters were buried, they were copied by faithful scribes. The Old Testament scribes were the Aaronic priests and later the Masorites. They took the utmost care to insure that every copy was as perfect as humanly possible; and even a single error was enough to have an entire manuscript rejected.
- Sad to say the New Testament copyists were not nearly as meticulous as their Old Testament counterparts. Nevertheless this deficiency was amply compensated by the vast number of copies made; many thousands of which are still in existence. So the truth can easily be detected in the majority of texts.
- There are currently in excess of 5250 Greek manuscripts in existence. They are held in various museums and libraries of the world.
- If we add the 1800+ copies of the versions and the 86,000 scriptural citations of the Church Fathers, we have a sizeable body of documentary evidence to prove the accuracy of the Scriptures. These ensure that small errors are soon detected. Bear in mind that the Almighty promised to preserve His Word forever! He is doing just that and is fulfilling His promise which says: "The Word of the Lord abideth forever!"
- A version is a translation made directly from the original masters; not to be confused with a translation, or a translation of a translation. There are many foreign language versions of the Scriptures. To name a few: the Peshitta, Old Latin Vulgate, Italic, Gothic, Old Syriac, Armenian, Waldensian, Luther's German Bible and the Authorised King James Version.
- Textus Receptus, the text received from the Majority Text, is the most reliable Greek text in existence. Being in agreement with the vast majority of extant Greek manuscripts, Textus Receptus is often called the Majority Text. This text does not add to, omit or mutilate the Scriptures as does the Minority Text. All the versions mentioned at point 7 above are in line with Textus Receptus. Because of its purity, the Majority Text was used by all the 15th, 16th and 17th century Protestant Reformers of Europe to make their translations. Their choice of the Majority Text attracted the wrath of the Roman Church and tens of thousands of true believers who studied and published the real Bible were martyred as a result.
- The Minority Text, by comparison, is dangerously corrupt! The two most prominent codices in this group are Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus. These two manuscripts are beautiful to look at and are in excellent condition simply because they are written on vellum and were seldom used, even by their custodians. But they are dangerously corrupt! They are covered with hundreds of amendments made over a long period; amendments which prove that even their owners knew they were hopelessly inaccurate. They omit scores of words, verses and passages of Scripture. They are totally unreliable and for this reason were rejected by discerning believers down though the centuries. These two manuscripts outlasted the earliest papyrus copies of the Scriptures. But to suggest that they are accurate is absurd. Remember that early versions of the Scriptures, such as the Peshitta and Italic, are some 200 years older than these two codices. So the 'oldest is best' argument doesn't apply here. The Greek scholar John Burgon personally examined these early codices and exposed their deficiencies in no uncertain terms. The Christian church would do well to read what Burgon has written. The Misleading Footnotes that appear in most modern translations ALL cast doubt on the accuracy of the King James Version. But these footnotes are themselves dangerously misleading.
- The Authorised King James Version is based on the Ben Chayyim Hebrew Masoretic Text and the Greek Textus Receptus. It is a version in the true sense of the term, being based on the original languages. Its style is biblical rather than contemporary. It is infinitely more accurate than any modern translation on the market today. Also remember that the translators of the King James Version were men of faith, piety and learning. They firmly believed that the text they were translating was the very Word of God! Their like has seldom - if ever - been equalled, let alone surpassed. The Almighty brought together this team of faithful, holy and capable linguists to produce the greatest classic in the annals of English literature - the King James Bible. It is the version that God has endorsed and blessed for well nigh 400 years. It should be kept. It is, in fact, the Real Word of God - the HOLY BIBLE!
- By comparison Modern Versions of the Bible cannot be trusted. They are dangerously corrupt! Their renderings are influenced by the distorted codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, which were the product of unbelieving scribes. Moreover, many of the most prominent RV and RSV translators, Westcott and Hort in particular, were professed unbelievers - evolutionists! They rejected the creation account in Genesis, the Exodus story, the crossing of the Red sea account, the miracles of Elijah, the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus, his resurrection and his promised second advent. Their colossal unbelief was only matched by that of the unbelieving Egyptian scribes who, in the first place, produced codices Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. These two facts: the unbelief of the scribes and the unbelief of the modern translators are warning signals! Heed them.
- Spiritual Infection & Famine: The RV committee's choice of corrupt manuscripts, and the unbelief of its most prominent members (Westcott and Hort), infected their work and has resulted in scores of Unholy Bibles flooding the market and the churches. I honestly believe that Christians who knowingly continue to study these 'counterfeit bibles' are condoning the errors they contain. By doing so they not only place themselves in grave moral danger, but also encourage spiritual deception! The Bible says: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
- The twin moral onslaught of the theory of evolution and the counterfeit bibles have made havoc of billions of souls. Together they have resulted in outright atheism on the one hand and an enfeebled Christianity on the other. Be warned by these revelations! They are placed on the Internet to reach millions. Do not be slow to take the warning! Currently the world is in the grip of a mighty spiritual famine; a famine of the real WORD OF GOD!
- History tells us that countless thousands of true believers in centuries past were martyred for their love and loyalty to the WORD OF GOD. Prophecy tells us that another end-time persecution is due to occur and for the selfsame reason - the WORD OF GOD! We all have a responsibility to ourselves and others to believe, study and live by the teachings found in the real WORD OF GOD, the AUTHORISED KING JAMES VERSION.
My sincere prayer is that "The Almighty will grant you the understanding, the humility, the courage and the power to escape the deceptions of the Devil and to stand up for the Truth!"
Amen.
catcmo2006 Thank You for stopping in this site it's about Jesus Christ first and prayers, intecessory prayer's and at other times about this vast world we live in today which this old world as we all know it is slowly departing to be reaching our home in glory.
Famine of the Word of God!
Famine of the Word of God!
Bible prophecy never ceases to amaze me. I used to wonder how come the Bible predicted a 'famine' in the last days of 'hearing the Words of the Lord,' when there are still millions of "Bibles" being printed every year. Are not Christian shops, churches and homes bursting with Bible translations and paraphrases to suite every taste? What does this prophecy mean?
Amos 8:11 | Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. |
I wonder no longer, because now I know that the predicted famine of the Word of God has already begun. The Real Bible is fast disappearing from Christian churches and homes. To be sure there are scores of modern translations and single Gospels available: but the Real Word of God, the King James Bible, is comparatively hard to find and is seldom read from the pulpit. Soon it will be as scarce as is bread during a literal famine.
A Solemn Warning
In the closing chapter of his book The King James Version Defended, Edward F Hills pens this solemn warning. We all do well to take heed.Quote: | "In regard to Bible versions many contemporary Christians are behaving like spoiled and rebellious children. They want a Bible version that pleases them no matter whether it pleases God or not. 'We want a Bible version in our own idiom,' they clamor. 'We want a Bible that talks to us in the same way in which we talk to our friends over the telephone. We want an informal God, no better educated than ourselves, with a limited vocabulary and a taste for modern slang.' And having thus registered their preference, they go their several ways. Some of them unite with the modernists in using the R.S.V. or N.E.B. Others deem the N.A.S.V. or the N.I.V. more evangelical. Still others opt for the T.E.V. or the Living Bible. But God is bigger than you are dear friend, and the Bible version which you must use is not a matter for you to decide according to your whims and prejudices. It has already been decided for you by the workings of God's special providence. If you ignore this providence and choose to adopt one of the modern versions, you will be taking the first step in the logic of unbelief. For the arguments which you must use to justify your choice are the same arguments which unbelievers use to justify theirs, the same method. If you adopt one of these modern versions, you must adopt the naturalistic New Testament textual criticism upon which it rests. In other words, naturalistic textual criticism regards the special, providential preservation of the Scriptures as of no importance for the study of the New Testament text. But if we concede this, then it follows that the infallible inspiration of the Scriptures is likewise unimportant. For why is it important that God should infallibly inspire the Scriptures, if it is not important that He should preserve them by His special providence? Where, oh where, dear brother or sister, did you ever get the idea that it is up to you to decide which Bible version you will receive as God's holy Word? As long as you harbour this false notion, you are little better than an unbeliever. As long as you cherish this erroneous opinion, you are entirely on your own. For you the Bible has no authority, only that which your rebellious reason deigns to give it. For you there is no comfort, no assurance of faith. Cast off, therefore, this carnal mind that leads to death! Put on the spiritual mind that leads to life and peace! Receive by faith the true Text of God's Holy Word, which has been preserved down through the ages by His special providence and now is found in the Masoretic Hebrew text, the Greek Textus Receptus, and the King James Version and other faithful translations." (Ref: G4) |
Concerning the peculiar, yea dangerous, mind-set of the Westcott and Hort followers both past and present, Dean Burgon wrote:
Quote: | "Phantoms of the imagination [That's where they begin.] henceforth usurp the place of substantial forms. Interminable doubts, - wretched misbelief, - childish credulity, -judicial blindness, - are the inevitable sequel and penalty. The mind that has long allowed itself in a systematic trifling with Evidence, is observed to fall the easiest prey to Imposture. It has doubted what is demonstrably true: has rejected what is indubitably Divine. Henceforth, it is observed to mistake its own fantastic creations for historical facts; to believe things which rest on insufficient evidence, or on no evidence at all." (Ref: P2) |
Martyrs for the Word of God
Multiplied millions of true believers in ages past have died for the Word of God. Publishing the Bible was a major crime. To possess a Bible, or even portions of one, placed a Christian in a very dangerous position. During the dark ages the situation was immeasurably worse. One has only to study the history of the Waldensian Church to see how dangerous it was for true believers to possess the Scriptures. Multitudes perished by sword, famine, beatings, burning, hangings and torture. Many were slain with Bibles tied around their necks. One of the greatest Christian classics on this subject is Fox's Book of Martyrs: a book which in ancient days was chained - alongside the Bible - to the reading desks in many British churches. Make time to study this book. It tells of martyrs who died in their tens of thousands - yea millions - all because they lived and loved the teachings of the Real Word of God. Here is a quote from page 179 of this masterpiece concerning William Tyndale, the first man to translate the Bible into English from the original languages:Quote: | "…Tyndale thought with himself no way more to conduce thereunto , than if the Scripture were turned into the vulgar speech, that the poor people might read and see the simple plain Word of God. He perceived that it was not possible to establish the lay people in any truth, except the Scriptures were so plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue that they might see the meaning of the text; for else, whatsoever truth should be taught them, the enemies of the truth would quench it, either with reasons of sophistry, and traditions of their own making, founded without all ground of Scripture; or else juggling with the text, expounding it in such a sense as it were impossible to gather of the text, if the right meaning thereof were seen." |
In the book of Revelation we read that the Apostle John was banished to the island of Patmos for the Word of God!
Revelation 1:9 | I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the WORD OF GOD, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. |
The prophecy of the Revelation goes on to tell of a great company of believers who would live and die for the WORD OF GOD! a martyrdom which is to be repeated in these last days. I will not exhaust the reader with frightening details; but this is what the prophecy says. Note carefully that these martyrs and their end-time kinsman were - and still are to be - slain for the WORD OF GOD! The main themes of the Word of God are the Son of God (Yeshua the Messiah) and the Law of God (the Torah). These martyrs, past and future, are slain because they loved the living and written Word of God and kept the commandments recorded in it.
- Revelation 6: 9: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain FOR THE WORD OF GOD, and for the testimony which they held: 10: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11: And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed AS THEY WERE, should be fulfilled.
- Revelation 12: 17: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 22: 14: Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
The Basic Bible Study
" 'The textual critic J. Harold Greenlee has said, 'New Testament textual criticism is, therefore, the basic Bible study, a prerequisite to all other Biblical and theological work.'Quote: | This is not an overstatement of the importance of this issue. As believers we have the responsibility in our day and age of proclaiming the Gospel, the pure Gospel, the undiluted Gospel. We also have the right and privilege of being the next in the line of protecting God's Word and proclaiming it. Each individual Christian will make a decision on this matter, of which text is correct. Unmistakably, this decision will be made, consciously or unconsciously, by every single believer. This decision is made when the believer decides which edition of the Bible he will use to read and study; and if he chooses a translation based upon corrupted manuscripts which reflect views which omit the deity of Christ, His blood atonement, His virgin birth, then the decision has been made to extend this error to the next generation. If, however, today's Christian chooses a translation of the Word of God which is translated from the Traditional Text of the New Testament, the decision has been made to continue to see God's working through His providence in providing His Word in its complete form, not only for this generation but for those to come." (Ref:L1) |
In my opinion, the quote you have just read is one of the most important in this whole publication, that
'New Testament textual criticism is, therefore, the BASIC BIBLE STUDY, a prerequisite to all other Biblical and theological work.'
If you stop to think about it, you will see how true this is: that before we even begin to study any book claiming to be 'The Holy Bible' we should check to see if that really is the case. I must confess that, like multiplied millions of other Christians, I just didn't do that. I blindly accepted every modern translation as the Word of God; some better or worse than others: but all equally holy. How wrong I was! How terribly wrong! But I thank the Almighty that He mercifully pardoned my ignorance, allowed me to live through a massive heart attack and bypass operation and then opened my eyes to the error of my ways - before it was too late! I could so easily have died on the operating table. God knows the surgeon warned me of that possibility. But JEHOVAH answered my prayer and allowed me to live and even to place this article on the Internet. Praise His holy name!
catcmo2006 Thank You for stopping in this site it's about Jesus Christ first and prayers, intecessory prayer's and at other times about this vast world we live in today which this old world as we all know it is slowly departing to be reaching our home in glory.