How To Read The Bible (2) -Beware Of Modern Bibles

In general, there are about 44 new versions of the Bible. These include: The Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Moffat�s New Testament, Twentieth Century New Testament, Good News Bible, American Standard Version and Living N. T. (Paraphrased). Others are: Revised Version of 1881, The Living Bible, Philip�s Bible, The New International Version (NIV), The Readers Digest Bible, New King James Version, New World Translation, Nestle�s Greek Text, Martin Luther�s German N. T., King James New Testament, Textus Receptus New Greek, etc. Each of these new types professes to be the best translation, or a well-paraphrased, modernized version of the original King James Bible which was translated in 1611 from the most authentic old Greek Textus Receptus Bible. Unfortunately, all these modern versions have been found to have, one way or the other, corrupted some of the passages of the original King James Version, thus viciously changing some of the holy messages in the scriptures. In the circumstance then, readers of these modern Bible versions are warned to adopt cautious stance in studying the texts of these new Bible translations. The Douay Version and the Jerusalem Bible apart (about which I can unfortunately make no comparative analysis and comments, since I do not possess copies of them now), it is believed that the old �Greek Textus Receptus, the old Martin Luther Version in German, and the King James Version English are the only unchanged and uncorrupted extant translations of the word of God�. Several Bible scholars and textual critics are of the same opinion that the King James Version �popularly used in the society �is the most reliable, unperverted type of scriptures. Rev. Ray S. Pringle argues that �every translation claims to be a more correct and perfect translation than the old faithful and proven true King James Version, but the authors and their adherents are not telling the truth�. He continues: �every professed translation and paraphrased version of the Bible are radically different �varying in different rendering of the scriptures from one to another in gross error and perversion� (Per-versions of the Bible). Rev. Dr. L. D. Whyte, Professor James Jacobs, Simon Lee and Rev. R. S. Pringle have in their various books made either exhaustive or graphic analysis of these perversions or �bad changes� meant to modernize the Bible. My present objective is to highlight only a few of these errors, because of space constraints: (i) Moffat�s New Testament Version. The text in Matthew 1:23 of the King James Bible is: �Behold a virgin shall be with a child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel�. Moffat�s version of the same Matthew 1:23 is �The maiden will conceive and bear a son, and his name will be called Immanuel�. Note the change of the word �virgin� into �maiden� which means: any type of girl. Yet a �virgin� is a lady who has never known any man, but a maiden may have known a man. (ii) In Luke 4:4 of King James Bible, it is reported: �Jesus answered him saying it is writing, that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God�. Moffat�s version is: �Jesus replied to him, it is written, man is not to live on bread alone�. Note that the phrase �but by every word of God� was not included. A deliberate and serious omission. (iii) King James: Colossians 1:14 �in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins�. Moffat: Colossians 1:14 �In him we enjoy our redemption, that is the forgiveness of sin�. Take note that �through his blood� is left out, thus changing the whole import of the text. Let�s go to the New International Version (NIV) Bible. In Psalm 86:13 it is written thus: �For great is thy mercy toward me, and thou has delivered my soul from the depths of the grave�. But the original scriptures (King James) write Psalm 86:13 thus: �For great is thy mercy toward me and thou has delivered my soul from the lowest hell�. It is to be noted that the phrase �lowest hell� is changed into �depths of the grave� in the NIV. The soul, in actual fact, goes to hell not into the grave. (iv) King James: Matthew 17:21 �Howbeit this kind goeth not out by prayer and fastings�. In the same Matthew 17:21 of the NIV, the whole verse is omitted �a most important prayer-and-fasting command! A similar case happens in Mark 9:29 where King James reads: �And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayers and fastings.� But the NIV also writes: �He replied, �This kind can come only by prayer.� (v) In the same vein, the NIV puts Luke 4:4 quoted above) this way: �Jesus answered, �it is written: Man does not live on bread alone.� Like Moffat version, the phrase �but by every word of God� is left out. And this constitutes a most serious perversion. Come to the case of the Living Bible. In Romans 8:1 of the King James Version it is written �There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.� In the Living Bible, the same Romans 8:1 is quoted as �There is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus.� Look at the deliberate perversion or omission of �who walk not �� after the Spirit.� In the King James, Matthew 6:27 reads: �Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?� the Living Bible says: �Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?� The meaning is perverted. In general terms, the scriptural errors detected in these modern versions range between 10 and 20 percent each Bible, on the average. On this account, those who use any of these modern Bibles simply because of their clarity of diction or their easy-reading sentences, are advised to read them alongside the more reliable King James Version so to be sure of what the original scriptures say. In fact, Rev. R. S. Pringle sternly warns: �Don�t trust a preacher or Sunday School teacher who uses a perverted version of God�s word to preach from, or to teach from�A minister (of God) who use these perverted translations and paraphrased versions of the Bible is ignorant, blind or dishonest, or all three.� How I do not share Rev. Pringle�s sentiments that �if your pastor uses one (of the new versions) reprove him.� What if such reproof or confrontation leads to some misunderstandings, quarrels or exchange of blows, and the pastor is badly beaten? I believe, humble suggestions or kind discussions for the use of both King James and the modern Bible will do. God�s blessings! (Continuation of last week�s follows�.) Lastly there are two important points to note in reading the Bible. The first concerns noticeable changes or perversions of the meanings of some texts of the (original) King James Bible, in the various attempts to modernize the old expressions found in it as indicated above. The second is about some seeming contradictions between some texts in the Bible, which fact becomes a bother to many readers. For example, in John 1:8, it is written �No man has seen God at any time.� But in Exodus 24:10 we see: �And they saw the God of Israel.� How do these two texts agree with each other? Theologians agree that both are correct; for �they did not see God, as he is a spirit, but they saw God a physical reflection of God.� Jacob saw God in �an angel� who came to him (Genesis 32:20). Several examples of these seeming contradictions can be found in the Bible; but fact is, they are not contradictions. Sometimes, their deeper meanings only escape our understanding. Some time ago, a Bible student questioned me in a class: �Please, I am of the opinion that God rests and sleeps on a gold bed to become refreshed, when He gets tired, even though the same Bible says he doesn�t rest.� �Why do you say so?� I asked. �Sir, because in Exodus 31:17 it is written: �God created the world in six days and rested and was refreshed on the seventh day.� Here you see that he clearly had a sound sleep in order to become refreshed,� he argued from the King James Version.