Post by ambassador on Aug 1, 2009 23:07:26 GMT -5
Words, Words, Words III: God’s Message to Us!
Well over a year ago, I wrote an article entitled “Words, Words, Words.” About two months ago, I wrote the companion article and this time I bring you the third installment of the series. Our theme is still communication, but now we will look at God’s spoken (written) Word to us. Of course, I am not referring to an audible voice or some angelic vision, but rather to the Bible—God spoke to His holy apostles and prophets, who then wrote those words down. Before we begin, let us review four key definitions: revelation, inspiration, preservation, and translation.
“Revelation” means that the Lord God has revealed information to His prophets and apostles; an example is Isaiah 22:14, with God speaking to Isaiah in an audible voice. See Jeremiah 1:4 for a second example.
The term “inspiration” (literally, “God-breathed”; an example is 2 Timothy 3:15-17) refers to God’s Holy Spirit moving these holy men to write down that information in a human language (see also 2 Peter 1:20-21). These languages were Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament) and Koine Greek (New Testament).
“Preservation” is God’s promise of protecting His written Word FOREVER: as Psalm 12:6-7 KJV, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” There are reliable, infallible copies of God’s Word today (more on this in a moment).
Lastly, “translation” is God’s method of conveying His Word to the peoples of the world, with their own unique language. When God’s Word is translated, it does NOT “lose its meaning,” or become less authoritative than the original manuscripts (which are nonexistent today, by the way). An example of translation is found in the first two verses of Acts 22. The Apostle Paul is speaking to these Jews in Hebrew, yet Luke is recording the Book of Acts in Koine Greek! Whether in Koine Greek or ancient Hebrew, God’s infallible Word is STILL God’s infallible Word. Acts 2:4-11 is another example of God’s Word being translated into intelligent human languages.
Now that we have those four key definitions in mind, read Psalm 138:2, as found in the King James Bible: “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.” The last portion of the verse says that God has magnified His Word ABOVE ALL HIS NAME. Apparently, God takes His Word very seriously, so we had better take it seriously too!
Now look at John 17:17 KJV, as the Lord Jesus is praying to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Sanctify them through Thy truth: thy word is truth.” So, God’s Word is truth; thus, we conclude that anything that is a lie is NOT of God, for God CANNOT lie (Titus 1:2). “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4 KJV).
My point is that many of these modern English translations of the Bible contain errors and lies, so they cannot be God’s pure word, and they cannot be of God. But, what makes most of these modern English versions corrupt? The basis for most modern English New Testaments is an adulterated/corrupt text known as the Nestle-Aland Greek Text, which is also derived from unreliable Greek texts (the Alexandrian manuscripts, including the Vaticanus and the Sinaiticus).
The Bible versions debate is a serious matter because God’s pure Word is being threatened. It is a big deal, so never let someone convince you that you are making too much of it. Would you care to read man’s ideas for spiritual advice, or use God’s Word as spiritual advice? Do you prefer reading God’s pure words to you, or some adulterated, watered-down modern Bible translation tainted by man? After all, God’s Word is the Final Authority, not some mortal man’s thoughts and ideas.
A few days ago, I was thumbing through a copy of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Released in the late 1980s, the NRSV is one of the many unreliable contemporary English versions; a version highly popular in one particular false religion. There were so many footnotes on each page, it was ridiculous (“can also be read…,” “some manuscripts have…,” “some manuscripts omit…”). When reading a verse, would you not get confused if a footnote told you to stop in the middle and look below for a phrase that is not found in the text itself? This is an example of the twisting and corrupting that both Peter and Paul talked and warned about.
The Apostle Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV says: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” God is warning us through Paul’s writing that many people will corrupt God’s Word (compare 2 Peter 3:15-16). They wrest, they twist, and they distort the pure Word of God: it is a satanic ploy to discourage man from studying God’s Word. The devil does not want anyone reading God’s Word because the Bible is solid, reliable, and stands against everything the devil advocates.
Today, God does not communicate with us by means of an audible voice or a dream/vision. He does not send angels to us to reveal His will to us. We cannot “call God long distance” because God has already left us a message. He has ensured that His preserved Word has been passed down to us, so we have free access to His pure Word today! He has already told us what He needs to tell us in His Word: in the English language, God’s preserved Word is the 1611 King James Bible (which is derived from the reliable, trustworthy Antiochian/Byzantine Bible texts—the complete opposite of the source of contemporary English Bibles). And do not let someone try to tell you that the King James Bible we have today is not conformable to the 1611 KJB: the only difference between the two is spelling changes in the English language.
Although the entire Bible is God’s Word, God is speaking to us today through the 13 books of Romans through Philemon, known as “the Pauline epistles.” Those are your instructions for becoming saved in this Age of Grace and then living the Christian life as a member of the Body of Christ. Study the Bible from Genesis through Revelation, but rely more heavily on Paul’s 13 epistles. Using dispensational Bible study is the key to understanding the Word of God: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).
If you do not think much of God’s Word, then that means you think very little of God Almighty Himself!
Well over a year ago, I wrote an article entitled “Words, Words, Words.” About two months ago, I wrote the companion article and this time I bring you the third installment of the series. Our theme is still communication, but now we will look at God’s spoken (written) Word to us. Of course, I am not referring to an audible voice or some angelic vision, but rather to the Bible—God spoke to His holy apostles and prophets, who then wrote those words down. Before we begin, let us review four key definitions: revelation, inspiration, preservation, and translation.
“Revelation” means that the Lord God has revealed information to His prophets and apostles; an example is Isaiah 22:14, with God speaking to Isaiah in an audible voice. See Jeremiah 1:4 for a second example.
The term “inspiration” (literally, “God-breathed”; an example is 2 Timothy 3:15-17) refers to God’s Holy Spirit moving these holy men to write down that information in a human language (see also 2 Peter 1:20-21). These languages were Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament) and Koine Greek (New Testament).
“Preservation” is God’s promise of protecting His written Word FOREVER: as Psalm 12:6-7 KJV, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” There are reliable, infallible copies of God’s Word today (more on this in a moment).
Lastly, “translation” is God’s method of conveying His Word to the peoples of the world, with their own unique language. When God’s Word is translated, it does NOT “lose its meaning,” or become less authoritative than the original manuscripts (which are nonexistent today, by the way). An example of translation is found in the first two verses of Acts 22. The Apostle Paul is speaking to these Jews in Hebrew, yet Luke is recording the Book of Acts in Koine Greek! Whether in Koine Greek or ancient Hebrew, God’s infallible Word is STILL God’s infallible Word. Acts 2:4-11 is another example of God’s Word being translated into intelligent human languages.
Now that we have those four key definitions in mind, read Psalm 138:2, as found in the King James Bible: “I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.” The last portion of the verse says that God has magnified His Word ABOVE ALL HIS NAME. Apparently, God takes His Word very seriously, so we had better take it seriously too!
Now look at John 17:17 KJV, as the Lord Jesus is praying to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Sanctify them through Thy truth: thy word is truth.” So, God’s Word is truth; thus, we conclude that anything that is a lie is NOT of God, for God CANNOT lie (Titus 1:2). “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4 KJV).
My point is that many of these modern English translations of the Bible contain errors and lies, so they cannot be God’s pure word, and they cannot be of God. But, what makes most of these modern English versions corrupt? The basis for most modern English New Testaments is an adulterated/corrupt text known as the Nestle-Aland Greek Text, which is also derived from unreliable Greek texts (the Alexandrian manuscripts, including the Vaticanus and the Sinaiticus).
The Bible versions debate is a serious matter because God’s pure Word is being threatened. It is a big deal, so never let someone convince you that you are making too much of it. Would you care to read man’s ideas for spiritual advice, or use God’s Word as spiritual advice? Do you prefer reading God’s pure words to you, or some adulterated, watered-down modern Bible translation tainted by man? After all, God’s Word is the Final Authority, not some mortal man’s thoughts and ideas.
A few days ago, I was thumbing through a copy of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Released in the late 1980s, the NRSV is one of the many unreliable contemporary English versions; a version highly popular in one particular false religion. There were so many footnotes on each page, it was ridiculous (“can also be read…,” “some manuscripts have…,” “some manuscripts omit…”). When reading a verse, would you not get confused if a footnote told you to stop in the middle and look below for a phrase that is not found in the text itself? This is an example of the twisting and corrupting that both Peter and Paul talked and warned about.
The Apostle Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV says: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” God is warning us through Paul’s writing that many people will corrupt God’s Word (compare 2 Peter 3:15-16). They wrest, they twist, and they distort the pure Word of God: it is a satanic ploy to discourage man from studying God’s Word. The devil does not want anyone reading God’s Word because the Bible is solid, reliable, and stands against everything the devil advocates.
Today, God does not communicate with us by means of an audible voice or a dream/vision. He does not send angels to us to reveal His will to us. We cannot “call God long distance” because God has already left us a message. He has ensured that His preserved Word has been passed down to us, so we have free access to His pure Word today! He has already told us what He needs to tell us in His Word: in the English language, God’s preserved Word is the 1611 King James Bible (which is derived from the reliable, trustworthy Antiochian/Byzantine Bible texts—the complete opposite of the source of contemporary English Bibles). And do not let someone try to tell you that the King James Bible we have today is not conformable to the 1611 KJB: the only difference between the two is spelling changes in the English language.
Although the entire Bible is God’s Word, God is speaking to us today through the 13 books of Romans through Philemon, known as “the Pauline epistles.” Those are your instructions for becoming saved in this Age of Grace and then living the Christian life as a member of the Body of Christ. Study the Bible from Genesis through Revelation, but rely more heavily on Paul’s 13 epistles. Using dispensational Bible study is the key to understanding the Word of God: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).
If you do not think much of God’s Word, then that means you think very little of God Almighty Himself!