Category: Bible versions debate

To Know the Holy Bible

Friday, November 25, 2016

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17 KJV).

Friend, may you come to know the Holy Bible as God wants you to know it!

Visiting a “Christian” bookstore or website, looking for a Bible, is a most daunting task. There are many translations from which to choose—NLT, Amplified, ESV, the Message, HCSB, the Voice, “God’s Word,” NRSV, NASB, NKJV, NIV, the Living Bible. Which to buy? Oh, but these are the more recent versions. Actually, during the last 135 years, 100 to 200 modern English translations have been published and marketed! Sadly, “scholars”—employing heathen, non-Christian viewpoints—have used their perversions of the Holy Bible to harass and divide the Christian public.

Satan is the master deceiver. Literally, the best counterfeiter there has ever been and ever will ever be! The Devil’s first words ever uttered in Scripture are found in Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Satan attacked God’s Word by questioning it. Even today, he uses the flesh of men who say, “A better translation is…. This passage is not found in the ‘oldest and best’ manuscripts… That word is wrong…. This verse is not inspired…. We need to publish another version with better readings….” Yet, these are often the “educated” people leading our seminaries, Bible colleges, and churches! They echo Satan’s damnable question, “Yea, hath God said…?”

Concerning the New Testament, there are over 5,500 Greek manuscripts (excluding other languages). About 90 to 95 percent agree with our King James Bible. Only a handful of manuscripts disagree with this majority, and that handful (which even disagree amongst themselves!) has been used in “scholarly” circles to cast doubt on God’s preserved Word in English. If the King James Bible has been used by Anglophone Christians for over 400 years, we should hold fast to it today… especially in this day of rampant false teaching!

You may click here for more information about Bible versions: https://333wordsofgrace.wordpress.com/bible-timeline-other-study-aids/.

Not Left to Ourselves

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9,10 KJV).

Hallelujah—God did not leave us to ourselves!

Recently, while taking care of business at a government office, my services took so long to be rendered. While I sat waiting, the clerk helping me struck up light conversation. She complained to me how the procedure was “so complicated”—she had to go through so many steps on her computer before she could access my files and print my necessary papers. The thought immediately occurred to me. Millions of people think bigger government will solve our problems! (*Smacks forehead*)

Friends, as a dear brother in Christ often says, when God wants to judge mankind, He does not have to break out into a sweat. He can simply give mankind over to himself and mankind will ruin himself (see Romans 1:17-32). Mankind is just so naturally corrupt, so he will always eventually find himself before insurmountable obstacles and in inescapable dilemmas. Look at the world religions—the absolute spiritual darkness of people who worship rats, trees, cows, monkeys, bread and wine, and even small children! Look at the world governments—avarice, sex scandals, lies, and wasteful spending. Look at the educational system—empty curriculums, confused young people, comical opinions of men proclaimed as “the truth.” (All because they refused the light of the Word of God.)

Left to ourselves, we would truly be helpless and hopeless! However, praise God for the “but” of today’s Scripture! In His goodness, He did not leave us without revelation. He caused His inspired Word to be written down long ago, to be preserved through the ages in a multiplicity of manuscript copies, and to be translated into our language (English) so we can have it right now. We hold that inspired, inerrant, preserved Word of God when we have a King James Bible. If ever we drift away from the standards found in that King James Bible, we will surely go back the way of darkness!

Bible Q&A #320: “Seethe not a young goat in his mother’s milk?”

Sounding Right, Being Wrong

Thursday, September 29, 2016

“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:4-6 KJV).

Did you ever notice how Israel’s religious leaders “corrected” the inspired Word of God?

Complaining about the King James Bible, people often profess to have “better translations.” In this day and age of widespread false teaching, and ears itching to hear more traditions of men, God has supposedly sent these “Bible correctors” to “make plain His original words.” (Fantasy and folly!) In my few years alive, reading words from and talking with Bible “scholars,” I have learned all are not honest. This is no surprise. After all, when King Herod summoned the Bible “scholars” of his day, they employed a “dynamic equivalence” (free-wording) method: “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

The casual Bible reader will gloss over Matthew 2:6, never bothering to look at the original quote, Micah 5:2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” We are not interested in the fact the religious leaders did not quote it verbatim. What concerns us is they actually quoted the verse so it read the opposite: “though thou be little among the thousands of Judah” (God’s words in Micah 5:2) became “art not the least among the princes of Juda” (man’s opinions in Matthew 2:6). These religious leaders were not quoting God’s Word in faith; otherwise, they would have visited the Christ Child!

Dear friends, learn this lesson. Take heed concerning religious leaders and their “helpful” alternative Bible readings. Never forget that, in today’s Scripture, they sounded right but were totally wrong!

Very Pure

Sunday, September 4, 2016

“Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it” (Psalm 119:140 KJV).

God’s Word is “very pure.”

In his Bible-question-and-answer book, a well-known “scholar” and “apologist” instructed his readers how to respond to people who think the King James Bible is the only “legitimate” Bible. His entire argument—abounding with heathen philosophy from seminary, Bible cemetery—was merely 15 sentences. Boasting a doctorate in theology, he mustered five simple/childish “objections” (wow!) to the King James Bible. Furthermore, for someone supposedly “defending the faith” against skeptics and unbelievers, he was without reservation in challenging and belittling the Bible that English-speaking Christians have used for 400 years!

While we cannot read his heart, we most definitely can read his book: his hatred for the King James Bible was manifested in five gripes. One was a myth about the King James Bible, two were ridiculous complaints, one was a questionable statement, and the last was a half-truth. Having a background in (sneaky) theology, he carefully “edited” his arguments so as not to provide the “full picture.” That is, had he done more research instead of repeating hearsay—or had he provided more detail (which may have been intentionally withheld)—those claiming “King-James-Bible legitimacy” would have been found correct after all! He concluded his “defense” with a claim that he did not intend to “malign” the King James Bible. (Of course not! He just wanted you to think less of it so you [and he] can be “justified” in using any of the preferred 200 modern versions!!)

All the foolishness aside, beloved, we take our stand by faith in Scripture. As one refines a precious metal to remove all impurities, so God’s Word is void of error and deception (today’s Scripture). This is true of the King James Bible. It is not true of the New International Version, not true of the New American Standard Version, not true of the New King James Version, not true of the Voice, not true of the Message, not true of the Amplified Bible, and not true of the English Standard Version. People may not like it but so what! Our King James Bible can be EASILY proven to be “very pure.” Therefore, we LOVE it! (What does this say about its haters?)

Saved, Saved, Saved #4

Friday, July 29, 2016

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV).

The chorus of Jack P. Scholfield’s classic 1911 hymn, “Saved, Saved, Saved,” highlights today’s Scripture.

“Saved by His power divine,
Saved to new life sublime!
Life now is sweet and my joy is complete,
For I’m saved, saved, saved!”

As the songwriter knew, God’s power, not our power, saved us. Today’s Scripture plainly declares: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Some Bible commentators, hating these verses, have said the following to keep their works-religion: “What these verses ‘really’ mean is we are not saved by works alone. We need Jesus too.” Alas, a lie! If Jesus is enough to save us into Heaven, and the Bible says He is, then we need not introduce our measly religious works!

Friend, the Bible versions issue is a most serious matter. Did you know that, where the King James Bible says five times “saved” (past tense), modern versions use “being saved” (as in “being saved” today but not necessarily tomorrow)? Check Acts 2:47, 1 Corinthians 1:18, and 2 Corinthians 2:15. The King James has “saved” while the NIV, Amplified Bible, NKJV, Jehovah’s Witness New World Translation, and New American (Roman Catholic) Bible agree, “those who are being saved.” Luke 13:23 in King James Bible—“Lord, are there few that be saved?”—is now in the NIV, NASB, and HCSB—“Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” The NRSV, NKJV, and Jehovah’s Witness New World Translation are unique with “are being saved” in 1 Corinthians 15:2 (“are saved” in KJV). It gets worse! They even pervert today’s Scripture—“are saved” is now “have been saved!”

Modern English versions are spiritually dangerous. They teach the erroneous idea that salvation unto eternal life is uncertain. (Remember the “mortal sin of presumption” in Roman Catholicism? See, such “scholarship” has dominated modern English manuscripts and versions!) However, our trusty Protestant Bible (King James) says we ARE “Saved, Saved, Saved!” (It is a done deal in Christ!) 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does 2 Peter 3:8 mean?”

Thus Saith the LORD

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:6 KJV).

“Thus saith Dr. So-and-So…?” (No.) “Thus saith St. This-and-That…?” (No.) “Thus saith Mother Church…?” (No.) Thus saith Lexicon…?” (No.) “Thus saith Seminary Professor…?” (No.)

The various Bible manuscripts and their resultant 200 modern English translations have caused most to not know what the Lord has said. Satan, in Genesis 3:1, questioned God’s Word: “Yea hath God said…?” Watered-down Bibles equal watered-down Christian lives. Thus, we unapologetically emphasize the King James Bible. It has stood the test of time for over 405 years—it has changed more lives worldwide than any other volume. You cannot say that about modern versions—NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV, NRSV, HCSB, et cetera.

Some Bible readers will believe footnotes, commentaries, and study notes long before they will believe the Bible text; church members often believe their doctrinal statement long before they believe the Holy Scriptures from which the doctrinal statement supposedly came. Like the unbelieving “scholars” who taught them, they distrust the Bible. When approaching the Bible text, they cannot help saying, “Most scholars believe this verse should be translated as….” “Scholars” have spent so many years allegedly studying the Bible, so why doubt them? The fact is they have been trained to believe there is no perfect Bible on Earth today. In their minds, God has ordained them to reconstruct His Word for Him. What on Earth would God do without educated men? We shudder to think!

If you call yourself a “Bible-believing Christian,” you better have a Bible you actually believe! Friend, if you cannot hold up any book and say with absolute certainty, “Thus saith the Lord in His verbally inspired book preserved without error,” sit down, be quiet, and not utter one word about Jesus Christ or His Book until you find it and hold it!

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”

He Who Knew No Sin

Thursday, June 2, 2016

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV).

What does the Bible mean—Christ “knew” no sin?

The Greek word translated “knew” (ginosko) in today’s Scripture in the King James Bible, is rendered “had” in six modern English versions. That is, “had no sin” is found in: NIV, NIV-UK, Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), Expanded Bible (EXB), International Children’s Bible (ICB), and New Century Version (NCV). While this rewording avoids copyright infringements, it is a poor translation. Out of 50 English versions, only these six use “had.” The majority—agreeing with the KJV—renders ginosko as “knew.” Why is “knew” superior?

Jesus did not merely “have no sin.” As someone once pointed out, “had” allows the possibility that Jesus had personal sins that God did not simply credit to His account. Nay, our KJV has the correct reading—“who knew no sin.” As 1 John 3:5 says: “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” And 1 Peter 2:22 confirms: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth….” Jesus had no sins for Father God to reckon because He never “knew” (experienced) sin! Our Lord Jesus had no relationship with sin like we. How was this possible?

The Lord Jesus was far from a “good man” and “great teacher.” He was the perfect Man, God manifested in our humanity. There is no way a man cannot sin… unless, of course, he lacks a human father. So, the Lord Jesus did not have a biological earthly father. Therefore, he had no Adamic sin nature to inherit. He merely had a human mother, with God the Holy Spirit supplying the male sex cell. Notice Luke 1:35: “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” That “holy thing” was Jesus’ sinless human nature, contrasted with our “unclean thing,” or sinful human nature (cf. Isaiah 64:6).

Without a sin nature, Jesus could never “know” sin!

The Old Rugged Cross #3

Sunday, April 10, 2016

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV).

The third and final verse of George Bennard’s classic 1913 hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross,” highlights today’s Scripture.

“In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.”

“For he [God the Father] hath made him [His Son, Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (verse 21). The wood of Calvary’s cross was ordinary wood, but it was stained with extraordinary blood. It was “the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4 KJV). Peter wrote, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just [righteous] for the unjust [unrighteous], that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18). “…[T]he Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 KJV). Modern versions omit the correlation here, but our King James Bible says God’s own blood was shed at Calvary!

How could God have blood? Why, God became a Man, and as a Man, He had blood (Hebrews 2:8-18). Because it was God’s blood, it was sinless, divine, able to cover the sins. Had it been regular human blood, it would have been linked to Adam. Jesus was much more than a “good man;” He was the visible manifestation of the invisible God (Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3). Had He been anything less than fully God and fully man, He could not mediate between both parties!

Many people in history have died for their religion. But, Jesus Christ did not die as a “martyr.” He gave up His life, to “pardon and sanctify” those who would accept His payment for their sins. That blood was shed to impart spiritual life to those who would believe in it. It was shed to set apart a group of people whom Father God would use through the ages of eternity future to glorify His Son, the Person who died on the “old rugged cross.” 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What swallowed Jonah—a fish or a whale?”

Crucified and Converted

Friday, March 18, 2016

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42,43 KJV).

How did this repentant thief know who Jesus was?

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (verse 33). By the way, you must have a King James Bible to read of “Calvary” here. Modern English versions remove the term—you cannot sing or teach about “Calvary’s cross” if your Bible never says anything about it!

During Jesus’ crucifixion, He was subjected to much taunting and laughter. The common Jews mocked Him, so did their religious leaders and the Roman soldiers. Even the two crucified thieves criticized Him as a fraud. Verses 34-39: “[34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. [35] And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [ridiculed] him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. [36] And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. [38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

Later, one of the thieves had a change in heart (see today’s Scripture): “[40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” Evidently, the thief read the superscription and believed it, and Jesus Christ guaranteed his soul salvation! “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise!”

They Have Seen Nothing!

Saturday, March 12, 2016

“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel 13:3 KJV).

They have no spiritual eyes—they have seen nothing!

If you are familiar with “Christian” radio and television programming, you have probably heard something like, “The Lord has just given me a word of knowledge for our audience….” Or, “God is speaking to me and He wants five people to send our ministry $1,000 each!” Maybe, “There is someone watching or listening who needs to be healed of foot pain [headaches, arthritis, et cetera]. God is now touching that part of your body and the pain is just melting away.” These words sound so good, so intimate, so appealing. The average listener absorbs them like a sponge. Every last word is believed because “God” is allegedly involved.

I remember once, while talking to a very confused denominational lady, she objected, “But, I do not believe God would allow me to be deceived!” Oh, certainly, God does not want you to be deceived. He gave you His written Word, the 66 books of the Holy Bible. But, if you let “Christian” preachers and “Christian” literature interpret it for you, and you do not look into the Bible for yourself, you deserve to be misled and deceived in whatever cult you join! Friend, be warned—if you ignore His Word, the King James Bible, God will let you be deceived. Just look around at so-called “Christianity!”

Colossians 2:18,19: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head,….” (Modern versions and their manuscripts omit “not” from “not seen,” thereby saying the false teachers have seen something!)

Many groups and people supposedly speak in the name of “Jesus Christ.” They claim to be preaching His words. But, we can look into the Bible for ourselves and see they are preaching lies. They have no revelation from God. As today’s Scripture says, they are “foolish prophets”—following their own imaginations and fabricating “divine testimony.” They claim to have been given spiritual enlightenment from the God of creation. Today’s Scripture says “they have seen nothing!”