Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday Wisdom












Now keeping toasty is really wisdom, we are having such unusual weather all over the Country now, perhaps it is all that Global warming, ya think, NOT.. Perhaps it is God
letting us know we need to spend more time with him, when it is sub zero temperatures and 3 foot of snow on the ground, I say it is a good time to sit by the fire, with your choice of hot drink and read his holy word, the Kings James Bible of course, I am talking about, any one who knows me knows that is all I recognize as God's word, it is the one that was brought here from England, the one our Country was founded on, and the one that many folks even were taught from in their schools, it has been proven, it has been tested, and it has stood the test of time.
They have tried to burn it, they have tried to get rid of it in so many ways through the years, but God's word stands, it will stand, and he will make sure it is the one that always lasts. God is like the salt of the sea,  he seasons that word that was penned so many years ago by Holy men of old, given direction by the Holy Spirt, and no matter who writes a new book, it will never have the power that the old KJV has, it is written by men, who just want to change what God said, they have eliminated the virgin birth, saying a young woman, instead of a virgin, well I tell you there are many young women that are not virgins. They take out the blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.  I see the different imitations as fraud, and sent from Satan to confuse and alter the minds of the weak and the lost.  Okay you having doubts here?
Think I am off the wall maybe, let me show you the comparison of each of these so called bibles. You pray about it, and seek his face, and see how you believe then.

"Why KJV Bible"

"I am the LORD, I change not." Malachi 3:6
"God is unchangeable. God's word is unchangeable too. In Matthew 24:35, the Lord Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."


Why then are we so ready to accept changes to God's word in the form of different Bible versions? The Authorized King James text has faithfully served the body of Christ for almost 400 years. During this time, and during its translation, Satan has viciously and relentlessly attacked it. I now hear Christians attacking it too! I've heard preachers and lay people say things like, "it's too hard to read" or "it doesn't properly reflect the true meaning of the original Greek". The issue about the original Greek sets my teeth on edge--which Greek? There are Greek manuscripts galore, including the corrupted manuscripts that the Roman Catholic religion uses. The snide remarks and attacks against this utterly reliable text are unfounded.


We must remember that the Bible is a spiritual book and is understandable to those who are led by God's Spirit. It is not possible for the natural man to understand it [I Corinthians 2:14], hence paraphrasing or simplifying it will do no good. The Bible is not supposed to read like a fairy tale--Peter said, "for we have not followed cunningly devised fables" [II Peter 1:16]. The words of the Authorized King James are not laborious to me, they are beautiful and full of God's power. Even the world knows it--the Authorized King James has been listed on Norton Anthology's list of "the world's best literature" for decades.


The new versions have come up with some dangerous changes to the scriptures. The Lord God gives us stern warnings about changing His Word--


Revelation 22:18-19, 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.


Proverbs 30:5-6, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Look at this change in the NIV:


John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son...
The authorized King James says,
John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son.
In this instance, the NIV changes the scriptures by saying that Jesus is God's "one and only" Son instead of His only begotten Son. This change causes a contradiction in the word of God because God has more than one son according to both the King James (Genesis 6:2, Job 1:6, John 1:12) and NIV (Genesis 6:2).


I do not buy the line that the inerrant word of God is found only in the originals--which nobody has. I know that God has the power to preserve His word and that he wouldn't leave us out in the dark with an "imperfect" translation. In the authorized King James Version God assembled, and moved with His Spirit, a team of some of the world's best scholars to translate His word into the world's most popular language, English.


The complete translator's notes of the Authorized King James scholars are not included in today's publishings. This is unfortunate because these notes say a lot about these men -- they were humble, loved the word of God, loved the King, were berated by the Catholic religion, and they desired a translation for the common man who was kept in darkness. Some of the translators where killed for their faith. This book was forged in blood, sweat, and tears.
I've heard folks make a big to-do about the italics in the Authorized KJV. Well, unlike many of today's translators, the authorized KJV translators let us know which words they had to add in translating in order to give the full meaning of the original text (these are the words in italics in the KJV). Other translators have added words too--but they don't tell you what they've added. I speak a little Spanish and know that it is oftentimes necessary to rearrange or add words so that the translation makes sense. These men went through the extra trouble of identifying which words they added. That's real scholarship and integrity.


*Let's fall in love with the Authorized KJV again and stand on it. Let's get down to business and read the Word and stop spending so much time reading what others have to say about the Word in commentaries, Greek lexicons, study bibles, etc. We want the Holy Ghost to talk to us.


*How many classes have you been in where every student has a different textbook? None. It just doesn't make good sense on a very practical level. We all need to be on the same sheet of music so that we are in harmony. Let's not confuse our kids by teaching/preaching from the NKJV, NIV, NASV, LB, Phillips, GN, etc.


Let's not accept the premise that the tried and true Authorized King James is somehow outdated and is to be replaced by dozens of new translations. A standard test determined the Authorized KJV reading level to be 5th grade because it contains mostly one and two-syllablic words making it one of the easiest to read. People have been getting saved by reading it for a long, long time. We know that it contains the Word of life whereby we live and grow.


Satan knows that in a generation we won't uniformly quote the scriptures. Imagine ten people with ten different translations trying to recite a psalm together. Confusion. Satan knows that many newborn babes in Christ will not have the real milk that they need in order to grow because they'll have a watered down version of the truth. He figures that if he can't kill the babes, he'll do the next best thing-stunt their growth. At the same time the world will point to Christianity and say, "They don't even have a definitive word of God. Anybody can write a Bible." They already say that the Bible was "just written by men".


Being able to talk to a child of God and have our spirits commune on the parts of God's word that we've memorized is great. I now find people who are quoting scriptures that I know, but they are worded so differently that I have to ask the reference. This is confusion, and we know who authors confusion, the enemy of our souls, the Devil. I believe that the emergence of these many different "Bible" versions is Satan's most successful attempt to attack God's word. The Bible says that in the last days there's going to be a falling away of the church and I believe that these other versions are helping to usher it along.
That is all for this time, next time I will give you even more to chew on, and more examples to compare.
God bless you this day, and have a wonderful prayer meeting tonight in your church.

Lots of love, Barbara

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I respect your opinion and I understand your love for the KJV. I also know that your mind is set and that you believe what you've written here. I love you as a sister in the Lord and I know you love Jesus with your whole heart.
I won't argue or try to persuade you in any way. I'll just comment that my hubby and I own and read so many wonderful versions and translations of Holy Scripture - even some original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. None of them have taken the precious blood of Jesus out, and none of them have neglected the truth that Mary was a virgin and the birth of Jesus was absolutely Divine.
My husband and I have been accused by a number of well-meaning brothers and sisters of following the 'devil'. We've literally been asked to leave some churches because we read and enjoy other versions of Scripture. And when they find out my husband plays the drums and we listen to contemporary Christian music - well I don't have to tell you what's said about us, I'm sure you already know.
But there's one thing Barbara that we've never been accused of all these many years we've served Jesus. We've never been accused of elevating ourselves or our Bibles or even our church above God and the people He loves. We've never been accused of using those things to demean others.
Isn't God so amazing? He loves all of us no matter what version of His Word we read (or don't read). Isn't the Holy Spirit awesome - that He would speak to us where we are, through whatever Bible or music or language? And isn't Jesus unfathomable for living and dying and rising again for all who would receive Him - Jew, Gentile, Samaritan, man, or woman? And that He would choose to use us - wow! Ohhh I'm so grateful that he who the Son sets free - is free indeed.
Hugs and blessings my friend,
Deb

Jackie said...

I love the king James bible because "Thy word have I hid in my heart"...I spent 61 years liostening to scripture so familiar to me now that I can finish many verses after the preacher says the first two words.

I do,however, enjoy reading parallel Bibles on my internet Bible program.But when I sit down to hide the WORD in my heart, I must have the one that thrills me the most ;the King James version.I respect your passion!

Anonymous said...

I feel safest with KJV. I found that scripture "pray for them that despitefully use you" not in the other bibles but the KJV. However, God can definitely work through those other bibles. God bless you!

an encourager said...

Hi there! I love your passion! :) It made me wonder if those who read the Bible in Hebrew and Greek were just as passionate when the KJV came out. I'd never wondered that before. For me, the variety is delightful. God speaks to me through all of His versions (well, there are some I avoid), and you know how He is - He meets ya just where He needs to. Yay! :)

Barbara said...

This Bible study has turned into a extensive research, it is so interesting indeed, I found so much good information here http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/
My husbands cousin really likes the Geneva Bible, I had never thought much about it but is it about 95% the same as the KJV bible, and it was written before the KJV. It is all very interesting to me, I feel most comfortable with the good old KJV, and I was saved from that book, so it will ever hold great value to me, I have read some of the others, and honestly they do not feel like when I read my KJV, I will stick with it until God burdens my heart otherwise,
I hope you enjoy this Bible study as much as I have, God bless you all greatly and may God give you the desires of your heart.
In his Care, Barbara

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

I, too, love the KJV. When reading together, it is so much better to be in the same version, not stumbling upon differences in words, though having the same 'meaning.' As a Sunday School teacher of Jr. High Students, they are a sufficient number of questions the girls ask that asking about differences in the verses become chasing rabbit trails. We have extra Bibles in the class room to share so we truly are on the same chapter/verse/word. That said, I also use a variety of translations -- including KJV with Strong's in e-Sword -- to seek the fullness of His word. It is not a lack in the versions, it is a lack in my understanding. What ever the version, we are tasked as the Bereans:

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.
(Acts 17:11 KJV)

Finally -- I do not believe God would have seen an incorrect English version in the hands of His followers and left it there for four hundred years. And I see no reason for changing that.

Theresa said...

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me! I also read the KJV but know that there are so many who read the others:) I believe that as long as you read the word, you are doing a good thing!

Have a blessed day, HUGS!

Anonymous said...

I wasn't even going to comment on this one, but after reading the other comments, I just wanted to tell you that I completely agree with you! Thanks for taking a stand!

Anonymous said...

Barbara,

This was certainly a good bible study, indeed! I was not raised with learning from the KJV bible. In fact, I think that's one of the bible version I don't own in my home. Hummm . . . some day, I will have to buy that version and compare it to the others.

I have heard that the Geneva bible is a good translation as well. I was going to purchase one of those, but for some reason, I never got around to it.

Have a blessed day.

-Lady Rose

Rose said...

"God is like the salt of the sea, he seasons that word that was penned so many years ago by Holy men of old, given direction by the Holy Spirit".
Your statement is accurate, but there is one small problem. It was not written in King James English. It was written in Hebrew, Aramic and Koine Greek. And which KJV is the accurate one? It's been revised several times.
Jesus said the Scripture cannot be broken.  This means that it cannot fail.  From this we can easily conclude that the position of Jesus is that the Scriptures, the written form, cannot fail, cannot be broken.  Logically, this means that they are without error. Jesus did not deal with the issue of copyist errors.  He simply stated that God's word cannot be broken.  Likewise, we should take the same stance.Jesus did not possess the original writings, yet he said that they could not be broken and contain error. The New Testament is likewise considered Scripture by the Christian Church.  Therefore, it falls under the purview of all Scripture being inspired of God.
If God can speak a universe into existence, I do believe it is within HIS power to preserve HIS Word through translations.