Heaven Past Present Future Ministries

ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL

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Comments on Education and Translations

Every now and then this ministry gets a comment on education or translations used to teach in this site. The following sample comment is posted and our ministry response. If the post does not completely answer your questions please feel free to request more information.

Just thought I might share something that concerns me. Why is that everywhere I look, almost every preacher who has a, phd or md behind their name, are getting away from the KJV. They tend to use a version that is not complete, takes the name of Christ, takes the Blood out, down grades Jesus to just another prophet.

        One may need to remember what Gods book says in Rev. 22:19. Yes we both know what this says yet in all our wisdom, we tend not to regard it's meaning.

A Brother in Christ

Author Response: While I would much rather discuss our need eternal focus in our ultimate hope of heaven I feel I should at least give an opinion to the above brother's concern.

First, I do not think anyone should apologize for the education God in His grace has given. Paul was well educated both secular and from the Lord. However as Paul says, understanding is not from “man’s wisdom.” Any understanding of the Holy Scriptures must come from the Holy Spirit. One must: “rightly dividing the word of truth” “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” “the things which the Holy Ghost teacheth” which at least does take a certain level of education in at least a language if not also reading a language with some understanding. It is difficult to “study” so “approved unto God” without some education that the Lord provides.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

9 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.10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. KJV (emphasis mine)

 

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV (emphasis mine)

Secondly, the decision to use the New International Version (NIV) over the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) was made during the first version writing of Heaven: Past Present Future. As I used Bible Study helps to define and clarify words and phrase meaning in the AKJV for better understanding, I found the NIV already used the words that correctly displayed the defined meaning. Thus it made more sense to use a translation that for the average reader of seventh grade reading level could understand without constant references to meanings of the AKJV wording. Currently in the second version on the web I have used more New American Standard Version since I feel in the translations I am familiar it is the most accurate to the copies of the manuscripts.

Thirdly, it is my opinion the AKJV is like many (not all) others, simply a good translation of the original God inspired Word to us. We have no original copies of those Greek manuscripts. We have copies of copies of copies of copies of copies due to the short life span of the material God provided for the early circulation of His Word. In God’s Wisdom there exists to our knowledge not one of the original for the preservation of His truth. If they did exist, men are just evil enough to attempt to change or destroy the original for interpretational bias and self gain. These copies of copies of copies of the original manuscripts still preserve every truth of God’s Word when comparisons are made of the over 5300 manuscripts cataloged today. Yet, like all translations of man, each has had weaknesses added by the bias of the translators. Those AKJV translators to keep their heads could not properly translate every word and still maintain the doctrine of the State Church that commissioned them. They caused great harm to truth today by transliterating (not translating) words such as “βαπτισμα”  and “εκκλεσια”,  i.e. baptism and church. As the result over the nearly 400 years since its introduction the words no longer mean “to dip, immerse or plunge under water” or “congregation, assembly” respectively. This error allows the false doctrine of ecumenism and Babylon of the end times to grow stronger each day. Newer translations have had to maintain this bias to sell and gain popularity in the Christian market. Other examples can be easily found.

A good book for consideration of the AKJV versus other translations is The King James Only Controversy. Can You Trust Modern Translations? by James R. White Bethany House Publishers, 1995. As is quoted by Norman Geisler, “This is the best book in print on a topic too often riddled with emotion and ignorance.”

It is this author’s belief all students of Scripture should take great care not to add to a literal interpretation of Scripture for any bias purpose. Much of our modern Christian teaching adds to the Word. Who has not used non-Biblical terms like “rapture of the Church” or “Pre-tribulation rapture”?  Where are these terms in Scripture? They like many others represent interpretational bias of what we think the Scriptures teach. There is not one direct Scripture that says what we call it. We derive it by “comparing spiritual with spiritual” hoping our interpretation is correct. (My bias is that I do hope it is true by the way while also recognizing there are other good interpretations when comparing spiritual with spiritual.)

I strongly agree with the admonition of Revelation 22:19.

Revelation 22:19

19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. NIV

It is my opinion churches today are temporal with great interpretational bias even when using the KJV. We use the Word to fulfill our fleshly lusts and desires of this life living in Laodicean air castles as rich, increased with goods and needing little. For example, “In prayer meeting what are 99.9% of prayer requests for? Were they for laborers? Was it for opportunities and doors for the presentation of God’s Word?” Another example is, “What are the subjects of interest most popular with Christianity today? Is it heaven and the eternal life? Is it teaching us how to look to our real home of eternity and how temporary the things of this world are?” Yes, as the Samaritan we must bind the wounds of the injured, following James admonition pray in faith for the healing of the sick, as Paul said to Timothy use medicine “a little wine for thy stomach’s sake” and as other Scripture says by our good works show the light of Christ to the world. Yet, we spend too much time using the Bible in bias interpretations to perfect the world we are to leave. We have forgotten we are “aliens and strangers on earth.” To many look for Eden lost rather than the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. As a physician I watch this great struggle in Christians everyday. Rather than struggling over the proper translation we should be allowing God’s Holy Spirit with His Divine Word to transform us to God’s perfect will in His service each day.

Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

 

Hebrews 11:13-16

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. NIV    (Emphasis mine)      

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