In the days that Facebook still allowed me to join groups, and like pages, I was frequently removed from them, by their admins, for not using the King James Version, or any other version consequently.
I was banned from those groups, so I could not give any explanation about why I also used other Bible versions.
However now I hear that some people are even forced to leave groups where they do not use their preferred version, it feels to me as if they are some kind of sect.
So I now still want to give you some explanation, incase you are also a member of such kind of group.
Because I used also other translations than only the one they preferred; and the other versions, were in their eyes “false bibles”, they came to the conclusion that I must be a false teacher.
So where one group blocked me for not using the King James Version consequently, I was blocked from an other group because I did use the King James Version as well.
The same happened for using, or not using the NASB, ESV, NIV, RSV, etcetera.
Of course, we as Christians, we should be lovers, and proclaimers of the truth, and hate what is false. But somehow they got blinded, and because of that take wrong conclusions.
In fact, all what these people display is
▪︎ a profound ignorance and misunderstanding about some very important things,
▪︎ a presumed knowledge and understanding, where there is none,
and as a result of that, they themselves are presenting “information” that is completely false.
And it is almost impossible to show them their error, because of their prejudiced attitude.
Generally these people claim that the text in the newer translations has been changed. Or that the newer translations removed verses, or words.
My first question would then generally be: “Removed from what?”
Most of the time it turns out that they compared the newer translation to the so-called King James Version, (There is not just one King James Version)
I could as easily decide that per example the NIV is my standard and ask them why the KJV has added 64,575 words and 45 verses.
As I said I’m using different translations, and I have come across differences as well, and I’ve not found things that are completely wrong, but I did find that some translations used different words, which actually helped me to understand the text better.
When finding such differences my questions are generally
▪︎ What did the original writer write?
▪︎ What did he mean to say when he wrote that?
▪︎ And how is that best translated?
And for that you need to know, not only the context, but also the situation, and you have to take the time in which it was written in consideration.
Even in English you cannot understand the meaning of a single word if you only have the word without context.
Let me give an example:
Bank
▪︎ Do I mean the building where you have your money?
▪︎ Do I mean the bank of a river?
▪︎ Do I mean a sandbank in the sea?
▪︎ Or am I talking about fog.
You have no way to know that, unless you know the context in which the word was used.
Now back to the Bible.
Let us look at a few words.
YHWH
In places where the tetragrammaton appears
▪︎ One translation leaves the 4 letters YHWH
▪︎ An other translation replaces it with LORD or GOD
▪︎ An other with Yahweh
▪︎ and again an other with Jehovah
But why would any translation use this antiquated misrepresentation of the tetragrammaton?
“Jehovah” was a misinformed attempt at transliterating the tetragrammaton in the middle ages, that was known to be incorrect in the English speaking World by the 19th century.
Then again, the tetragrammaton appears in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament 6,828 times, but the KJV only renders it as “Jehovah” seven times, and is rendering it as “LORD” or “GOD” every other time.
At least the NIV is consistent in always rendering the tetragrammaton as “LORD.”
CALVARY
Why would any English translation use this anglicized form (peculiar to the KJV) of a Latin word, not found anywhere in any original language manuscript of the New Testament?
What the NIV does is present the actual word used in all original language (Greek) manuscripts of the New Testament (“Golgotha”), and give its translation into English (“skull”).
HOLY GHOST
Once again, the NIV translators were consistent when the KJV translators were not. The NIV always translates the Greek phrase in question as “Holy Spirit,” whereas the KJV does translate it as “Holy Spirit” seven times, and inexplicably so, because it usually translates that exact same phrase as “Holy Ghost.”
BIBLE VERSES.
Now let’s have a look at some Bible verses that as they say the NIV removed.
Matthew 17:21 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Matthew. Someone stuck Mark 9:29 here.
Matthew 18:11 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Matthew. Someone stuck Luke 19:10 here.
Matthew 23:14 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Matthew. Someone stuck either Mark 12:40 or Luke 20:47 here.
Mark 7:16 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Mark. Someone wrote in their enthusiastic agreement with what Jesus said in 6-15.
Mark 9:44 & 46 – These verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Mark. Someone stuck Mark 9:48 there.
Luke 17:36 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Luke. Someone stuck Matthew 24:40 here.
Luke 23:17 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Luke. Someone stuck Matthew 27:15 or Mark 15:6 here.
John 5:4 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of John. Someone was trying to insert an explanation (which clearly could not be true, although some people may have believed it was true) for what the man is saying in verse 7.
Acts 8:37 – This verse does not appear in ancient manuscripts of Acts. Someone felt they needed to add this to the story, but, as you can see, it makes perfect sense without it.
I could make similar lists for the other translations, but this is only showing that there is a difference in the translation, not that one or the other is wrong.
And concerning the different translation of words, we have come across those in the devotionals, and we will see them again. Often the words are synonyms of each other, and sometimes the translator choose a different word, which also is a correct translation of the original Greek or Hebrew word.
Internet: harryschoemaker.nl
ENGLISH
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