See what the blog “Bibledifferences” can provide and how it may be of use to you. I focus mainly on the New Testament, but occasionally look at something from the Old Testament. Continue reading
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56 Robes wash or Commandments do? Rev.22;14
56. Robes wash or Commandments do? Rev.22:14.
What is the prerequisite in Rev.22:14? Is it: “they that do his commandments, …” or: “who wash their robes, …”?
The relation between grace and merit is one of the main differences between the Christian Religion and all other religions in the world.
All other religions proclaim that if one’s deeds are good enough, he can be saved on merit of his deeds.
As Christians we believe and proclaim that sinners are justified by the grace of God, through the blood of Christ, on the ground of our faith in Jesus Christ as of of God alone, apart from observing the law, or any merit we might gain ourselves. Our faith is confirmed by our good deeds. Faith without deeds is dead!
It is this core truth that is in the balance here in Revelation 22:14. Continue reading
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55 Open or closed Canon.
Open or closed Canon.
The concept of the canon time and again comes to the fore in the evaluation of the variations in the manuscripts. Therefore I handle a few questions that came up recently.
Under “canon” I understand the writings that the different denominations accept as measure for their spiritual life. I experience canon on two levels. 1) “Macro canon” concerning which books should be reckoned as canon. The Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Church as well as the Coptic Church each have their own set of books that they accept as authoritative for their spiritual life. 2) The second aspect that relates to canon I see as “micro canon”. That entails the evaluation of variants to determine the most probable variant that would have been the original autograph. With proper scientific research, making use of acceptable and tested criteria the translator should determine what God had originally had written down as His word to us. “Micro canon” can relate to a single letter (Luke 2:14), a word (Mark 9:29), a clause (1John 5:7-8) or even a paragraph (John 7:53-8:11).
I received a few feedback an questions in reaction to my previous post on John 7:53-8:11. In short I would like to answer these questions and make it available to all, since the question living in one person’s heart, might as well be living in many others. Continue reading
54. The woman caught in Adultery. (John 7:53-8:11)
The woman caught in Adultery. (John 7:53-8:11)
Adulterous Woman by Lorenzo Lotto. Photo credit: Mookief
Most modern versions of the New Testament have a note like that of the NIV at this specific piece of Scripture: “The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53 – 8:11.” The Common English Bible even puts it in brackets.
But what are the real facts behind this part of Scripture?
The challenge before every devout Christian and specific the honest translator is to discern the true Word of God, nothing less, but also nothing more. “Sola Scriptura”, undiluted, nor distorted!
The question before us is whether this beautiful and important incident had in fact been part of scripture as “word of God” or is this jewel portraying the true beauty and character of Jesus something some unknown person had fabricated later on and added to the Gospel of John. Is it from God, or should it be discarded? Continue reading
53. Language Development.
Language development.
How W.Lewis depicts the NIV translators
Language is always developing. Words lose their unique meaning or could even take up a complete new meaning to those using them. Our forefathers used the word “brimstone” for a substance we now call “sulfur”. Should we stick to a word just because it had been used 400 years ago, or should we exchange it for the word we now use for the same substance?
In the following extract I gave the words used by the NIV in red. Evaluate for yourself whether W. Lewis is honest and godly in his evaluation of the NIV translators as being “butchers”? Continue reading
52. An Intrinsic Peculiarity
Third thoughts about Matthew 28:19
The Pyromaniacs logo.
This week we have a guest post by Dan Phillips. Even if you are not interested in the Greek, do read through this post to understand Dan’s reasoning.
When Mark or John describe two equally important actions to take place, they would use similar imperative forms of the verbs. Yet Matthew goes another way.
What is important to me is that Dan Phillips clearly illustrates this specific peculiarity of Matthew as writer. This is an illustration of two important aspects mentioned on my blog. 1) God did not reduce the authors of the Bible to merely writing machines, but inspired them by the Holy Spirit from within. Thereby He allowed each to retain their own character, expertise and peculiarities. 2) This is one of the intrinsic criteria to help us identify the author of a book of the Bible. Enjoy! Continue reading
51. Comma Johanneum 1John5:7-8
51. Comma Johanneum 1John 5:7-8
Elephant and Mouse. Photo credit: Flickr
Does God need us to define Him more clearly than He deemed necessary Himself?
This is probably the most famous difference between the older Versions of the Bible like the KJV and modern Versions like the NIV.
The words in dark are absent in the NIV.
KJV: 1John 5:7-8: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
NIV: 1John 5:7-8: For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
Books have been written on the subject. Continue reading
50 Women in the Clergy, 1Cor.14:34-35.
50 Women in office. 1Cor.14:34-35.
Photo credit, Flickr
Is 1Cor.14:34-35 authentic, or a later inclusion? (Possibly a gloss?)
1Cor.14:34-35, Message: “Wives must not disrupt worship, talking when they should be listening, asking questions that could more appropriately be asked of their husbands at home. God’s Book of the law guides our manners and customs here. Wives have no license to use the time of worship for unwarranted speaking.“
In a previous post about “hearing and judgmental errors”, I mentioned the famous Whiley fruitcake, baked every Christmas and for most weddings in my wife’s family. My wife owns the book of recipes in her late grandmother’s own handwriting. But in this recipe someone had written some extra ingredients in the margin. Are these ingredients part of the original recipe, left out by mistake, or do they represent her variation for a special treat. Aunt Ann’s copy includes these ingredients with the previous ingredients to soak overnight in sherry. Aunt Sue is convinced that her version is the original, combining these ingredients together with the next ingredients directly to the flour. How could we solve this mystery? If only we could discover great grandmother Whiley’s original book of recipes!
A word or clause that had been written in the margin of a manuscript and incorporated into the text of a later copy, is called a gloss.
For some time now the position of women in the official offices of the Church is debated in many denominations. Some have claimed that 1Cor.14:34-35 represents such a gloss dating from a time when the position of women had a low esteem, and should therefore be deleted from Scripture to restore the text to correspond with the original as God gave it to Paul to write down. Continue reading
49. Sprinkling of Hearts, Heb.10:22
49 The sprinkling of hearts. Heb.10:22
Many years ago the gardener of my son-in-law came to him with a proud announcement.
“I discovered the essence of electrical appliances.”
“Yes?”
“I discovered what makes it work; sort of the ‘lifeblood’ of electrical appliances.”
Yes, what is it?”
It’s smoke, sir.”
“Smoke?”
“Yes, once it leaves the appliance, it just dies. We just have to get the smoke back into the lawnmower and it will work again, for sure!”
Now what do you do when the “essence” is left or taken out of a clause of Scripture? Should you just accept it, or should you rectify the version you use?
This is exactly what happened in some versions in Hebrews 10:22. Continue reading
Posted in Reliability of NT, UBS-Text
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48. An Unlikely Witness. Acts 24:6-8
48 An unlikely witness. Acts 24:6-8
Rabbis. Image from Google
Were these words concerning the possibility of Lysias being a witness in this case against Paul, the original words Luke had written down, or is this clause a later addition?
KJV: Acts 24:6-8: “ (Paul) who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.”
NIV: Acts 24:6-8: “(Paul) even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
Please read this very interesting record of the arrest of Paul and the hearing of the cases against him in Acts 21-26. It is clear that on two occasions Lysias the Commander, saved Paul from the hands Jewish leaders (Acts 21:32 and 23:10), and reckoned him not guilty. (Acts 23:29) Once again he saved Paul’s life by rather sending him to Felix, the governor in Caesarea to be put on trial there. The clause in question here in verses 6-8 is part of the argumentation of Tertullus, the lawyer who represented the Sanhedrin. If this clause is authentic, he must have had doubt concerning his own case, otherwise he wouldn’t have relied on the witness of a Roman Commander, who had already saved the accused on two occasions. That is why we should examine what is available to discern whether this clause is in fact authentic.
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Posted in God employs man, Intrinsic Criteria
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