Translation

Posted on August 26, 2010 by John J

Since this blog is about the Word I might as well broach the topic of Bible translations.

I believe that the Scriptures are the inerrant Word of God as originally penned by the inspired writers. Throughout history few Christians have been able to read copies of the original texts scribed in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. Those fortunate to have studied these tongues and had ancient copies available had the benefit of reading God’s Word as closely to the originals as anyone ever could. As time progressed translations were required for the majority of believers to read the bible. From the spread of the Gospel beginning in Judea, then to Samaria, then to the uttermost parts of the Earth, many languages were used by the Church (note even on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, the birthday of the Church, Peter’s declaration was understood by an audience of many languages).

In other words the vast majority of us are dependent on translations to read the Bible. Fortunately there have appeared in recent decades a multitude of good versions. The night I was Saved I walked home from my neighbor’s house and pulled down my parent’s Bible from the shelf. This was a New Jerusalem Bible. When I opened it up to one of the Gospels I was awestruck that the words were alive to me! And it was irresistible! It was this version I used starting my journey in Christ. I bought my own copy and read through it thoroughly and voraciously.

I attended a local evangelical church where the Word was precious and sat in a young adult Sunday School class, though I was much older than the college age kids attending. But the teacher was a man I grew to love and respect immensely, Leo Dinnan. It was a comment made in class that was a catalyst to my replacing the New Jerusalem Bible with another version. The discussion was the book of Ester, and the comment was made that it was singular that no mention of God was found. I looked at my copy and vocalized my confusion, as my copy mentioned God frequently! Mr. Dinnan in his kind wisdom took me aside after class. He explained that the New Jerusalem Bible was a Roman Catholic based translation, and though a pretty good one it included a lot of texts that were not considered Canonical by the Reformed churches. The Jews since before Christ had accepted certain writings and books which they included in their Hebrew Bible. But the Roman Catholic Church included in their Canon a lot of other historical books. The Reformed Churches of the 16th century onward purified the Canon and returned to the historical Canon of the Hebrew Text.

So I visited the local Christian book store and started reading about translations and the history of Christianity, even though I had been a believer only a few months. I then bought a Schofield King James version of the Bible. I loved the notes explaining the text, as I had a hunger to learn as much as I could. Even the Catholic priest (my parents, worried about my recession from the Catholic Church, asked me to talk to him, in hopes he could call me back to the fold) told me the KJV was a good translation. After a while though I grew weary of reading such antiquated verbiage. My desire was to know Christ and the things of God as He revealed them in His Word. I found it was too much work trying to decipher and re-translate this Elizabethan language which clouded my comprehension of the text. I didn’t talk that way and knew no one who did. Communication is vital in society and everyone uses the current idiom of language, how much more then the communication between God and His child and Church?

I looked at other versions, and there were a lot of them. I bought a number of them including parallel translations, as well as an English/Greek parallel translation. My selection eventually came down to the New International Version and the New American Standard Bible. For the sake of accuracy I chose the NASB as my devotional and daily study bible. My motto for years has been “Accuracy At All Costs.” I felt the NASB was the most accurate version available, and most people seem to think so too. Happily, in 1995 this version saw its most recent update finally removing the remaining antiquated thee’s and thou’s replacing them with the vernacular.

It is my feeling that the primary purpose of reading the Scriptures is to read what God wrote to us. And having as close a version of the writings is of paramount importance to this end. There is no good reason, in my estimation, for anyone today to use the King James Version of the Bible, when one wants to know God as accurately and deeply as possible. I have recently softened my previous declaration that (with tongue somewhat in cheek) the KJV ought to be banned, as being a tad too extreme and intolerant. But with so many outstanding translations available today, and since so very few people are alive who regularly talk in Elizabethan English, there simply is no good reason to use this version. Our Lord spoke the colloquial language of His culture in His walk throughout Palestine, we should feel free to use the present vernacular as well for reading and speaking.

I must add one note concerning the KJV. I’ve recently read the proclamations of those few who believe that ANY other version of God’s Word than the 1611 version of the King James Bible is of the Devil. Trying to keep Christian brotherly love in the forefront, I have to say it is sad that otherwise seemingly reasonable individuals could take such a myopic view of the history of Christianity and the development of translations. Even a cursory reading on these topics should be enough to show that those who strove to translate God’s Word into their current vernacular did so for the edification of God’s people and out of complete devotion to our Lord, and in the Middle Ages, usually at their peril. There is not an intrinsic difference between those who translated the Scriptures in 1611 and those who did so before or after. All strive for the best use of the Scriptures as originally penned.

The bottom line is this: the Christian should strive to be devoted to the daily reading of the Word of God, that he can know the things revealed by our Lord to the glory of God. Whichever version is used, the KJV, the Good News Translation, the NASB, or even the most recent of translations which hopes to be an even fresher and more accurate version, the International Standard Version, or others, read the one you have. Every day. From beginning to end.

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Reading and Rereading

Posted on August 24, 2010 by John J

I’m reading more these days than I have in recent past. When Googling “John Calvin” last week I discovered a blog called “Coffee With Calvin,” by a guy who is reading through Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion” in one year, and sharing his observations. I had found my copy in the attic a couple months ago remembering why I enjoy reading this immense work. I’m using the McNeill edition published in 1960, the text translated by Lewis Ford Battles. There are many translations of the Institutes, this is the finest and most readable. Open anywhere in the 1521 pages of text and start reading anywhere. It’s like sitting in the finest of worship services. Martin Luther is pleasant to read but Calvin is an immersion in the worship of Christ the King, the God of glory. You can almost hear the angels singing. It is a feast for the soul. Reading straight through though is a real challenge for anyone, the work is immense, the theology very deep. But the rewards are worthy of the effort. Some books are must-reads for the believer, this is one. If I had to pick one non-Biblical person to spend extended time with it would be John Calvin. I say this mainly because of some familiarity with his writings, the Institutes, his commentaries, some tracts, I’m impressed with the kindness of his soul and his willingness to teach. The Apostle Paul would be an amazing companion, but Calvin would be an worthwhile friend.

Other influential books within arms reach of my nightstand include the publication “John Calvin, a Sixteenth Century Portrait,” by William J. Bouwsma, Oxford University Press, 1988. It isn’t a typical life of king of work, because those are plentiful. This one explores his living through the tumults of the 16th century, how it impacted him and vice versa, and less on his theology.

Another perennial favorite is “The Rise of Christianity,” W.H.C. Frend, Fortress Press, 1984. This thorough work is a treasure of learning how the early Church blossomed and survived tumultuous times to become the world’s leading spiritual and political force. It follows the development of the Church from its Jewish background through its first 600 years. It might not be as evangelical in some of its Biblical interpretations, but is filled with the historical influences and pressures that impacted the Church’s development. It bears reading and rereading, though if you have the time, Philip Schaff’s 9 Volume “History of the Christian Church,” 1890, is to be preferred for its exhaustive detail and evangelical enthusiasm. Another important reference is “The Creeds of Christendom,” Ed. by Philip Schaff, the 6th edition reprinted in 1985, in 3 volumes; and from the other camp, the “Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils,” Ed. Norman P. Tanner, S.J., Sheed & Ward and Georgetown Univ. Press, 1990, in 2 volumes.

But my reading these days mostly consists of my Bible. Coming to Christ in 1976 I became hungry to know what was in this book, wanting to know as much about this God who so immediately touched my heart and mind that one April evening. Upon having my eyes opened by the touch of His hand I pulled the family Bible down from the dining room shelf and opened it to the Gospels, and the Word was ALIVE to my heart and spirit! I was awestruck at what I read! The next weeks and months found me reading from Genesis through Revelation. I was soaking up this divine letter as if it was written specifically to me. After finishing Revelation I started again at Genesis working my way to the back cover. Reading the Bible straight through gave me a vital perspective on God’s dealings with mankind, and just how we have come our present predicament.

Along with reading His Word I have read as much as I could of other edifying works. “Evidence That Demands a Verdict,” by Josh McDowell, Francis A. Schaeffer’s “He Is There and He Is Not Silent,” C.S. Lewis Space Trilogy: “Out of the Silent Planet, “”Perelandra,” and “That Hideous Strength,” (the second volume, chapter nine, of which contains the most comprehensible view of how Adam and Eve could have made such a huge error of judgment by being deceived and taking the forbidden fruit – for those of you who find it unfathomable that a desire for the insignificant thing forbidden they could throw away the perfect life). I also keep nearby innumerable Bible study aids, my favorite being Keil and Delitzsch’s Commentary on the Old Testament. I sure kept the local Christian Bookstore in business.

However after some years of life in the Lord I got to a point of minimally reading the Word even while heavily involved in a local church. The pressures of life have a way of crowding out that which is really important for living. But a half dozen years ago or so I regained my senses and renewed my stroll through the Bible on a daily basis. I find it awesome to read how God directed His love and life into man’s world in such magnificent fashion. Especially poignant are the historical books of the Old Testament. The salvation story, beginning in Genesis and culminating in His glorious victory depicted at the end of Revelation makes for phenomenal and inspiring reading. His Word is truly awesome, and such a gift given to mankind graciously offered so that we could know Him as completely as we ever can in this lifetime should never be neglected, but should be enjoyed daily.

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Proper Perspective of Sin

Posted on August 21, 2010 by John J

Pride can be a good thing. With it you perform your best, not wanting inferior work to make you look bad on a job, in sports, in the arts. However it can be easily prostituted. We think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, as Paul puts it in Romans 12:3. And we refrain from giving God the proper respect. Sin crouches at the door ready to disrupt and destroy. When we think more highly of ourselves and not highly enough of God’s glory we lose perspective of our position as creature before the throne of God the Creator.

The one story from the Old Testament that to me states this most articulately comes toward the end of the book of Exodus in chapter 32, when Moses meets with the LORD on top of mount Sinai, after Moses is give the two tablets of commandants, “written by the finger of God.” Even before the display of God’s awesome works man can still turn away.

The Background: The throng Moses led out of Egypt had seen an extraordinary amount of God’s awesome acts, from the plagues with which God goaded Pharoh to let His people go, to the parting of the sea allowing Israel to pass through on dry land, while watching Pharoh’s army washed away as the water returned, to daily guidance in the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, to the gift of Manna (“what is it?”) each morning (except Saturdays). Many, many other glorious things they observed of God’s acting for their benefit on that desert journey.

And then they came to Mount Sinai. The picture Genesis paints of violent thunder, fire, smoke, and earth shaking, sounds more like Hollywood’s most elaborate Summer blockbuster than what could possible have really occurred (chapter 19). But this was the ultimate Reality Show! The people were so awestruck and fearful of the formidable display, even in hearing the voice of God, that they implored Moses to depart and talk with God because they had no heart to bear the manifestation of such power. ” . . . there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud appeared on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast was heard. All the people in the camp trembled with fear. Moses led them out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD had come down on it in fire. The smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people trembled violently. The sound of the trumpet became louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder.” (Ex 19, 16-20) And in chapter 20:18 and 19, “When the people heard the thunder and the trumpet blast and saw the lightning and the smoking mountain, they trembled with fear and stood a long way off. They said to Moses, ‘If you speak to us, we will listen; but we are afraid that if God speaks to us, we will die.'”

Indeed, any time in the Bible when mere man is visited by God a similar reaction occurs, namely fear and trembling and a recognition of man’s smallness. The amazing part of the story to me is that the people were so quick to forget everything they had just seen and heard and fall into apostasy. What happened after Moses is away from his people for 40 days on the mountain top talking with God? The people left down below wonder what became of their leader. Would he ever return? What would they do without someone to guide them through the desert? They can’t just wait there forever, they had to do something?

So after 40 days and nights alone with the LORD (actually Joshua went with him part of the way) God tells Moses that his people have fallen into idolatry, and that He is about to destroy them. “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Hurry and go back down, because your people, whom you led out of Egypt, have sinned and rejected me. They have already left the way that I commanded them to follow; they have made a bull-calf out of melted gold and have worshiped it and offered sacrifices to it. They are saying that this is their god, who led them out of Egypt. I know how stubborn these people are. Now, don’t try to stop me. I am angry with them, and I am going to destroy them. Then I will make you and your descendants into a great nation.'” Ex. 32:7-10

They key thing here is Moses reaction. He seems to not yet fully comprehend how immense a problem it is to sin against the living God. He doesn’t yet have the proper perspective of sin. He actually negotiates with God to spare His people, as if he could go down and talk some sense into them. You an almost see God smirk and reply “OK, you go down and see what you think about it.” And Moses goes down the mountain with the two tablets in hand. On the way down he and Joshua hear a sound from the camp. Joshua thinks it is a war cry, Moses interprets more correctly it is the sound of celebration.

But what happens when Moses himself reaches camp and is confronted with the inglorious blasphemy of the two golden calves and the merrymaking with music and dancing and jubilation around the idols? In a violent rage he throws the stone tablets to the ground shattering them, screams at the people and confronts his brother, how could Aaron have possible let this happen? “What did these people do to you, that you have made them commit such a terrible sin?” in a rage Moses grinds up the two idolatrous calves to powder, throws it in the water and make the people drink it.

Only when confronted to his face does the full horror of the people’s out of control sin have its effect on Moses. The lesson seen here is that sin in any form, being a rejection of the God who daily delivers us with His great power and outstretched arm, is horrible thing. It shouldn’t take such an immense conflagration for us to see how sin is so monstrous as a rejection of God’s glorious support of our very existence. We need to have the proper view of our own humble position before a magnificent God. The proper perspective of sin is vital to our ability to revere the Living God. With it we obtain a proper perspective of His majesty.

[all quotes from the Good News Translation (GNB), American Bible Society]

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Assurance

Posted on August 19, 2010 by John J

As I mentioned, reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is an awe inspiring endeavor. It puts into perspective just how immense and gracious God is to His creation. The sad reality of mankind’s separation from fellowship with Him in the Garden and God’s attending them as a shepherd his flock of sheep, makes you awestruck at just how loving a God He is. And by reading from cover to cover you come to know Him as fully as He can be known here on Earth.

The book of Genesis depicts the Creation and the waywardness of man, how God calls them back to fellowship. There is Noah, survivor of the flood with his family, the new beginning of humanity, who receives the promise of God. He is followed by Abraham, who is given a more specific promise. To Abraham, God has made a singular selection, through whose family God will be glorified on Earth. I try to imagine what it must have been like to hear His voice, to converse with God, to hear how he was chosen to carry God’s blessing to all generations. Even when requested to offer up his own son as a As I mentioned, reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is an awe inspiring endeavor. It put into perspective just how immense and gracious God is to His creation. The sad reality of mankind’s separation from fellowship with Him in the Garden and God’s attending them as a shepherd his flock of sheep, makes one awestruck at just how loving a God He is. And by reading from cover to cover you come to know Him as fully as He can be known.

The book of Genesis depicts the Creation and the waywardness of man, how God calls them back to fellowship. There is Noah, survivor of the flood with his family, the new beginning of humanity, who received the promise of God. He is followed by Abraham, who is given a more specific promise. To Abraham, God had made a singular selection, through whose family God would be glorified on Earth. I try to imagine what it must have been like to hear His voice, to converse with God, to hear how he was chosen to carry God’s blessing to all generations. Even when requested to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice, knowing that the promise was made through him, Abraham trusted God enough to carry out His request in spite of being unaware how the conflict would be resolved. Prophetically Abraham told Isaac when asked where was the lamb for the offering, that God would Himself provide the sacrifice. Now that is trust! Having no idea if he would have to go through with it, he was prepared to obey completely. The only thing he had was an assurance in his heart that God could do anything that needed to be done to fulfill His promises, even if that meant raising his son from the dead. That is a powerful assurance.

And in that word, assurance, we have the only definition of the concept of Faith. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that we are saved by Faith. But in only one verse of the Scriptures is Faith actually defined, in Hebrews 11:1. It isn’t just a belief, as in all of the world’s religions. It isn’t a guessing or hoping that what you believe might be true. But “faith is the assurance.” Assurance is being certain, not guessing or supposing, or hoping it might be so. We are not thinking, “I hope I’m going to heaven.” Or “I hope I’m saved.” We are sure, we know. It is this assurance that gives us this life in which we live, His life. We have assurance because He has opened our hearts to knowing with certainty that the things He says are true. Jesus told Nicodemus that this was being Born Again. When this assurance is implanted in your heart you are at once born a new creation. Born into life, passing out of death. Entering into direct fellowship with God through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. We know this because He has given us this assurance. This is His gift to us.

Finally, the chasm that was created in Adam’s sin is bridged by faith in the blood of the Lamb, just as Abraham suggested to Isaac. God did provide His own sacrifice, in His son Jesus Christ. That is what is such Good News. What we couldn’t do, bridge the chasm, restore our fellowship with our Creator, God Himself did, in a selfless act of death followed by the promised Resurrection. To those that realize this assurance, the effect is very powerful. No more wondering what is out there, or who is out there, or why we are here. We come to know the One who is there and who is not silent, and has never been silent. His Word reaches to the ends of the universe. To His glory!

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Cycles

Posted on August 17, 2010 by John J

Even upon being evicted from the Garden God expresses his care for His creatures.  The ultimate fashion designer God made the first clothing, “garments of skin.”  The first leather outfit.

It was going to be a rough row to hoe, the gulf now between Adam, Eve and God was immense.  A once close fellowship, now a chasm so huge it would take His own Son to come down to earth and walk among us, and be rejected by His own, and paying the ultimate sacrifice.  Torture and death on a cross was bad enough but in the end the separation from His Father was the worst.  Fortunately in His resurrection three days later the greatest surprise of all creation was declared in the call to forgiveness for all who accept His gift of grace.

But back outside the Garden a whole lot of living and dying would unfold preceding this awesome event.  And that didn’t take long.  Humanity’s decent into depravity followed swiftly.  Adam’s two sons would be the first casualties with Cain killing his younger brother Abel. And then the second expulsion occurred; Cain was forced away from his family. But God’s love and providence was never quenched. Cain was given a sign “so that no one finding him would slay him.”

Only four chapters into the book of Genesis and already we witness manic highs and lows.  The glories of creation in all its perfection, including man and woman, God’s gift rejected in disobedience, eviction from the Garden, children born in pain, a brother’s murder, another expulsion, and all the while God closely attending.  The rest of the long book of the Bible would be a litany of this cycle.  Man’s failing, and God restoring.  It is fascinating reading how God continuously reached out to His wayward creatures showing them He is always there to be enjoyed if they should desire Him.  How difficult it must be for a father to watch their children walk away from them in indifference or outright hate, knowing the pain and torment that inevitably follows, until they come back into his rest.

And when those children multiply and fill the face of the earth, creating civilizations, and become proud of their own devices, glorying in their own creation to the exclusion of the Creator, the recipe for devastation boils over.  How God for so long put up with is creatures is a testimony for His long suffering patience.  Only a few chapters later in Genesis (chapter 7) we see that mankind could no longer be considered redeemable, and the flood came to cleanse the earth of monumental depravity and evil.  Only a chosen few survived.  A remnant selected to keep hope alive  In the cycle of Good and Evil there would never fail to be a remnant in all the rest of the course of history.  It would be a promise God would keep to the very end.

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