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Yea, hath God said...

 

Luke 18:8b … Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

  • when the Son of man cometh

  • shall he find faith on the earth?

 

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

  • faith cometh by hearing

  • hearing by the word of God

 

Introduction

 

What & Where is the Word of God

​

There is a direct correlation between obtaining faith and hearing the word of God. Contrary to what Luke 18:8 may suggest concerning the end times, one would think that faith would be on the rise. Considering the existence of God's word in most languages, accompanied with the multitude of English bible translations, supposedly making the word of God easier to understand, faith should be on the increase?

 

Does the word of God really exist today? Is there such a thing as absolute truth or a final authority? Obviously, these questions raise other questions, along with a variety of responses, depending upon the background of the audience or individual being asked. Answers can vary drastically even among professing Christians. The topic of God is eventually brought into play within this discussion and more often than not He is confessed to hold the lock and key to absolute truth and is the final authority.

 

From here where do we go? It is one thing to acknowledge existence of absolute truth, but quite another thing to be able to lay hands on. Just as God is brought into this discussion, so eventually is God’s word… whatever and wherever that is? If most, who are earnestly engaged in this discussion would be entirely honest, there would be an admittance that absolute truth is beyond the grasp of man’s hands. What is meant in saying this is that even those who assert the inspiration (2 Tim 3:16) and preservation (Ps 12:6-7) of scriptures, don’t ascribe either to the bible(s) in hand, unless reasoned to simply being a mere message or theme from God, reserved in manuscripts and translations; here’s where honesty vanishes!

 

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

  • All scripture is given by inspiration of God

 

Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

 

  • The words of the LORD are pure words

  • Thou shalt keep them, O LORD

  • thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever

 

Case in point above is demonstrated in Lesson 4, of the Truth Project, sponsored by Focus on the Family and instructed by Dr. Del Tackett. The subject is, "Theology" and answering the question, “Who is God?” Absolute truth was an issue raised and Dr. Tackett shared testimony of a personal crisis relating to the trustworthiness of the word of God. There’s a seeming contradiction in the chronology of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah that challenges the credibility of the scriptures. To the rescue was Edwin Thiele’s work, The Mysterious Dates of the Hebrew Kings that validated the scripture’s record of this chronology. What’s ironic though is that in defending the integrity of God’s word, three different bible translations were used: ESV, NAS & NIV; the NIV being Tackett's main text.

 

How would one give definition to the term ‘word of God’, in a presentation such as this?

 

This is a Test

​

To further drive this point home, here is a practical self-test. Ask yourself five (5) questions concerning your own personal bible(s):

 

  1. Is it the inspired word of God?

  2. Is it the preserved word of God?

  3. Is it a translation of either the inspired or preserved word of God?

  4. Are there errors in your bible?

  5. Is your bible the best translation or simply a translation?

 

Obviously, there are other questions that could be listed along this line, but this should suffice for provoking thought in introduction to this site’s objectives. This line of quizzing isn’t over. Now ask the same questions, but this time of your understanding of the mind-set of your spiritual instructor(s) regarding their personal bible(s)? What about the author’s of the commentaries, bible studies and Christian literature read? One’s personal view of the word of God and bible(s) used is most certainly a determining factor of deductions made in the teaching, learning and application process within one's personal life.

 

These paragraphs are not of criticism so much as they are in simply speaking to the reality of the acceptance of the adoption of translations, as being God’s word, instead of a common accepted authority, as once generally was. For example, there are several generations that could very well have never heard reading or teaching from a KJB (Kings James Bible), that once was the argued standard. The word ‘dispensation’, would be a new vocabulary word. Numerous versions are acceptable for use from behind our pulpits today. Various translations may be referenced during a message to try to determine the best possible meaning. Correction and questioning of words and verses, by pastors and teachers, go unchallenged. In most ‘Statement of Faith(s)’, there is confirmation of at least the inspiration of the original writings… so what? Where does that leave us today?

 

Christians once rejoiced when the scriptures were translated into the common language. This gave equal opportunity to hear from God and discern doctrine apart from the clergy dictating what God said. Once again, the scripture has been taken away from the common man putting it back into the hands of the clergy. With the multitude of translations, 'who' is to decide what God has really said? It is no longer 'what’ that decides! Who wins the debate over essential doctrine in this day of countless bible translations? He who knows the most Hebrew and Greek? Perhaps it is he who consults various translations for best possible validation? Or, is it he who knows his King James Bible well?

​

Majority Rules?

​

There would be little argument that the doctrine of the godhead (commonly referred to as the Trinity) and deity of Jesus Christ is an essential doctrine; I would argue the most essential! Picture this scenario. A group study is to be held to search the validity of the deity of Christ in the scriptures and everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite bible. The following bibles end up for in this discussion: American Standard Version (ASV); English Standard Version (ESV); King James Bible(KJB); New American Standard Bible (NASB); New English Translation (NET); New International Version (NIV); Revised Standard Version (RSV); World English Bible (WEB). Let’s make it really interesting in adding a Jehovah Witness to this mix with their New World Translation (NWT). A passage in 1 John 5 is now under consideration with focus on verse 7.

 

1 John 5:7:

 

Term word of God?
1 John 5:7 A

(KJB) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

  • For there are three that bear record in heaven 

  • the Father

  • the Word

  • and the Holy Ghost 

  • and these three are one

​

(ASV) And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth

(ESV) For there are three that testify:

(NASB) For there are three that testify:

(NET) For there are three that testify,

(NIV) For there are three that testify:

(RSV) And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

(WEB) For there are three who testify

(NWT) For there are three witness bearers:

​

Counting on that the reader is founded in the doctrine of the godhead and deity of Jesus Christ (Col 2:9), who wins this round? Majority rules! Correct?

 

For those who are convinced that both God and God’s word are relevant to absolute truth, only one of two scenarios is feasible:

 

A. After the original writings, God then proceeded to preserve His word(s) in and through the various languages. After all, God was the author of diversity of language (Gen 11:5-9) and can speak more than one language (Acts 2:1-11).

 

Genesis 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 

  • confound the language

  • of all the earth

 

Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

 

  • were confounded

  • every man heard them speak in his own language

 

From Babel to Pentecost, we've gone full circle!

 

Obviously, every man hearing them speak in their own language meant there were equivalent words used in each language that equated to being God's word. Make sense?

 

B. God’s providence stepped away after inspiring men to write and since then His word has been totally entrusted into the hands of men to translate into the various languages. Of course, being in the care of man guarantees nothing can be absolute!

 

Did God instigate diversity of languages only then to require man to learn Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to understand what He said?

 

Confusion is a definite mark on professing Christendom evidenced by the countless number of mainstream and subdivisions of denominations, fringe Christian groups and cults. Denominations are all built around a concept argued to be based on God’s word. Denominationalism and unfamiliarity with the scriptures are the greatest hindrances to sound biblical truth. Unfamiliarity with the scripture, coupled with a constant indoctrination from within any denomination, stamps a mold upon one’s mind that’s hard to be broken. Try remaining in the ministry or joining a church that you’re not in agreement with its ascribed doctrine?

 

Between the growing number of English bible translations and the constant correction of the scriptures from behind our pulpits and from within our bible institutions, commentaries and Christian literature, it can’t help but be brought to mind the words from that old serpent… “Yea, hath God said…?” (Genesis 3:1).

 

Site Objectives

​

Before presenting the two-fold objectives of this website and Theme Study, let it be clear what the objectives aren’t.

​

What Objectives Aren't About:

 

  1. Textual criticism – the science of studying ancient manuscripts to determine the authentic text of the Bible

  2. Translation – how word meanings were translated from the Hebrew and Greek to English

  3. Apparent contradictions – the KJB is accused of many contradictions

 

From textual criticism to apparent contradictions, there are many excellent works written and resources to be found on the internet and in books that present all sides to the King James Bible debate regarding if it is inspired or preserved, the best English translation or simply a translation.

 

Two-fold Objective:

 

1. Proving the Doctrine of Justification

 

The primary objective of this website and Theme Study is to prove the unique presentation of the doctrine of justification as qualified in a KJB (King James Bible).

 

This is accomplished under the Theme Study, presenting the book of Romans, in a contrasting format with emphasis on Paul’s gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.

 

The pivotal text within the Theme Study is Romans 3:30, in which proper definition and distinction, between ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’, is proved and illustrated throughout the scriptures.

 

2. Providing Evidence of Contradicting Teachings Between Bible Translations

 

A secondary objective, to this study, is to provide indisputable evidence that all translations do not teach same doctrine! This then calls into question that just any bible dare be held up and declared to be called the word of God or even referenced to as being scripture? This secondary objective can, in many ways, be equated to the primary objective!

 

The New International Version (NIV), will be the main book, held in contrast and in contradiction to the KJB, in this teaching on justification. Other versions will also be contrasted to demonstrate same contradictions, thus proving serious flaws in all newer translations.

 

Bible-sense: If different bible translations teach contrary to each other, wouldn’t it be obvious that one is true and the other false?

 

There is a saying... "A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."

 

What about a room full of clocks that chime at different times? Perhaps a worst scenario is the man with one clock that reflects the wrong time all the time and doesn’t know it!

 

Prerequisite to Learning

 

One prerequisite in gleaning from this study is simple, DON'T CHANGE A WORD in the KJB! The Hebrew, Greek, concordances and earlier dictionaries 'may' be helpful at times, but the greatest commentary of the bible, is the bible itself! A KJB will define itself when cross referencing word with word and verse with verse within the context found.

 

It isn’t as important what is said about a passage as it is what the text says about itself. The Theme Study is designed in such fashion that bullet lines of text are the real teacher! It is encouraged that the reader pays more attention to what’s called out of a particular verse or passage, than what is said about the verse or text. Yes, teaching is required and exhorted by the scripture, but it is the responsibility of the student of God’s word to be a Berean (Acts 17:10-11). The bible is proved by what it says about itself and not what is said about the bible.

 

Put your denominational predigest aside and enjoy...

R all versions woG?
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