From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Friday, November 14, 1997 12:04 AM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup Subject: Bible Versions
From: Bruce Barham To: "heb_roots_chr@geocities.com" <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com> Subject: Bible Versions My growing awareness of the Judaic roots of Christianity and continual study has resulted in a scary side effect. I have begun to doubt the correctness of many of the Bible versions I have historically held dear. My personal preference has always been KJV. After reading the book, NEW AGE BIBLE VERSIONS, I stopped utilizing the NIV, NASV, and others which are built upon the work of Wescott and Hort; however, I drew closer to the KJV. Now, the realization that the translators of the KJV probably sufferred from an anti-Judaic bias (as well as possibly pro-Augustinian/Calvinistic) has me wondering when the words I read may be tainted to reflect their bias. Furthermore, the Jewish New Testament and it's accompanying commentary as well as a host of other common books which focus on informing us of the Hebraic Heritage seem to repeatedly point to translational erros even in the KJV. What do we read?!?! I read the Jewish Publication Society's most recent TANAKH, but I am haunted by the fear they bias their translations in the opposite direction (against Yeshua's Messiahship), resulting in a watering down of messianic references. The book, THE MESSIAH CONSPIRACY, supported this particular doubt. I don't mean to sound paranoid, but I just want some opinions as to which versions are the most correct and what we should be aware of with regard to errors as we study. I've asked this of other websites with no reply. First Fruits of Zion has not responed even though I asked twice. I've decided to stick with the KJV and recognize the Living G-d's grace and mercy is active if I ignorantly stumble because of false doctrines obtained from tainted text. I figure He knows I am trying. I have little doubt his boundless love will cover my sins which are due to following poor translations. I'm not manic or losing sleep over this, but I would like to hear from you version-wise brothers and sisters in Yeshua. I am planning to take Hebrew and Greek (Hebrew first), but until I can read and comprehend in these languages I'm shackled to English. In Yeshua, Bruce >From Eddie: ************** Welcome to the real world! There is no perfect Bible translation. While many love to make the King James Bible out to be a perfect translation, in reality it is not. In one quick example, Acts 12:4 reads: "And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him: intending after EASTER (3957) to bring him forth to the people" This is the same Greek word translated as PASSOVER in over 25 passages in the New Testament. In Luke 22:15 it is written: "I have desired to eat this PASSOVER (3957) with you before I suffer" Can you imagine Yeshua/Jesus saying, "I have desired to eat this EASTER with you before I suffer" ??? The original King James Bible was printed in 1611. I heard this week that our present King James Bible's have been retranslated over 10 times. If you had an original King James Bible you could not read and understand it because it is written in OLD ENGLISH. The English language has changed ALOT in the past 350+ years since the 1611 King James Bible was printed. Furthermore, the King James Bible is given an anti-Torah bias in the translation because of the theology that was present when it was translated and this same bias is still preached today in most churches. Beginning in the 4th century, this anti-Torah bias began to gain a strong foothold within Christianity. Some of the viewpoints of Marcion (who was considered a heritic by church leaders in his day for his anti-Torah bias) are still prevalent and taught in many churches today and are accepted as some of the true doctrines found in the Epistles of Paul. In addition, the Jews were kicked out of England during the era of the printing and influence of the King James Bible even as the "Christian church" was still steeped in many Catholic doctrines from the 4th century through the Middle Ages. However the words of II Timothy 2:15 are still true: "STUDY to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" If you are going to be doing any serious word studies of God's Word, you will need a Strong's Concordance and a Greek and Hebrew Lexicon. My favorite study Bible is the "Zodhiates Hebrew/Greek King James Key Study Bible" The key words in each verse in the Bible is coded to the Strong's Concordance. A Hebrew and Greek dictionary is in the back of the book and virtually every phrase within each verse of the Bible is cross-referenced to another verse for easy study. While the King James may be the best translation that we have, as I have shown in my one brief example, it is by no means a perfect translation. God's Word both Old and New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God but it is not always perfectly translated and communicated from the Hebraic culture to the English language and the culture of the 20th century. This is one reason why our "roots" have been hidden from believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messsiah for so many years. But, praise God that by His grace, love and mercy that He is bringing restoration of our "roots" by the outpouring of His Holy Spirit in the hearts of people all over the world. May we continue to STUDY and show ourselves approved unto God !!! ************************************************************************