Tag Archives: Issue IT8

In Touch Questions and Answers

Which translation of the Bible is the most accurate?

Question:
How do we as non-Greek (or Hebrew) literate Christians know which translation of the Bible is the most accurate? There are so many to choose from.

Answer:
Let me give an illustration to begin with from 1 Corinthians 13:8-11: “Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away…. When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away…. When I became a man, I put away childish things” (King James Version—KJV).

In this passage we find four words or phrases—fail, vanish away, done away, and put away—which are all translations from the same Greek word, katargeo. It appears that one of the underlying principles of the KJV was the frequent use of English synonyms when encountering the same Greek word several times in a given passage. Supposedly this increases readability.
When I was taught how to write in high school English class, the same principle was promoted—try not to use the same word twice in a sentence. But while this may be good for literary purposes, it is terrible when translating the Greek and Hebrew texts of the Bible. I believe that the proper understanding of the passage quoted above is greatly hindered by the use of four different English words to translate the same Greek word.
Are there any translations that are more faithful to the original Greek in this passage? There are two that I know of that faithfully give the same English phrase (“done away”) all four times in this passage in 1 Corinthians 13—the New Translation of J. N. Darby (JND) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Others, including the New International Version, the New King James Version, Today’s English Version, and the Amplified Bible, follow the KJV tradition in this respect.
In other passages, such as John 21:15-17 where the KJV does not make the distinction between two Greek words—agape and philia—for “love,” the NASB falls down, but the JND faithfully makes the very important distinction. In summary, it is my personal experience that the JND translation, while it may not read as easily as the others, most faithfully and accurately follows the Greek and Hebrew texts.
Finally, I would like to encourage all who read this to obtain and use study Bibles whose words are keyed to concordances, such as Strong’s or Wigram’s which are organized by the Greek and Hebrew words as well as the English ones. Better yet, if you are still in college, try to work in at least introductory courses in classical and New Testament Greek and Old Testament Hebrew. It will be hard work, but most rewarding if you desire to be a serious student of the Bible. If you have no plans for college or are through college, you might consider taking correspondence courses in these subjects.

  Author: Paul L. Canner         Publication: Issue IT8
In Touch Questions and Answers

How do non-Greek/Hebrew Christians know which translation is the most accurate?

Question:
How do we as non-Greek (or Hebrew) literate Christians know which translation of the Bible is the most accurate. There are so many to choose from.

Answer:
There are two methods used in translating the Scriptures: Complete Equivalence and Dynamic Equivalence. Complete Equivalence has been used from the very first and is most accurate. Dynamic Equivalence came in about the middle of this century and is not to be trusted. In Complete Equivalence the effort is made to translate every word into a good flow of English. In Dynamic Equivalence, as I understand it, the effort is to produce the closest equivalent to the original message. What happens here is that many of the words, such as conjunctions, that our God gave us in the Scriptures when He inspired their writing are not translated; they are simply dropped. And sometimes, the meanings of words are changed. Often, too, the emphasis God gave in certain passages is lost as is the coordination/subordination of certain passages.

Now to answer the question. I think that unless we carefully compare translations in our study, we will likely not notice these losses. And these are serious losses. Also, I don’t think we should be seeking “an easier translation” to read. Even though we may sometimes find “easier reading” it will be at the expense of losing some of God’s truth. It isn’t worth it. The study of God’s Word is time-consuming, hard work. But this is well worth the time and hard work, for it has its present great benefits and eternal ones as well.
Having said this, I realize it is still not enough, for years of study are involved in this whole process. I can only further give a partial list of what I believe are the best translations and my own recommendations.
The New International Version, the New English Bible, The Jerusalem Bible and Today’s English Version (Good News For Modern Man) are four twentieth century versions using Dynamic Equivalence. They are not trustworthy but can profitably be used only in selected passages and for comparison.
John Nelson Darby’s New Translation, the King James Translation, The New American Standard Bible and the New King James Translation are four translations using Complete Equivalence. These are trustworthy. We can rely on them. There is no serious loss of God’s truth in them.
All my life I have used the King James and J. N. Darby. I consider JND to be the most faithful and accurate translation available and the best for study. And I use the King James along with it. I would recommend the New King James for those who have a problem with the old. And really try hard, don’t give up, in using JND; for those who persevere will have much benefit.
Finally, remember this above all. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us. (There is not greater learning because of easy translations, as many think.) And we MUST come to the Lord in our reading and studies with subdued hearts and chastened spirits. He will teach those who are spiritually ready to learn.

  Author: Byron E. Crosby Sr         Publication: Issue IT8
In Touch Questions and Answers

What is the house of God today?

Question:
What is the house of God today?

Answer:

THE HOUSE OF GOD
The epistle of First Timothy was written so we know how to behave ourselves in the house of God which is the church of the living God: “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14, 15).
The house of God aspect of the church has to do with having Godly order when God’s people are gathered together. We are told: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). We learn God’s order from His Word, and we encourage you to read the Bible to get to know what pleases God. Do you know how much time it takes to read from Genesis to Revelation? Seventy-one hours, or twelve minutes a day. Will you make a New Year’s resolution to read through the Bible this year? New Year’s resolutions should be like crying babies in meeting–they should be carried out!

The compelling force for carrying out God’s order is a sense of His great love for us and His church. How wonderful it is that Christ “loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20), and it is just as wonderful that “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). So, if I love the Lord, I’m going to have to love the church.

Ekklesia is a Greek word that is translated “church,” and means “a called out company.” Christ has called out the church from the world to be here for Him.

The church’s headquarters is in heaven where Christ is, who is the Head the church (Ephesians 1:22, 23). No human leader should be accepted as the head of the church. When believers are gathered together they represent the church, the body of Christ (Matthew 18:20). Paul told the Corinthian assembly: “Ye are the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). They were only part of the body of Christ, but they represented the church in that city. When we say, “There go the Marines” in a parade, we don’t mean that that is all the Marines there are, but that they represent the Marines. One reason we gather together is because we need each other. If part of our body falls asleep (leg, foot) it doesn’t work right. If we are asleep in the body of Christ, we don’t function as we should, others lose out, and above all the Lord loses out. We also gather together to represent the house of God.
There is NEED FOR DISCIPLINE in the house of God because of: (1) false professors who are known by their fruits (Matthew 7:15, 20), (2) wolves may enter in not sparing the flock (Acts 20:29), (3) false leaders (Acts 20:29,30), and (4) the flesh in every believer (especially pride) can have no part in God’s house (Galatians 5:16-21).
THE OBJECT OF DISCIPLINE is: (1) the glory of God’s name (Psalm 93:5; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 5:8), (2) to clear the assembly (2 Corinthians 7:11), and (3) the restoration of the one who has sinned (1 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 7:6-11).
PREVENTATIVE DISCIPLINE begins with reception by the assembly to the Lord’s table of all believers whom Scripture would not exclude. Regarding “those within” (1 Corinthians 5:12), we should:

(1) By love serve one another (Galatians 5:13)–one may need a phone call.

(2) The same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)–one may be hurting.(3) Consider one another (Hebrews 10:24,25)–be careful what we say and do.(4) Teaching and admonishing one another (Colossians 3:16)–by singing.(5) Kind one to another (Ephesians 4:32)–try to avoid cliques that leave others out. If this kind of discipline is carried out, oftentimes more serious discipline can be avoided.
CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE—(1) warn the unruly (1 Thessalonians 5:14), (2) withdrawal (2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15), (3) public rebuke (1 Timothy 5:20), (4) “Wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14), administered by the spiritual (Galatians 6:1), (5) Go to thy brother alone (Matthew 18:15).
PRESERVATIVE DISCIPLINE—excommunication. Sin, if manifest and unconfessed, must be judged by the assembly (1 Corinthians 5:11). Sin could be moral (1 Corinthians 5), doctrinal (2 John 10, 11), personal trespass (Matthew 18:15-18), or associations (1 Corinthians 15:33). Discipline is not a form of punishment, but in love to bring them back to the Lord and to happy fellowship with the Lord’s people (1 Corinthians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 2:4-8).
The authority for discipline is Christ in the midst of His people (Matthew 18:15-20).
SEVEN DIVINE THINGS in Matthew 18:20.
1. “Where”      The Divine Place2. “Two or three”        The Divine Provision3. “Are gathered”       The Divine Power4. “Together”              The Divine Unity5. “Unto My Name”  The Divine Object6. “There am I”           The Divine Person and Presence7. “In the midst”         The Divine Center

Friday Morning Lecture given by John McNeil at the Year-End-Meetings for the young people on December 31, 1993.

In Touch Questions and Answers

Why are you here on this earth? Who put you here?

Question:

Why are you here on this earth? Who put you here?



Answer:
God made you out of nothing and put you here. What are you going to do with your life? Just as you were born first into this life, Jesus said that you need to be born again. You need to be saved (John 3:3, 16). Like a baby we need to eat and grow. If we feed on the Word we will grow up to be like Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1, 2). This is an important part of God’s plan for us that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).
Romans 12:3-5 shows us that if we are saved, we are part of the body of Christ and we all have a different job to do. “Now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18). We are here to be like Christ, to do our job for the good of the body of Christ. Each person is important. If one part of the body fails it causes the other members to work harder.
Humans have a basic need to be with people and belong to a group. God has His belonging–the body of Christ. We belong to Him and we belong to one another. The Lord commands us to love one another: “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples” (John 13:34, 35). Love is the mark of the Christian. The church is the center and channel for God’s love. When the assembly does things together we get love from one another, and we return it to God in worship and praise.Ephesians 4:1-6 tells what the assembly is and the unity which is very important to God. Satan tries to destroy unity. Ephesians 4:7-16 tells how the Lord equips the assembly with gifts to carry on the ministry of the church. Ephesians 4:17-32 gives practical application of truth seen in Jesus in the working of the body of Christ. We can start by practicing verses 2 & 3. We have to be careful not to offend others. What we do affects the whole body. The Lord is coming soon. This is the hope He gives us, and the incentive to live for Him now.

  Author: R. M. Canner Jr         Publication: Issue IT8
In Touch Questions and Answers

How do you handle a camper who repeatedly makes a profession of being saved?

Question:
How do you handle a camper who repeatedly makes a profession of being saved?

Answer:
This person is either really saved or he is not, but we cannot know which is true because only “The Lord knows them that are His” (2 Timothy 2:19).

If he is not saved, he needs to see his need of a saviour from his sin and trust Christ. Or if he is saved, he possibly may need the assurance of his salvation.
In either case, show him/her the Scriptures that tell that he is a sinner who has “come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), but that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If these are accepted show other scriptures that tell that if we “receive” the Lord as our Saviour by believing on Him, we become “sons of God” (John 1:12), and “have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The blood of Jesus makes us safe, but His Word makes us sure.
One of the first signs of growth as a Christian is when we KNOW we are saved because the Lord tells us in His Word!

 

Have you believed in Christ Jesus and the work He did on the cross of Calvary when He bore God’s wrath against your sins? If so, Jesus says that you “have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

  Author: Andie Helsel         Publication: Issue IT8
In Touch Questions and Answers

Why can’t we un- believe in the Lord?

Question:
Why can’t we un– believe in the Lord?

Answer:
John 10:28-30 tells us that the life that the Lord gives us when we trust ourselves to Him is “eternal.” So we can’t lose it, even if we wanted to. John 1:12 says that God makes us “sons of God” the moment we “believe” on Christ or “receive” Him, and when God does something it can not be changed. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

  Author: Andie Helsel         Publication: Issue IT8