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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | put 1Jn 5:7 BACK where it belongs! | 1 John 5:7 | Morant61 | 98769 | ||
Greetings Aixen7z4! Thanks for the response my friend! You mention two very important aspects of how we get our Bible - transmission and translation. 1) Transmission: While we do not have the orginal autographs, we do have thousands and thousands of manuscripts from which the textual experts are able to make textual decisions. Their task in not easy. They have to decide upon minute details such as spelling and word order. However, the good news is this: the manuscripts agree the vast majority of the time. As you mentioned, there are times when a copyist might intentially or unintentially add something or leave something out. But, it is fairly easy to tell when this happened. If one has 400 manuscripts which all say one thing and 1 which adds or deletes something, it becomes fairly obvious that a change was made (for the most part). The end result is that we can be almost absolutely certain that what we have is what the authors originally wrote. Further, even when we aren't certain - no doctrine is effected. I thank God for the valuable ministry that these men and women perform by dedicating themselves to put out the most accurate text possible. 2) Translation: Translation is not an easy task. There are so many variables to consider. Translations can be accuarate or misleading. Which is why we need to do two things. First of all, we need to consult a variety of translation. Secondly, we need to rely on the original text for our ultimate decisions, not a translation. Unfortunately, the later is not possible for most Christians. So, we will have to rely on good translation and good scholars to help us understand what the orginal said. In closing, while I agree with most of what you said, I would have to disagree with your final statement. While not everyone is called to this task, I do believe that God does call some to make sure that the text we have is literally perfect. They perform a valuable ministry, a ministry which impacts every Christian's life and walk. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | put 1Jn 5:7 BACK where it belongs! | 1 John 5:7 | Aixen7z4 | 98796 | ||
I am glad you said that, Brother Tim, because it gives us a chance again to look at the most important point. I did not mean to say that the text need not be literally perfect. I do not know if it can be. I am not even sure what "it" is, since we have several translations, and there are variations among the oldest copies. I think the originals were perfect and the copies and translations are not. Nevertheless, I think they have remained faithful and that together they hold and transmit the word of God. My statement was meant to communicate a thought on how we should spend our time, not on whether or not the available texts are perfect. I was suggesting that we need not spend so much of our time on finding the perfect translation or on ensuring that one that is nearly perfect be made completely so. I was suggesting that we spend a greater portion of our time on obeying the word and giving out the Gospel. Now, aren't you glad that I who, am the author of that statement, am here to tell you what I meant? And so it is with the word of God, I think. It is the Holy Spirit who lives in us who tells us what he meant, the mind of God, so to speak. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. The best way I know to understand the word of God is to let him speak and for me to listen. (Try it by clicking on http://www.hishows.bizland.com/meditation.html). And I have learned, when I give out the word of God, that it speaks to people beyond my ability to explain it. It is alive and powerful. It is the power of God, etc. Isn’t it good to remember that the Holy Spirit knows the heart of the man we are talking to and can use the word in our mouth to reach them? But he also shows us how to apply it to our own lives. And is that not what the word is for? If we can live by it and preach the Gospel part of it, I think the whole purpose is fulfilled. The purpose of the revelation is obedience (Deuteronomy 29:29). I read the word of God is with a minimum of human commentary. But I do use cross-referencing quite extensively. I am so glad for the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and other such tools that allow us to compare Scripture with Scripture. (Get it free at http://www.e-sword.net). In that way, when I am reading 1 John 5, even in a version where is no verse 7, I may read about the agreement among the Father, Son and Spirit, from some other passage. So it does not matter to me if someone added it there. |
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3 | put 1Jn 5:7 BACK where it belongs! | 1 John 5:7 | justanotherchristian | 99098 | ||
You fellows and ladies are all missing the point. The same "authority" may come along next week and delete another scripture text - one that you care about. Both The Amplified and the new Spanish translation by Lockman have 1 John 5:7 in the text (even if qualified by a note) - that is a far cry from REMOVING it from the text and explaining why it should not be there at the bottom of the page. Did Lockman get it right with the AMP, or with the NASB? ....and if, they found "superior evidence" AFTER the AMP, then why did they put 1 John 5:7 BACK into the main text in their new Spanish version? justanotherchristian www.apostasynow.com |
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