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NASB | 1 John 5:7 For there are three that testify: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 5:7 For there are three witnesses: |
Subject: put 1Jn 5:7 BACK where it belongs! |
Bible Note: Brother Tim: It is so good to have your input. And I do agree. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2Pe 1:21). We believe that the original writers wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, every word. But we do not have those original writings. What if the copiers here and there inserted something that they knew were elsewhere clearly stated in the original writings. Are they then adding to the word of God? I was struck to see that the movie JESUS, which is supposed to be based entirely on the record Luke wrote, begins with a quotation of John 3:16. Were they therefore adding something? I think not. Likewise, it seems to me, some copiers felt moved (not to say inspired) to add a word here and there, or to leave out one, in the interest of getting the pure message across. I am not supporting what they did, not am I accusing them. I am saying that is what they did. I say their job is difficult, and they apparently thought they were more than mere mechanical copiers. They seemed to see themselves as a part of the process of transmitting the word of God. The case for the translators seems even clearer to me. For what is translation? Is it not using words in one language to convey the thought expressed in another? Word for word does not do it. Try translating one sentence to another language and back again. Now if the translators claim to be translators and not copiers, they admit they may make mistakes. They may seek to keep in line by keeping in mind not only the passage they are working on but also all of Scripture. I am afraid I fail to see what harm is done if Scripture is added to Scripture. So enough of that from me. I agree with your last statement also, that the more one knows, the better one is equipped to act. The question seems to me how to divide the time between equipping and urging action. Should I wait until I have an entire Bible to give before giving the Gospel of John? Should we wait till we have a perfect church before reaching out to bring others in? Should we focus on achieving a perfect translation of the Bible while so many are waiting to hear the first verse? Even if John did not write what they said he wrote, I still rejoice that others wrote it. And now, it is time to propagate it. The fact that Paul plagiarizes Moses does not bother me, even if he fails to give credit. I thank God there is nothing contrary to the Bible in the Bible. It seems God did not give us any perfect translations; he gave us many translations so we can use them all and give the world the message. He did not give us any complete rendering of the life of Christ; he gave us four, and it seems he wants us to use them all and believe and preach the message. The fact that Luke says something because Matthew said it does not bother me. In fact, it reassures me as I give out the message. The big point seems to me to focus on the big picture, on the message of the entire Bible, rather than to focus on a few words here and there. If I understand the message, then I think I should give it, even if I use a hodgepodge from the various holy writers. The Holy Spirit seems to bring them all together to give one message to the hearer. This I say: The time is short. It remains therefore that we concentrate on giving out what we have received, not on making it literally perfect. |