Bible Question:
Dear The Lockman Foundation. I wonder if you can answer a question for me. A member at my local church said that one of your translations of the Bible contatined the text " If you hate the Antichrist you will go to hell" or something along those lines I told this person this was nonsense and that there is no such verse in the Bible. I am I correct - There is no such verse in the Bible? Many Thanks Rob |
Bible Answer: Dear Rob, Welcome to the forum! Our sister Azure is correct, the onus of responsibility is on the person making the statement to cite the reference, and so you should encourage him to provide it for you. The word antichrist (from the Greek antichristos) only appears four times in the Scriptures. The KJV, NASB, and ESV all translate this word as antichrist. (Note, further, that none of them capitalize the word, reflecting the translators' opinion that it is not a proper noun.) Since there are only four occurrences of the word, you can check them yourself very quickly. Here is what you would do: 1. You see the "Bible Text" box to the right of the screen? Enter the word antichrist in the "Search word(s)" text box. 2. Click the Search button. 3. Write down the four references. 4. Look up a reference in your own Bible. 5. Read the verse, and its context. 6. Jot down the main ideas that the Scripture is saying about antichrist from each passage. You are now in possession of all that the Bible says explicitly about antichrist. Furthermore, you are equipped to know whether your fellow member was correct or in error. Part of the problem we face nowadays, is that prophecy mongers have more junk out there than can be warranted from Scripture. I am over simplifying, but it still amazes me that the Scripture contains the word holy over 600 times, sin over 400 times, covenant over 300 times, judgment is over 2o0 times, God's wrath is mentioned over 100 times, etc. -- yet how often do you see books and movies about holiness, sin, God's covenant, or impending judgment? Yet from 4 verses the prophecy mongers have made millions from those with itching ears. In Him, Doc |