Understanding the Problem

I am often asked, "Bro. Shutt, how do we fix the problems within these modern versions?" To be honest, that is the wrong question (in my opinion, anyway).

I'm reminded of a story I once heard. A college math professor who wrote a mathematical equation on the blackboard. His students immediately began shouting out answers - most of which were wrong. After several minutes, the students could tell that they were getting no closer to finding the correct answer. One of the students said, "Prof, why don't you help us out? You're just sitting over there without really giving us any direction on how to answer the question." The professor simply stood, walked to blackboard, then gave this response: "I gave you all the information you needed to find the correct answer. You can never gain the solution, until you first address the problem."

This the exact same thing that is going on when it comes to the 'equation' of modern versions today. Most of the people who are working on them want to give 'answers' to a problem that they seldom even address, and often challenge within their text. Let me give you an example:

In Mark 1:40-41, we are introduced to a man who has leprosy. This is a man who is dying a slow, and very painful death. The King James Bible gives the account in this manner:

"And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." (emphasis mine)

This is a clear demonstration of the nature of Christ - having compassion upon those who desire and need it. This is also a perfect parallel to salvation: Anyone who desires to be saved can come to Christ, and he (having compassion on them) will save them.

The NIV2011 has recently come out (in honour of the 400 year anniversary of the King James Bible...I haven't quite been able to figure that one out, but that's another issue), and has a quite different view of this passage...

"A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" (emphasis mine)

Now, I have to admit, I was not entirely sure what indignant meant. So I looked it up. It means, "filled with contempt; angry or annoyed." This was quite baffling to me...because compassion and indignation are two very different words. These words are antonyms - they don't share the the same meaning at all, not even remotely could they mean the same.

Folks, would you want to talk to someone who gets angry at people who need help? Not hardly. You see, in an effort to answer the question of "how do we make something brand new?", the NIV2011 translators ignored the equation all together. The question they should have asked themselves is "According to the other places in scripture [specifically where Jesus said "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."], and according to historical evidence before us, which reading is correct?" This question was ignored completely, and sacrificed on the altar of the expedient and new.

There are literally dozens of other examples where the problem is never addressed, but where it is apparent that the modern versions merely wanted an answer of some sort. Whether or not it was correct, biblically and historically, was (apparently) irrelevant.

We must understand the problem when it comes to modern versions. Were all the people involved lost? No, I do not believe so - but that is not the question. The question is: Why would we need an update on something that is right to start with? It could also be asked: Why do we want an update that challenges the very nature of our Saviour? Once the problem is understood...it is then that we may begin to find the answer to it.


God Bless!

What does it mean to be a Bible-believer?

This is a question that I hear (and sometimes receive) with relative frequency. Basically there are two ways to define what it means to be a "Bible-believer."

1.     When it comes to the English Bible debate, the term "Bible-believer" is one who believes that the Authorized King James Bible is the sole authority for anyone who speaks English.

2.     This term is also used when defining someone who believes that the English Bible (the KJB) has not a single error in it, and is thus is the absolute and final authority for all matters of faith, and practice, for the Christian life.

I do not doubt that there are people on the opposite side of the aisle in the English Bible debate who view their Bible as authoritative. But there is a key difference between the AV/KJB-Only Bible-believer and the Non AV/KJB-Only Bible-believer: Inerrancy of the English text. You cannot believe that the English Bible has an error in it, and be a Bible-believer.

Not one of the modern version defenders that I have read believes that a translation of any kind can be perfect, and that it will have errors in it. Now, many of these people are good people, and have simply taken the word of someone else - generally a college professor, preacher, or friend - instead of thinking it out for themselves. If they had, they would see just how ridiculous their position is.

Allow me to explain.....

If a translation cannot be perfect, then you are going to have a serious problem with much of the written text - in any form: original or translation. You see, some of the Bible was written down after the fact, and some of it was translated into a different language when it was first penned, than when it was spoken. For example: Joseph spoke Egyptian when his brothers came to Egypt to purchase grain during the famine. He did not speak to them in Hebrew - yet it was written in Hebrew many years later for the first time. Another example, this time from the New Testament: In the book of John, chapter 21, we have the famous passage of Christ asking Peter "lovest thou me?". In this passage, nearly every preacher will get up and quote the Greek words "agape" and "phileo" in regards to what Jesus was asking Peter. What they apparently forget is that Jesus and Peter did not speak Greek to each other; they more than likely spoke Hebrew. So to say that Jesus' questions were asked in Greek originally is simply not true.

In a nut-shell, a Bible-believer takes the Bible at face value and does not question it. He/she accepts it exactly as it is - the word of God - and acts accordingly. If they don't understand something, they do not question the accuracy of what is written in English, they merely get on their knees and talk to the Author and ask for wisdom concerning what they don't understand. They do not switch to another version of the English Bible; they trust the accuracy of the God-honored and time tested KJB. They do not run to another language that they cannot fully understand to interpret a language that they can understand; they simply keep reading the pure word of God that is before them, and allow for the Author to explain it along the way.

I hope this has helped clear up what it means to be a true Bible-believer.

God Bless!

Welcome!

I want to welcome you to Truth Evangelism's blog! This is something new for me personally, and I hope that it will be a help, encouragement, and a blessing to you the reader.

On this particular blog, I will be covering specific topics and questions that people raise over Christianity in general, but specifically over the English Bible - the Authorized King James Bible. It is my desire to help people to see the arguments given from both sides, and to know and understand the answers to these arguments - from all sides.

It has been said that popularity is much like having a porcupine for a pet; eventually, whether you wish it or not, you are going to get stuck. So this blog may end up being a bit like that...but I certainly hope not! My hope and prayer is that the Lord will use the information given on this blog to be a help to people who read it, and that they will understand the extreme importance to have an absolute biblical authority in the English language - and that authority is the Authorized King James Bible.

God Bless!