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D2 PHASE 4 143 D2 Phase 4 — Part 3 How to Study the Bible Which Version? Introduction ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 2 John 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Today there are as many deceivers who do not admit the inspiration of the word of God in the Bible, as who do not admit the incarnation of the word of God in Jesus. Yet the incarnation of a divine Christ is inextricably tied to the inspiration of inerrant scriptures. 1 John 4:3, 1 Tim 3:16, 1 John 2:18, 1 Tim 4:1 ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ The spirit of the adversary is to deny the Bible was historical and say it is only mythical, or else to say it was only a human production and does not preserve the divine mind of God without error for us today. His goal, since the beginning, is to establish doubt and skeptical uncertainty (Gen 3:1). This is why the apostle Paul urges us, 2 Tim 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

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D2 Phase 4 — Part 3 How to Study the Bible Which Version?

Introduction ______________________________________________________________________________

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2 John 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ

is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Today there are as many deceivers who do not admit the inspiration of the word of God in the

Bible, as who do not admit the incarnation of the word of God in Jesus. Yet the incarnation of a

divine Christ is inextricably tied to the inspiration of inerrant scriptures. 1 John 4:3, 1 Tim 3:16,

1 John 2:18, 1 Tim 4:1

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The spirit of the adversary is to deny the Bible was historical and say it is only mythical, or else

to say it was only a human production and does not preserve the divine mind of God without

error for us today. His goal, since the beginning, is to establish doubt and skeptical uncertainty

(Gen 3:1). This is why the apostle Paul urges us,

2 Tim 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love

which is in Christ Jesus.

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The form of sounds words – the certainty of the words of truth that have come to us – is designed

by the Spirit of God as he was watching over God’s word in history. So the key to this section is

to see the hand of God in history, as interpreted by the sound truth of God in the Bible. And it is

also in holding to the same view of God and his word as you had when you first got saved.

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D2 Phase 4 — Part 3 How to Study the Bible Which Version?

I. The Bible’s basis for this study

A. The attack of Satan is through the Word of God, using a kernel of truth as the base, then

twisting it for his purposes.

1. The law of first mention – First attack of Satan – Gen 3:1-6, Matt 4:6 cf Psa 91:11-12

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2. Satan is the greatest counterfeiter in the Bible and in history 2 Cor 11:4-15; Gal 1:6-9

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3. The only threat to the Devil is the authority of God’s word – Job 40:15-19; Heb 4:12;

Eph 6:10-18

4. The questions we will answer here:

a. Do you have the words of God?

b. If so, how did you get them?

c. If not, where are they found?

d. How can I get them now?

B. The Bible doctrine of preservation

1. _____________________________– God using men to speak His word by the Spirit

2. _____________________________– God using scribes to catch those words and

commit them to writing

3. _____________________________– God using bilingual believers to bring his word

from one language to another

4. _____________________________– God using the saints to protect His scripture in

existing documents

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God’s promise is to preserve his word, Psa 12:6-7 (this passage is corrupted in most

modern translations); Mark 13:31

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5. Conclusion – Scripture was still available in Paul’s day even though they were NOT

the “original manuscripts”, 2 Tim 3:15-17

C. The internal biblical evidence for Biblical authority

1. God’s words are more sure than the audible voice of God – 2 Pet 1:16-21

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2. God’s word is exalted above his own name – Neh 9:5; Acts 4:12; Phil 2:9-11; Psa

138:2

3. The Holy Spirit substitutes scripture for God / gives the Bible the attributes of God

Rom 9:17 / Exo 9:16, Gal 3:8 / Gen 12:3

GOD IS… THE WORD OF GOD… Spirit Reveals Spiritual Truth Infinite Transcends Time and Culture Eternal Has 3 Simultaneous Applications Unchangeable Teaches Absolute Principles GOD’S CHARACTER IS… MIRRORS GOD’S PERSONALITY Wisdom Reflects His Foreknowledge Power Reflects His Works Holiness Reflects His Perfection Justice Reflects His Administration Goodness Reflects His Mercy Truth Reflects His Consistency THE LIVING WORD (CHRIST) IS… THE WRITTEN WORD (BIBLE) IS… God Unfolded God Enveloped Life Letter Spirit IN the Soul Spirit TO the Soul

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II. The historical basis of this study

A. The authoritative definition of church history is in the Bible

1. Church history begins with the gospels. Luke 6:12-16, in Matt 16:18 and 18:17, Acts

2-28, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians, Acts 28, Rev 2-3

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7 Stages of Church History As 1 Dispensation of Human History Ephesus, 2:1 Smyrna, 2:8 Pergamos, 2:12 Thyatira, 3:1 Sardis, 3:7 Philadelphia, 3:14 Laodicea, 3:22

Apostolic Persecuted Compromised Pagan Reformation Missionary Modern

AD 30 Purposed 200 Suffering 325 Married 500 Afflicted 1500 Bloody 1750 Loving 1881 Rights 20xx

2. The only issue of history is God vs the Devil

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3. Bible preservation is a geographical and historical issue

THE GENEALOGICAL METHOD TWO NT GREEK TEXTS

THE TRADITIONAL RECEIVED TEXT THE MODERN ECLECTIC TEXT City: Antioch in Syria City: Alexandria in Egypt

Eastern Traditional

From Lucian

Western “Neutral”

From Hesychius & Origen A Majority of Texts A Minority of Texts

95+% of all existing MSS <5% of all existing MSS Located in the Byzantine Church Lost by the Western Church Written by Great Apostles Revised by Gnostic Apostates Unintentional Scribal Errors Intentional Heretical Corruptions Printed in the Reformation Presented in the 1880s Traditional or Received Text (Textus Receptus)

Modern Critical or Eclectic Text

Based on Believers Assumptions Based on Unbelieving Approach The Providentially Preserved Text A Lately Discovered Text

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B. After the book of Acts, two cities emerge as key centers of spiritual activity – Antioch

(the model of a missionary church, where believers were first called Christians), and

Alexandria in Egypt, hotbed of heresy. Acts 6:9; 18:24-28

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TWO LINES OF BIBLES REFORMED REVISED Masoretic Hebrew OT Text OT corrected by Greek LXX God-Preserved Apostolic Texts Man-Made Altered Texts Erasmus-Staphanus-Beza-Elzevir Westcott & Hort / Nestle & Aland /

Metzger & United Bible Societies NT Greek Received Text (TR) Modern NT Greek Eclectic Text

OR ESV “Reasoned Eclecticism” OR “Majority Text” c.1982

Handed Down through History Recently Discovered (After 1840s) Apocrypha Treated as Information Apocrypha Treated as Inspired Literal Translation From Essentially Literal to Paraphrased Settled and Certain Readings Uncertain & Changing Readings

KJV NIV, ESV, NKJV, etc.

C. Definition of terms

1. ___________________________– A portion of a handwritten document, sometimes

containing an entire book or chapter, or sometimes simply fragments

2. ___________________________ of manuscripts – The scholars and critics divide

them mainly in two (with break-off genealogies tracing back to one of the two):

Alexandria (also called Western, Egyptian, Caesarean, Neutral, Eclectic) or Antioch

(also called Byzantine, Eastern, Received, Majority)

3. ___________________________– Complete Old Testaments or New Testaments

compiled from various manuscripts. Examples – Received Text (or Textus Receptus NT),

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Wescott and Hort Greek Text (NT), Nestle-Aland Greek Text (NT), United Bible

Societies’ Greek Text (NT), Nelson’s Majority (actually Von Soden’s) Greek Text (NT),

Crossway’s “Tyndale House” (actually Tregelle’s) Greek Text (NT), and the Masoretic

Hebrew Text (OT).

4. ___________________________ Greek – The common version of the universal

language of New Testament times

5. ___________________________ Greek – The language of the educated and scholars

in New Testament times

6. ___________________________– A cheap paper-like writing surface used for most

common writing in New Testament times

7. ___________________________– Tanned leather used for “important” documents

and writings of New Testament times

III. The choice of Bible version is important

A. In order to get the deep things of God you need the true word of God

B. But do not use the issue of Bible translations to sow doubt or cause division

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C. At the same time, in the King James Bible we have the key words and key phrases, as

well as cross-references, which allow us to deeply study scripture.

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D. Most evangelical (born again) scholars accept the assumptions behind the Modern

Greek and Hebrew texts (and their contemporary English translations), in just the same way

some evangelical scholars accept the assumptions behind the theory of evolution as a

scientific fact.

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E. This does not mean they are not saved or do not have some insight.

F. However, the superiority of the King James over modern alternatives is shown below.

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IV. The evidence: God’s hand in history

God’s hand in history is seen as he operates through the priesthood of believers.

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A. The first complete Bible in English was by John Wycliffe (1382)

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B. There were six major printed “revisions” of Wycliffe’s version, the seventh being the

King James Bible in 1611 (see Psalm 12:6-7 – this passage is corrupted in most modern

translations)

1. English Bibles after Wycliffe

• 1526 Tyndale (NT plus much of the OT)

• 1535 Coverdale – first complete printed English translation

• 1537 Matthew’s – finished missing parts of Tyndale after his martyrdom

• 1539 Cranmer’s, or the Great Bible – first authorized edition of the Bible

• 1560 Geneva – first to be completely translated from Hebrew and Greek, and to

have verse divisions in the chapters

• 1568 Bishops’ – the 1602 edition was the basic starting point for the King James

translators

2. The last Bible in this line was the King James Bible published in 1611

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3. After this the process stopped

C. For 270 years (1611-1881) the King James Bible was the only commonly available

Bible in English we had.

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V. The alternatives: today’s modern versions

Almost all modern versions today start translating from a Greek text that never existed until they

published it – they are all man-made, not God-preserved.

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A. The tradeoff is between readability and accuracy 1 Cor 2:14-16

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B. There are two competing theories of translating: literal and dynamic

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C. There are two competing texts: received and man-made

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1. Traditional – Received text /translations

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2. Modern – Man-made text / translations

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D. Because God providentially operated through the priesthood of believers, we state with

confidence that the KJV faithfully preserves the very words of God in our language

1. The idea of biblical authority comes from how God teaches us to view his word,

Prov 22:20-21 (this passage is corrupted in most modern translations)

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2. Just like we trust this process of preservation with regard to the canon of the Bible

(which books are actually recognized as scripture, and which books are not), so we

likewise are consistent and intellectually honest, and trust it with regard to the text of

those books

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3. Those who were closer to the original writings and authors were directed by the Holy

Spirit in history, both in canon and in text

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VI. The process of inspiration and inscripturation

A. God gave inspired scripture through human instrumentation, so that it was spoken and

communicated without error, Job 32:8; Jer 1:9; 2 Sam 23:2; 2 Pet 1:20-21

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B. Once inspired revelation was spoken, it was sometimes committed to writing. This

process of making God’s verbal words visual resulted in what the Bible calls “scripture.”

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VII. The process of preservation

A. The original manuscripts no longer exist, but what was spoken (inspiration) was written

(inscripturation). It was then copied (transmission) and distributed. Those copies by

priestly scribes (in the case of the OT) and believer-priests (in the case of the NT) were

accurate in spite of human involvement (preservation, see Jer. 36:16-28), resulting in the

opportunity for us to have in our language (translation) God’s very words (revelation)!

Matt 5:18; John 10:35b; Prov 22:20-21; 30:5-6

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B. Grab a concordance and do a word study of the term “scripture.”

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C. Because the Bible is God’s word (and therefore supernaturally mediates his own

authority to our minds), truth is not held hostage to the “originals” (original author’s intent,

original hearer’s understanding, and original manuscripts).

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VIII. The Dead Sea Scrolls

A. Discovered since 1947, these ancient manuscripts (over 220) represent every OT book

except Esther. The most significant find was a nearly complete copy of Isaiah. The previous

earliest manuscript of Isaiah in existence dated to AD 1,000. This scroll has been dated to at

least 150 – 100 BC. So a great gap was bridged with this discovery.

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B. While unbelieving scholars used to believe scribes must have taken great liberties with

the text, and the production of the Bible was an evolutionary process, these seventeen sheets

of parchment (about twenty-four feet long) proved that except for spelling variations, which

did not alter pronunciation, and a few added words that do not alter meaning, the text had not

changed in over 1,100 years of copying, recopying and transmission.

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C. God’s words were supernaturally transferred from his heart into the mouths of the

prophets, onto the pages of scripture, over the centuries of time, into the hands of believers,

who are now responsible to receive them and believe them as being the authoritative,

absolute standard of truth, Psalm 119:15-16; Ezek 3:1-4; I Thess 2:13.

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IX. What about other language translations?

A. English is a universal language, 1 Tim 2:4; 1 Thes 2:13; 2 Tim 3:7; 2 Cor 4:2;2:17

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B. Isn’t something “lost in translation”? 1 Kings 19:18 cf. Rom 11:2-4; Acts 26:14-18;

Rom 9:25-29 cf. Hosea 2:23; 1:10; Isaiah 10:22-23; 1:9; 13:19

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C. Haven’t there been hundreds of changes in the text? Psalm 119:131, 116, 161, 139

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X. Comparison and survey of English versions – See Addendum 2

Key verses to commit to memory:

Prov 22:20-21; Psalm 12:6-7, 119:161, Mark 13:31, John 17:17

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ADDENDUM 1A What the word of God says about the words of God

Ps. 12 6-7 The WORDS of the Lord are pure WORDS: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. Prov. 30:5-6 Every WORD of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his WORDS, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Rev. 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the WORDS of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the WORDS of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD of God. Prov. 8:8-9 All the WORDS of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing forward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Deut. 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the WORD which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the WORDS of his mouth more than my necessary food. Ps. 138:2 I will worship toward the holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy WORD above all thy name. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy WORD is truth. I Thes. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the WORD of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the WORD of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Heb. 4:12 For the WORD of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. II Cor. 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the WORD of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. Is. 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the WORD of our God shall stand forever.

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I Tim. 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the WORDS of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. Prov. 13:13 Whoso despiseth the WORD shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. I Pet. 1:23-25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the WORD of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the WORD which by the gospel is preached unto you. Is. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this WORD, it is because there is no light in them. John 12:47-48 And if any man hear my WORDS, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my WORDS, hath one that judgeth him: the WORD that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. I Pet. 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the ORACLES of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. I Tim. 6:3-5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome WORDS, even the WORDS of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of WORDS, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw they self. Mark 7:8-9,13 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition…making the WORD of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my WORDS shall not pass away. John 8:44 He that is of God heareth God’s WORDS: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Ps. 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy WORD. Ps. 119:11 Thy WORD have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Ps. 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy WORD is settled in heaven. Ps. 119:103 How sweet are thy WORDS unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Ps. 119:105 Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path Ps. 119:130 The entrance of thy WORDS giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Ps. 119:160 Thy WORD is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

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ADDENDUM 1B Major Problems with Modern Versions (NIV, ESV, etc.)

Not every modern version has every major problem, but most do!

1. Virgin birth – Luke 2:33 in the KJV says “Joseph and his mother…” New versions say, “his father and mother…” teaching that Joseph was the father of Jesus Christ.

2. Salvation – Paul’s conversion is fixed in Acts 9:6 when he says, “Lord, what wilt thou

have me to do?” New versions remove this question, clouding Paul’s salvation.

3. Salvation – The dying thief is saved in Luke 23:42 when he says, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” New versions remove “Lord” clouding his conversion. Romans 10:9 makes it clear that a confession of the Lord Jesus is essential for salvation.

4. Salvation – The Ethiopian Eunuch is saved in Acts 8:37 when he confesses, “I believe

that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” New versions remove this verse and prevent his salvation.

5. Resurrection – Acts 1:3 in the KJV says Jesus shewed himself alive by “many infallible

proofs.” New versions change or remove the word “infallible” casting doubt upon the absolute historical fact of the resurrection of Christ.

6. Blood atonement – Col. 1:14 in the KJV says we have “redemption through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins.” New versions remove the phrase “through his blood” destroying the blood atonement. They make redemption and forgiveness the same with no bloodshed necessary.

7. Deity of Christ – I Timothy 3:15 in the KJV says “God was manifest in the flesh.” New

versions say “he was manifest in the flesh” “He” could be anyone. They destroy the greatest statement in the Bible on the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

8. Deity of Christ and blood atonement - Acts 20:28 in the KJV says the Holy Spirit has

made us overseers to: “feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.” As it stands in the KJV, “He” purchased with “his” blood refers to God purchasing the church with his own blood. New versions do several things to this verse: (1) remove the comma after “God” making the sentence say the Holy Spirit purchased the church with his blood. (The Holy Spirit has no blood! God does in the person of Jesus Christ.) (2) Change “God” to “the Lord” to cover up the shedding of God’s blood. (3) Finish the verse such as “which he purchased through the death of his Son” again eliminating the atonement of God’s blood.

9. Deity of Christ – John 1:18 in the KJV says the only begotten Son has declared God.

New versions say “the only begotten God has declared God, in other words: 2 Gods! They teach there is a begotten God, or a “lesser god” which is Jesus Christ.

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10. Deity of Christ – Matthew 5:22 in the KJV says a man is in danger of the judgment if he is angry with his brother “without a cause.” New versions remove “without a cause” making anyone who is angry for any reason a sinner. This would include Jesus Christ; he was angry in Mark 3:5. It would also include God the Father; he was angry in Psalm 7:11. But in both places, there was just cause.

11. Repentance – Matt. 9:13 in the KJV says Jesus came to call sinners “to repentance” new

versions remove the repentance making it possible to get saved without turning from your past life of sin. Luke 13:3 says if you don’t repent, you will perish.

12. Misquotes of OT references – Mark 1:2 in the KJV says, “As it is written in the prophets”

(plural) then quotes Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. New versions say “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet” then quote Malachi! The reference is covered up because a careful comparison of Mark 1:2 and Malachi 3:1 shows that Jesus Christ and Jehovah God are the same.

13. A-millennialism taught – John 18:36 in the KJV says that Jesus Christ’s kingdom is

“NOW” not from hence. This implies his kingdom will be literal later, just not now. New versions remove “now” making it possible to teach that he will never set up his kingdom despite hundreds of Old Testament prophecies that say he will.

14. Post-millennialism taught – In John 9:35, someone is asked to believe on the Son of God

for salvation. New versions say “Son of Man.” The two titles are different. No one is ever told to believe on the Son of Man for salvation. Son of Man is the title reserved for Jesus Christ in his earthly physical relationship to Israel. Son of God is his title for his relationship with his spiritual kingdom, the church. Confusing the two offices teaches that the church will have to go through the tribulation, since the Son of Man does not appear until after the tribulation.

15. Cover up of harlot’s identity – Acts 12:4 in the KJV says Herod intended after Easter to

kill Peter. New versions change Easter to “Passover” Herod was a Roman king; he would not keep the Passover. He kept Easter because it was originally a pagan Babylonian holiday. Using the word “Passover” destroys the connection between Babylon and Rome.

16. Pentecostal teaching – Matt. 3:1 in the KJV says “…he shall baptize you with the Holy

Ghost, and with fire.” New versions remove the comma after Holy Ghost, connecting the baptism of the Holy Ghost and the baptism of fire and making them the same. There is no “baptism of fire” in Acts 1:5. The cloven tongues in Acts 2 are like fire, not fire. The “baptism of fire” in the word is used as an expression, and it is always a negative thing. The baptism of the Holy Ghost occurs at salvation. The baptism of fire is going to hell and being immersed in fire. It is not something you want to have happen to you.

17. Satanic confessions – I Cor. 12:3 in the KJV gives the Holy Spirit-led confession of faith

that Jesus Christ is “The Lord”; as opposed to all other lords. New versions remove “the” making it read “Jesus is Lord.” That confession is reserved for Satan and his followers at the final judgment in Phil. 2:10-11.

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18. Imitators – I Cor. 11:1 in the KJV says we are to be followers of Paul and Jesus Christ. New versions tell us to be imitators. A follower is someone who does what you tell them to do. An imitation is a counterfeit. The greatest imitator of Jesus Christ in existence is the devil.

19. Missing verses – Mark 9:44-46 is missing from new translations. Since the subject is hell,

one wonders why the verses are missing.

20. Mark 15:28 is missing from new versions.

21. Mark 7:16 is missing from new versions. (Note…when a verse is missing, the new version still uses the KJV numbering system! If they really believed their version was better, they would use their own system of verse and chapter numbering!)

22. Universal salvation – Rev. 21:24 in the KJV says the nations “of them which are saved”

shall enter New Jerusalem. New versions omit “of them which are saved” thus teaching that all nations are to enter New Jerusalem. One version even says “the pagan nations shall enter.”

23. Universal damnation – I Tim. 6:16 in the KJV reads (speaking of God) that no man

“hath seen” (past tense), “nor can see” (present tense). New versions say no one will ever see him. If that is true, no one can go to heaven, because there, they will “see his face” according to Rev. 22:4

24. Ascension – Luke 24:51 in the KJV says Jesus was “carried up into heaven.” New

versions omit this phrase thus destroying His ascension into heaven.

25. Deity of Christ – worship – Luke 24:52 in the KJV says the apostles worshipped Jesus as He went up. New versions remove the worship.

26. Bible revisers – Rom. 1:25 in the KJV condemns someone for “changing the truth of God

into a lie.” Since new versions do this, they have to cover their tracks by rewording the verse. They read “exchange the truth about God for a lie” or something similar.

27. Worldliness – I Tim. 6:10 in the KJV says the love of money is “the root of all evil”

(absolutely uncategorical). New versions say the love of money is a root (not the only one) of all kinds of evil (not all evil). This leaves the door open for someone to love money and justify it since their love of money is not behind their evil.

28. Attacks on the word – Luke 4:4 in the KJV reads “man shall not live by bread alone, but

by every word of God.” New versions simply tell you not to live by bread alone, but they don’t tell you what to live by – “every word of God.” They delete the phrase.

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D2 Phase 4 – Part 3 Bible Versions

Self-evaluation What should I have learned from this section?

1. What is the central issue of this study? ______________________________________________________________________________

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2. Explain the doctrine of preservation. Compare it to inspiration.

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3. Very briefly – list the major people, groups, and cities in each line in historical sequence. Exact dates are not important.

God’s Line:

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“The Devil’s” Line:

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4. List Bible versions in each of the two lines.

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5. Give a very brief description of the Holy Spirit’s role in Bible translations. ______________________________________________________________________________

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6. Who was John Wycliffe, and what was his contribution? ______________________________________________________________________________

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7. Have you ever encountered an argument against biblical authority in the King James Bible other than the ones listed? If so, how did you answer it? ______________________________________________________________________________

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Key verses to commit to memory: Prov 22:20-21; Psalm 12:6-7, 119:161, Mark 13:31, John 17:17