Posted by
The Chiefest of Sinners on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:38:45 PM
Translations
Concerning various translations of the Bible, I once again find myself explaining or defending the King James Version of the Bible.
In July of 1604, James wrote to Bishop Bancroft that he had "appointed certain learned men, to the number of four and fifty, for the translating of the Bible." These men were the best biblical scholars and linguists of their day. In the preface to their completed work it is further stated that "there were many chosen, that were greater in other men's eyes than in their own, and that sought the truth rather than their own praise.
Much has been said about the differences noted when comparing the KJV with other versions of the Bible, and, within myself, I have no doubt that this is the true. It is entirely possible for God to work through the Spirit, saving souls who have no Word to read or have a perversion of the Word to read, but it is really insufficient to say that I trust in the KJV and none of the newer translations without giving those who are sincere in their questioning, a more precise answer.
My basic reasoning in trusting the KJV is that it is the “old path” (Jer 6:16). Paul warned us of “grievous wolves… not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). There really are those out there in the world that would deceive those who will listen. We have been told that the time would come when “… they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim 4:3,4). The dictionary defines a “fable” as a “fictitious narrative or statement; a falsehood, or lie”. The preceding verse tells warns us of a people who do not have a “love of the truth” (2 Thess 2:10); those who will not endure sound doctrine. We live in an age where people are accustomed to ease; no one wants to work or strive for anything because most things come easy. How many have heard (concerning the KJV) that it is too hard to understand? If such people have to work to understand the Word, they seek a Word that is easier to understand.
I had an uncle who could not read, yet after he was saved he could pick up the Bible (KJV no doubt!), read it and understand what he read. By all accounts, he truly was a changed man. The newer translations, NIV, NKJV, and others, boast themselves to be “easier reading”, mainly because, as time goes on, the English language has changed. Not many these days speak using such words as “thee” and “thou”; at least that is the argument. Can we really not understand “thee” and “thou”? In seeking an easier understanding of the Word, what we really are doing is catering to the flesh, for the flesh seeks ease and disdains work or effort.
God has told us in his Word the key to understanding his Word. “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (Job 32:8; James 1:5). And finally, you have to know the author to understand the words. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little…yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” (Is 28:9-13). What we read here indicates that to be truly able to dig deep into the word and receive knowledge and understanding, one must first be “weaned from the milk” and be willing to hear; otherwise attempting to understand this word in the flesh, outside of God’s will, breeds misunderstanding.
If one has ever watched a mason laying a rock wall, he looks over the pile of material, and selects the piece that fits as he builds the wall, usually doing very little in the way of altering the rock to make it fit. That is the way of the Word of God. It is sometimes a puzzle, but all the pieces fit if you (by Divine guidance) know where to place them, and they never need be altered to make them fit. That is what is meant by this verse, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15). The word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (1 Cor 12:8) are spiritual gifts that we can possess by God’s grace, by drawing nigh to Him, and desiring to hear His still, small voice.
Finally, I would like to call to your remembrance the appearance of Jesus to his disciples in Jerusalem reminding them “…that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45).