Jehovah looks at the world and sees all those human beings with their own difficulties. As a loving Father, He looks at what they try to do and how they try to do it. He is also concerned when they encounter difficulties and like a loving father, He too wants to help there where He can.
Our heavenly Father is willing to help those who want to know about Him. He is prepared to sustain them through their trials. He is willing to give His Holy Spirit to strengthen us. That Holy Spirit can protect us from spiritual harm.
“So, if you though being wicked realize how to give good gifts to your own children, how much more will the heavenly Father give holy Pneuma to those asking him!”” (Lu 11:13 mhm)
“So, you, though wicked know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly Father gives good to those asking?” (Mt 7:11 mhm)
We should know that the heavenly Father is so much more than an earthly father. Though we should know that Jehovah shall not avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night. Those who are willing to come to Him as His child He shall receive as His child. He, too, shall do like we have to do and when we do it, putting on a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering.
“I tell you this truth: Anybody who does not accept God’s Realm like a child will never enter into it.”” (Lu 18:17 mhm)
As a real Father Jehovah shall Jehovah protect us also emotionally. For example, He gives us a marvellous hope. And it is that hopefor the future that helps us to endure difficulties.
He also has wonderful blessings in store for us. It warms our heart to know that our Father loves and cares for us!
Consider this: No matter what bad things happen to us, our loving Father will undo any injury we suffer. Whatever trials we are facing, these are only temporary, but the blessings Jehovah gives are everlasting.
“16 As a result we never lose heart and give up–even if our exterior person is wasting away–because the inner person is being renewed day after day. 17 For though our oppression is momentary and trivial, it works out on us – in a manner more and more excelling–an ageless glory of greater significance – 18 so long as we do not fix our attention on the visible things, but rather on the invisible things. For the visible things are temporary, but the invisible things are ageless.” (2Co 4:16-18 mhm)
Jehovah shall never abandon those who are willing to be with Him. We should come to try to be as close with Him as we can. Therefore, we also should get Him to know as best we can.
Jehovah expects children to obey their parents. In the same way, He wants us to accept Him as our heavenly Father. He expects us to obey him.
“Children, continue to obey your parents in relation to the Lord for this is the right thing to do –” (Eph 6:1 mhm)
He deserves our obedience because he is our Creator, the Sustainer of our life, and the wisest of all parents. However, the primary reason why we obey Jehovah is that we love Him.
“For this is the love of The God, that we observe His commandments, and his commandments are not a burden,” (1Jo 5:3 mhm)
To know what He wants and what His commandments are we are best to read the Words He has given to mankind, the Book of books, the Bible. In there we can find all answers to our questions and shall be able to find out how we can please our God most. We have to know that all Scripture is inspired by Jehovah God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Therefore, it is that Bestseller of all times that we should carry with us to read every day. By studying the Word of God we shall be able to be a good child of God, adequate, equipped for every good work.
“16 All Scripture is God-breathed and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for readjusting everything, for disciplining in righteousness. 17 Thus, the man of God may be completely prepared for every good work.” (2Ti 3:16-17 mhm)
Although there are many reasons why we should obey Jehovah, He does not force us to do so. Jehovah gave us the gift of free will, so He is happy when we choose to obey Him out of love for Him.
When Jesus was alive he warned already for a time that false teachers would come along. Soon after he died, was risen and gone up in the skies to his heavenly Father several teachers found something interesting in the rabbi his teaching they could use for their own teachings. They mixed it with Roman Greek ideas and popular traditional thoughts.
Icon depicting the First Council of Nicaea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Throughout the years deceitful individuals managed to lure people into false teachings. Worse was it when a majority of church leaders did agree with Constantine the great to come under its authority. To cease the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire some found it better to agree to those Roman Greek teachings and several gods. By agreeing to make Jeshua into a similar figure as Zeus, making his name into Issou or ‘Hail Zeus’ the worst false teaching entered in Christendom. It was a terrible turning point for Early Christianity, By some referred to as the Triumph of the Church, the Peace of the Church or the Constantinian shift.
But already before that great turning point of the introduction of the false Trinitydoctrine there where also other false teachings brought by many who tried to get people around them. We can find the apostles warning about such people who twisted the words of Jesus and mixed it with popular human philosophy and popular thoughts. Those different teachers because of the more popular ideas and giving in to pagan rites could often gain more popularity than the strict followers of Jesus Christ. Lots of people believed in demons, monsters and stories about horrible beings where much enjoyed. When there were sick people there where preachers, who tried to gain there living by so called driving out such demons, they were asked to come to help and cure. That practice of exorcising went on for a long time and never disappeared. Today we still can find exorcists all over the world.
Paul said to the elders of the congregation in Ephesus:
“From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things.”
And Peter wrote in a letter to several congregations:
“There will also be falseteachers among you.”
This should warn us that false teachers even may come from inside the community or congregation. Already from the early times onwards there where people who did not agree with what was going on or who rebelled against the teachings made in the community. Such a rebellion against true worship and an abandoning of it was called “apostasy” and the agitators and falseteachersapostates.
Today also we can see similar apostates or people trying to infiltrate the believers in One God and followers of His only begotten son, by entering Facebook Groups or other communities wanting
“to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
The disciples Paul is talking about are the disciples of the master teacherJeshua, Jesus Christ who as a Jew believed in the Only OnetrueGod of Israel. Everywhere in the world there are people trying to get those who want to believe in that One God of Israel and in His son to become confused and to come to accept that what seems to be believed by the majority of Christians, but is therefore not the truth. These falseteachers try to take, or steal, disciples from inside the congregation of real followers of Christ. Jesus said that apostates are like wolves that eat the sheep. Apostates want to destroy the faith of the members of the congregation and want them to leave the truth. (Matthew 7:15; 2 Timothy 2:18.)
Lots of men concerning the truth have erred on many aspects, and their ideas which are all false often seem more plausible or attractive, because pagan, and so many other people believe in it, like extra internal beings or spirits, good and bad angels, who are inside man and bring them to do good or bad, or so called immortalsouls that leave the body after death to go into an other body or into an other space, like heaven, purgatory or a hell by which they think it is a place of torture by eternal fire.
The inspired utterance, the Spirit speaks expressly that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1) Still today we can see that several people will drop out of the faith, giving their attention to misleading spirits and the teachings of demons. Being fooled by falseteachers often in a very clever way. Several tricks are used. Apostates for example can “quietly” bring their ideas into the congregation, like criminals who secretly bring things into a country. Apostates use “counterfeit words.” This means that they say things that make their false ideas sound true, like criminals who make false documents look real. Lots of Christians often twist words of the Bible like when there is written “the son of God” they read or say “god the son”. By twisting such sayings in many passages others start believing what they are saying. Or they use such twisted wording saying “look there it says he is god the son” and here he says “I am” so he must be God. They try to get as many people as possible to believe their “deceptive teachings.” Peter also said that they like twisting the Scriptures. They explain Bible verses in the wrong way to make others believe their ideas. (2 Peter 2:1, 3, 13; 3:16) Apostates do not care about us. If we follow them, we will leave the road to everlasting life.
Often they also try to convince you what they are telling, are things you should believe because they are to difficult for a normal human being to understand. They try to convince people around them that the Trinity is beyond human comprehension and therefore we should accepted like it is. Though it might well be that certain things in Scripture are not always so clear and can not be understood straight away, god is a God of order and clarity and did not make His Word so complicated only scholars could or would be able to understand it. However, some things in them are hard to understand, and these things the ignorant* or those people who then are unlearned and unstable, unsteadfast wrest and come to twist, the same as they do the rest of the scriptures, to their own bane, their own destruction. {2 Peter 3:16}
When hearing people saying there is something written in the Bible, dare to ask them to let it see what is written and be alert yourself, daring to say when they say it is about ‘god the son” and there is written in the bible ‘the son of God’ to point out how they wrongly interpret Scriptures.
Romans 16:1:17 Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.+18 For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own appetites,* and by smooth talk and flattering speech they seduce the hearts of unsuspecting ones.
2 John 9-11:9 Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God.+ The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son.+10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes+ or say a greeting to him. 11 For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.
Bombarded by lots of words wanting to have you to believe other things than are written black on white in the Bible you should be fully aware to always compare their sayings with what is written in the Bible. Always remember you must be aware that there are lots of false teachers around but that the simple warning in the bible is:
“Avoid them.”
That means that we have to stay away from them. The warning from the Bible is like a warning from a doctor who tells you to avoid a person who has a disease that may spread to others. The doctor knows that if you get this disease, you will die. His warning is clear, and you will do what he says. The Bible says that apostates are mentally diseased and that they use their teachings to make others think like them. (1 Timothy 6:3, 4) Jehovah is like that good doctor. He clearly tells us to stay away from falseteachers. We must always be determined to follow his warning.
You always should know that God gave us His Word, the Holy Bible, to come to know Him and to come to understand Him and His Plan. Each person god has given the opportunity to learn about Him and to find guidance to come to Him.
When trusting God and allowing the Word of God come to you like it is written, done away from all the human doctrines, you shall be able to find the Biblical doctrines.
Instead of listening to false teachings that go against the truth in God’s Word, trust God and listen to His Word. (Psalm 31:5; John 17:17) As followers of Christ Jesus we should be careful when it comes to those who attack you and your faith. You always should know the bible itself should be your Guide. You always should have your ear to that Word of God and take the words like they are written in the Holy Scriptures. Listen to God’s Spirit Who is warning you that what certain people are teaching doesn’t sound quite right, then search the Scriptures and judge correctly. God gave you His Spirit to lead you into Truth. Don’t ignore His Spirit, but instead allow the Spirit to guide you today, tomorrow and every day of your life. Never let yourself be discouraged or weakened because you seem to stand alone in your understanding of the Scriptures.
What will the church look like in the last days Considering the following Hillsong video, what does it say about the state of the church in these last days, surely this video demonstrates we are witnessing the precursor to the prophesied great falling away
In the previous chapters we have seen that there have been lots of different translations which all have something to offer and of which some may be edited with a special purpose and public in mind.
English: The study translation Bible 2009 Česky: Český studijní překlad Bible 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We always should remember for what sort of public the Bible in our hands is translated. Was its purpose to reach teenage kids and as such has avoided too difficult words, or was it more for adolescents, still using a restricted vocabulary or was it for educated people who can bear some more difficult words?
A study Bible. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We also do have to be careful when we speak about a Bible translation that we do not take the additional notes as being part of the real Bible. Too many people forget that it are human words which are added to give the readers some guidance, but mostly are written from denominational points of view. In this way the so called “Thematic Bibles” and the “Study Bibles” are the most dangerous. They are the easiest sources to have the mind site tracked to human dogma‘s.
Ultimately, we believe the Bible to be inerrant because it comes from God Himself. It is unthinkable to contemplate that God might be capable of error. Therefore, His Word cannot possibly contain errors. This is our faith—we can trust the Bible because we can trust God. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xii). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}
For those who say only the King James Version is the only right and true Bible, they should wonder if God then in the previous and following years was not able to protect His Own Word. Do they not trust God that He could take care that those who wanted to translate His word and spent so many hours, days, months and some even years, to make a worthy translation, would make a reasonable good translation which could bring God His Word to the general public?
We should all remember that
God, who is Himself truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God’s witness to Himself. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xv). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}
and be aware that though those 66 books may have been written down by different people at different times in the previous history, but have always been God’s Truth and not their own thinking.
Holy Scripture, being God’s own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God’s instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God’s command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God’s pledge, in all that it promises. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xv). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}
It is that Divine Authority Who still overlooks the work done for Him. even when there may by so many different translators from different denominations, they all when working with the Word of God trying to bring it in the language of their people, may come under the Guidance of the Most High God.
The Holy Spirit, Scripture’s divine author, both authenticates it to us by His inward witness and opens our minds to understand its meaning. {Sproul, R. C. (2009). Can I Trust the Bible? (Vol. 2, p. xv). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.}
In the previous chapters we have seen how even of the King James version many totally different versions were created and that several people who say “Only the King James version” may be using themselves a totally different version than the AuthorisedKing James Version of 1611 and each been talking about a different Bible translation.
We also could see that the many versions in many languages all may equip the reader to reach deep into God’s Word and if they are really willing to put all human dogma’s aside that the translation they may use still shall be able to to unlock the riches and majesty of God His Word, and ignite a passion to mentor others in their life to do the same.
If it are published bibles for a specific group, we should carefully check if all the bible books are represented with the full texts. We also have seen that the saying of Stanton who concluded that
‘the Bible in its teachings degrades Women from Genesis to Revelation‘
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriot, 1856 Category:United States history images (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
is not correct and that God even allowed women, like herself, to translate His word. The famous 19th Century feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton and a “Revising Committee” found much to admire in the Bible, particularly some of the Old Testament women. While many of her views are still controversial, time and advances in womens’ rights have lessened some of the shock value of her book The Woman’s Bible. Stanton doesn’t go as far as some modern feminist theologians and proclaim ‘God is a woman’, but there are several contributions which discuss the gender of the ‘Elohim’ and the female aspects of the Kabbalah.
For those who want to put women on a higher place or give them a nice attention, there may be several Women’s Bibles to give to that special woman in their life, so that she’ll find inspiration with a Bible made just for her. From women’s study Bibles, to Bibles made just for moms, available in popular translations from NIV, NKJV, to ESV, such Bibles for women will help her on her faith journey. So people may find the wisdom, grace, encouragement and guidance that Women’s Bibles can deliver.
Whatever Bible translation you might like to use always remember what the essence of that Book should be. Always remember that the goal of a Bible study should be . . . to study the Bible. Always be careful not to be sidetracked by so many beautiful pictures or lovely stories which are told next to the real Bible text.
Always remember that Bible study is not a social club, a counselling session, or a place to meet “felt needs.” Fellowship, counselling, and meeting needs are often the choice fruits of a good Bible study as women get to know one another and are shaped by the Word. But these fruits should never overcome the goal of studying the Scriptures together. Also Bible Journaling may be great fun for lots of females. Though we notice that lots of girls and ladies let themselves be carried away by their drawings and spent more time to their ‘journaling’ instead of ‘studying’ the Word of God.
Therefore we do ask every person who wants to go for a thematic bible or a special group Study bible to concentrate on the Word of God Itself and to remember always that the additional notes are those of human beings and not part of the Bible itself.
If you keep your goal in mind, you will keep focused on the Scriptures. Tangents will threaten to take you down a rabbit trail, but you will guide them back to the solid ground of the Word. Wrong answers will be offered, but you will arrive at the truth. Real needs will arise, and you’ll be surprised how they are met with Scripture. At the end of an hour or two women will be built up and equipped with the Word. {7 Mistakes We Make in Women’s Bible Study}
Page from the Dutsch Professorenbijbel (“Professors Bible”), a translation of the Latin Vulgate of the Books of the New Testament. This part, covering the Pentateuch, was published in 1904. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Let us not forget that it was the KJV translators themselves who stated in their original preface that the very purpose of their translation was to provide God’s Word in a readable and understandable fashion. They too looked at previous versions and recognized and accepted the translation work that had been done before them, not downgrading it. times and language have evolved, so we should recognise that the 17th century language is not so comprehensible for the contemporary public and that even certain phrases where not so correctly translated because there was not yet such a thorough or good insight in the original language as we have to day.
and be honest when you look at the old and original Authorised Version. See if the used words are clear enough even in contemporary spelling.
Bible edition of 1611 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Now examine this yourself. Here are a few examples of words from the KJV that have passed completely out of use and convey no meaning to readers today:
almug, neesing, chode, tabret, habergeon, cieled, purtenance, aceldama, sackbut, blains, wot, trow, churl, ambassage, crookbackt, “collops of fat”, “wimples,” “hole’s mouth,” “ouches of gold,” “naughty figs,” and “fetched a compass” (which does not mean to go find a compass but “to turn around”).[2]
These were the words chosen by KJV translators in 1611 to signify the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words. Translators now simply find English words in use today that more accurately convey the meaning. {The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 6}
Steve Mittelstaedt and Sat Sapienti write
The goal of translating any ancient text ought to be to make the original sense of that text available to a modern reader. It really doesn’t matter whether that ancient text was written by Aristophanes or the Apostle Paul. {(Lost in) Permanent Translation}
It is more important to have the Bible presented in a language people of the day can understand easily, without doing shortage to the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek writing.
We must be aware of choices made by publishers, like trying to translate as close as possible to the original language (NWT, Ref.B., Aramaic-English B., The Scriptures, HalleluYah B, NASB) putting meaning ahead of clarity (NAS, Ryries, NASB, ESV, and NRSV), putting clarity ahead of meaning sometime translating very freely (CEV, AMP, Liv.B, the Book, MSG, NLT and GNB/GNT) and those aiming at the optimal amount of meaning and clarity simultaneously (Naz.Com., NKVJ, NAB, NET, HCSB, CEB and NIV).
This are all Bible translations which may come on the bookshelf, but the most important thing is that they are read, not only once, but regularly.
In conclusion, if you are a Christian who uses the King James Version, if you understand what you read and are comfortable with it, then by all means, continue to use it. The KJV, despite the kinds of minor problems which occur in any translation, is still a fine Bible.
What if you are a Christian who uses a modern translation? You also should feel free to continue reading a good modern translation.
Don’t be deterred or intimidated by those who would tell you that you do not have the Word of God in your hands. {The Conflict Over Different Bible Versions/Part 6}
In the previous chapters you could see that 2011 marking the 400th anniversary of the first printing of the King James Bible was taken as a good opportunity by some editors to lance several various versions of Bible translations. 2014/15 bringing more news-reports of Muslim-extremistattacks and more missionary work in Islamic countries made some translators and publishers also chose for the Arabictitle for God in their editions, though several christians where not pleased with such insertion.
Though several preaching groups found it time to reach out to non-religious people and to those who felt attracted by the Islam. Also coming to preach to Muslims, several preachers like us, think it better also to use names and terms common to those to whom we preach.
While this effort first came to light a few years ago, it has again come into the news with tracts starting to appear that are “Muslim friendly”.
Some examples:
Wycliffe/SIL produced Stories of the Prophets, a work that uses “Lord” instead of “Father” and “Messiah” instead of “Son.”
Frontiers (a Swiss-based publishing company) worked with a SIL consultant to produce True Meaning of the Gospel, an Arabic book that removes “Son” in reference to Jesus.
Frontiers also produced a Turkish translation of Matthew, distributed by SIL that uses “guardian” for “Father” and “representative” or “proxy” for “Son.”
SIL consulted on the Bengali Injil Sharif, advising that “Son” be translated as “God’s Uniquely Intimate Beloved Chosen One.”
Frontiers and SIL have also produced Meaning of the Gospel of Christ, an Arabic translation that removes “Father” in reference to God and replaces it with “Allah,” and removes or redefines “Son.”
An independent panel, organized by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), wrote in one of its suggestions that it recognized
“that there is significant potential for misunderstanding of the words for ‘father‘ and ‘son‘ when applied to God, and that in languages shaped by Islamic cultures, the potential is especially acute and the misunderstandings likely to prove especially harmful to the reader’s comprehension of the gospel.” {5 Reasons “Muslim Friendly” Bible Translations are Counterproductive}
The panel recommended that translators consider the addition of qualifying words and/or phrases (explanatory adjectives, relative clauses, prepositional phrases, or similar modifiers) to the directly-translated words for “father” and “son,” in order to avoid misunderstanding.
The panel also recommended that translators use paratextual material
“to clarify and avoid misunderstanding in these cases.”
Wycliffe Bible Translators came under heavy criticism more than a year ago when Biblical Missiology created an online petition alleging that the translation group had eliminated familial terms describing God and Jesus in certain Arabic and Bengali translations of the Bible so as not to offend Muslim readers.
“Muslim friendly” Bible translations, technically termed “Muslim Idiom Translations” (MITs), are well-meaning attempts to produce the Bible in a way that is easily accepted and understood by Muslims. These translations use Islamic terminology, graphic elements and fonts, and Qur’anic phrases to make the book look, feel, and read like an Islamic book. Some MITs use the same distinctive frame around the text and numbered rosettes between the verses that Qur’an editions do, and some even replace literal translations of “Father” and “Son” with alternative terms like “guardian” and “prince”. {5 Reasons “Muslim Friendly” Bible Translations are Counterproductive}
“Muslim Friendly” Bible Translations, technically termed “Muslim Idiom Translations” (MITs), are by many considered to be counterproductive and deceiving
Muslim Idiom Translation (MIT) refers to an increasingly common “approach” to so-called Scripture translation for Muslim audiences. Its usage among professing evangelicals involved in missions to Muslims continues to increase in spite of the fact that some of its most distinguishing features are at odds with historic, biblical orthodoxy. Although MIT has been around for close to three decades, there is great need for a critical look at this phenomenon.
For the missionary organisation MITs by appearing at first glance to be Muslim books, because they use cover artwork that is similar to Qur’anic art, introductions and headers that include Qur’anic phrases, with the use of distinctly Qur’anic names for prophets and other biblical characters, and Islamic theological phrases, are for them deceiving books. They write
While these traits might be intended to help Muslims accept and understand the Bible better, what they actually do is make Muslims think they are reading a Muslim book. But if they initially accept this book on the basis of it being Islamic, they do so under false premises. {5 Reasons “Muslim Friendly” Bible Translations are Counterproductive}
“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
We must be aware that perhaps only uneducated and unknowledgeable Muslims would be ultimately fooled into thinking that an MIT is actually a Muslim book. Educated and well-informed Muslims would recognise that those Bible translations and Christian works which use the names of the Holy Scriptures characters with the names Muslims are used to, shall be able to recognise the similarities of those different holy Scriptures. We do not think they will
Not all MITs remove or replace “Father” and “Son” with alternate terms, though some do, instead of giving a clear explanation for that son-ship and comparing it to the same situation many Muslims consider themselves sons and daughters of Abraham and therefore calling him their patriarch.
Pierre Rashad Houssney, MENA Regional Director for Horizons International, a Lebanese-American who grew up in the context of cross-cultural ministry among Muslims and international students, does find it wrong that Bibles are created with Arabic names and does find those new bible translations
imitating the books of other religious traditions,
English: The word Allah, in Arabic. alif hamzat waṣl (همزة وصل) lām lām shadda (شدة) alif khanjariyya (ألف خنجرية) hā (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In several of those MITs instead of “Lord” or “God” is printed “Allah” (God in Arabic and in many other languages). Though Allah is in our country commonly used for indicating the Most HighGod, by several native English speaking Christians it is a form they only know for the Islam, not knowing that in many Catholic and some protestant bible-translations this is also a common used title instead of placing ‘Lord‘, especially in Arabic language bibles commonly Allah is being used.
Some English people may think those translations with he word Allah are modifying the Word of God for their political agenda, but they are just using a general title we and many others are used to in our daily language.
According to Now the End Begins:
First, Wycliffe and SIL have produced Stories of the Prophets, an Arabic Bible that uses an Arabic equivalent of “Lord” instead of “Father” and “Messiah” instead of “Son.” Second, Frontiers and SIL have produced Meaning of the Gospel of Christ , an Arabic translation which removes “Father” in reference to God and replaces it with “Allah,” and removes or redefines “Son.” {New Bible Translation Eliminates “Father, Son, Holy Spirit and Messiah” Because It Insults Muslims}
Those Christian missionaries, Bible translators and leaders who are very worried and are trying to stop the publications of this Modified Bibles should know better. It surprises us that bible translators would be against the word “Allah” because they should know what it means, and that it is just the Arabic form of ‘God’ and is a better word than ‘Lord’.
As such when there is written about the Name of God in the New Testament, they should know it can as well be translated as Matthew 28:19 reading:
“Cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiah and his Holy Spirit”
Matthew 28:19 The Scriptures 1998+ (19) “Therefore, go and make taught ones of all the nations, immersing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Set-apart Spirit,
In this place they point out there naturally can be discussion about placing ‘Allah’, but at all other places where other replace the Name of God with “Lord” or with the title ‘God’ those people have no reason at all to complain, because “Allah” or “God” is always better and staying much more clear than the bad replacement of God’s Name by the title ‘Lord’, by which many readers can not see about whom is been spoken, about God or about God His son Jesus.
With using the word Allah everybody can see clear about whom is been spoken and Muslims have less reason to be offended and can show to those Christians who take Jesus as their god what the bible really says and show Who God really is. This way more Christians can come to believe in the same God Jews, real Christians and Muslims believe, namely the God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus and his disciples, the God of Israel, Allah/God the AdonaiElohim Whose Holy and divineName is Jehovah.
Brian David rightly reacts to the readers of End Time Prophecy:
I don’t see the problem most Christians don’t read the Bible anyway and those few who do, have no idea what it is saying because they do not understand the language. If you do not look up every word, first in the Strong’s, then 1828 Webster’s and some law dictionary’s; you will have no clue as to what is being said within the scriptures.
For example, the word God in the Hebrew and Greek; mean judge, magistrate or ruler, these are the people that most Christians worship and fear.
God
H430
אֱלֹהִים
‘ĕlôhı̂ym
el-o-heem’
Plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: – angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
2601 times
G2316
θεός
theos
theh’-os
Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: – X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].
1343 times
Now here is where it gets good.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling awayG646 first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
G646
ἀποστασία
apostasia
ap-os-tas-ee’-ah
Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), (apostasy): – falling away, forsake.
G647
ἀποστάσιον
apostasion
ap-os-tas’-ee-on
Neuter of a (presumed) adjective from a derivative of G868; properly something separative, that is, (specifically) divorce: – (writing of) divorcement.
Defection
DEFECTION, noun
1. Want or failure of duty; particularly, a falling away; apostasy; the act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself. Our defection from God is proof of our depravity. The cause of the king was rendered desperate by the defection of the nobles.
2. Revolt; used of nations or states.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3 we see that the son of perdition will not be revealed until there is a falling away first which literally means a divorce from the state by abandoning our person which is a mask or a legal fiction that is an organization (Corporation). The act of abandoning a person or a legal fiction that is used by the state through surnames. Every had your person summoned to court like a demon.
Person
PERSON, noun per’sn. [Latin persona; said to be compounded of per, through or by, and sonus, sound; a Latin word signifying primarily a mask used by actors on the state.]
Surname
SUR’NAME, noun [Latin super and nomen.]
1. An additional name; a name or appellation added to the baptismal or christian name, and which becomes a family name. Surnames, with us, originally designated occupation, estate, place of residence, or some particular thing or event that related to the person. Thus William Rufus or red; Edmund Ironsides; Robert Smith, or the smith; William Turner.
The bilingual Hebrew–English edition of the New JPS translation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Because of many Christians not knowing the difference between a god, god, God or The God, often they consider when the Bible says “god” they take it to be about the Divine Creator God, though in their ordinary daily language when they speak about sport-figures or film-actors and television vedettes they also use the word ‘god’, though hopefully they would not consider those gods they are talking about to be The God. The same as they say “oh god” we do hope they do not use that expression with the idea of using The God His Name, because than they would defile God’s Name many times.
But they should know that ‘god’ is not a name but a title, the same as ‘allah’ is a title and being a word that is used in many languages to speak about a higher placed person or a god whilst ‘Allah’ is also used to denote the Most High God, Jehovah/Yehowah/Yahuwah/Jahuwah/Yahweh.
The Baptist Catechism: 3° commandement:The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works.
We have seen that at the end of last century many thematic bibles where published. As such people could find a “Soul Survivor” Bible, Housewife bible and several Life Application Bibles. We also could see that it was all about a trend or hype which made editors and publishers jump on the wagon to have their version on the consumer-market.
These days, for example, the drawing books or colouring books for adults have been popular for a while. Note-taking Bibles always have found a place on the market and the ChristadelphianWide margin King James Version is quit popular in that field.
An example from a Christian’s Bible book – How the owner of “Faith Counts” coloured a page.
Today in the United States there seems to be a new hype not so much of taking notes at the site of the bible text, but of making some drawings or putting some words in extra colours. They call it Bible journaling and find it an exciting way to engage with Scripture, enabling them to transform the way they spend time in the Word it all beginning within the margins of the Bible.
Journaling Bibles, it is said, provide the perfect way for you to keep a journal of your spiritual life right inside the Bible that you read and study each day. With covers and formats that look like the finest journals, Journaling Bibles feature ruled wide-margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, notes, and journal entries.
These unique Journaling and Note-Taking Bibles can make great gifts and lasting keepsakes for anyone who values God’s Word, and when passed down to the children they too shall be able to see how their parents had to grow in their faith and how they looked at certain things which triggers them too. With a wide-margin Journaling Bible and the right Bible marking tools and supplies it’s easy to create such a testimony for the future.
The ESV Journaling Bible – a large-print Bible with plenty of space for notes, prayers, reflections, or artwork.
In a way with Bible journaling, the present generation goes back to our generation in the 1960ies and 1970ies, scrabbling all over our Bibles. The contemporary youngsters have found again a creative and fresh approach to the age-old discipline of Bible reading. With different colour pens or markers in hand, they can visually capture Scripture, meditate on God’s Word and memorize the text. Some choose to journal as an expression of private devotion, others journal as an act of worship and there are even some who consider it a creative outlet that can be shared.
No matter what your purpose for Bible journaling is, the beauty of the movement is this: it doesn’t require a skilled artist. All that matters is that you’re willing to experience God and His Word in a creative way.
Now there is also a note-taking bible which gives enough place to put drawings at the site. For many colourful pictures may help them to see what about is written or to bring out the meaning of God’s Word. Several people also would love some more pictures and more colours in their Bible in which they also have their part to say. When not having the artistic ability the printing press offers a solution with a Note-taking Bible that has drawings already in it which you yourself may colour them in, at one site and at the other page lines down the side are provided, so you can write notes, or write out a favourite verse from that page.
“Bible journaling is all about reading and studying the Word, letting it lead you to be creative in the ways you memorize and record Scripture,”
and reflects
“The goal with Bible journaling is to experience God’s Word in a new way as you spend time with the Lord.”
The Illustrator’s Note-taking Bible is in the HCSB version, Holman Christian Standard Bible (from the for-profit publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention Holman Bible Publishers) and offers a Bible that combines two hot trends: Bible journaling and adult colouring. Each Bible spread contains a line-drawn illustration that can be filled in by the reader with whatever colours they choose. The exceptional design offers a unique balance for everyone from seasoned artists to the creatively challenged, allowing for guided creativity and meaningful personalization of the Bible reading experience. It includes three varieties of illustrations: (1) filigree, (2) Scripture quotes, and (3) drawings that illustrate the topic of the corresponding Bible text.
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Yvette Walker’s bible flip thru at HCSB Illustrator’s notetaking
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The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) (2004), for which a team of more than 100 top conservative scholars from 17 denominations came together with one common vision: to create an original English meticulously faithful to the ancient Scriptures and exceptionally clear to understand God’s Word, wanting to deliver what it promises and saying about itself
While there are hundreds of reasons to love the Holman Christian Standard Bible, it really comes down to just two: faithful and clear. By bringing together the latest advances in biblical scholarship with exceptional language clarity and precision, the Holman Christian Standard Bible helps you experience God’s Truth as never before.
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Learn more about the HCSB translation in this new video and visit HCSB.org.
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The HCSB employs a translation philosophy known as Optimal Equivalence, which seeks to achieve an optimal balance of linguistic precision with contemporary clarity. In the many places throughout Scripture where a word-for-word rendering is clearly understandable, a literal translation is used. In places where a word-for-word rendering might obscure the meaning for a modern audience, a more dynamic translation is favoured. This process assures that both the words and thoughts contained in the original are conveyed as accurately as possible.
This graph visually illustrates the translation philosophy of several of today’s popular Bible translations.
The HCSB wanted to reflect the latest linguistic advances in punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary while maintaining traditional and meaningful theological terms, making God’s Truth relevant and accessible to a broad modern audience, aiming for a balance between the more wooden “functional” and the more free (but also looser) “dynamic” equivalence philosophies.
The Holman CSB has used computer technology and telecommunications in its creation perhaps more than any Bible translation in history. Electronic mail was used daily and sometimes hourly for communication and transmission of manuscripts. An advanced Bible software program, Accordance, was used to create and revise the translation at each step in its production. A developmental copy of the translation itself was used within Accordance to facilitate cross-checking during the translation process — something never done before with a Bible translation.
In 2003 the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (B&H, 2003) featured 700 colour photos, 80 colour maps, a pronunciation guide, the latest archaeological excavation information, time lines, extensive cross-referencing, unique scale drawings, and much more for the use as a study tool.
Except 263 common words, the HCSB Comprehensive Concordance (2005) contains nearly 300,000 concordance entries.
Designed with an awareness of the obstacles people have to understanding the Bible the Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (B&H, 2012) begins with an essay on “How to Read and Study the Bible” before proceeding to chapters that provide a thorough overview of each of the Bible’s 66 books, summarizing each one’s content, author, evidences of authenticity, and historical context.
In addition to the full-colour maps, photographs, reconstructions, and charts that equip readers throughout the volume, a smartphone-accessible QR code is included for each chapter that leads to related online teaching from noted Bible scholar Gene Getz. There’s also an article by Jeremy Howard (general editor of the award-winning HCSB Study Bible) explaining how each book of the Old and New Testaments was accepted into the Bible.
In the same line as HCSB Notetaking Bible brings the Inspire Bible a single-column, wide-margin New Living Translation Bible that will be a cherished resource for coloring and creative art journaling. It is the first Bible of its kind—with over 400 beautiful line-art illustrations spread throughout the Bible. Full-page and partial-page Scripture art is attractively displayed throughout the Bible, and…
South-Africa based pastor and author, entrepreneur and development activist, Taka Sande, after The Discipleship Series (2013), and Little Tough Tips on Marriage (2014) gathered Bible verses grouped thematically in The Blessing Scriptures. In total 33 topics like divine blessings, God’s power, wealth, obedience, giving and charity, prayer, etc. are backed up by sound bible quotes.
The Blessing Scriptures wants to be there for those who want to change their devotional life. Every scripture in the book wants to offer a direct meaning to your everyday personal life, being specifically intended to encourage and restore hope and faith to face any daring circumstance, helping you to maintain a positive mind throughout the day.
In the past the Housewife bible may have focused on the woman working at home and may have been conceived from a very conservative view on the role of the woman. It may have been in line with the television advertisements we got to see in the 1950ies and 1960ies, and mostly of the American way of life at that time.
Tyndale publishing house provided in 2007 a handy trim size New Testament version, divided into 365 daily readings with a quick intro and a concluding thought for each daily passage, that is convenient for busy moms with The One Year New Testament for Busy Moms NLT, next to the One Year Bible—for women, published in the same year, which includes encouraging inspirational thoughts to boost the reader’s faith and brighten her day.
NKJV, American Woman’s Bible, Hardcover
Now you can find a Bible on the market which claims to have inspiring American women’s history throughout to complement particular books and chapters of the bible and presenting theme articles showing how biblical virtues have shaped the North American nation. The American Woman’s Bible: Women, Godly Virtues, and the Making of America (New King James Version),a companion to the American Patriot’s Bible which was also edited by Dr. Richard G. Lee., according the makers (published by Harper Collins and by Thomas Nelson) not only contains a helpful concordance but also the Word of God translated in language much more accessible than the King James Version. It has coloured-print, illustrations, presents biographies of influential American women highlighting key points of their lives and gives inspirational quotes by or about great women, famous and not well known.
In conjunction with the General Conference Women’s Ministries Department, a New King James Version of the Bible has been taken up with a wealth of features specifically related to women such as: thirty beautifully illustrated pages featuring well-known women of the Bible such as Abigail, Bathsheba, Deborah, Hagar, Martha, Mary, and more, but interestingly this time also giving recognized women authors to write about issues related to women (weddings in the Bible; rape and violation; levirate marriages; women prophets), appearing alongside the Bible text. Newt to ore than 100 commentaries it brings articles on well-known and lesser-known women of the Bible, practical lessons we can learn from them and on more than 60 virtues, and the women who best represent them.
Bible for women is available in English, Spanish, and French and has an outline of each book of the Bible and has the words of Jesus printed in gold.
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Especially conceived and developed for today’s women,
this Woman’s Bible with the New King James Version of the Bible has a wealth of features specifically related to women
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Question is what women as the American daughter of the transcendentalist Bronson Alcott, abolitionist, feminist, novelist and poetLouisa May Alcott, and the daughter of John Francis (“Honey Fitz”) Fitzgerald Kennedy or Rose the matriarch of the Kennedy family that created a political dynasty in the U.S., and drew on her Roman Catholic faith to endure what she characterized as a life of agonies and ecstasies, has to do with the Word of God.
Naturally the tragedy that stalked the family:
their first son, Joseph P., Jr., was killed during World War II. In 1948 daughter Kathleen was killed in a plane crash. Their second eldest son, John F., served as president of the U.S. for almost three years before being assassinated in 1963. Another son, Robert F., served as U.S. attorney general and as a senator from New York before he too was assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign. The youngest son, Edward, became a U.S. senator from Massachusetts but was touched by scandal in 1969 when he admitted leaving the scene of a car accident in which a female passenger drowned. {Encyclopaedia Britannica on the Kennedys)
The Belgian-American Elisabeth Elliot Howard, who served as one of the stylistic consultants for the committee of the New International Version of the Bible (NIV) did not have an easy life and had to face her first husband, Jim Elliot, being killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the Auca (now known as Huaorani; also rendered as Waorani or Waodani) of eastern Ecuador, with fellow missionary Rachel Saint could be of inspiration to many Christians. Also her work with her next husband Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, who died in 1973 and when she became an adjunct professor on the faculty of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and for several years taught a popular course entitled “Christian Expression” could be a source of inspiration. In 1977, she married Lars Gren, a hospital chaplain. The Grens later worked and traveled together whilst she battled for ten years with the loss of her mind to dementia.
Whilst well-known Christian writers as for example Anne Graham Lotz, Elisabeth Elliot, Jill Briscoe, Rebecca St. James and Teresa of Avila where used to bring daily and weekend devotions on topics like prayer, worship, hymns, women inside Bible, and even more in the Sanctuary: A Devotional Bible for Women, New Living Translation, (2013) the younger version of the female sex is not forgotten.
Having a bible concentrating on women Laura Ingalls Wilder brings us to the younger ones.
In 2015 an easy-to-understand New Living Translation text with a soft-fur, bright-neon LOVEdesign and silver glittery lining was presented with ‘Girls Slimline Holy Bible NLT’ by Tyndale House Publishers, who seem to produce bibles constantly, like cars are produced at the assembly line, with all the different options.
For the girls the edges of the pages are purple, looking at it side on, with inside bright neon pink pages with a scripture and dedication page. though today many speak about Bible Journaling not much margin space is provided.
Having an eye for women and girls, publishers could not forget the boys and as such published “The Guys Slimline Holy Bible, New Living Translation”, published by Tyndale House. is designed specifically to appeal to young men. Its New Living Translation is simply written and easy to understand, making it easier to apply to young lives.
This Bible comes with a leatherlike blue and black cover that is slim enough to carry or easily place in a book bag. The inside covers are bright blue, the front quoting Psalm 62:7. The full colour maps include the world of the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the kingdoms of Israel, the ministry of Jesus, and Paul’s missionary journeys. Also included are a dictionary/concordance and a 365-day reading plan.
It is a red letter edition, emphasizing the Words of Jesus. In addition, the Great Chapters of the Bible list and the Great Verses of the Bible to Memorize are very useful tools that suggest Bible stories and verses to begin hiding in one’s heart.
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Download our free Bible Journaling Workbook created by Laurel Keller to help get started in Bible journaling or give your current efforts a boost: Free Workbook
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Association for Bibleresearchers. Vereniging voor Bijbelvorsers
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Showing that the true gospel is not a new theology, but the old theology, the old gospel preached to Abraham
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This site is an endeavor to weed out the false from the true regarding Charles Taze Russell.
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Tegenover de Getuigen van Jehovah zijn er ook de Getuigen voor Christus die Getuigenis afleggen voor Christus en zijn God Jehovah.
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The IBSA or cooperative association of Bible Student congregations worldwide, all united by the common beliefs taught in Brother Russell’s Studies in the Scriptures series
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