You gotta love the Bible!!

If your Bible doesn't bring you under the intoxicating influence of Abba's Love, it's the translators fault!!


I have been spending some time checking out the meanings some Greek words and going through many different Bible translations and have been utterly shocked at some renderings of some New Testament verses.

Most have been taught that we must believe everything the Bible, and we must NEVER question the Bible.... we must just DO what ever it says! Well, personally, I couldn't agree more!
The problem is that "the Bible" was not originally written in English but rather was translated into English (from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek).

Some Translations boast of huge numbers of translators used to get the "correct" English translations, and others rely on "original manuscript accuracy", but so often both camps completely miss it in many cases.
An easy example of such a case is that in the earlier NIV translations, the translators invented a new word based on the current theology of the day (and still going by the way!!). The word "sinful nature". This word previously did not exist and in most other English translation is correctly translated into English, mearly as "Flesh" (Greek: Sarx)
(NIV have corrected this error in most cases in their 2010 edition).


Since some of our English Bible translations have been known to horrendously "miss it" here and there, it stands to reason therefore that translators throughout time have put their own personal spin, or the general theological consensus of the day into their interpretation on certain words and contexts of verses - even without knowing it. (obviously without knowing it, because nobody ever said, "Yes!!, what I believe is totally wrong... praise the Lord!!" We all believe that what we believe is right.... otherwise we wouldn't "believe" it ).

I believe it would be of great benefit, therefore, to make sure that the translations of our bibles are rendered by translators that have a good understanding of the Cross, the New Covenant, and the reason for Redemption.... LOVE! (John 3:16)
Its a sad fact that many Translation houses have used various language scholars that are confessing non-believers, who obviously have no clue of Gloriously Good News, and therefore easily miss or water down certain emphases pertaining to New Covenant realities for the believer.
(And yes, its very healthy to read different translations.... not just the mainstream ones with a "reformed" theological stance, ie: NIV, ESV, NKJV, KJV, ASV, NASV....)



Often, people who have begun to understand God's Grace have told me that they were left with confusion - and NOT Freedom - after reading the Bible. Like I said.... "If your Bible doesn't bring you under the intoxicating influence of Abba's Love, it's the translators fault!!

If your NEW TESTAMENT is giving you some difficulties, and it's seeming to leave you CONDEMNED, or GUILTY, or weighed down with OBLIGATION, I would strongly suggest reading a few different verions of the same NEW TESTAMENT verse or passage to try get a better overview. I also strongly urge that you simply ask JESUS to help reveal the truth to you. Its His pleasure to reveal the NEW COVENANT to us!




Confusion:

Col 3:1-6 (ASV) If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.(2)Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.(3)For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.(4)When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. (5)Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry; (6)for which things' sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:



What do we get from this? You have died (vs3), but you still need to put yourself to death (vs5), and if you dont manage to kill yourself (the second time) you are in danger of facing Gods wrath (vs6)!!
This is a very good example of slight miss-interpretation into English because the New Covenant context is not taken into account!! It makes a world of difference!
After a supper exciting word/Greek dictionary study and an extended translation search, I have found this to be more accurate:



Colossians 3:1-6 (TMT) Pursue with diligence the consequence of your co-inclusion in Christ. Relocate yourself mentally! His resurrection co-raised you to the same position of authority, seated in the strength of God’s right hand.(2)Becoming affectionately acquainted with Throne Room thoughts will keep you from being distracted again by the earthly (soul-ruled) realm.(3)Your union with His death broke the association with that world; the secret of your life now is the fact that you are wrapped up with Christ in God.(4)Every time Christ is revealed as our life, we are being co-revealed in the same glory (likeness and image of God) being united together with Him.(5)Consider the members of your body as dead and buried towards everything related to the porn industry, sensual uncleanness, longing for forbidden things, lust and greed which are just another form of idol worship.(6)It was because of these things that the anger of God fell upon His son.


Please read those two passages again see the ridiculously huge difference!!

Out of the 11 "mainstream" bible translations I have at home, they ALL basically said the same as the ASV
Its little wonder that believers are not walking into Kingdom Freedom in the measure He intended when our bible's are telling us something different to the Spirit inside us!!



Am I saying we must throw out our old Bibles? No - that's silly!! But I am saying that we, as believers, ALL have the AUTHOR of "the Original copy" living inside us, and its OK to trust Him to lead us into all truth!

He loves you so much!
Keep keeping it real!