BIBLE TRANSLATION PIT FALLS - part 1

I've never paid too much attention on which Bible version or translation I used. Over the years, at different times and for different purposes I have used different ones. I’d like to make it clear, before commenting on anything, that that has not changed. It is indeed, I think, the usage of several versions that enriches our study of Scripture. There are however some things to point out. They were very important for me when I came across them and they may be to you.  

Most popular Bible versions/translations

 1. New International Version (NIV)
 2. King James Version (KJV)
 3. New Living Translation (NLT)
 4. New King James Version (NKJV)
 5. English Standard Version (ESV)
 

Live not in fear 

We know fear is not part of the Christian life. We are not live in it, nor give it the time of day.

Romans 8:15 ESV
 [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"


 It is also all too easy to fall into winds of doctrine if (a) we do not spend enough time in the word but go instead after unfounded teaching, (b) we are not properly grounded in the basic truths of the word, (c) e]we are not living under authority or in unity with our local church.


 Ephesians 4:14 ESV
 [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.


 This was my disclaimer for what I'm absolutely to say. Because I do not feel this is a passing "fear fad" that is out there like the constant hammering about drones, Donald Trump's candidacy, the bar code behind our heads or even the sexuality agendas which seem to have many churches on edge.  

The New International Version 

This is much simpler yet much more important than those. It concerns the New International Version (NIV). For years it was the version I mostly used. Today, especially with the ease of Bible aps in our digital world, I use one main Bible translation as a hub and the other translations as spokes. Meaning I will read through on my main (hub) version and then look up given verses on other (spoke) versions to compare and get a fuller understanding. 

That hub is no longer the NIV. I began using the English Standard Version (ESV) and then ended up switching that to The King James (KJV) all together. 

 The main message in this article is: do NOT use the NIV, and if you are used to it do not use it on its own. I'm not saying anymore than I felt led to say here. I'm not saying the NIV is from Satan. I'm not saying it is entirely heretic but I'll say that  

(a) we can perish from lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), and 

(b) sometimes half truths are lies or inductive to false teaching. 

This is a simple message and there is no need to complicate it. The fact is the NIV is unreliable in several key parts which I will point out.  

 ... next time. 

IDENTITY of the CHRISTIAN - part 5

Giving up your life

  Mark 8:35
  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.  

 Loosing our life can mean dying for the gospel but mostly means loosing our daily worldly focused life for a new life focused on the gospel. Hence what Jesus says to Nicodemus (see John 3). It does not mean, in most cases, to leave everything you are doing and start a new ministry. It means to make everything you are doing now for the glory of God and not for yours.  
 
 After God has delivered us from the death which comes by living in the flesh, what sense does it make for us to stay in the flesh after salvation? Our life is no longer our own. It has been purchased by the blood of Jesus. If we repeatedly and ultimately reject the Messenger, which is the Holy Spirit, then we blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself points this out by alluding to the difference between flesh and Spirit, between Satan and God. Basically, the things that are of the spirit cannot work for the flesh and vice versa. As new creations, if we are to be attacked the enemy must first incapacitate our spirit man.  

  Mark 3:23-29 [23] 
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? [24] If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. [25] If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. [26] And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. [27] In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. [28] Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

 So whoever misuses the Holy Spirit is damned.    

Who we are to the enemy

To many people Satan is a mystery. In fact, we get to know his ways very quickly, not by studying him but by studying the Word. We should be a mystery to Satan. He should come up against us and be caught like in a house of mirrors.    

 

  1 Corinthians 2:6-9
  [6] We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. [7] No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. [8] None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [9] However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”---the things God has prepared for those who love him---  

 Things were hidden for the enemy not for us. If some things are a mystery to us it may be because we are not walking with the spirit enough. If we walk with the world too much then what is hidden to the world will be hidden to us.      

Identity general statements

  1 Thessalonians 5:5 I am a child of the light and the day not belong to the night or to the darkness.  

Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, Jesus made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.  

  Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son he loves.   

  Galatians 5:22 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. I belong to Christ Jesus and have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  

  Romans 8:15 The Spirit I received does not make me a slave to live in fear; rather it brought about my adoption to sonship. By him I cry, “Daddy”. The Spirit himself testifies with my spirit that I am God’s child and heir of God and co-heir with Christ, if indeed I share in his sufferings in order that I may also share in his glory.  

  2 Timothy 1:7 The Spirit God gave me does not make me timid, but gives me power, love and self-discipline.  

  Galatians 5:13 I was called to be free but not to indulge the flesh; rather to serve others humbly in love.  

  Ephesians 6:12 My struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Over which I have full authority when abiding in Christ)  

  Psalm 8:5 God made me a little lower than the angels and crowned me with glory and honor. He made me ruler over the works of his hands putting everything under my feet.

Andy De Campos

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