ALL NEW BIBLE VERSIONS ARE UNAUTHORIZED VERSIONS IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO THE AUTHORIZED VERSION OF 1611--WHETHER THEY BE "NEGRO-CENTRIC" (I AM A NEGRO), "SEMITIC" (I AM A DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM), ETC.
The church of God has been supping on the Authorized Version of 1611 of the Bible for over 400 years; it is our bread. As noted in "The Authorized Version: Precepts of a Mighty Nation", by definition, any new Bible is an unauthorized version.
In recent weeks I have been confronted with pretenders to the throne, specifically a Negro-centric unauthorized version and what appears to be a "Semitic" unauthorized version of the New Testament which is in the works.
The following article contains two main sections:
- a lengthy "Preface" explaining who I am (in order to pre-empt misunderstanding).
- "Some of What I have seen".
***** PREFACE *****
Before addressing some of what I have seen, I want to give some background about myself lest anyone should say I am prejudiced.
- In this article I will mention a modern Negro-centric unauthorized version--I am a Negro married to a Negro and I am not against Negro people.
- In this article, I will mention a purportedly forthcoming modern Semitic unauthorized version of the New Testament--I am a daughter of Abraham (Abraham is the father of the Jewish people--and of many nations (reference Genesis 17:4-5 and see below) and I am not against the nation of Israel--regardless of whether an individual member is saved or still in unbelief.
[Note: When people say "Semitic" they are often making a reference to the Jewish people. Jewish people are indeed descended from Shem (one of Noah's three sons, see Genesis chapter 5) through Shem's son Arphaxad (and further down the line through Abram/Abraham (see Genesis 11:10-26)). It is noteworthy, however, to address the fact that Shem did have other children beside Arphaxad, e.g., Aram (see Genesis 10:22-23) and Abraham had other sons besides Isaac (albeit Isaac was the son of promise)--all of this is to say that the descendants of Shem are not limited to the Jewish people.]
I am not against Jewish people, or any people. God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (reference Acts 17:26).
How, one may ask, am I a daughter of Abraham?
The Bible teaches us that God made Abraham a father of many nations--not just the Jewish people.
Genesis 17How can other nations be children of Abraham? While Abraham is the father of the Jewish people (they physically descended from him), he is also the father of those who believe God and take God at his word.
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
- When God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis chapter 15, Abraham believed God--
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.- In Romans chapter four, we learn that Abraham is the father of ALL them that believe God (In these last times, God hath spoken unto us by his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (reference Hebrews 1:1-2)). Those that believe God are Abraham's children because he also believed God. He is the father of them that believe.
ROMANS CHAPTER 41 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the FATHER OF ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE, THOUGH THEY BE NOT CIRCUMCISED; THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS MIGHT BE IMPUTED UNTO THEM ALSO:
12 And the FATHER of circumcision to them who are NOT OF THE CIRCUMCISION ONLY, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law [those who had the law of Moses, the Jewish people], but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Even back in the times of Abraham, scripture foresaw that God would justify the heathen through faith (reference Galatians 3:8). God changed Abram's name to Abraham--because Abraham would be the father of many nations (people from all over the world would have faith in God, as Abraham did)--
Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.I am not against the Jewish people. Abraham is my father, too. My Lord and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Son of David and I believe all that the prophets have spoken. I am glad about the Jewish people and that they continue amongst us. I am glad for the fathers--Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. We have memorized the twelve tribes of Israel and the Hebrew alphabet as found in Psalm 119, we have read the Hebrew scriptures, etc. The situation of the believing Gentile is that of a wild olive branch being graffed into the good olive tree of Israel, partaking from the root and fatness of their olive tree. Such an one has no room to boast against the natural branches (the children of Israel) and abides in that tree by faith alone (see Romans chapter 11). I am not against Israel or the children of Shem. No one could truthfully call me anti-Semitic.
With all of that being said, onward with this treatise.
*****SOME OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN *****
Number 1: A list of Bible versionsI conducted an internet search came across a confounding list of unauthorized Bible versions (they were not in alphabetical order, but that is not why I call it confounding, though that did not make it less obfuscating).
- The Authorized Version was not mentioned by name, but they did have "The New Authorized Version" (an unauthorized version, we already have the Authorized Version anything else is unauthorized; the Authorized Version of 1611 is an historical document, extant, believed, received, unchangeable) listed by name.
- For those that do not know, the Authorized Version is also known as the "King James Version". The King James Version was not easy to find on the subject list amongst the following unauthorized versions--
- "American King James Version,"
- "Children's King James Version,"
- "King James 2000 Version,"
- "King James Easy Reading Version,"
- "King James II Version,"
- "Modern King James Version,"
- "New King James Version,"
- "Updated King James Version,"
- other unauthorized versions such as "Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible" that have a note stating, "Revision of the King James of Version"
- This same list had a blasphemous negro-centric unauthorized version which I do not wish to further mention.
Number 2: An announcement (and webpage) for a Semitic New TestamentThe following are notes that I took a few weeks back when first considering these things--
I read some words about replacing the Greek New Testament with a Hebrew or Aramaic New Testament. I read words like...Hebrew Roots... the Original Gospel...the Semitic New Testament...the Aramaic New Testament...Replace the Greek New Testament.
Hearing of these things was a surprise to me. It never occurred to me that anyone would ever set forth Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts for translating the New Testament--I have never heard of anything but consensus that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew (with some Aramaic) and that the New Testament was written in Koine Greek.
Of course, there is only one Authorized Version and anything else is unauthorized,
but I investigated to see where this was coming from and to see the nature of the arguments being put forth. . .
"To understand the New Testament, we have to read it in a Hebrew context."
The Bible does not say this. What we need is the Holy Ghost to teach us what we need to know--
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
"The Lord Jesus Christ was Jewish speaking to Jewish people."
It is true that the Lord Jesus Christ was sent unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel (ref. Matthew 15:24). It is also true that in him, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, would the Gentiles trust. We would all understand him--not just the Jewish people.
Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Isaiah 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isaiah 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
Greek was a widely used language that the people could understand--both Jews and Gentiles. All of God's people would understand his word.
John 12:20-21 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.Acts 17: And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Acts 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
"You Christians are anti-Semitic."
How can you say that when we are children of Abraham? I may be a black American, but God made Abraham the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-5; Romans 4:17-18) and I believe God like father Abraham did. All true Christians are children of Abraham. We Gentiles may say to the God of Israel,
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting (ref. Isaiah 63:16).And we can also remember the words of King Solomon when he asked God to hear the prayer of the stranger,
Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel... (ref. I Kings 8:43)Where would you get such a notion, that Christians are anti-Semitic? We are not against our fellowman. If you rephrased your statement to say, "The Roman Catholic Church has restricted Jewish people and even killed and burned them up in the past," we would have to agree with you. The Jewish people suffered during the Inquisition and they suffered in Germany and also in Croatia too when the Roman Catholic clergy were bold enough to commit tortures and murders and to run concentration camps killing Serbs, Jews, Romas (gypsies), etc. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that the Roman Catholic Church is not Christian and actually attribute her crimes to true Christians. She has tortured and killed us by the tens of millions in her Inquisitions.
"But what if the original manuscript was the_________ language or the_________ language or the_________ language or the_________ language or the_________ language or the_________ language?"
1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
"But we have to find the originals, don't we?"
We already have the Authorized Version of the Bible and have had it for over 400 years. The Bible says nothing about it having to come from one specific original manuscript that nobody can find. We can see in Jeremiah chapter thirty six that having originals is unnecessary. The king burned up the words of Jeremiah and God told Jeremiah to write them down again. God is not bound by originals.
Jeremiah 36:27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,Jeremiah 36:28 Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
"The New Testament is anti-Semitic."
[note: I've read something on this wise before spoken by an worldwide-known individual but I don't know where I saw it; now I read this evil comment again after years of time have elapsed. "They" get a string and keep playing that same song until their listeners start repeating it.]FROM WHENCE could you get such an idea? The Bible tells the truth about everybody's condition--whether Jew or Gentile. The truth is that we are ALL sinners (ref. Romans 3:23) and condemned, period. Nobody gets any special privileges for being good--not Jews and not Gentiles--we are not good and nor are we righteous, not one of us--this includes the religious leaders that put on an act and make merchandise of people under the guise of religion. We have ALL sinned and come short of the glory of God--Jew and Gentile. We are all gone out of the way. This is God's word and this is the truth.
Isaiah 53:6 ALL we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are ALL under sin;
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, NO, NOT ONE:
Romans 3:11 There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God.
Romans 3:12 They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, NO, NOT ONE.
Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Romans 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Romans 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Romans 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Romans 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Romans 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: THAT EVERY MOUTH MAY BE STOPPED, AND ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is NO difference:
Romans 3:23 For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
The Bible reveals that we are ALL sinners--whether Jew or Gentile. We are ALL headed for hell unless we repent of our sins. God is God Almighty and he has laid down his laws in the Bible. Either a person is obedient or disobedient, serving God or serving him not. Confirmed rebels do not like to hear about what is right and some wrest with the scriptures to their own destruction. The New Testament is not anti-Semitic. In fact, it reveals that the Jew has an advantage over the Gentile--
What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
The Jewish man's chief advantage is that unto his fathers were committed the oracles of God. The Jewish man should already be waiting and prepared to receive his Messiah whom he has read of in the holy scriptures. We Gentiles often have not had this training in the scriptures.
The Bible teaches us that God is no respecter of persons (reference Acts 10:34). God made us all and he is the God of the Jews and the God of the Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles are both saved by faith.
Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes of the Gentiles also:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
[3-20-13]