You may have
already noticed that we have been using several versions of the Bible in
presenting this
Unique Bible Study
Method (UBSM).
F.1
Is it more practical
and expedient to just use one version of the Bible?
The
Holy Bible is a collection of 66 books. The Old Testament contain 39 books
originally written in Hebrew, with few chapters written in Aramaic. The
New Testament contain 27 books and letters originally written in Greek.
The Holy Bible has undergone numerous translation through the centuries
from it's original form in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek to the old English
language, and now to the current English versions.
In
it's original form the Bible contain no contradiction because:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God" ( II Timothy 3:15-17).
There
are no contradictions between the different verses of the Bible because
"spiritual things or spiritual truths are
expressed in spiritual words" (I Cor.
2:13). This is because God is the ultimate
author of all the books and letters in the Bible though it was spoken and/or
written by the Prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit (II Peter1:20-21).
But, with the Bible
translations we use today, it is not practical and also not expedient
to use just one version or translation because of the existence of
contradictions and inconsistencies.
F.2 What are reasons
for using more than one version of the Bible:
Using one Bible version
may look easier and practical to many people, but they may not be
aware that a big problem is in the offing, and that is by being misled
from the truth written in the Scriptures.
Using one Bible version should not pose any
problem, if and when those who translated the Bible in various languages
are completely free of bias or are theologically neutral.
Unfortunately, they are not. And this has resulted not only
in differences in shades of meaning in some portions of the verse, but
also in differences in interpretation of the entire passage.
In the
book Accuracy of Translation, this is written:
"All translation involves
interpretation. Interpretation, of course, involves the influence
of theology; and as all translation involves interpretation, so all
translation involves theology. ---
Translators cannot avoid totally the necessity of making the
interpretative decisions, nor can they avoid completely the influence of
personal views of truth on their work. Translation is not
hermeneutically neutral and translators are not theologically neutral."
(Accuracy of Translation, p.41)
F.3
How should one choose the Bible version or translation to use?
For the above reasons,
there are times when it is necessary to:
-
choose the version that is
not only easier to comprehend,
-
but most of all choose the
version that renders the
precise meaning that is in conformity with the biblical truth.
Thus, the need to use
more than one version of the Bible.
F.4
If it is
justified to use different translations or
versions of the bible, can we also use other
books dealing on the same subject?
In 2 Timothy
3:16-17, this is written:
All Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful to teach us what
is true and to make us realize what
is wrong in our lives. It
straightens us out and teaches us to
do what is right. It is God's way
of preparing us in every way, fully
equipped for every good thing God
wants us to do. ( NLT)
Certainly not!
We should not use any other book aside from
the Bible, for the following reasons:
-
As Apostle Paul said, "All scriptures is inspired
by God",
-
it can teach
us what is true,
-
It can make
us realize what is wrong in our lives,
-
it can
straighten us out and teaches us to do
what is right.
-
Thus, the Bible is
complete. It is God's way of
preparing us in every way, fully
equipped for every good thing God wants
us to do.
We should not
use any other book because God's words
written in the Bible is already complete.
The scriptures is God's way of preparing man
to be fully equipped for the every good
thing that God wants him to do.
What is the reason why the scriptures is
God's way of preparing man to do what God
wants him to do?
In Matthew
7:21, the Lord Jesus himself said this
words:
"Not everyone who keeps saying to
me, 'Lord, Lord,' will get into the
kingdom of heaven, but only the
person who keeps doing the will of
my Father in heaven. (ISV)
Since the
Bible contain the will of God, it is only the person who keeps on doing
the will of God that
will enter the kingdom of God in heaven.
What is in the Bible that makes a person
attain eternal life in the kingdom of
heaven?
In John
20:30-31, the truth is written:
Therefore many other signs Jesus
also performed in the presence of
the disciples, which are not written
in this book; but these have been
written so that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that believing you may have life
in His name. (NAS)
It is
what is written in the bible that is
important for man's salvation. Note:
that it is true that there are also many
other important things that Jesus did in
the presence of His disciples, but these
are not deemed important to be written
by the Apostles.
-
What
is written is enough for a person to
believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God.
-
And
that, through believing in
Christ, a person may have life
eternal in His name.
There is no
need for other books apart from the Bible,
because God's words written in the Bible is
complete in every detail on what God wants
man to do in order to enter the Kingdom of
God and attain eternal life through Christ. The use of other
books will only mislead man from the truth
written in the Bible, and may make them
believe what is false.
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