Which Bible translation?

What are the implications of accepting a version of Scripture that has questionable source material and questionable translators?

Bible versions have proliferated in our generation. Practically every year one or more new version comes out on the market. The naive, who do not know the difference between the left and the right, may see this Trend as commendable and a sign of gospel progress.

This is not necessarily the case. New versions are produced on the assumption that the previous ones are faulty or inadequate Translations. This is the only valid and godly reason for producing a new Translation. But is this the reason for flooding the market with new Translations? Is the church being helped? Is the gospel finding more success? Are the lost finding good direction or are they being dumbfounded, not knowing which version is the best one?

If a new version comes into my hand, I ask myself, Why should I prefer it to the old and time-tested Authorised? What is the concrete advantage, if any? And if I am going to recommend the same to new Christians, what reasons should I put forward for its acceptance? Is the new version made out of the True and faithful text, or out of some corrupt or eclectic text (like Nestle’s).

Are the best manuscripts those that the church at large has historically rejected and laid aside? This is what Westcott and Hort would have us believe.

But the authentic MSS are naturally and obviously the ones which have been Traditionally used by conservative Bible-believers throughout the centuries. The fact is that the vast majority of existing MSS reflect the TEXTUS RECEPTUS type of MS.

These MSS were used to produce virtually all the Protestant Bibles in a good number of languages. God blessed them and increased His church through the use of the TEXTUS RECEPTUS. Is this evidence to be brushed aside? God works in time and space; He works through His people, not from the liberal critic’s desk!

Why would God allow the majority of manuscripts to be of the TEXTUS RECEPTUS line if it is incorrect? Would God want to deceive His own people? Away with the thought!

If the Traditional line of manuscripts is not the correct line, why has God so greatly blessed this line and the translations of the TEXTUS RECEPTUS throughout church history? And why would He allow the few other MSS to remain hidden and unknown? And would He give the key of knowledge to Westcott and Hort whose moral conduct and beliefs are most suspect?

Are not the spirits to be tested, as 1 John 4:1ff. Commands us to do? What difference does it make if the Translation has the recommendation of Billy Graham or the pope or a church organization, or the media?

The implication then, so serious, is that I cannot afford to get things wrong when it comes to the Bible. Being the only authoritative source of all what I should believe and how I should behave in this world, I must have a correct Bible that reflects the True preserved text. Otherwise I will be building on sinking sand.

If I have the New English Bible and read Philippians 2 it says that Christ “did not think to snatch at equality with God,” I am left with the implication that Christ is not Deity. Other paraphrases likewise obscure this great Christological passage. What will happen to my faith then? If I don’t believe in the full deity of Christ then I cannot be saved: all I have is a false Christ.

How will I be able to test which parts are real and which parts are false? Doubts will unquestionable enter and gnaw at my faith.

If we get it wrong at the source, the results are devastating. Souls are at risk, and the credibility of the whole church is at stake. If she really believes in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Bible she should see to it that she owns and uses a correct and faithful Translation.

What are some of the problems faced by church and pastor when it comes to the use of various versions?

1. There are many Christians who are bemused and bewildered by the proliferation of Bible versions. Not only in bookstores but also in local church one is wont to find different versions. What is read out from the pulpit is different from what the visitor or member happens to have open before him. This spells confusion and frustration; unity of purpose is broken up. Orchestration is impossible for everyone is playing on his own instrument.

2. When various versions are used memorization of the Scriptures becomes a heavier task, almost impossible to be done. Modern versions are introduced with the excuse that their English is simpler to the Authorised (with is not the case, except for paraphrases which are essentially different from Translations); being in competition with each other the good discipline of Bible memorization is surrendered.

3. New Bible versions produce mass confusion. People simply do not know which version to use. The old familiar verses are replaced and there is utter dismay. People simply choose by utter subjectivity rather than making wise and intelligent choices, based on the sources and the scholarship involved behind the Translation.

4. The new versions also promote the Romanising tendency of false ecumenism. The Revised English Bible, for instance, was planned and developed from the start to be “acceptable to all Christians.” This new “Bible” is the result of a unique co-operation between all the major “Christian” churches in the British Isles. It is a “Bible” which is for the furtherance of false ecumenism.

Modern versions are not to be trusted. They are the devil’s cuckoo in the nest.

Christians desensitized to the Word of God If I know something has been produced by Romanists or some other cult, I am immediately suspicious. Even if what they say is prima facie correct, I would nevertheless be just as suspicious. I would ask myself, Why is this correct? when the whole system of their belief is corrupt and built on falseness and godlessness.

But are Christians at large on their guard? It is simply amazing how professing Christians show themselves to be gullible and uncritical in their approach to such a fundamental question as the reliability of a Bible Translation.

Unless I am doing some research such reading will not do me any good. Why should I seek for mouldy bread from the bin when I already possess nutritious bread laid out for me on the table?

Put otherwise, would you accept a free sum of money from a criminal? Personally I would have nothing to do with it; certainly he would want something back in return. A criminal does not bestow favours just for the fun of it.

Likewise in the field of Bible Translation. Are we to blindly accept “modern scholarship” and throw away our heritage? Or are we to apply Christian discernment and sift the good from the unprofitable?

If a version is produced by corrupt men with corrupt motives who despise God and His Christ, then why should I approve it?

But someone may say, “We should accept Truth from whatever quarter!” This may sound above board, but I would still prefer to accept Truth from its original and perfect source, that is, a correct Translation of the Word.

Scores of English Translations are now on the market. They have their own distinctive marks and people generally choose on a superficial basis, for instance, the ease of the language or even the print of the page! They never question who made the Translation and from which manuscripts. So they are left to choose for themselves; but the Bibles available do not agree with each other! Indirectly their faith is affected because they think that, things being as they are, we have no standard Word from God! What a malicious satanic strategy is this!

Their thinking is that the Bible can change (and in their understanding it is changing with every new Translation) and so we have no sure foundation for our faith. We are left in a subjective pool with everyone swimming in the direction he likes. But if the Bible changes so does (and should) our faith. Bu then faith is unstable for it has no moorings. If the Bible changes just as fashion in dress changes, then who would blame the average Christian for his laziness in studying it, memorizing it, and conforming his whole life to it?

The end result is that the professing Christian may have a dozen Bibles in his hand...but does he really care. Twelve discordant notes: what are they good for? One sure word is better than ten thousand garbled ones.