Damien over at Return to Biblicism, just completed a three part series on “Christ and the Scriptures“. He gives me hope: there are other people out there who write longer blog posts than I do!!!
His series focuses on why we believe the Bible, and he argues convincingly that we should believe in Christ first, and the Bible because of what Christ believes about the Bible. Today’s post is where the rubber hits the road for the King James Only debate. He illustrates how Jesus uses the LXX, and what that should mean for our views of Bible versions today.
I’m going to steal a chart he used in today’s post, but I want you all to go over and read his post too, now. In Luke 4, Jesus is specifically said to pick up a scroll in the synagogue and read what was written there. See how what was written compares to the Hebrew Old Testament (as translated by the KJV) and the LXX Greek Old Testament. Click chart below to expand.
This argument, coupled with a comparison of how Scripture quotes Scripture (OT quoting the OT, NT quoting the OT or the NT), and then seeing how Scripture records single events in multiple passages (in the OT and NT), is the knock-out blow to the KJV Only argument. If we treat Scripture and think about it in a way similar to Jesus and the apostles/prophets, how can we go wrong?
For more on this line of reasoning, read Damien’s post, or check out this article by Brian Tegart entitled “Jesus is not KJV-only“.
Great point Bob…kudos to Damien too!
Here’s another example of this:
Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened…
The writer of Hebrews quotes this verse in Psalms, but how does he say it? Look below:
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
What happend to opening ears? How does that mean a body prepared?
Simply put, the OT Psalm was an idiom that makes no sense in English and it made no sense in Greek either, so he uses a little bit of dynamic equivelance to tell you what the OT idiom actually meant.
Bob,
Thank you so much for linking to my post, and your kind words. I’m surprised that chart has made it to another blog, seeing that I created it using Microsoft Paint! that’s my computer skills for ya. . .
God bless!
Indeed, they are remarkable texts side by side.
“The like we are to think of Translations. The translation of the Seventy [refers to the Septuagint which is the Greek translation of Old Testament Hebrew] dissenteth from the Original in many places, neither doth it come near it, for perspicuity [clearly understood], gravity, majesty; yet which of the Apostles did condemn it? Condemn it? Nay, they used it ….â€
From the Translators to the Reader, 1611 AV
John,
man, I had that quote all ready to go and forgot to include it! thanks for bringing it up, I might go back and add it even though the post is already too long. it’s a huge problem for those who are convinced that the King James translators were the most learned men alive. . .ever.
For the life of me, I don’t understand the KJV-only controversy, having read the KJV, NIV, and ESV, and all of the differences are, at best, subtle, in my reading. Maybe I’m missing deeper differences, but is the gospel really skewed that differently through translational differences like this?
Rob,
You are correct of course. But the sensational claims of the KJV Only crowd are so over the top, they blow your mind. Having been influenced by that in the past, I devote some of my time to informing and helping those misled by that position.
Blessings,
Bob Hayton
Yes, there was a Bible before the King James,Authorized but it is for the English speaking world the preserved word of God.(Psalm 12:6-7). God has had his word for every generation but also satan and unbelieving men have had theirs too. This is why Paul said We are not as many which corrupt the word of God. Corrupt versions that add to and take from Gods word do not help anyone but bring the curse of God on those who do it. Revelation 22. Some also seek to make money off of other versions for gain. But the love of money is the root of all evil. Ignorance is one thing , corruption and greed is quite another. Those need to repent of their sins and trust The Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour who are corrupters and greedy. He died for their sins on the cross,and rose from the dead,was seen of men,and went back up to Heaven. Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Also in the Masoretic text and greek received texts, leave out the Sinaticus and Vaticanus text versions. thank You,very much. Sincerely;
To give credit where credit is due, I found the quote from Jack Schaap’s pdf response to Jeff Fugate on the distinction between inspiration and preservation. The stuff in brackets are Schaap’s words.
https://www.fbchammond.com/dr_jack_schaap_speaks_on_inspiration_and_the_king_james_bible/Dr._Jack_Schaap_Speaks_on_Inspiration_and_the_King_James_Bible.pdf
The providential timing was too rich to pass up, so I posted it.
John,
The pdf you link to is broken, it won’t open properly. Do you have that pdf where you can email me with it?
Thanks
George,
I respect your point of view. I think you are sadly mistaken however. Feel free to peruse my articles around here on the KJV Only debate.
Thanks,
Bob
Just go to fbchammond.com and on the front page toward the top right corner will be a picture of an open bible over which it reads “Inspiration and the King James Bible–‘I want to declare what I believe about the Word of God’ Jack Schaap” That’s the link to the pdf file.
The quote I cited is on page 14 of the pdf file.
If we could have one language above all other languages, that brought together East and West… that unified Alpha and Omega… that healed all and brought universal love and truth… …then there would be one voice of all in all; of all in one; and of one in all.
Thanks for the comments. Will, those are some more great points. Damien, I was sincere, it was a great series. Thank you for doing the legwork to post it. And don’t let anyone say anything bad about Paint. It is a useful program that I use in conjunction with other programs all the time. :^)
Thanks John. That worked.