New Translations Not all are wrong!

"What Is Wrong With Them?"

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 1:13).
The infestation of new "translations" has come by storm.  Since the dry clouds of denominationalism have made them popular, any unsuspecting souls and those with financial desires have adopted them without question.  However, the "7,000 who have not bowed" to error, even though it is the popular thing, do want some answers. In this examination, we will present, as briefly as possible, a ready reference of help in answering the question "What Is Wrong With Them?"  Hopefully, you will want to keep this tract handy for future use.

"What Is Wrong With The Living Bible Paraphrase?"
(1971) It is not a translation; It is a paraphrase; The term BIBLE should not be associated with this book.

1. It teaches Premillennialism.  Isaiah 2:1-4 (Compare with KJV)
2. It teaches the false theory of Total Depravity. Psalms 51:5; Ephesians 2:3.
3. It refuses to translate. I Kings 20:11
4. It teaches the Kingdom has not been established.  II Timothy 4:1.
5. It teaches the faith only theory. Romans 4:9, 12.
6. We are not saved by baptism as taught by I Peter 3:21.
7. The Holy Spirit speaks directly to man.  Romans 8:16; Galatians 5:16.
8. One can be saved without keeping the laws of God.  II Corinthians 3:17.
9. It refuses to use the term churches of Christ. Romans 16:16.

It is easy to understand why Billy Graham and Calvinist gladly embrace this book as the "Bible", but it is not easy to explain why some others do the same.  We strongly believe that friends of the Bible will put it where it belongs . . . Acts 19:
In the interest of safety and the eternal welfare of the soul, anything found unfaithful and unreliable is to be rejected.  The recent translations are found guilty of false teaching and fatal doctrinal error.  Being unfaithful translations of God's Word, they are to be rejected as unreliable guides.  The perversions, omissions, changes, deformations, and theological wanderings suggest them highly inaccurate to the sincere seeker of Truth.

"What Is Wrong With Today's English Version?"
(1966) Its Errors Include:

1. That Jesus did not come to do away with the Law of Moses.  Matthew 5:17.
2. That all the believers on Pentecost received the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the apostles.  Acts 1:26-2:1.
3. Taking out some words and injecting others to teach that we receive the Holy Spirit as a gift at baptism.  Acts 2:38.
4. Mutilating many passages of scripture such as Acts 3:19.
5. That an alien sinner is saved "by faith alone, from the beginning to end." Romans 1:17.
6. Removing the first day assembling of the disciples and the Lord's Supper for a "Saturday evening . . . fellowship meal".  Acts 20:7.
7. A bumbled rendering of Matthew 6:1 that would exclude all public worship services.
8. Teaching that Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, told Simon:  "May you and your money go to hell".  Acts 8:20.
9. Teaching that Peter is the Rock on which the church of Christ was built!  Matthew 16:18.
10. Denies the virgin birth by removing from John 3:16 the correctly translated words "only begotten".

Though many other errors could be pointed out, more evidences could not convince one not convinced by the above, that Acts 19:19 needs to be applied, again.

Modernism has no respect for the inspired message, thinking and teaching that the Bible is no more than any other book of human origin.  Preachers, teachers, editors, brethren or professors should not defend, teach, nor encourage our young people or any people to accept this as the Bible.  When the basis of the foundation of Christianity is removed, the complete structure is soon to fall!  Basic and fundamental truths are tampered with and removed from the RSV!

"What Is Wrong With The Revised Standard Version"
(1946) Its Errors Include:

1. Removing the miraculous sign from Isaiah 7:14 by saying the "Almah" is YOUNG WOMAN instead of VIRGIN.
2. Attempting to remove the prophetic connection in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:24, thus denying inspiration.
3. Removing every scriptural reference to Jesus being the "only begotten" Son of God John 1:14, 18; 3:16, etc.
4. Denying the Jesus Christ is divine by referring deliberately to Deity with "Thee, Thou, Thine" and to Jesus as "you" Matthew 16:16.
5. Changing the singular term "seed" in the spiritual promise made to Abraham (Genesis 22:18) to the plural term descendants".  (See also: Galatians 3:16; Acts 3:25).
6. Completely omitting many principle text. John 7:53-8:11.
7. Cutting out Mark 16:9-20. ignoring undeniable proof that it belongs in the text.  (See their foot-note).
8. Removing completely Luke 22:20, "Likewise also the cup after supper saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."
9. It botches the words of Christ (Matthew 5:17) to contradict Paul, the inspired apostle!  Ephesians 2:14-15.
10. Changes the word "judgement" (referring to Paul's inspired judgement) to simply "opinion".  I Corinthians 7:25.

Briefly, we have pointed to some of the difficulties of subtle and deceptive modernism now housed in the Revised Standard Version.  The name is as close as they could get to the honored American Revised Standard Version, but be not deceived . . . they are not the same!
Brevity on any subject is difficult, especially when dealing with error and that on which volumes have been written.  We have pledged ourselves to the task, however, knowing that the masses will not read large amounts.  Much more could be said on the neo-translations.  Doctrinal errors are wrong whether in the creeds of men of volumes called the Bible.  Those pressing these "translations" on the young and old are squarely responsible for the confusion and difficulty presently being suffered by many.  The NIV is no exception.

"What Is Wrong With The New International Version?"
(1973) Its Errors Include:

1. It mistranslates Psalms 51:5 to teach the false theory of Total Depravity!
2. It changes "flesh" in Romans 8 to "SINFUL NATURE", teaching the false theory of original sin.
3. It denies the deity of Christ by removing "begotten" from every text referring to Jesus Christ! (Cf. John 3:16).
4. It deletes both the statement of Philip on the condition of baptism and the eunuch's answer! (Cf. Acts 8:37).
5. It falsely teaches the premillenial concept of the final and complete salvation of national Israel in Romans 11:26.
6. It falsely teaches that sinners are "included in Christ" at the point of hearing .  .  . Ephesians 1:13.
7. It further tampers with the plan of salvation in Romans 10:10, teaching that justification is reached at the point of faith.
8. The same verse teaches that salvation is reached at the point of verbal confession!  Romans 10:10.
9. It lends itself to the Calvinistic view that the Holy Spirit opens our minds to understand the Scriptures . . . I Corinthians 2:12-13.
10. It changes I Corinthians 1:6 from "the testimony of Christ" (the Gospel) to "our testimony about Christ" (Testimonalism!)
11. It makes Peter teach that baptism is "the pledge of a good conscience toward God" advancing the false theory of faith alone.  I Peter 3:21.

Many of these errors may be explained by the representatives of Oral Roberts (1), Rex Humbard (2), and the Nazarene Church (7), who served on the translating committees.  May we remind you that God said to all "thought" translators:  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah."  Isaiah 55:8.
It seems many are willing to accept almost anything with the title Bible!  If one knows nothing of the perverted text of NEB, a slight insight into the writings of the chairman of the translating committee, C. H. Dodd, will cause any sober thinking person to cast it aside!  His book, "The Authority of the Bible", reveals Mr. Dodd's infidelity clearly:  God is not the Author of the Bible (page 17); Moses is a legendary figure (page 27); Vicarious expiation is not wholly rational (page 215); John 3:16 is mythological; All according to Mr. Dodd!  Naturally, we could not expect him to believe the Bible to possess divine infallibility.  The NEB distorts and garbles the Bible in reckless neglect!

"What Is Wrong With The New English Bible?"
(1961) ITS ERRORS INCLUDE:

1. Making Genesis 1:1 to read like a fairy tale, as if to begin a myth or legend rather than fact.
2. Maiming Isaiah 7:14 to deny the virgin birth of Christ and therefore also His Deity. (Cf. Luke 1:26-27 changing "virgin" to "girl").
3. Refusing to fully translate the Greek word "monogenes" meaning "only begotten".  In every New Testament passage that refers to Christ as the only begotten of the Father, the NEB deletes!
4. Falsely making Peter the "Rock" on which the church was built. (Cf. Matthew 16:18).  The official Roman Catholic Bible (Douay Version) refused to be this dishonest with the text.
5. Denying that Jesus Christ is Deity by referring to God with the solemn form of address, "Thee, Thou, Thine", but Christ as "you". (Cf. Matthew 16:16).
6. Making Matthew 5:17 and Ephesians 2:15 to contradict each other! (Cf. Hebrews 10:9).
7. Leaving out "my blood which is shed for you" (Luke 22:19-20), denying that Christ shed His blood for our redemption!
8. Removing the "first day of the week" and replacing it with "Saturday night" in Acts 20:7.
9. Changing Ephesians 5:19 from "singing" to "sing", "making melody" to "make music", and omitting "spiritual" completely!
10. Completely robbing II Timothy 3:16 (an inspiration passage) of its force and meaning, suggesting some Scriptures may not be inspired!
11. Following the "no hell" theologians by removing Christ's words, which He repeated three times, from Mark 9:44-48.  (Note the change of "perish" into "die" in John 3:16).

The theology of the translators will be swallowed by the gullible, but rejected by the discerning!  Remember Christ's words:  "I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.  Revelation 22:18-19.  Be not deceived by the NEB!

We offer the following errors found, and which we believe condemns the use of the NASV:

1. Faith only  (Rom.11:20, first edition).  (Notice the tense of the verb in Acts 10:43 is future tense in the original, not present, and certainly not past tense).
2. Premillennialism is taught in Isa.2:2; Gal.6:1; Mk.13:30; Rev.5:10; 20:4).
3. The illogical contradiction between Matt.5:17 & Eph.2:15. (CF. Heb.10:9; II Cor.3).
4. The terms “Christ” and “blood” are omitted numerous times by the translators, whereas ALL Greek manuscripts include these (Col.1:14).
5. Heb.1:3 leaves out “by himself”; I Cor.5:7 leaves out “for us”—The Gospel would not be good news if one omits the expression “for us.”
6. Notice the inexcusable change of John 1:18,  “the only begotten Son” to “the only begotten God.”
7. Psalms 5:8, replaces “angels” for God.” Hebrews 2:7 quotes Psalms 8:5, rendering it “angels.”  Jesus was not made a little lower than God, for he was God (Jn.1:1-2; I Tim.3:16).
8. Matthew 5:32 changes the only exception expressed by our Lord from “fornication” to the unequivalent term of “unchastity.” They likewise missed on the same word in Matthew 19:9, “immorality.” (A murderer  is immoral, but he may not be guilty of fornication!)
9. Their bumbling change of Amos 6:5, from “invent for themselves instruments of music, like David” to “composed songs for themselves.”
10. The name “New American Standard” is misleading, making the false claim that it would simply be a revision of the reliable American Standard Version of 1901, translated by 101 Greek scholars.  By reading the preface one can see the differences in purpose in producing these modern perversions.
11. The Lockman Foundation of  La Habra, California, will not identify the 58 “translators” of the NASV, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses will not reveal the “translators” of the “New World Translation,” which is the “Bible” used by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
12. The solemn form of address is removed except in language of prayer addressing Deity.  They capitalize personal pronouns!  (CF. Matt.6:9-13; 11:25-26; Lk.11:24).  Conversations with Christ  “You” (Jn.6:68-69; 21:12-19; Acts 1:6).  But these perverters are not even consistent here! (CF. Matt.16:16; Mk.8:29).

These are only a few of the many errors to be found in the NASV.  We conclude that the use of this “translation” is not safe to any who want to go to Heaven.
The Bible has always had one relentless enemy, Satan!  His attacks upon the Book have been many and varied.  His helpers have been legion!  Some lately have evidently tried with the "translations" to transform "themselves into the apostles of Christ" (II Corinthians 11:13-15).  Some attempts have been made to promote the "translation question" to be only a matter of judgement or expediency for which "toleration" is suggested, regardless of the many doctrinal errors advanced!  But in matters of doctrine, conviction is the question, not opinion!  There is really no question as to where lovers of the Bible will take their stand!

This brief study has not been exhaustive.  Predestination, Calvinism, modernism, infidelity, and mistranslation have been sufficiently exposed for those who are seeking help.  Enough has been given to cause us to ask why anyone should leave the old tried and reliable translations.  The King James with its 47 Greek scholars and the American Standard with its 101 Greek scholars have not been challenged with any improvement by the modern "translations"!
The list these seem endless . . . perhaps as endless as man's many doctrines.

We Will Not Take Space To Discuss Fully The Errors Of:

1. The Kosman Bible - Oahspe, which says the "battle of Armagedden is called off" or "The Holy Bible . . . belongs to times past".
2. The Olive Pell Bible, which explains that she took out "all that was not important to man" . . . results? . . . 1/5 of the Bible.
3. The Readers Digest Bible, which intends to cut the Old Testament to 1/2 and the New Testament to 3/4.
4. The Cotton Patch Version, which renders Acts 2:36-38: "The BOSS said to my BOSS, Be my right hand man while I put even your opponents under control:  Therefore let all America know beyond any doubt that God has made the same Jesus whom you LYNCHED, both PRESIDENT and leader . . . Rock said to them, Reshape your lives and let each of you be INITIATED into the family of Jesus Christ so your sins can be dealt with; and you will receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit."
5. The Satanic Bible, with a take-off from the Sermon on the Mount:  "Hate your enemies with a whole heart, and if a man smite you on one cheek, smash him on the other!  Smite him hip and thigh for self preservation is the highest law!  He who turns the other cheek is a cowardly dog!"
6. The Phillips Translation, in which Mr. J. B. Phillips in the forward states, "I am convinced that they (the New Testament writers) had no idea they were writing Holy Scripture."

The heart grows sick; not only that these exist, but more so that more voices are not being lifted in horror!  None of the representative "New Translations" exposed in this tract meet the three fundamental rules predominately necessary for Bible translating:

1. They must be accurate translations of the original text.
2. They must be clear; without doctrinal contradiction or confusion.
3. They must possess the dignity that befits the inspired Word of God.

The quantity of volumes continues to grow though the quality remains stagnant!  Brother Robert R. Taylor in his fine articles states: "the latest figures of English versions and translations . . . adds up to at least three hundred and forty (340) . . . either in part or in whole".
The venerable Guy N. Woods states in the book "Open Forum", Page 348: "We are prepared to affirm that not one 'modern speech' version which has attained to any publicity in our day is in harmony with the Greek New Testament; and that if these documents continue to gain acceptance in the churches of Christ the Cause, as we know it, cannot continue.  These changes are but the prelude to more sweeping ones soon to engulf us.  The Versions which our fathers and mothers knew and loved, believed and obeyed, will enable all who so do to go to heaven.  Such is not true of many of the so-called "Bibles" which people are now becoming increasingly enamored with.  Too late many of them will discover they have taken a serpent into their bosoms!"

The late magnanimous scholar, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., wrote in "An Evaluation of the New International, A Supplement to 'A Review of the New Version'".  "After extensive examination of the errors and evils of this New International Version, and of its predecessors in pseudo-translation, due deliberation leads me to the inevitable conclusion that they are all the diabolical devices of the devil to destroy the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.  The comparison of the New International Version with the New Testament yields evidence that it is a worthless ecumenical farce.  First, as a translation, it ignores the Greek Text, and is therefore not a version.  Second, as a classic, it is totally lacking in literary quality and reads like a second rate fiction, an inferior, poorly written novel.  Third, in doctrine it is a promiscuous mixture of Calvinism, Neo-Pentecostalism, and Premillennialism.  Fourth, true to its title, it is an ecumenical product of an international conglomeration of religionism - it is not "The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ".

Not only can one now "choose the church of your choice" as the Devil has long deceived, but now one can "choose the Bible of his choice" with any teaching or doctrine he may desire!  Again, we strongly believe that friends of the Bible will put them where they belong . . . Acts 19:19!!
                                                               --- Gary Colley