Modernizing the Bible
by Michael Ray Baggett
When King Jehoiakim of Judah heard the writings of Jeremiah read to him, he destroyed the scroll. The King did not simply disagree with what he heard but took his penknife and cut off three or four pages and threw them in the fire until the entire scroll was destroyed (Jeremiah 36:23). The LORD told Jeremiah to write another scroll. Jehoiakim is not the only person who did not like what God had to say. There are many today who want to destroy or at least modernize specific passages in the Bible to reflect current social norms.
Everyone is aware of the hundreds of English translations of the Bible. Some of these translations are excellent; others are poor excuses for a translation. Some do not claim to be translations, but paraphrases -- often of what the translator believes! Avoid the Message Version, as it does not refer to sin as sin. (see I Corinthians 6:9-10, Message Bible). The Passion version removes rebuking and correcting (see II Timothy 4:2, Passion Bible). The Living Bible puts the author’s own ideas into passages such as Jesus will “come to you meekly, sitting on a donkey’s colt” (John 12:15). The Good News Bible distorts the divinity of Christ, removes references to hell, and distorts salvation. Others to avoid are the Contemporary English Version and the New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witness Bible), which put slants on certain verses, leading the reader into serious error. The New Living Translation teaches Catholicism and Calvinism, as do some other Bible versions. Being new does not necessarily make a translation bad, but be cautious of new translations, as some can be very poor. Stick to the tried and true if you are unsure.
A few years ago, a translation came out known as the Queen James version. Here is a quote from the translator concerning his revision of the King James version; he says his QJV translation: “edits out all references to homosexuality in order to prevent homophobic misinterpretations of God’s word.” -- Christianity.com. If the King James is guilty of mistranslating passages dealing with homosexuality, then what about the other 99% of Bible versions? They are not wrong! The story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 makes it clear enough in 99% of all versions that homosexual sin is the primary reason God rained fire and brimstone on those cities! Look through the NASB, NET, CSB, ESV, ASV, KJV, NKJV, and note the numerous warnings given about sexual perversion (Jude 7, for instance). Truth will often offend. Will using a perversion of the Bible make the truth go away?
Some modern translations avoid words such as "mankind" or "him." As I write this, my Microsoft Word is flagging me for using the term mankind --see what I mean? Many modern versions omit men from I Corinthians 16:13, which instructs us to act like men in faith (see Strong’s Concordance, #G407). Somebody took the men out. Why? Listen to the New Revised Standard Version as it attempts to be gender inclusive: “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The plural used in the NRSV -- “those” and “them” instead of “he” and “him” clouds who it is Jesus is addressing. The branches in this passage are individuals, not churches. Some take political correctness in translating gender neutral to the point of sounding unnecessarily awkward. Consider Psalms 34:20 a prophecy concerning Jesus on the cross as translated in the NRSV: “He keeps all their bones; not one of them is broken.” Whose bones are not broken? This is speaking of Jesus and the fact that none of His bones would be broken on the cross. The use of "their" sounds like many of our colleges today, where his or her is changed to theirs! Most versions read correctly, “His bones....” The NRSV, in trying to avoid masculine pronouns, not only sounds silly but uses a word (their) that never entered the mind of God! It is a serious offense to tamper with the words of God! (Revelation 22:18-19).
Some Bibles begin the discussion of husbands and wives in Ephesians 5 with verse 21, to throttle down the force of the passage. But husbands and wives are not being discussed in verse 21. Paul, an apostle, begins comparing the relationship between husband and wife to that of Christ and His Bride, the Church, in Ephesians 5:22-33. Read it for yourself. This comparison begins in verse 22, not verse 21, as some versions teach, and, sadly, in some watered-down preaching! Friends, there is an obvious shift in the classes of people when we reach verse 22. Verse 21 concludes a discussion of the relationship between church members. Verses 22-33 discuss the relationship between husbands and wives, as well as Christ and His Church. These seemingly small changes in some Bible versions are done intentionally to modernize our thinking!
Friends, we live in serious times. God was removed from schools legally long ago. Today, the home is a shell of what it was just 50 years ago. Satan continues to attack the church, the home, and the word of God. Certain People, both in the religious circles and outside the churches, want to rewrite parts of the Bible to suit modern agendas. Remember, “Every word of God is pure” (Proverbs 30:5-6). We dare not use Bibles that clearly add to or take away from God’s Holy word. Do you stand for the truth of God’s word and nothing but the truth? Beware of perversions of God’s word!
