Questions and Answers About Bible Versions

Question asked by - Job Gnanarathinam M
Location - India
Question - I want to buy an accurate English transaction Bible (from original Bible), so tell to me which version Bible suitable for buying? And another clarification which Bible version have below mentioned sentence? He (god) had the water hatch (incubators). Kindly help to clarify my question.

Our Answer - Personally, I like the “New International Version” of the Bible and I use it in my work. However it is not without controversy. There are some people who have developed a cult believing that any Bible other than the “King James Version” is of the devil. Considering how many people have given their hearts and lives over to Jesus Christ and want to serve Him after reading the “New International Version” or something similar, I believe their attacks on such new Bibles is nonsense. Moreover, the good newer translations of the Bible, such as, “The New King James Version”, “The International Version”, “Today’s English Version” (also called the “Good News Bible”), “The American Standard Bible”, “The New American Standard Bible”, and the “Contemporary English Version” all take their translations from much older scrolls, and should be more reliable than the “King James Version.” Any of these versions are good. But do not get any Bible that has been tampered with, such as gender neutral versions! They are not of God (Revelation 22:18-19)! For more information regarding the KJV conflict you can go to these websites, The Gospel Coalition, Inc. and the King James Only Debate on YouTube.

As far as your question about the reference “He (god) had the water hatch (incubators)” is concerned, I have checked in the New International Version, the King James Version, and the American Standard Bible, and there is nothing like that phrase in any of them. I am not aware of any Bible that has the phrase.

Question asked by - Darko Vilupek
Location - Croatia
Question - Which Bible translation is the most credible?

Our Answer - Of course, if you are using a Croatian translation, I would not be familiar with any version in that language. However, Bibles in many different languages are available from: The American Bible Society, at 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023. However, since you wrote your question in such perfect English, you apparently speak and read the language very well. You may be one of the many Americans living in a foreign nation. Therefore, if you are asking about English translations, you may be aware of the great controversy on the subject. I don’t want to get involved in the “King James Only” controversy because those in favor of using only the King James version of the Bible tend to get very passionate in their views. The whole thing started with a book entitled “New Age Bible Versions” by Gail Riplinger. It stated that all other translations of the Bible except the KJV are of the devil. I suppose that includes all foreign languages and all translations that existed prior to the KJV as well as contemporary versions.

Since I am not a Bible scholar, I will refer you to someone who is, James White. So, if you are concerned about the controversy please watch an excellent video on the subject at KJV Onlyism Debate . As for myself, I refer to the words of Jesus, who said, “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me... and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen [Gentiles, not just Jews]. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:14-16 NIV). When you have the Holy Spirit in you He enables you to sense the true Word of God when you hear it. And I hear it in some, but not all, of the modern versions of the Bible, such as the “New International Version,” which is the one I use the most. Also, other translations like the “New King James Version,” the “Contemporary English Version” and “New American Standard” are also good. One man in Hawaii once told me that he accepted Christ as his Savior after reading the New International Version. I heard a tape where another man said he read a New Testament version of it and came to the Lord. And I could sense God’s Presence in both of them. That wouldn’t happen if they were reading some evil translation.

I’m not claiming that there is anything unholy about the King James Version. It was the first version I ever read and God blessed me through it. However, we deal with prison inmates in this ministry. Some of them are fairly uneducated. And they have a hard time understanding terms in the KJV like “whoremonger” (Ephesians 5:5). Another example is the word “homosexual” (1 Corinthians 6:9), which is used in the ‘New International Version,’ but is translated “abusers of themselves with mankind” in the KJV Bible. Even words like “harlot,” which appears in the KJV (1 Corinthians 6:15-16) are not as easily understood as the word “prostitute” which appears in the same verses in the New International Version. Also, words like “beer” are easily understood in the New International Version in verses like 1 Samuel 1:15 and are more specific than the term “strong drink” that is used in the KJV. The devil is the author of confusion, and people are more likely to become confused if they are reading terms they are unfamiliar with. The devil can twist scripture around more easily when it is hard to understand (Matthew 7:15 and Acts 20:30).

One example of evidence the “KJV only” proponents use is the fact that Satan’s original name was Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12), back in the days when he was a perfect and powerful heavenly angel. However you will not find the word used in the New International Version or the New American Standard. They use the translation of the word, which is “morning star.” But that’s what the word “Lucifer” means. The KJV proponents point to the fact that Jesus is referred to as “the bright morning star” in Revelation 22:16. However, it uses the term in Revelation 2:28 too, which reads, “I will also give him the morning star.” And the term is used in scripture like Job 38:7, which talks about the creation of planet earth and the joy the heavenly angels had. And it says, “while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (NIV). So the term “stars” refers to angels in certain scriptures, such as Revelation 12:4. And refers to the twelve angels who protect the “woman” (the nation of Israel) in Revelation 12:1.

As for the term “the bright morning star” which is found in Revelation 22:16, I believe that it refers to an important position. The Bible seems to hint that in a time prior to the creation of mankind, Lucifer ruled over planet earth. In those days he was still loyal to God. The Lord told him, “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you... You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:14-15 NIV). Lucifer’s position as ruler of the earth was very prestigious. Most likely more so than any other angel. And so he was given the title “Morning Star,” which I believes signifies authority over the earth. During His 1,000 year reign upon the earth (see Revelation 20:4) Jesus will assume that position. So I believe that is why the Lord is referred to as “the bright and morning star”. Of course, Lucifer’s position changed after his failed mutiny (Revelation 12:9). That’s when God remade the earth out of recycled material when He prepared it for us. The Bible says, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth...” (Genesis 1:28 KJV). To “replenish” something there has to be something there in the first place. So I see no evil intent in the translation of Lucifer as “morning star” because that is what he was during his reign over the earth.

I hope this has been of help to you.

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