The Importance of The Word.
"The beginning is the power of the Word". "In the beginning was the Word: and the
Word was with God: and the Word was God." Wording problems arise when translating from one
language to another: 1. "all have sinned" (Rom 3:23). The
Greek word 'pas' used here could mean all, or a great many, or any. The
translators chose the English word 'all', when clearly that verse does not mean
every single person, as there are exceptions as shown in the link 'all'.
Tatian, Address to the Greeks, 165 A.D.
John 1:1
"And the Word was made
flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory,
the glory as it were of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:14
Elucidation:
1. The Word is a person, the person of
Jesus Christ. John 1:1,14
2. Truth is a person, the person of Jesus
Christ. John 14:6
3. Therefore, a word spoken by Jesus Christ is the
truth.
4. "Do you not believe that I
am in the Father and the Father in me?
The words that I say to you I do not
speak on my own authority;
but the Father who dwells in me does his
works." John
14:10
5. The power of the word, "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." John 5:8,
Acts 3:6
6. The power of the word, "Receive the Holy
Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive,
they are forgiven them; and whose sins
you shall retain, they are retained." John
20:22-23
7. The Word of GOD came to us in truth in all its beauty.
8.
But look what mere human beings are trying to do to it.
Since we are all called "the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13)", and salt is used as
a preservative,
it is our duty to preserve the Word of GOD in all of its
purity.
Not often
enough do words in one language have the same exact meaning as a complimentary
word in a second language. Saint Jerome recognized this problem when he
translated Greek and Hebrew Biblical texts into Latin and produced the first
Christian Bible, the Latin Vulgate. Hebrew is a comparatively simple language
with few words. But the words can have different meanings depending on the
context in which they are used. Koine Greek (Greek used at the time of Christ)
however, is a complex language where several words could have a similar meaning.
Now when Greek is translated into English, we run into several problems. Here
are two examples:
2. "Is not this the
carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph,
and Jude, and Simon?" (Mark 6:3). In Greek, in which the Gospel of Mark was
written, the word 'brother' used here is 'adelphos', meaning a blood
brother, or belonging to the same people, or a countryman, or a fellow believer.
Even today, the word is used in a larger meaning, so that friends, allies,
fellow believers, and fellow citizens can be included in the same brotherhood.
It was no different in the time of Christ.
In both of these examples, if
we assume that the Bible was originally written in English, as many people seem
to believe, then the meanings are taken at face value. However when we go to the
original Greek, the English translation falls apart.
An even worse
translation problem arose when we read a verse that was translated from its
original Aramaic, to Greek, and finally to English. Go here for the
details.
Here is an example of accurate wording, versus an
inaccurate nuance:
It cannot be
stressed enough that His undefiled word must be preserved in all of its purity.
A slight change in one word can change the true meaning of a Scripture verse or
even an entire passage.
For example:
2Thess 2:15 reads,
"So then,
brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by
us, either by word of mouth or by letter."
Since 2Thess was originally
written in Greek we can go to the Greek and find which word was used by St. Paul
for the word 'traditions':
That Greek word is 'paradosis', and it
means, "that which is handed down,
tradition, giving over which is done by
word of mouth or in writing."
Some Bibles have substituted the word
'teachings' for traditions. Now by doing this can you see the subtle change in
the meaning of that verse?
1. 'Tradition', something which is handed down
from generation to generation, clearly brings time into the equation.
2.
'Teachings' could bring to mind contemporary teaching and with no sense of
time.
3. The leaders of the reformation, in separating
themselves from the Catholic Church, knew that they could not claim Apostolic Tradition, so some
of their leaders simply lumped together all tradition, Apostolic Tradition, and
man-made tradition, and denied
both.
4. Consequently, by that one word change of
some Bible translations, Apostolic Tradition whether by word or by letter was
denied by some non-Catholic sects.
When in dialogue with others:
At the beginning of every discussion is the
understanding of the meaning of the word.
Prov 16:23, A wise person's
heart controls his speech, and what he says helps others learn.
When writing
:When reading Holy Scripture
:What does Scripture say about those who refuse to follow the Word of GOD to the letter?
:Some additional notes regarding the importance of using the correct wording
:What does Holy Scripture teach us regarding
correct wording?:
Job 13:17,
"Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your
ears."
Deut 12:28, "Be careful to heed all these words which I command
you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you for ever,
when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God."
Jer 1:7 "And the Lord said to me: Say not: I am a child: for thou shalt
go to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, thou
shalt speak."
Jer 1:9, "Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my
mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.""
Acts 2:22, "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man
attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did
through him in your midst, as you yourselves know."
Job 6:25, "How
forceful are honest words!"
Job 23:12, "I have not departed from the
commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth."
Deut 27:8, "And you shall write upon the stones all the words of this
law very plainly."
Rev 21:5, "And he who sat upon the throne said,
"Behold, I make all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are
trustworthy and true."
Deut 4:10, "how on the day that you stood before
the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to me, that
I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days
that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children
so."
Rev 2:8, "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The words
of the first and the last, who died and came to life."
Deut 6:6, "And
these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart;"
Deut
18:18, "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren;
and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I
command him."
Deut 18:19, "And whoever will not give heed to my words which
he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him."
Rev 3:7,
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy
one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut,
who shuts and no one opens.'"
Prov 4:5, "Do not forget, and do not turn
away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom; get insight."
Prov 7:1, My
son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;
Deut 17:19,
"and it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life,
that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by keeping all the words of this law
and these statutes, and doing them;"
Job 22:22, "Receive instruction
from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart."
Rev 19:9, "And the
angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage
supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
Jer 35:13, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say
to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive
instruction and listen to my words? says the LORD."
John 17:8,
"for I have given them the words which thou
gavest me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from thee;
and they have believed that thou didst send me."
Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing with the
eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell
in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.""
Prov
7:24, "And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my
mouth."
Prov 8:8, "All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is
nothing twisted or crooked in them."
Jer 19:15, "Thus says the LORD of
hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing upon this city and upon all its
towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have
stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words."
Jer 36:8, "And Baruch
the son of Neri'ah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading
from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD's house."
Eze 12:28,
"Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed
any longer, but the word which I speak will be performed, says the Lord GOD."
Deut 12:28, "Be careful to heed all these words which I command you,
that it may go well with you and with your children after you for ever, when you
do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God."
Eze 3:4,
"And he said to me, Son of man, go, get you to the house of Israel, and speak
with my words to them."
Prov 22:17, "Incline your ear, and hear the
words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge."
Prov 23:12,
"Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge."
John 6:68, "Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life;""
Deut 31:12,
"Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your
towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to
do all the words of this law,"
Deut 32:46, "he said to them, "Lay to
heart all the words which I enjoin upon you this day, that you may command them
to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law."
Isa 59:21, "And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD:
my spirit which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall
not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your children, or out of
the mouth of your children's children, says the LORD, from this time forth and
for evermore."
Holy Scripture warns us not to add to, nor
detract from the Word of GOD:
Deut 4:2, "You shall not add to the word that I speak to
you, neither shall you take away from it: keep the commandments of the Lord your
God which I command you."
Deut 12:32, "What I command thee, that only do
thou to the Lord: neither add any thing, nor diminish."
Job 38:2 "Who is
this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?"
Psa 12:6, "The
words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth,
purified seven times."
Psa 12:7, "Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt
preserve them from this generation forever."
Psa 33:4, "For the word of
the Lord is right, and all his works are done with faithfulness."
Psa
50:16, "But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and
take my covenant in thy mouth? Psa 50:17 Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and
hast cast my words behind thee."
Psa 119:57, "Thou art my portion, O
LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words."
Psa 119:139, "My zeal
hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy words."
Psa 119:140,
"Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved it."
Prov
5:7, "Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of my
mouth."
Prov 30:5, "Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to
them that hope in him."
Prov 30:6, "Add not any thing to his words, lest
thou be reproved and found a liar:"
Ecc 3:14, "I have learned that all
the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor
take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared."
Jer 23:36, "And the burden of the Lord shall be mentioned no more, for
every man's word shall be his burden: for you have perverted the words of the
living God, of the Lord of hosts our God."
Gal 1:8, "But though we, or
an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached
to you, let him be anathema." Gal 1:9, "As we said before, so now I say again:
If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him
be anathema."
1Pet 1:24, "For all flesh is as grass and all the glory
thereof as the flower of grass. The grass is withered and the flower thereof is
fallen away."
1Pet 1:25, "But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And
this is the word which by the gospel hath been preached unto you."
2Pet
3:15, "And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation: as also our most
dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:"
2Pet 3:16, "As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these
things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned
and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own
destruction."
Rev 22:18, "For I testify to every one that heareth the
words of the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add to these things, God
shall add unto him the plagues written in this book."
Rev 22:19, "And if any
man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take
away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from these
things that are written in this book."
Rev 22:20, "He that giveth testimony
of these things, saith: Surely, I come quickly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."
"Add not any thing to his words, lest thou
be reproved and found a liar."
Proverbs 30:6
"By
your words you will be condemned."
Matthew
12:37
©
Written by Bob Stanley, January 25, 2007
Updated February 26,
2007
"Have I then become your enemy, because I told you
the truth?"
Galatians
4:16