Is the Bible version issue non-essential?

"The translation argument is a high school debate used to cause divisiveness among the brethren.The original text are inerrant, the translations are just that translations. To think that God only preserved the King James version is ridiculous and immature in it's thinking. Can the Holy Spirit use any translation to convict the lost soul of their need for salvation? Can the Holy Spirit use any version to show someone their need to repent and be saved? Our modern culture cannot even begin to understand how people heard the Word back in Biblical times (most people could not even read the scriptures they had to go hear the preaching and teaching). Today one can read and reading the Bible can convict and bring anyone to the awareness of their lost condition, and can bring them to the point of salvation..in ANY version...or ANY translation...He is God after all!!!..stop causing hate and divisive arguments and work on reaching the lost and see what happens! Could you imagine if you took 3/4 of the time you spend researching and trying to prove your point and evangelized instead?" --Bruce Chamberlain's comment on the post "Erik DiVietro: closet Roman Catholic?"

My reply....


Mr. Bruce,

The Bible corruption issue is not just a minor little issue that just divides Christians. The Bible reveals it to be a most serious issue. Read these Scriptures:

Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Proverbs 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Proverbs 30:
[5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
[6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Jeremiah 23:36 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

Jeremiah 23:36 And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Revelation 22:
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[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 the things which are written in this book.

What you are saying about the Bible version issue does not line up with what the Bible says.

You say "The original text are inerrant, the translations are just that translations", but can you prove that from the Bible? Where in the Bible does it say the transmission of God's word renders impure? The Bible says that God is the One doing the preserving, not man (Ps. 12:6-7). Man is just as much a tool of God in preservation as he is inspiration. For some reason you seem to elevate inspiration above preservation when in reality neither one is worth anything without the other.

God gave words to apostles, prophets, and scribes (Matt. 23:34, 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:36, etc.)...no doubt of different languages (Hebrew, Greek, Latin, etc.) He also worked in the early churches in different languages through the gift of tongues until the complete revelation was made (1 Cor. 13:8-12). The early churches and christians that we read about in Scripture knew and spoke different languages, we see Paul preach in Hebrew and Greek. We also see some Aramaic appear in the Bible. The Bible makes no issue out of God's word being transmitted from one language to another. God inspired the same word but in different languages (Acts 2:4-6).

The Bible reveals preserved Scripture to be more sure than direct God breathed words from heaven (2 Pet. 1:18-19). Timothy's copies of the Scripture were "holy" and "given by inspiration of God" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God's word is continual, He did not take His hands off of it when it was completed and leave it up to man to keep up with it...Matthew 4:4 says It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that PROCEEDETH out of the mouth of God.  (present tense)

Some 'scholars' claim that we must have ancient MSS evidence to make our Bibles authoritative, but then what is the point of preservation? If we must have original autographs or at least very ancient copies to authenticate our Bibles in 2015, then preservation is useless.

You say "To think that God only preserved the King James version is ridiculous and immature in it's thinking". You have a right to your opinion. I might point out that KJB believers teach that other versions DO CONTAIN some of the inspired words of God, just not all of them as a whole. The NIV contains some inspired words, but the book as a whole is not the pure word of God. So it is not that the KJB is the only Book that contains inspired words, other books do. The problem is that the modern version people seem to think that God has preserved His word through all the versions even though all the versions are different, contradict each other, and a lot of them contain obvious factual errors. How can TWO 'authorities' both be correct? The Lord said "No man can serve two masters" (Matt. 6:24) and Amos 3:3 says "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" There can only be ONE Book and ONE Authority.

You say "Can the Holy Spirit use any translation to convict the lost soul of their need for salvation? Can the Holy Spirit use any version to show someone their need to repent and be saved?" God can use any document that contains the Gospel of the Grace of God on it, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

You say "stop causing hate and divisive arguments and work on reaching the lost and see what happens! Could you imagine if you took 3/4 of the time you spend researching and trying to prove your point and evangelized instead?" Who is causing hate and division? Not the KJB believers as a whole, it is the anti-KJB people that despise the word of God and cause division. You do realize that KJB believers were around before the modern version people, don't you? Anti-KJB people are in division against God, "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour." (Jer. 23:30)

By the way, Christians are suppose to be ambassadors for Christ, but we cannot do that without the word of God.......

Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Luke 16:
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
[28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

1 Peter 1:23-2:2
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
[24] For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
[25] But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
[1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
[2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2 Timothy 3:
[15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:



--Eli Caldwell