Bible Prophecy and the Testimony of Yahshua our Messiah
Following Credits concerning Bible translations used in these Bible Studies:
First let me say, there are not bible translations without error, all have had the hand of man putting them together. In spite of this the message has not been lost nor changed. The King James Version some have put on the altar of worship forgetting the KJV is a government authorized version. The King of England commissioned its production and upon completion received government approval. It was no more a book of the people than the Latin Bible. It is called the King James Version for a reason, as opposed to the Messiah's Version. The miracle of the bible is it seems to have a life of its own. Men have tried to destroy it, burn it, hide it, keep it from the common people but still it goes on in one form or another, century after century. It becomes more perfect actually, as knowledge increases and more an more understanding of the orginal writings is exposed, uncovered, and detected in this ever growing explosion of knowledge and studied into the languages of the past. It is a miracle book no matter what language it is in and there is no other book like it. Yes, there are other books in the world called Holy Books but nothing compares to the writings of the Holy Bible of the Jewish and Christian faiths.
The following credits are not according to any preference -- you decide:
WRNV -- World Revised Name Version -- The author of this site will be using this version more and more as it reflects the use of our Savior's Name, and that of our Heavenly Father more exactly than any other version I have been able to find. There are other bible version that have restored the Name of our Savior but all follow a process favoring their view of scripture, and while most that have "restored" the birthname of our Savior they really do not know the Father.
Note: This version is based on the WEB version, a very ambitious and sucessful project that has been going on for some years. The WEB (World Engilsh Bible) is well known among anyone traveling the internet having any interest in the Holy Bible (See below for WEB credits). The WRNV followes this free version (WEB) based on the ASV (American Standard Version, 1901, public domain). The purpose is to replace the bogus name improperly entered into the scriptures.
WEB -- World English Bible -- http://www.ebible.org/
The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible. That means that you may freely copy it in any form, including electronic and print formats. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. It is in draft form, and currently being edited for accuracy and readability. The New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs are close to how they will read when they are finished, but most of the Old Testament still contains some archaic grammar that will be revised. For more information, please see the World English Bible Frequently Asked Questions.
Note: The ASV of 1901, is recognized by nearly everyone as accurate and praised by some as a better translation than the KJV. The WEB and those working on the project have choosen wisely. they could have used the KJV, also in public domain, making it free to copy, but by using the ASV they jump way ahead of the KJV in reproducing a "word" for "word" in the modern vernacular, the AVS already having accomplished this. There is also a a HNV, Hebrews Name Version of the WEB.
NIV -- NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright 1985
Note: This is a world famous version and does not base its translation on the KJV. It is a stand alone translation from older sources, yes I said older MSS. The KJV is based on the most numerous of MSS and fragments numdering into the thousands. The amazing thing the NIV proves the pure word of the Holy Bible. Using the NIV and the KJV side by side you do not see two different messages, you see two translations so much alike, so identical in massage as to prove the miracle we call the Holy Bible. For the purity of an English-American language translation you cannot do much better than the NIV.
KJV -- Authorized KING JAMES VERSION -- Original production, 1611 (Revised, 1616) (Revised, 1629) (Revised, 1638) (Revised, 1762) (Revised, 1769) (Other Revised Versions taken from KJV, 1881-1901, the American Standard Version) (Revised again in 1982)
Note: The original KJV is based on a previous translation known as the Bishops Bible of 1568 and this version being kin to the Geneva Bible of 1560. The Bishops Bible also has some relations with the Great Bible of 1539, Matthew's's Bible of 1537 and Tyndale NT of 1526, the Gutenberg Bible of 1455, and before that the Wycliffe Bible of 1384 which brings us to the Latin Vulgate of 380 and it derived from the Codex Vaticanus of 325 then following this back to Biblical Papyrus from the first Century. Certainly there are other translation dating from the centuries before and to the present. I tried to give a simple family tree linked to the KJV. Why? Because it is necessary to understand that the KJV never has stood on its own as some have tried to teach. Not only has this Version of the Scriptures drawn on the previous translations before it, especially the Bishops Bible, but the translation mentioned are all related, each drawing on the other for improvements and corrections to the text. The 1611 version of the King James is technically a major revision of the Bishops Bible. What makes the KJV unique is its acceptance by the ruling powers of the English Speaking World as the literal word of God and deem worthy of public reading and ownership. This type of religious freedom, that every man and woman could own and read an "Authorized Version" was, at the time, being denied Christians living in Europe under the control of the Catholic Church. "Authorized Version" means just that, it was given the blessing of the GOVERNMENT, the ruling power of the English was King James, hence the title, Authorized King James Version.
Remember this little bit of history the next time anyone tries to tell you that the KJV Bible is the only bible "Authorized" by God, or the HOLY SPIRIT. The Honorable (?) King James was neither a god nor the Holy Spirit. If you give the Holy Spirit of the Creator God credit for having produced the KJV Bible then you have to do the same for the Bishop's Bible as well and all that came before it. This, my friends, only seems reasonable. You will also notice that the KJV Bible it-self has had several revision. There is a false teaching that you should avoid all other translations as they are the work of the Devil. The true work of the Devil, concerning Bible translations, is to keep you from reading the plain scriptures in you own language and dialect. This then handcuffs you, the reader, to the false teachers that are then humbly obliged to tell you what the words are saying. This kind of nonsense goes back to the Dark Ages when the scriptures were considered too holy for the common man to understand so "traditions" were set in place and instead of teaching from the Word stories were told and pictures shown and tradtions established as teaching methods for the ignorant population. The Scriptures themselves were put under lock and key. One of the greatest freedoms given mankind, and a number one reason the United States became the land of the free was the freedom to read the scriptures for yourself. The hood in falsehood has been yanked off by the blood of many, paying with their lives at the burn stake in order to deliver to you and me a book of writings having originated from our Creator in many, many different languages. Today the Holy Bible, for the first time in history, is being PUBLISHED in China. If you look inside of the cover of some of the new printings you will see BEIJING, China listed along side other publisher sites. My reference for this is the NKJV of 2007. What is the significance of this? Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the World for a witness unto all Nations; and then shall the end come." KJV -- Mark 13:10 "And the Gospel must first be PUBLISHED among all nations." KJV
It is interesting to note, while the KJV may have been the first bible version to reach "China" once the Communist had taken control this ceased and as tensions eased, in the modern China, the NIV jumped in with both feet. The NIV, would be my guess, has more version translated into Chinese than any other version. So, wht do you think, are the Chinese people getting the Word?
The King James only (click on this link for more on this subject) people would deny people of other languages the "published" Gospel in their own language
NKJV -- Scripture taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION, copyright 1997 -- This is a very good rendering of the KJV in a modern format. The language has been upgraded to the modern dialect dropping the old English way of speaking and actually making many hundreds of corrections and footnotes concerning some of the new findings. If you have trouble reading the KJV try this one.
MKJV -- Modern KING JAMES VERSION -- This is a valiant effort by a reknown Bible Scholar, J. P. Green of the Greek/English parallel version. Some of the KJV only adherents take issue with the MKJV. The MKJV is a word for word of the highest order. Why the KJ only people would not like this is merely a question of doctrine. When you have favored doctrines that get scuttled due to a more exacting version then, of course, you have to go on the attack. J.P Green has been studying the Greek language longer than most and has presented the Christian community with undisputed works in this area. He has undertaken a chore in the service of the Greek Originals (?) that should please everyone supporting the idea of the Greek as the orginal language of the Apostle, and even our Savior? I do not hold with this theory -- certainly Greek is one of the first languages the letters to Churches (Assemblies? Ecclesia? -- groups of citizens -- you know, believers of the Kingdom - translated as Church), but Greek is not the only language. Aramaic is really the language of the Messiah and of the Apostles. Hebrew, kin to Aramaic, or the other way around, was the language of the Priesthood, and of the reading of the scrolls on the Sabbath. It is, in reality, highly unlikely our Savior conversed in Greek except on specail occasssions -- like when talking with a Gentile. The truth is, and we should all recognize this, the Greek is one of the first but not the only first. The letters and the Gospels also were translated into the Aramaic language as the Eastern Orthodox Church testifies -- this it is the version they use. Again, the KJ Only websites and groups and teachers are trying to protect something they have commited to in the KJV translation as the only "inpired" version to the point of believing the Holy Spirit wrote it -- errors and all. This is an error of supporting doctrines taught by the language of the KJV as the only "authorized version", this, however, comes from the King of England, not the Holy Spirit and the term "authorized" really means Kin James as head of the English government put his seal of approval on the books selected to read at the Churches of England. KJV ONLY?
J.P. Green should be applauded for his work, and is by many, but the KJ Only crowd should be ashamed of themselves for attacking his work. If you accept the idea of the Greek being the Original tongue and you see J.P. Green returning the tongue to its orginal form then inot English, I would think everyone would be on board. If, however, and I'm among this group, you do not accept the Greek language as the original tongue of the Apostles, anymore than the Roman Catholic Church Latin is the Holy language then this is a worthy work but not the final word either. This version, Modern King James, is worth a look and worthy as a reference in your Bible studies.
NASV -- New American Standard Version
This version is really a revision of the ASV, American Standard Version, considered by many scholars as the best of the best of the word for word translation. It follows the tradtions of the KJV but in an updated language format suitable for the Amarican tongue. While the ASV attempted to restore the Holy Name of the God of Israel to the text they mistakenly applied a name we now to be in error. Asode from this the work has been applauded by the scholars ot then and even today. The NASV, New American Standard Version, continues the fine work maintaining their loyalty to the word for word translated and transliterated (loosely) into the American dialect of the English tongue. Some do, however, find the reading tedious as the reading level is above the 12th grade level and this is especially true of the ASV. The NASV has attempted to update the language while maintaining the word for word statis and they have done a good job. I'm only sorry they chose to drop the transliteration of the Holy Name of the God of Israel. They could have easily corrected this by following the fine example of the Jerusalem Bible an accepted, scholarly work, found, I would guess, in every serious bible student, and teachers library -- if not find one.
NLT -- Scripture taken from NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, copy right 2004
Note: NLT is a far different translation than the orginal Living Translation. The LT is a complete paraphrase and its views lean toward Catholic Traditions as opposed to true scriptural doctrine. The NLT, on the other hand, is true to the translation of the original languages of the Old Testament and the New Testament. For this reason I do not use the older LT but will quote from the NLT from time to time.
RV -- REVISED VERSION -- A worthy work in an attempt to improve on the ASV for the English speaking people of America. It gained some popularity and is still around. Never quite took over from the KJV.
NRV -- NEW REVISED VERSION -- As the title implies, 'new" but not different so much as updated. Again, it is a worthy work but not as popular as the NIV. At a time when you might think the NRV would be popular a competing version, the NIV, comes along and takes up the slack in the Americanized language of the world.
JPS -- Jewish Publication Society -- Also known as , TANAKH, The Holy Scriptures According to the Traditional Hebrew Text.
HNT -- Hebrew New Testament
CEV -- Contemporary English Version
NCV - New Century Version, copyright 1991
NJB - New Jerusalem Bible, copyright 1985 -- This English version is a translation from the French Bible de Jerusalem
Note: This is a French production from 1966 followed by a 1973 revision that led to the NEW being added to the title. This is one of the few Bibles that actually saw fit to restore the Name of the God of Israel, Yahweh (YHWH) to the text where it belongs. They stopped short, however, in the New Testament, preferring to follow the traditions of the KJV translators and substituting the title, "LORD" in place of the Sacred Name. They, the New Jerusalem Bible translators, almost got it right. You will find the Name used throughout the copious notes of this fine translation.
There are many other fine tranlslations such as, The Holy Bible From Ancient Eastern Manuscripts, by George M. Lamsa. Affectionately know as the Peshitta. The term Peshitta means straight, simple, sincere and true. The beauty of this version is it is obtained from the Eastern Church and proves, by its very being (existence), that the message is not lost, proving again, the Holy bible is true and correct in its message to mankind encompasses all of the translations not just one, as some claim -- the Eastern MSS contain and present the same Message as found in the Greek and the English. What a miracle, imagine, so many different translations from different sources and still so very much alike, so much alike as to be identical -- amazing -- Praise you YaH!
One last thing, concerning my handling the various translation on this web site -- it is becoming an ever increasing practice of biblical writers to include quotes from the Bible within the body of their own text. After a while it nearly seems as if the verses they quote is theirs. I understand the need for compactness but this kind of writing boarders on plagiarism -- maybe that is a little strong and is not intentional but still, the pratice tends to blend what our Savior may have said, or one of His Apostles, and what the writer is trying to say. For this reason I prefer to keep the scripture I am quoting seperate from the text a majority of the time, some times, when quoting a partical verse I will include it in the main body of text for impact in making a direct point.
email: servant@yahshuaservant.com