A brand-new translation of the Bible – praised by Britain's archbishop of Canterbury, that nation’s senior Christian voice – flatly contradicts traditional core Christian beliefs on sex and morality. Titled "Good as New," the new Bible is translated by former Baptist minister John Henson for the "One" organization, to produce what the group calls a "new, fresh and adventurous" translation of the Christian scriptures. The 104th archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams – leader of the Church of England – describes it is a book of "extraordinary power," but admitted many would be startled by its content. "Instead of condemning fornicators, adulterers and 'abusers of themselves with mankind'," says Ruth Gledhill, the London Times religious affairs correspondent, "the new version of his first letter to Corinth has St. Paul advising Christians not to go without sex for too long in case they get 'frustrated.'" "The new version, which Dr. Williams says he hopes will spread 'in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike', turns St. Paul's strictures against fornication on their head," adds the Times.
New Bible translation promotes fornication
Titled "Good as New," the new Bible is translated by former Baptist minister John Henson for the "One" organization, to produce what the group calls a "new, fresh and adventurous" translation of the Christian scriptures. This has been something that has been on my heart for a long time. The proliferation of new translations of the bible since the 1970's has caused a confusion in my heart over my 7 year walk with God and I cant imagine being in the place of an old saint of God that has grown up using 1 or 2 translations now to see 100's of translations available and people flocking to each one for difference of preference. In my life I would confess that I have lost abit of a regard for the bible as Holy Scriptures and have lost much of my reverence for the Words of God. I personally am going back and reading the KJV bible more and finding that I am gaining back some of that reverence for the Words of God. This news story just shows the fruit of men at their worst toying with the Words of the Living God. How confusing this is becoming for Christians in our day and age. We must pray.
For more on this new "translation", take a look at these sites:http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=0f7f3674-6087-4957-9df3-dba2e13b29f5andhttp://www.o-books.net/goodasnew.htmI suppose that a generation seeking to fashion a god according to its own whims and fancies needs a Bible that does the same. That the Archbishop of Canterbury would throw his weight behind the false doctrines promoted in this revisionist translation is a sad commentary on the state of the Church of England (The fact that there is such a thing as an "archbishop" is probably a large part of the problem, but that's another subject altogether). Praise God for those churches that haven't followed his lead and continue to preach the truth of God unadulterated.
How sad!How can people do that to God's Word?As I read this I felt like I was kicked in the gut. And I still can't breathe well.Sometimes I wish God would just Judge and smite these people that do this to His name...but that isn't very Christian-like is it? Like the Son's of Thunder who just wanted to call down fire on the city? I suppose I will have to pray about it instead!
God is going to judge all this. There is a curse reserved for those who add or take away to His word in Revelation.Lord, please forgive our sins, please give us wisdom, please help Christians not get confused, please protect Your sheep, especially from the wolves posing as Christian leaders. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
I know God is going to judge them but I want him to do it NOW! I want everyone to see their judgement, so they would take heed and not read the stupid "bible".
I personally am going back and reading the KJV bible more and finding that I am gaining back some of that reverence for the Words of God.As noble as that sounds... it is not really a solution. NASB is better :)
is that quote not specifically for revelation rather than for the whole bible?
people are interesting, I can see how we sometimes want judgement for others, but do we really want God to come down right now? I guess we'd have to look at ourselves to see if we are ready coz we may be right there in the thick of it...
people are interesting, I can see how we sometimes want judgement for others, but do we really want God to come down right now? I guess we'd have to look at ourselves to see if we are ready coz we may be right there in the thick of it...Hi Welcome to the Site! Feel free to introduce yourself here: Welcome & Intro. Yes its going to be an awful day when God judges peoples hearts but I think there is a principle in the scripture that is layed out where when Jesus comes in His glory the evil men will flee and hide themselves when the righteous will lift up their hands for their redemption draws nigh. I think if we are professing Chrisitans we should be in the place of not being ashamed when He comes but looking forward to that day and everyday living as if Jesus was coming back to judge the quick and the dead.
is that quote not specifically for revelation rather than for the whole bible? Technically, yes. The same could be said of the verse in Deuteronomy. However, Proverbs 30:5-6 says, "Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar."Not only that, we see in John 1 that the Word became flesh... The (written) Word is part of God! If that doesn't convince someone not to tamper with Scripture, well...I think if we are professing Chrisitans we should be in the place of not being ashamed when He comes but looking forward to that day and everyday living as if Jesus was coming back to judge the quick and the dead.Amen! "It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?"I Peter 4:17-18Where Judgment Must Begin
The fact that people take liberties with the Word of God is very sad. All of these different translations do cause confusion. I read from the KJV and believe that it is a wonderful translation that God has used throughout the years.
It IS confusing to be a Christian who loves the Word of God, in our day and age! I agree, Greg, and all of you, that it adds a burden to our faith that I don't believe God ever intended! My heart is broken over the divisions in the Body caused by strife over translations.The KJV is magnificent, there is no denying it. Many of the people I respect as my spiritual 'parents' have used the KJV all their lives, and can trace it back generations in their families. They have memorized huge amounts and it is bearing fruit. I hold the KJV in highest honor.Yet, it's obvious that in the western world today, we do not speak KJ English, we speak a different 'language'. Yes, it's English, but it's not the same English. To take the KJV to the streets and expect people to basically learn a new language, along with learning about God and His Word, to me it's not the heart of Christ and it has always stumbled me.Serious Bible scholars from years past, did not rely on ANY particular translation, but learned Greek and Hebrew for themselves, so that they could read the Scriptures in the original languages. It is only in the past 100-200 years, that we've relied so heavily on others to translate the Scriptures for us. This has caused us to 'choose sides' over our favorite translations. I believe it has grieved our Lord immensely and given Satan all the ground he needs to keep us divided. So much is at stake here!I've studied how missionary groups translate the Word into tribal languages. They look for the best, most accurate wording that gets the ideas from the Greek and Hebrew, into language that is commonly used in that tribe. They don't search for archaic terms that nobody uses anymore. Their heart is to get the Word of God into the minds and hearts of their target group, not to debate archaic words vs. commonly-used words.I have missionary friends in northern Mexico, Bill and Pat Risley and their 6 children. They moved there 10 years ago with nothing but an RV, the Jesus movie in Spanish, and some simple Spanish Bibles, the Version Popular. Mexicans in most rural villages cannot read well, they do not understand big words, and most could not read the Reina (like the KJV) version. The Risleys took that simple bible and wrote a series of very basic bible lessons. From that has flowed the the saving grace of God into their work... they have evangelised dozens of villages, given the gospel to thousands of poor Mexicans, who get saved and spread the gospel to their friends and families. The Risleys go through computers and printers like crazy, trying to keep up with the demand for their studies. They print up the bible in large print for the elderly. They have REVIVAL down there, true revival. To say that 'WE know what the scriptures say' when we refuse to learn Greek and Hebrew, that to me is testing God. I'm not saying anyone here is doing that! You're not. I hope you know what I'm getting at... pride of any kind is nasty. If it causes division and pain to our fellow Christians, ouch, we're knifing ourselves in the back. But hey, I'm not going to learn Greek and Hebrew anytime soon, either! I'm going to read a variety of translations that are based on the Greek and Hebrew, translations that are respected by people I respect. (this does not include the Archbishop of Canterbury, much to my regret). I regularly use the NASB and my newest favorite, The Message. My heart has been opened tremendously by The Message version. Eugene Petersen's introductions are the most moving sermons about the Bible that I've ever read. He has a handle on the whole thing which has freed my soul to rejoice in The Word like I did when I was newly saved!! The over-arching idea I'm trying crazily to get out here in this post :lol: is that God is SO BIG, His Word is so wonderfully repetitious, if we're missing the BIG MESSAGE of applying His Truths to our lives and LIVING THEM, then it will not matter what version we're totin'!!! Because we're being disobedient to them ALL.Which I'm bein', by sittin' here instead of paying my bills, checking my girls' schoolwork, and all the other stuff that's on my list... :roll: Mrs. Fred
One more thing..The house churches in China all use the same version, from what I can find out. I think there's only a few versions in modern Mandarin, anyway. But that has obviously helped to keep them united. Mrs. Fred
The house churches in China all use the same version, from what I can find out. I think there's only a few versions in modern Mandarin, anyway. But that has obviously helped to keep them united. Mrs Fred, yes thats exactly it if you have a congregation reading from 10 different translations confusion will abound. I really believe its a big part of the lack of unity amongst many churches and members, we need the same source. I too have respect for the KJV version and many of the preachers on this site used the KJV. Tozer has a really good article on the KJV I should try and find it.
If you really want the best translation, dont go with the KJV. The church of england is hardly qualified as Gods holy servants entrusted to bring us the accurate translation of the Word of God. It has since the beginning been bent on distorting the commands of God to suit the purposes of whoever was in charge at the moment. Why believe that the KJV is the most accurate when the hands that wrote and compiled them were that of the Church of England? Plus the KJV is going to be misconstrued because words in the postmodern era that are in the KJV mean something totally different. I am not satisfied with any translation because they do miss the meaning of a lot of greek. An example of this would be Jesus' confrontation of peter. My sister showed me this and I checked it up with a friend who knows greek but since I dont know greek it will be a very poor use of the greek here but it will get the point across. Consider it transliteration i guess. The actual conversation went something like this:Simon, son of John, do you agape me more than these?Yes Lord, you know that I phileo you.Jesus said "Feed my lambs"Simon Son of John, do you agape me?Yes, Lord you know that I phileo you.Jesus said, Take care of my sheepSimon son of John, do you phileo me? Peter was hurt when Jesus asked him the third time "do you phileo me?"Very lost in translation there, and I havent seen it done right anywhere. The best literal translation we have right now is the NASB. It is practically word for word translation out of the greek, but that makes it a hard read at times because sentence structure doesnt always make sense.If you want a good old english translation I would go with Youngs Literal Translation.It is much more accurate than KJV, but still doesnt get everything. I guess in order to get everything, there needs to be a transliterated version with a corresponding dictionary to explain it.All to and for HimJohn C. Kelly
Just adding my two cents:I believe there is another reason for the explosion of new translations. It has become a business. Secular retailing has entered the competition in the distribution of Christian merchandice. In order to promote purchasing these items, the item must be different from the original. Controversy creates demand. Advertising distributes the temptation. Only by use of the Word of God can one discern between evil and good.In ChristJeff
Amen to this comment by Greg. I could not have said it better myself.
"This has been something that has been on my heart for a long time. The proliferation of new translations of the bible since the 1970's has caused a confusion in my heart over my 7 year walk with God and I can't imagine being in the place of an old saint of God that has grown up using 1 or 2 translations now to see 100's of translations available and people flocking to each one for difference of preference. In my life I would confess that I have lost a bit of a regard for the bible as Holy Scriptures and have lost much of my reverence for the Words of God. I personally am going back and reading the KJV bible more and finding that I am gaining back some of that reverence for the Words of God. This news story just shows the fruit of men at their worst toying with the Words of the Living God. How confusing this is becoming for Christians in our day and age. We must pray."
Not only does this version promote fornication but it is endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury who became a Druid.
Here he is, a supposed Archbishop over the Flock of Christ's Church, all dressed up as a Druid!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2172918.stm
And what exactly is he promoting?
1 Corinthians 7:8-7
KJV: "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
New: "If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated."
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
KJV: "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."
New: "Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner."
Matthew 26:69-70
Authorized version: "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, 'Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest."
New: "Meanwhile Rocky was still sitting in the courtyard. A woman came up to him and said: 'Haven't I seen you with Jesus, the hero from Galilee?" Rocky shook his head and said: 'I don't know what the hell you're talking about!'"
Matthew 23:25
Authorized version: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
New version: "Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!"
According to Ekklesia, a London-based "theological think tank" that supports the "One" translation:
The translation is pioneering in its accessibility, and changes the original Greek and Hebrew nomenclature into modern nicknames. St. Peter becomes "Rocky," Mary Magdalene becomes "Maggie," Aaron becomes "Ron," Andronicus becomes "Andy" and Barabbas becomes "Barry."
This is not the first time Demon Possession has been pushed as "mental illness".
In keeping with the times, translator Henson deftly translates "demon possession" as "mental illness" and "Son of Man," the expression Jesus frequently used to describe himself, as "the Complete Person." In addition, parables are rendered as "riddles," baptize is to "dip" in water, salvation becomes "healing" or "completeness" and Heaven becomes "the world beyond time and space."
Here's how Williams, the top Anglican archbishop, describes the new Bible: "Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference – as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations – and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns … we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity."
In addition, notes Ekklesia, the archbishop praises Henson's translation for eliminating "the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies" in other translations.
Thank the Lord for our modern scholars. We wouldn't understand the Bible without them.
A777
This is a horrendous work. This is why it is extremely dangerous to allow one individual to translate Scripture...or attempt to arrive to an edition that suits the man's own views on doctrine or Scripture.
All such individuals will give an account to God.
Brother, I hope this is sarcasm?
(I'm a simple soul. It can be easy to take words literally, if not born into English.)Thank the Lord for our modern scholars. We wouldn't understand the Bible without them.
Oh Yeah! Sarcasm.
Like Zac always says, it's all rubbish and can be thrown in the trashcan.
Actually, I prefer the KJV translation.
It's all DUNG and can be thrown in the trashcan.
A777
P.S. I know that is an old post, but Greg's remarks were spot on.
Thanks, triple 7 for the good info. If we stick with the tried and true, we would have a lot less problems. By the way, it seems sometimes when "experts" don't like what the Bible says, they "retranslate" it...
Greetings JB1968,
I could be wrong, but yes, it seems that some kind of agenda is in play.
I had really never seen this translation and by sheer coincidence, searching something else, I found Greg's post.
While doing some other related searching, I found that the Archbishop of Canterbury (who has become quite chummy with the RCC) has become a DRUID.
Isn't it amazing how everyone (Christians) just accepts things that are so blatantly unbiblical, today?
I know that people don't like it when new bible versions are called Per-versions, but this Bible is truly and undeniably a PERVERSION. It is not worthy of being called God's Word.
It's blatantly Satan's Word. I wonder how the sales have been?
A777
I think I will stick with my NIV. It works. What grieves me is this forum getting worked up over translations and not one hoot raised for the persecuted. I.lay my challenge down again for any man or woman to prove me wrong.
Martyr,
I beg your pardon but a lot of "hoots" are raised in this forum for the persecuted. This forum is not just a one issue forum.
Martyr, I was just wondering if you are trying to establish that the person with the most "hoots" about the persecuted is the one that cares about them the most? The reason I ask, is that I have noticed that everytime you are dissatified with a post (especially related to the integrity of God's Word), you bring up the persecuted as if to "shame" the poster. I don't know if you realized this, but it is getting obvious.
It's like two Christians having a conversation on the sidewalk and one Christian shares with the other Christian that he just went shopping this past weekend and bought some things. Then a 3rd Christian, wanting to seem spiritual and shame these two brothers, interrupts them and says, "You know, that money could have been given to the poor." The other two brothers just look at him with a blank stare.
I've got that blank stare, right now.
A777
P.S.
Did you take this NIV Challenge the last time I posted it?
Instructions: Using the New International Version Bible, answer the following questions.
Do not rely on your memory. As the Bible is the final authority, you must take the answer from the Bible verse (not from footnotes, but from the text).
1. Fill in the missing words in Matthew 5:44. "Love your enemies, __________ them that curse you, ______________ to them that hate you, and pray for them that __________ and persecute you."
2. According to Matthew 17:21, what two things are required to cast out this type of demon?
3. According to Matthew 18:11, why did Jesus come to earth?
4. According to Matthew 27:2, what was Pilate's first name?
5. In Matthew 27:35, when the wicked soldiers parted His garments, they were fulfilling the words of the prophet. Copy what the prophet said in Matthew 27:35 from the NIV.
6. In Mark 3:15, Jesus gave the apostles power to cast out demons and to: ____________
7. According to Mark 7:16, what does a man need to be able to hear?
8. According to Luke 7:28, what was John? (teacher, prophet, carpenter, etc.). What is his title or last name?
9. In Luke 9:55, what did the disciples not know?
10. In Luke 9:56, what did the Son of man not come to do? According to this verse, what did He come to do?
11. In Luke 22:14, how many apostles were with Jesus?
12. According to Luke 23:38, in what three languages was the superscription written?
13. In Luke 24:42, what did they give Jesus to eat with His fish?
14. John 3:13 is a very important verse, proving the deity of Christ. According to this verse (as Jesus spoke), where is the Son of man?
15. What happened each year as told in John 5:4?
16. In John 7:50, what time of day did Nicodemus come to Jesus?
17. In Acts 8:37, what is the one requirement for baptism?
18. An important verse concerning Jesus as Lord, what did Saul ask Jesus in Acts 9:6?
19. Write the name of the man mentioned in Acts 15:34.
20. Study Acts 24:6-8. What would the Jew have done with Paul? What was the chief captain's name? What did the chief captain command?
21. Copy Romans 16:24 word for word from the NIV.
22. How does Colossians 1:14 refer to the redeeming power of Christ’s shed blood?
23. First Timothy 3:16 is perhaps the greatest verse in the New Testament concerning the deity of Christ. In this verse, who was manifested in the flesh?
24. In the second part of First Peter 4:14, how do [they] speak of Christ? And, what do we Christians do?
25. The three Persons of the Trinity according to First John 5:7 are?
26. Revelation 1:11 is another very important verse that proves the deity of Christ. In the first part of this verse Jesus said, "I am the A______________ and O___________, the _________ and the _______:"
As for the NIV - it is one of the worst translations of God's Word that I have seen. Indeed, it's not really a "translation" at all because they added ideas to the text that are not in the original. For example, they often translate the Greek word sarx (flesh) as "sin nature" which is absurd in the extreme. The Bible says nothing about a "sin nature." That concept is entirely foreign to the text.
For this fact alone, the NIV is exposed as an abominable translation.
Question:
Did Adam and Eve have a sin nature before they sinned?
I agree Martyr. It seems like the whole entire world is receiving persecution for their faith, except here. But our time is coming. May the Lord wake us up.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Why don't we receive persecution?
2Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
A777
Good point. :)
Actually, I think we do. Christians are being asked to leave workplaces if they want honesty. Temptation is everywhere in our faces out in the world in the billboards and the way both men and women dress. There is a disdain for truth and a coldness towards godliness which justifies teasing Christians for believing and trying to please God.Why don't we receive persecution?
It may not seem much, but it is a secularised war of attrition on the saints which is so low key and individualised to picking on the lone Christian, or, general, that most people don't think it's happening.
By the time our children are at school they are corrupted way beyond what happened at school fifty years ago. This is persecution, because the only people it really affects and matters to, are Christians and God. And, mostly Christians fall for the ruse that they as an individual are the only person who notices.
Christians who don't think they need to be different from the world, or, don't think they need to make a stand, just bring the name of Christ into disrepute, because the world is watching all the time, to see if Christians are like Christ - pure, keeping themselves pure, kind, generous, helpful, loving, strong, representing a God who knows what is right, doing what is right.
Did Adam and Eve have a sin nature before they sinned?
Of course not, but they did have a sinful nature afterward. As well as the rest of the human race.
Actually, I think we do. Christians are being asked to leave workplaces if they want honesty. Temptation is everywhere in our faces out in the world in the billboards and the way both men and women dress. There is a disdain for truth and a coldness towards godliness which justifies teasing Christians for believing and trying to please God.
Ya, but this is nothing compared to being beat because you name the Name of Christ?
Or being afraid of walking out your door because you could be shot or jumped or raped because they know you are a Christian?
The persecution we receive is nothing compared to others'.
But I see your point AtG.
Hi AtG and StarofGod,
AtG is right, it is a low-key war of attrition in lands where there is no physical persecution.
It is called compromise. Just like Israel would compromise and begin worshipping pagan idols.
As far as the level of persecution, StarofGod is correct. Of course, we have no physical beatings or the such. There are isolated instances where public school children are given a beating for standing for Christ, though or people are fired because their boss does not like the fact that they don't compromise.
However, I have a DVD from the Vietname church, compliments of Voice of the Martyrs where the young people in the church in Vietnam are asking us to pray NOT for an end of persecution but rather for endurance. They had come to see that their persecution had brought them close to the Lord and even weeded out false believers.
Persecution by Satan is just as valid and he works through the lost and even the saved, unfortunately. The persecution in the U.S. is insidious and subtle. AtG alluded to some ways that they experience it in her country.
The fact is, if you live Godly, you will receive some sort of persecution from the lost as well as those that call themselves "Believers".
It is far more easier to avoid it in America and still be considered a "Christian" than it is to avoid it say in Vietnam. In lands where Christianity is forbidden and persecution is physical, if you avoid it, then you are pretty much found out to be a false brother or sister, because to avoid persecution you will probably have had to turn someone in, or deny Christ.
A777
Brother I appreciate you responding to my post. I do not agree with you on some points but you responded. Ok why do I bring up the persecuted in these debates? To try to show there is a bigger picture here. We debate which is the correct translation while believers in India, Iran, China and other parts of the world cry for the scriptures in their language. In N Korea it is illegal to own a Bible and risk death to have one. You could go to Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs for more information about the need for more Bibles in testricted countries. It just seens that God's heart is griebed when we get into thrse debstes over translations and btothers and sisters don't have access to s Bible. Brother A you speak of the integrity pf the word. What is God more pleased with, the integrity of the translation we read or the integrity of the heart that reads his word which ever translation. It seems that God is more concerned about us loving our neighbor than the correct translation we read. And if this means supporting those projects that will get the word into restricted countries than I will do this. Brother never met you. But I love you in Jesus. But I will still keep my NIV. Siimplly because it works for me. Brother his richest blessings be on you. Blaine