The Infallible Words of God
Introduction
This article is a transcribed sermon given to a local fellowship group
in March 2005. I have decided to
reformat this sermon into booklet form, but it can also be obtained on CD or
audio cassette. To all believers that
are interested in the Bible and committed in studying the meanings of the words
of God this subject of the "infallible words of God" is a most important study
simply because we need to understand that translated words found in our Bibles are NOT the original
inspired words of God. If we proclaim as
Christians that we love the words of God (as we should); it then behooves us
and it becomes our duty to trace the meanings of the original words and then
compare them to the translated words found in our Bibles. Then we as Christians should BELIEVE the
meanings of the original inspired words in spite of what we personally happen
to believe as doctrine. My point is, the
translated words found in our Bibles are not necessarily infallible words. As we know, infallible means words not
capable of error or mistakes, but as we shall see, translated words found in
our Bibles are capable of contradictions and mistakes. Please understand, this article is in no way
intended to shake your faith in the word of God; only in edifying us to study
the original Hebrew and Greek words. But I want to clarify that our salvation
is secure even if we do not understand this subject as we should. We are only saved by the works and faith of
Jesus Christ, therefore our salvation does not depend on our own personal works
of study; or on any works done on our part for that matter. Good works of study and good works of charity
come naturally on their own by loving God as the Spirit of God inspires us to
grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter3:18). We truly should respond in loving God by
studying and believing His inspired words of scripture because He first loved
us (Romans5:8). Please read the
following transcribed sermon very carefully…….
When I got into the subject of the
"world"
four or five months ago I had no idea where I was going with this or where this
study was leading me. Today I want to
continue with this subject and the importance of how words were translated in
the NT. Maybe some of you wish I would
just talk about something else. I just
feel that if we are to respect and love the word of God we certainly should
have an interest on how certain words were translated into our English
Bibles. Maybe some of you do not have an
interest or would care less on why certain words were used and translated. God inspired the words of scripture, and as
for me, I have a profound interest in why and how the translators interpreted
the inspired words of the prophets, Christ, and the apostles.
The subject today is The Infallible Words
of God. I want to say right from the
start that I will be making statements today that some of you might not like to
hear. I will say things today that will
not be what some of you might believe.
But I pray that this message will edify and not cause disunity, and will
be accepted in the right spirit. All of
you know me well enough that I do not have the spirit of contention to
deliberately cause disunity or deception.
It’s just that I have been studying, and I feel compelled to share with
you the results of my studies, and I pray you have hearts big enough to not be
offended what I have to say. Maybe I am
not using wisdom today in sharing with you what I have come to believe, and I
know the Bible says that we should all speak the same thing and be of the same
mind. That is the ideal, but we know of
examples in the NT that at times the saints did not have the ideal and the same
mind; especially the Corinthian Church.
But I pray that we all have the same mind of humility, and I believe we
do.
I had to change my beliefs several times
over the years, and we all have had to change by following what we believed was
truth. The Christian walk is a growing
process, and the true ideal is that an assembly walks together in that growing
process. But many times an assembly does
not have the ideal, but they must still function as a Church and that in itself
a growing process. We as individuals do
believe differently. That is a fact that
we all must accept. The question is, do
we all have the humility to grow together; to find common ground, and to accept and
love each other in spite of the fact that we do believe differently. The true ideal would be for us together as
one body to love and believe the true meanings of God’s infallible words.
The speakers that come up here in front of
you every Sunday have different ways to edify and explain the way they
understand scripture. Brian does it his
way; Mark explains it another way; Allen explains it the way he understands,
and I also have my way of explaining scripture.
All of us speakers have a responsibility; to edify and to teach as best
as we can, but none of us speakers believe exactly alike. But the edifying should balance out among
three or four speakers if we all have the same mind of humility of just wanting
to know truth. I believe we all have
that same mind. I am not a gifted
speaker as Allen, and as the others that speak here. I
am not at all what you would call a public speaker. I am of course able to speak but I do not
have the gift of speaking. I have to
type out everything and then read it off to you. It is very hard for me to explain a subject
without first preparing what to speak.
During the discussion time it is hard for
me to answer or comment on some of the questions; and you all have good
comments and questions but I cannot answer in a way that I should or would like
to. I have the problem what is called
not being able to think on my feet. I am
a man of few words. Just ask Liz
sometime. But don’t ask her about
anything else.
I have taken an interest in searching the
scriptures on the subject of the "world", and this is now the seventh sermon on
why the word "world" was used in our Bibles.
This one English word "world" was used to explain several different
infallible words of God with each having a different meaning. The question we have to ask; how can the one
English word "world" be used to explain these different meanings? The answer is; it can’t. Infallible words are words that have a
consistent meaning, and are incapable of error or mistakes.
I want to take the time now to talk about
my last sermon; the plan of the ages.
All I was doing was sharing with you the information that I came up
with. I know it was complicated to some
of you, but I did the best I could on how and why the Greek words aion and
aionios were translated in the NT. Some
of you probably did not agree with some of my statements. Brothers and sisters, I do not want you to
agree with me, or believe what I say without checking it out for
yourselves. All I wanted to do was show
you the meaning of these Greek words, and show how these words were translated,
and as for me I found this information to be very interesting. It was truly an eye opener for me. Maybe some of you didn’t find it interesting
at all; but I did. And if you say you
didn’t agree; what part of this information did you not agree with?
Not to be mean or not to put anyone down,
but I am just curious as to why anyone would disagree with what was presented
in the plan of the ages. After showing
the meaning of these Greek words, and how they were translated and after
showing the obvious contradictions; what exactly are you disagreeing with? If you say you didn’t agree, are you saying
you didn’t agree with the quotes of other translations? Are you saying you don’t agree with the
meaning of these Greek words? Are you
saying you don’t agree that there are apparent KJ mistranslations that
contradict, and are you saying if there are supposed contradictions they can be
explained? Yes, that is exactly what I
was trying to in explaining why we have these supposed contradictions in
presenting to you the plan of the ages.
I asked you all to check these things out
for yourselves. What is wrong with doing
what the Bereans did in the book of Acts; having a readiness of mind to search
the scriptures if these things were so?
Don’t believe me; but believe the scriptures. All I did was show you the facts, and when
you say you didn’t agree are you are saying you didn’t agree with the facts? These facts are not in question or in
dispute; they are real. It is up to you
to ignore, reject, or accept these facts.
What are we supposed to understand and conclude if we accept these
facts? I have shared with you my
conclusion based on the meaning and quotes of these Greek words. If we use common sense the obvious conclusion
simply means the KJV is not consistent and sometimes it even contradicted
itself based on the meaning of these Greek words. It is easy to say the KJV only SEEMS to be
inconsistent. No, it is inconsistent, if
we are honest.
During the discussion I was asked
repeatedly to summarize what was presented.
I felt at the time to summarize in a sense would be telling you what to
believe, which I am not supposed to do.
We are all intelligent, we can all think for ourselves, and we all can
summarize what was presented on our own.
My responsibility is to open the Bible and edify as best as I can, and
then it becomes your responsibility to believe or reject what was
presented. It is not up to me to tell
you what to believe. We are all
responsible for the way we all personally believe. The responsibility of the speakers that are
called to edify and to teach is to open the Bible and quote the scriptures that
pertain to a subject, and it becomes your responsibly to believe accordingly. It is not up any of the speakers to tell you
what to believe.
After I typed out and prepared the plan of
the ages I went on the Google search engine to search on the Greek words aion
and aionios. I found many articles, and
the vast majority came to the same conclusion as I did. Of course there were some articles that
defended the KJV. The phrase "for ever
and ever" is a contradiction all on its own, and it simply does not mean what
we would call eternity. There are other
difficulties which I pointed out. The
question is, what are we going to do with these difficulties? Are we simply going to ignore them? Did God inspire all these difficulties? I like the KJ Bible and I use it all the
time. I believe it is a very good
translation, and knowing what I now know it becomes all the more reason to
study it very carefully.
We have it in our statement of faith and
beliefs that we believe the Bible is inspired.
I have no problem with that, but which Bible? If we mean God inspired only the KJ Bible what
gives us the right or the evidence that He didn’t inspire other translations
also? The infallible words of God are
translated in all Bibles, but to find the meaning of the infallible words is
something else entirely. God not only
preserved His words but preserved the original meaning of His infallible
words.
The Textus Receptus published in 1516 was
the first Greek NT, but what is more important; the words of the received text
that KJ translated from or the meaning of the words? Words are useless without the correct meaning. The KJV does not match the received text
consistently on the meaning of several infallible words. That is a fact. God’s infallible words were translated into
various Bibles by
God’s divine permission. All is of God
and He is in total control of everything, and on that premise maybe God did
inspire the KJV, but for no other reason than just to see how we would handle
these difficulties and what we choose to believe.
We know God creates darkness as explained
in Isaiah 45, and it is very apparent what kind of darkness that is. What if God is trying our hearts and He wants
to know if we would trust in a translation, or if we would trust in Him and His
infallible words? The question naturally
comes up; what translation can we safely call the infallible word of God; to
trust and believe so we can grow? After
all; is it not a part of the Christian walk to grow in knowledge of God’s
word? You had better believe is it, but
who ever said the Christian walk was easy?
It is not easy to understand the truth of
God’s word, simply because it is very precious, and those that truly want to
understand, God will see to it that they will have to do some very careful
comparing and studying. God provides for
the divine balance of understanding His infallible words, if we would just make
use of that balance. But maybe some of
you are content with the KJ Bible and feel it is sufficient for Christian
growth. As for me, I am not content and
I want more. Why not call the KJV simply
what it is; just another translation.
The fact is, all translations are inherently flawed by the very nature
of what a translation is. The Bible
itself uses the word "translation".
Hebrews7:12 KJV For the priesthood being changed,
there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
That word "changed" is the same word as
translate.
Hebrews11:5 KJV By faith Enoch was translated that he
should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for
before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Enoch had to be changed to not see
death. Translate actually has the
meaning to pervert. It also means to
transport, transfer, exchange, carry over, remove, or turn. When infallible words are translated there is
that risk or chance for any one of these meanings to apply.
When I was preparing the plan of the ages
I considered maybe that I was getting too nit-picky with all this. I was told after the sermon that I might have
been too nit-picky, and the implication was; why get so nit-picky over a few
words and how they might have been translated?
Well, if getting to the meaning of the infallible words of God is
nit-picky then I guess that makes me a nitpicker.
2Timothy2:14-15 KJV Of these things put [them] in
remembrance, charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words
to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.
Why was Timothy told to study? Paul’s warning to Timothy was words that
subvert. Timothy had to study words so
that they did not subvert or confuse, and he did that by rightly dividing the
word of truth. Rightly dividing means to
make a straight cut, and the Darby translation says exactly that in 2Tim
2:15: Strive
diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be
ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth.
We had better study the meaning of words,
especially if they are translated; so that we are approved of God and not be
ashamed. If words are not used
consistently with a consistent meaning then they certainly will not profit and
they will subvert. I would say getting
to the correct meaning of the infallible words of God is truly cutting the word
of truth in a straight line. Swerving
over to a translation is not in a straight line because a translation will
sometimes bypass and miss the true meaning of the infallible words. Cutting the infallible words in straight line
is how we are approved of God as workmen and we will not be ashamed. Notice Paul did say a workman. Studying is good works.
Millions of people are generally content
with how they understand God’s infallible words translated in our English
Bibles, and they have no interest in doing the good works of studying. As you know, our works will by tried by fire
and we all will face Jesus Christ at Judgment, and many believers will be
ashamed if they had the means and opportunity to study as workmen, but did not
study to be approved of God. They will
suffer loss for eternity, but they themselves will still be saved; yet so as by
fire.
1Cor 3:13-15 KJV Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any
man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire.
Striving diligently and studying as a
workman to be approved of God requires work.
What you believe about the meaning of the infallible words of God can
determine if your work as a workman will remain or be burned. Our works will be tried by fire but it is
only works that are approved of God that will remain and will not be consumed
by God. God is a consuming fire (Heb
12:29), and if we have God’s Spirit we are
baptized by fire. Baptism of water
cleansed the Adamic sin but the baptism of fire will consume vain, worthless,
and dead works that God simply cannot use.
If we are to be first fruits in the first
resurrection we must try to overcome the vain, dead, and worthless works now in
this life. The point is, if we overcome
worthless and vain works now in this life God will not have to consume them
later. Physical fire consumes, and so
does the fire of God. The physical
represents the spiritual. We avoid if at
possible physical fire simply because it is very painful on contact and we
certainly would not want to touch it. If
we are tempted to sin; don’t touch it; don’t touch carnality, don’t touch false
pride, don’t touch false doctrine, don’t touch self-righteousness, don’t touch
vanity, don’t touch hardness of heart and stubbornness, don’t touch holding
grudges against a brother, don’t touch not wanting to assemble and
fellowship. Try not to touch anything
that opposes God. If we are led by God’s
Spirit we are led to avoid touching the things that God will consume. God will see to it to try us with fire.
1Pet 4:12
KJV Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
"Fiery" is the same word as tried by
fire. The Spirit of God inspired the
infallible words of scripture, and it is the Spirit and fire of God that should
burn our souls to truly get to the correct meaning of the infallible
words. The fire not only burns our souls
to do good works, but the fire also burns us to study as workmen to be approved
of God and not be ashamed.
Physically speaking, we are not aware of
the fire of God. There’s no physical
pain; only a soul that is aware of spiritual things and has a conscious will
act and think to not touch the wrong. We
know judgment begins with the house of God now in this life (1Pet
4:17).
The fire of God judges and will guide a converted soul to toe the line,
so to speak, to live a righteous life now.
We have all heard the saying; sin is playing with fire. That is a very accurate and true saying. The fear of God is simply the fear of
fire. The fire of God not only judges
worthless and vain works now in this life but it also purifies good works. I repeat, the fire of God should burn our
souls to get to the correct meaning of the infallible words of God. I can not stress that enough.
Like I explained, when I got into this
subject of the world I did not know where this would lead, and I want to again
show another meaning of world and how it is translated. The word "world" is found very many times in
the NT with several different Greek meanings; which is why it is impossible to
define accurately what "world" means.
The way "world" is used in the NT has a very broad and uncertain
meaning, and it certainly is not consistent.
What comes to our minds when we hear the
word "world"? We generally have a concept
of what the world is by how we were taught all our lives. My school of thought was that I believed the
world could generally be explained to mean either the earth or globe, and the
world could also mean the society around us.
The Christian school of thought is that the world is generally evil and
we should separate from the ways of the world; whatever that means; which I do
agree. The Amish faith that I grew up in
believed the world was modernism based strictly on appearance and physical
things; such as the modern conveniences of cars, appliances, electricity, and a
host of other things that appeared worldly; whatever that means. It was a sin to have these modern things that
made daily life easier and more convenient.
The world’s dress codes, hair styles etc, again based on physical
appearance were also a sin. We could say
the Amish faith defined what the world was by their own definition of what they
believed was sin.
The Noah Webster Dictionary has about 22
definitions of the word "world". Where
did all these definitions come from, and just who determined what the word
"world" means? We could say the world
itself (whatever it is) has determined and interpreted what world means. During the KJ era of history the society at
that time also defined in their mind what the world was based on the religious
mind set of that time. No one, and I
mean no one, can convince the Amish that they have a wrong concept of what the
world is; because their religion either stands or collapses on how they define
what the world is. The KJ translators
were no different in determining what the world was in their day. They believed world could mean a number of
things including age or ages, and they also believed world included what they
believed was eternity, and that is exactly the way they translated. Age does not mean eternity, and eternity does
not mean age.
They translated several Greek words into
the one English word "world", and they also defined aion and aionos with
definitions that even contradicted themselves.
Using the word "world" they translated an age that will end and also
ages without an end. If you call that
consistent or infallible go right ahead.
But of course they also had to correctly define and include the Greek
definition also. So when the
commentaries, concordances, lexicons, and dictionaries came along years later
they decided to was best to include how the KJV defined Greek words, because it
was a popular translation. So if we
believe the KJV is infallible and preserved by God we are then forced to
believe what they believed in how they defined world, age, and eternity.
Millions of well-meaning sincere people
love and believe the KJV. What they love
and believe is only a version of God’s word.
Understand something. The word
"version" has several meanings such as a turning, a change, or
transformation. A version of God’s word
is just that; a version; a turning, a change, or a transformation from the original
pureness of God’s word. Common sense
should tell us that a version and a translation of the word of God is not the
original pure infallible word of God.
We should always be aware of how words
were translated, and then simply check out the meaning of certain questionable
words in the original Hebrew and Greek.
That is not hard to do, if we would just do it. I tried to explain in the plan of the ages
how certain translations simply used the words; forever, world, everlasting, or
eternal in the vast majority of times to explain the Greek words aion and
aionos. But they also used age or ages
several times to explain these words which was correct; but it was not
consistent, which is my point.
I believe the KJ translators were sincere
in wanting to make certain Greek words easier to understand in the English
language. But due to their beliefs they
were not consistent. We have to
understand the history of the Church of England and the Catholic Church during
what is known as the dark ages. The
point is this; if world, as it was translated, can be defined with several
meanings that contradict; then it becomes what I would call a non-word.
In the plan of the ages I did not intend
to give the impression that we reject the KJ Bible. No, we are in no way to reject the KJ Bible;
we read and study it all the more. I accept
our statement of faith and beliefs that we use the KJ Bible. I will also accept that we believe the Bible
is inspired because we did not use the word infallible. God indirectly inspires all things, simply
because all things only happen by His supreme will and permission. Just because we as a Church say we believe
certain things; does not make them true.
That is a lesson we all have to learn as individuals and as a Church. But to have order and unity among members we
have every right as a Church to abide by some very basic beliefs. But as individuals we might not believe every
little part in a Church document.
Abiding by a document for order and unity’s sake and personally
believing are two different applications.
As I explained before, there are several
meanings given for the word "world" as it was translated in the KJV. There is the cosmos world that is mentioned
the vast majority of times, and as we learned before, the aion world simply
means an age that will end, and the aionios world is simply a period of time
that is age lasting. The cosmos world
and the aion world are found the vast majority of times. There is also another Greek word that was
translated as "world" in the NT that I would like to address in the remaining
time I have today. It is no. 3625 and
pronounced as oy-kou-men'-ay and here is Strong’s definition: land, that is, the (terrene part of the)
globe; specifically the
Roman empire, earth, world. The terrene part
means this: pertaining to the earth; earthy; as terrene substance. Thayer’s definitions are: the inhabited
earth, the portion of the earth inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from
the lands of the barbarians, the
Roman empire, all the subjects of the empire, the whole inhabited earth, the world,
the inhabitants of the earth, men, the universe.
Are we supposed to believe that the
Roman Empire and all the subjects of the empire can
also mean the universe? The
Roman Empire of course was the focal point of
discussion that made up the terrene part of the inhabited earth during NT times. This is why Thayer’s added to the meaning of
the terrene part of the globe. It was
proper and correct for them to add to the meaning simply because the
Roman Empire was referred to in the context of certain
scriptures, but to add definitions takes away from the one Greek meaning. Okoumeney should be simply translated as
"inhabited earth", and the context of certain scriptures explains what the
terrene part of the earth is that was inhabited. Again as I pointed out in the plan of the
ages Strong’s and Thayer’s give the Greek definition, but they also define a
Greek word the way the KJV has translated it.
It is not hard to understand the meaning
of Greek words if we simply use common sense in the way they were used in the
context of various scriptures. The
correct meaning of Greek words must be consistent, but Thayer’s has the
okoumenay world meaning several different things just as they did for the aion
world. Either okoumenay means the whole
or just inhabited parts of the earth; or it doesn’t. Either the aion world means age or ages or it
doesn’t. You cannot give it other
meanings and be consistent. The KJV and
other translations want certain Greek and Hebrew words to have several meanings
and Thayer’s, Brown Driver Briggs just define all these meanings in the way the
translators defined words.
What I have been trying to explain is that
the problem the translators had is that it is not possible to correctly and
consistently translate from Hebrew and Greek into the English language. Yet for some strange reason people call a
certain English translation the infallible Word of God. It is not possible to translate perfectly
simply because the Hebrew and Greek languages are not English, German, or any
other language. But several translations
do match certain Greek words in the English language, but the translations that
try to match the Greek meaning word for word do not have the correct flow,
structure, and readability of English sentences. Try to read the Concordant Literal NT
sometime or the Greek Diglot and you will see what I mean.
The Greek word Okoumenay is found 15 times
in the KJV and was translated using the non-word "world" every time except
once. They used earth only once. The question is, why use earth only once when
it should have been translated consistently?
I want to now show several examples where okoumaney is found.
Matthew24:14 KJV 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.
Darby: And these glad tidings of the
kingdom shall be preached in the whole habitable earth, for a witness to all
the nations, and then shall come the end.
The whole habitable earth sounds much
better than using the non-word "world", but in this case the KJV can be excused
for using "in all the world", but the word okoumenay is not world; it is
habitable earth; which is my point. Sure
I admit this is splitting hairs and I’m being nitpicky.
Mark16:15
KJV And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.
It would seem this is saying the same
thing as Matt 24:14 but this world is cosmos; it is not okoumaney as in Matt
24:14. Cosmos and okoumaney are two words with different meanings.
Colossians1:23
KJV If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved
away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached
to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
The gospel was preached to every creature
under heaven, and this is why when some people read this verse they believe the
end did come in the days of the apostles.
But was it physically possible for the apostles to preach the gospel to
all nations of the whole habitable earth?
They preached only to the cosmos world generally limited to the
Roman Empire, and it is totally out of context to say
the apostles preached to all nations in the whole habitable earth. If they did preach to all nations right
before the end came how can you have all nations within the terrene part,
jurisdiction, and territory of only one Empire?
The gospel preached to all nations as a
witness means literally all nations of the whole habitable earth, and Rev 14:6
says an angel will do that. The apostles
preached the gospel for personal repentance, not necessarily for a
witness. Preaching for a witness is
simply an announcement right before the end to all nations of the whole
inhabited earth that time has ran out and the coming kingdom is now
imminent.
Luke2:1 KJV And it came to pass in those days, that
there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed. {taxed: or, enrolled}
The Message Translation: About that
time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire.
That is truly the correct way to translate
this verse. The KJV made two mistakes;
they used the word "taxed" and the non-word "world". Are we supposed to believe that literally all
the world was taxed in the days of Christ’s birth; or "enrolled", as the footnote
says? No, just the terrene part of all
the habitable earth of the
Roman Empire had their census taken or was enrolled.
Luke4:5
KJV And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him
all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
The Messianic Translation: And he brought Him up and showed Him all
the kingdoms of the inhabited Earth in a moment of time.
Again, the inhabited earth sounds much
better than the non-word "world" because kingdoms can only rule and govern
where the earth is inhabited.
Luke21:26 KJV Men's hearts failing them for fear,
and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the
powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Darby Translation:
men ready to die through fear and expectation of what is coming on the habitable
earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Here is the one example where the KJV used
earth for okoumeney which is only half correct.
It should be habitable earth. The
other 14 times they translated okoumeney using the non-word "world". Things which are coming on the world would
sound just as proper as things coming on the earth; so why didn’t they use
"world" in this verse? Again this might
be nitpicking, but if the KJV is the infallible word of God then it most
certainly should be consistent especially with infallible words.
Acts11:27 KJV And there stood up one of them
named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth
throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Darby Translation: and one from among them, by name Agabus, rose up and signified by the Spirit that there was going to be a great
famine over all the inhabited earth, which also came to pass under
Claudius.
Did this famine cover literally over all
the inhabited earth? That is what it
says, but again logically in the correct context the famine could only affect
the terrene part of all the land of the inhabited
Roman Empire.
Revelation3:10 KJV Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come
upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
(ALT):
'Because you kept the word of My patient endurance, I also will keep you
from the hour of the trial, the one about to be coming upon the whole inhabited
earth, to test the ones dwelling on the earth.
This literally means the whole inhabited
earth in the correct context; not just the
Roman Empire.
Revelation12:9 KJV And the great dragon was cast out,
that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(ALT): And the great dragon was thrown
down the ancient serpent, the one being called Devil and Satan, the one leading
astray the whole inhabited earth he was thrown down to the earth, and his
angels were thrown down with him.
Again this means literally the whole
inhabited earth. The other examples
where okounaney is found the non-word "world" was used, and it simply would be
more understandable if inhabited earth were used instead. If you want to check the other scriptures
just search on the Greek word no. 3625 in Strong’s Con.
To some of you these examples are not
worth disputing over, and it is easy to know what is meant by the non-word
"world" in the context of scripture. I
beg to differ, that is not the point. We
are talking about the meaning of the infallible words of God that must be
consistent with a consistent meaning. I
admit there is only a slight flaw with how the word okoumeney was translated,
but it is not consistent; which shows a human flaw. I am only interested in showing the
infallible words of God in their original pureness. I’m sorry, brothers and sisters; the KJV does
not do that. I am only interested in
showing the divine consistency as compared to the human inconsistencies. I am only interested to edify us to love,
respect, and believe the original meaning of the inspired, infallible words of
God, and I want say to resist the meaning of the infallible words of God is to
resist truth, and that can be very serious.
What happens when we study? The Spirit of God is right there with our
spirit waiting to turn the lights on. We
all can find out the meaning of words, and believe me, it can be a very
interesting and refreshing study, but it does take time and determination and a
lot of just plain old common sense.
1 Tim 6:3 talks about consenting to
wholesome words and to the words of Jesus Christ. Wholesome words are sound words. They are words that are consistent and they
will not contradict if, and I specify "if", if we study and trace the original
meaning of the words of Christ, the words of the prophets, and the words of the
apostles.
We are to consent to the wholesome
infallible words of God in their original pureness. Brothers and sisters, God does not expect us
speak Hebrew or Greek, but He does expect us to study if we have the tools and
the means. Some people simply do not
have the tools or the opportunity to study and that is where the grace of God
steps in.
In closing I want to say you do not have
to study; God will still save you. Some
of you might simply have no interest in studying the meaning of the infallible
words of God; but you might very well have other good works that will not be
consumed, and your works still might stand the test of the baptism of
fire. You do not have to believe what I
presented here today, and I certainly do not want to shake your faith on how
you regard the KJV and other translations also.
Just keep reading and studying what you are convicted to read and
study. Only you can determine by your
works what your rewards will be for eternity, but your salvation is not
determined by works, because it is not possible for any works to EARN salvation. That is the difference. Salvation is only by the grace of God, and it
is what God will do. It is NOT what we
will do by our good works of study or good works of charity, but understand;
these works do earn "rewards" for the firstfruits in the first resurrection.
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