News and Notes

A Christmas Message -- Luke 2:6-7 r.w.s.

Book Review -- TNIV m.e.l.

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November - 2002 - December

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NEWS and NOTES

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

(1 Timothy 1:15)

Our Savior's Ev. Lutheran Church - Morris, IL

Baptism: Nov. 10, 2002 - Elizabeth Marie Fannin, infant daughter of Joshua & Amanda Fannin was received into the Lord's kingdom via Holy Baptism,

Eternal Savior Ev. Lutheran Church - Arbor Vitae, WI

Baptism: Esther Lucille Yeomans, born December 2, 2002 to Dave R. and Julie Yeomans, was baptized into Christ's kingdom as He Himself commanded, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19) during the worship service on Sunday, December 8, 2002.

Rejoice with us! May the Holy Spirit, through the hearing of His Precious Perfect Word, always build up their faith in Jesus Christ, our Great Redeemer, unto life everlasting.

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:6)

A Christmas Message

(Translated from a sermon on the Christmas Gospel by Dr. Martin Luther)

-- Bible text: Luke 2:6-7 --

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

The Gospel account (of Christ's birth) is so clear that it requires very little exposition. All it wants is to be considered carefully and taken to heart. And no one will derive more benefit from it than he, who with a calm heart, shuts everything else out and diligently ponders what's taking place here, just as the sun lets itself be clearly seen and its warmth felt in calm and placid waters rather than in churning waves and billows. Therefore, if you want to be enlightened and warmed by seeing a divine miracle of grace that will shine joyfully in your heart see to it that you are calm and peaceful within and fasten this picture before you in your mind's eye firmly and you will find wonder upon wonder to delight you.

First, see just how plainly and simply those things take place on earth that are so highly regarded in heaven. On earth it goes this way: There is a poor, young woman, Mary, of Nazareth, virtually unknown and considered to be one of the least citizens of the city. Absolutely no one is aware of the great Miracle she is carrying; she herself also keeps quiet about it, puts on no airs and considers herself to be nothing in the city. She sets out with her husband, Joseph, most likely without any maid or servant. Joseph himself is both master and servant while she is the maid as well as the lady of the house. They had to leave their home vacant or ask someone else to take care of it.

It may be that they had a donkey on which Mary rode although the Gospel account says nothing of this and it is probable that she and Joseph traveled on foot. Just think how she was treated with scorn in the inns along the way, she who was worthy to be carried in a golden carriage with all the trappings. How many wives and daughters of the nobility of that day were well provided for and highly esteemed while this mother of God had to travel over land in the middle of winter, on foot, with a body heavy with child! How rough the trip was. It's certainly more than a day's journey from Nazareth of Galilee to Bethlehem in Judah. They either had to by-pass Jerusalem or else go right through the city because Bethlehem lies to the south of Jerusalem and Nazareth to the north.

Now that they have arrived in Bethlehem the evangelist shows how they were the most despised and forlorn people around. They have to give way to everyone until they end up in a stall sharing room, table and bed with the beasts of the field while up above, in the inn, many a wicked man sits around and lets himself be considered a great lord. Not a single one of them knows or understands what God Himself is bringing to pass in the stall below; He lets the big houses and costly mansions remain empty and permits the people to eat and drink and live it up but this Comfort and Treasure is hidden from them. O what darkness had descended on Bethlehem that night -- that not a single citizen was aware of the Light shining in its midst! How plainly God shows that He pays no attention to that which the world is, has and does, and contrariwise, the world also confesses that it considers everything God is, has and accomplishes to be exactly nothing.

See, that's the first picture by which Christ brings the world to shame and demonstrates to us that all its deeds, knowledge and behavior are sheer abomination; that its greatest wisdom is utter stupidity, its best deeds nothing but unrighteousness and its "goodness" unmitigated disaster.

But the birth itself is even more pitiable because no one has compassion on this young woman who is about to give birth, no one took her condition to heart and no one paid any attention to the fact that, being in a strange place, she didn't have the least things necessary for a woman who is about to give birth. There she is -- without any preparation, without light or fire, in the middle of the night, in darkness -- alone! Not a single person calls for a servant as normally happens in such cases. Everybody is living it up in the inn, a veritable crowd of guests from every country, and no one takes this woman's dire extremity seriously. I also think that she wasn't aware her time was so close, otherwise she would have remained back in Nazareth.

Now what do you suppose she could use as a blanket in which to wrap Him? Perhaps her veil or some other piece of personal clothing she could spare. That she wrapped Him in Joseph's breeches which are now on display at Aachen is ridiculous. There are many such fables abroad in the world today. Isn't this one of the strangest things that's ever been, that Christ is born so poor and lowly in the cold of winter in a strange place? Some also dispute as to how this birth took place saying that she delivered Him in the middle of a prayer, in great joy without any pain even before she was aware of it. I don't reject this thought, especially for the sake of the simple. However, we should hold fast to the very words of the Gospel which say she bore Him, and to the article of faith that says: "Born of the virgin, Mary." Here there is no ambiguity whatever; it is, just as the words say, a real and true birth.

But what took place in heaven concerning this birth? To the degree that it was despised on earth it is honored and extolled a thousand times more in heaven. Tell me now: if an angel from heaven were to praise you and your work isn't it true that you would gladly trade all the praise and honor the world might give you for that. Why, for it you would be ready to suffer every indignity and contempt. What kind of honor must it be then when all the angels of heaven cannot contain themselves for joy any longer but must break forth over the lowly shepherds in the field, preaching, praising, singing and pouring out their joy immeasurably? What does all the joy and honor in Bethlehem, yes, of all kings and lords on earth, amount to in comparison with this joy and honor? The world's honor is sheer filth and abomination, not even worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with this abundantly sublime joy and honor.

Observe how abundantly God honors those who are accustomed to being despised by men. Here you see where His grace is directed: only to those who are down in the depths. He sits above the cherubim and looks into the depth of sin and misery. Also the angels could not find a single prince or influential person, only uneducated laymen and the lowest people on earth. Couldn't they appeal to the chief priests or scholars in Jerusalem, men who really knew how to discourse eloquently concerning God and the angels? No, only the lowly shepherds must be worthy enough to receive such great grace and honor from heaven, people who were absolutely nothing as far as the world is concerned. How completely God casts aside everything that is high and mighty. Yet we break our necks striving to get to the top, as people who are bent on not being honored by God. Again and again we slip out of His sight by our climbing so that He doesn't see us in the depths where He alone looks.

Now we want to look into the hidden things, the "mysteries", that are set before us in this historical account. And the first thing we notice is faith which always has its origin in and from God's Word. And it is not just that kind of faith whereby you believe that the historical facts are true exactly as the words say, for that does not help at all since all sinners, including the damned, believe that way. But the truly blessed faith, wrought by grace, which God's Word and work demand is this: that you firmly believe that Christ is born FOR YOU and that His birth is there to make good your own birth. The Gospel teaches that Christ is born for your sake and that He has done and suffered everything for us, as the angel also says here:

"...I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." [Luke 2:10-11]

He doesn't just say, "I bring glad tidings of great joy", but "TO YOU, TO YOU I bring glad tidings of great joy." Again, it is a joy that does not just remain with Christ, but is "to ALL people." A wicked or unbelieving man does not have, neither can have, this kind of faith. For this is the very basis of all salvation, which truly unites the believing heart with Christ; that whatever each has and is belongs to the other. And what do they have? Christ has a clean, guiltless and holy birth; man has an unclean, sinful and condemned birth as David says in Psalm 51:5:

"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

And this birth cannot be rectified except by the pure birth of Christ. Furthermore, the physical birth of Christ cannot be portioned out and it would not help at all; therefore it is distributed spiritually through the Word as the angel says here that the unclean birth cannot harm anyone who believes that Christ's birth is given to him. That is the manner and way we become purified of our lamentable "Adam's" birth. Therefore Christ desired to be born so that we, through Him, might be born in a different manner, as He says in John 3:3. And this birth occurs through faith as James says (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."

[Reprinted from the November/December, 1983 LRH Newsletter]

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Book Review: TNIV

What is the TNIV? The "TNIV" is "Today's New International Version", and both trademarks are the property of the International Bible Society. In this review, all quotes labeled "TNIV" are "Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, Today's New International Version^TM Copyright © 2001 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved." The copy to which I will be referring is: "Today's New International Version, New Testament, Copyright © 2002 by Zondervan. All rights reserved. Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, U.S.A." All Scripture quotes labeled "KJV" are from the Holy Bible King James Version 1611/1769.

The TNIV is a byproduct of the NIV (New International Version) which was published in 1973, revised in 1978 and 1984. In the TNIV preface the Committee on Bible Translation states: "There is a sense in which the work of translating the Bible is never finally finished. This very fact has prompted the Committee to engage in an ongoing review of the text of the NIV with the assistance of many other scholars. The chief goal of this review has always been to bring the text of the NIV abreast of contemporary biblical scholarship and of shifts in English idioms and usage. Already in 1978 and again in 1984 various corrections and revisions to the NIV text were made. In Today's New International Version (TNIV) the Committee offers to the reading public the latest fruits of this review. The first concern of the translators has been the accuracy of the translation and it's faithfulness to the meaning of the biblical writers. This has moved the translators to strive for more than a word-for-word rendering of the original texts... To achieve clarity the translators have sometimes supplied words not in the original texts but required by the context. " [emphasis by use of bold italics mine M.E.L.]

Consider for a moment what the TNIV Committee on Bible Translation has in effect declared: 1) The Committee's product is one of contemporary modernistic methods and views of the Bible. 2) The Committee was not and is not really concerned about the exact words which God has given – plenary and verbal inspiration, and Scripture preservation – but rather with their own subjective interpretation of what the biblical writers meant to say. 3) The Committee has no wish to translate word-for-word, but rather holds to a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, and in fact they have no qualms about adding to God's Word as they see fit! What does God have to say about such things?

"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." (Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV)

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:7-9 KJV)

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

Unfortunately, the TNIV translation Committee does not display the attitude that true followers of God are to have towards His Holy Word, as taught in Psalm 119:103-105, (KJV)

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

The following quotes, numbered (1) through (5), are also taken from the TNIV preface and will show beyond a shadow of a doubt the brazenly irreverent and flippant handling of God's Word by the TNIV translators. [Note: emphasis in bold italics within the quotes mine. M.E.L.]

(1) "The Greek text used in translating the New Testament has been an eclectic one. Where existing manuscripts differ, the translators have made their choice of readings in accordance with widely accepted principals of New Testament textual criticism."

Comments: The foregoing statement is a fancy way of saying that the translators played pick-and-choose with available manuscript portions and printed editions of the Greek New Testament based solely on their own arbitrary preferences and human reason– sadly, they really don't have a clue about what is actually God's Word and what isn't. The TNIV translators fail to realize that God promised to preserve ALL His Word in it's entirety, and has done so in the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Greek Textus Receptus of the New Testament– the traditional texts of the Christian Church right from the time of the Apostles to the present.

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18 KJV)

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35 KJV)

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." (Isaiah 40:8 KJV)

(2) "Two changes of special note in the TNIV New Testament are the frequent substitution of 'Messiah' for the more traditional 'Christ' and the replacement of 'saints' in most cases with alternative renderings."

Comments: The TNIV translators admittedly ignore the very words given by God the Holy Spirit! Shame on them! The Greek Cristov, "Christos" indeed means "anointed" and has been known and translated into English as "Christ" for centuries! The Greek Messiav "Messias" – a different word – is the Greek form of "Messiah", and is of Hebrew origin xyvm "mashiyach", also meaning "annointed". Nevertheless, the fact remains: the Holy Spirit chose to use two different words in the Greek New Testament– this can be seen in any printed edition of the Greek New Testament (e.g. The faithful Stephanus' 1550 Textus Receptus and even the critical and often unfaithful Nestle Aland 27^th edition). Hence, a good English translation will faithfully render the words found in the true Greek Text into English– exactly as has been done in the King James Version. It is interesting to note that Luther's German Bible of 1545 shows that it too was faithfully translated– Luther uses the word "Messias" for the Greek "Messias", and "Christi", "Christus", "Christum" for the Greek "Christos".

The familiar Bible word "saints" is a translation of the Greek word agiov, "hagios" meaning: "as the quality of persons or things that can be brought near or into God's presence holy; (1) of things set apart for God's purpose dedicated, sacred, holy; (2) of persons holy, pure, consecrated to God; (3) of supernatural beings, as God, Christ, the Spirit of God, angels holy; (4) superlative- most holy, very pure or sincere; (5) as a substantive; (a) the Holy One, as a designation for God and Christ; plural the holy ones, as a designation for angels; as human beings belonging to God saints, God's people, believers; (b) neuter- what is holy, what is dedicated to God; as a place dedicated to God sanctuary, holy place; plural- holy place, (outer) sanctuary; most sacred place, inner sanctuary, very holy place."

Note: The foregoing Greek word definition taken from: Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, © 2000 by Timothy and Barbara Friberg, published by Baker Books, a division of Baker Book House Company, P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids MI 49516-6287. (Scripture references and Greek word forms have been omitted from the above definition for the sake of clarity for the readers of this review; pastors and others wishing the additional information should consult the Lexicon itself.)

Why have the TNIV translators changed familiar, descriptive terms that have been used by Christians for hundreds of years? Why would the TNIV translators want the name "Christ" out of their "Bible"? Perhaps they want their book to appeal to people of non-Christian religions without offending them. Why would ANYONE professing to be Christian want "Christ" out of the Bible? Possibly, because they may be Christian in name only. Why are the TNIV translators averse to having all Christians known by the term "saints"? Maybe they want the term "saints" reserved for only those whom the Papacy names as such. With the types of changes being made by the TNIV translators their "Bible" is much more sellable to Roman Catholics, Muslims, Buddhists, New Age folks, and so forth; after all there are big bucks in the Bible-business!

(3) "Among the more programmatic changes in the TNIV is the removal of nearly all vocative 'O's and the elimination of most instances of the generic use of masculine nouns and pronouns... the so-called singular 'they/their/them'... has been employed to fill in the vocabulary gap in generic nouns and pronouns referring to human beings."

Comments: Are such changes necessary? No. What reasons could there be for making such changes? Probably, the desire to please the feminist movement and the gay and lesbian community: they want books for their religious gatherings too– books that will condone their sinful lifestyle.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV)

(4) "Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53-8:11... have a very questionable – and confused – standing in the textual history of the New Testament... A different typeface has now been chosen for these passages to indicate even more clearly their uncertain status."

Comment: There is NO uncertainty in the status of Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53-8:11, because the VAST MAJORITY of textual evidence – manuscripts, church fathers, early versions – supports the genuineness of these passages which are questioned by the naturalistic "scholars"! A very small MINORITY of textual evidence – corrupt manuscripts – has cast doubt on the passages in question. Why then, with the preponderance of textual evidence in favor of the inclusion of Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53-8:11, do these TNIV translators, and the like, continue in their moves to ultimately expunge these precious passages from the Bible? Well for one thing, the people who are puffed-up with self-esteem, self-worth, and a high estimation of their own supposedly good works, and a low estimation of Christ's work, find it hard to believe that Jesus forgave the adulterous woman in John 7:53-8:11, and showed the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees their own sinfulness! Furthermore, the work-righteous ecumenically minded New Age folks – unbelievers – hate what the Lord says in Mark 16:16,

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (KJV)

(5) "The Committee has again been reminded that every human effort is flawed– including this revision of the NIV. We trust, however, that many will find in it an improved representation of the Word of God..."

Comment: The Committee at least admitted that their product is flawed. Being a revision of the flagrantly flawed NIV, it is disappointing to see how a team could make a bad thing worse– but they did it! Would you be satisfied with merely a "representation of the Word of God"? I wouldn't. Don't you prefer to have all of God's Word in English? Sure you do, and you have it in the King James Version of the Bible 1611/1769. The Lord instructs us by the mouth of the Apostle Paul:

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13 KJV)

"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. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:15-17 KJV)

What follows is a comparison of a few passages of Scripture as found in the TNIV and the KJV, with brief comments to demonstrate what the TNIV translation team's philosophy has produced.

Matthew 16:18

TNIV And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it.

KJV And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

COMMENT: The TNIV translators want to get "hell" out of the Bible. Remember, they took the end of Mark's Gospel out too, where it says, "...he that believeth not shall be damned." They may try to hide the fact that there is a hell – a place of everlasting torment for the unbelievers – but their efforts won't change the reality of the matter one bit!

Matthew 19:4

TNIV "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'

KJV And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

COMMENT: The Greek noun which is normally translated "Creator" is not in this verse in any printed edition of the Greek text! The TNIV translators have substituted a noun where the Holy Spirit gave the definite article, and thus show their utter disregard for the words which God gave. The TNIV interprets rather than translating, and is therefore more of a commentary than a Bible translation. The Native American religions will love the wording in this passage of the TNIV.

Luke 2:33

TNIV The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

KJV And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

COMMENT: The true Greek text, following the vast majority of manuscripts, has "Joseph"; a few corrupt Greek manuscripts and the printed editions based upon them have "father". The TNIV chooses to follow the corrupted Greek and simply supply the word "child's". Yet, the fact is: Joseph was NOT Jesus' father, but only his foster-father; Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. Since the TNIV translators like to add words to the Bible, why didn't they add the word "foster" to "father", and thus make their rendition of the verse doctrinally correct? Maybe they simply prefer to give the reader a fully-human Jesus, rather than the real Jesus who is true God and true man.

Luke 2:36

TNIV There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

KJV And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

COMMENT: Anna was a woman. The Greek words are different for "prophet" and "prophetess". All printed editions of the Greek text have the feminine noun profhtiv (prophetis) in this verse, and the Greek text also has the word for "virginity" paryenia (parthenia), and not the word for "marriage" gamov (gamos). The TNIV "scholars" have ignored the basics!

Luke 16:23

TNIV In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

KJV And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

COMMENT: Again we see the TNIV translators working to get "hell" out of the Bible. Behold the clear(?) and easy-reading(?) replacement for the difficult-to-understand(?) word "hell". The TNIV translators merely transliterate the Greek Adhv "hades" instead of translating it!

John 1:14

TNIV The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

KJV And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

COMMENT: The TNIV uses extra words and still misses the point of the original Greek, that being, the ESSENTIAL DEITY of Jesus! Jesus not only "came from" the Father, but He was eternally generated "of" the Father! "One and only" is an incorrect translation of the Greek monogenhv (monogenes). Pastor R.W. Shekner put it this way: "Jesus is the Son of God by ESSENCE and it is the word "only BEGOTTEN" that guarantees the Essential Sonship of Jesus."

John 6:47

TNIV Very truly I tell you, whoever believes (?) has eternal life.

KJV Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

COMMENT: The TNIV teaches that one can basically believe anything and have eternal life! The OBJECT of faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, is omitted from the TNIV. True to form, the TNIV proves to be all-purpose book that should have wide appeal to Muslims, Jews, New Age, Unitarians, liberals and modernists of all stripes.

Acts 8:37

TNIV	KJV And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

TNIV: Placed in a footnote in small italic print: Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

COMMENT: The TNIV footnote also says that verse 37 is in "some late manuscripts", which is a misleading statement. The verse is in many manuscripts and is cited by early Church Fathers such as Irenaeus (178 A.D.), Tertullian (220 A.D.), and Cyprian (258 A.D.). Why is it that belief in Jesus Christ, and confessing Him, is so offensive to the TNIV translators? Draw your own conclusions.

Romans 1:16

TNIV I am not ashamed of the gospel [?], because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

KJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

COMMENT: Is it not now readily apparent that the TNIV wants Christ out of the Bible? Again and again the TNIV offers it's readers another gospel. The apostle Paul warns:

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-7 KJV)

Romans 14:10

TNIV You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you look down on your brother or sister? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

KJV But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

COMMENT: The true Greek text has "Christ" in this verse. It is certainly true that Christ is God, but He is also true man, and Jesus Christ will judge the quick and the dead! In another place the apostle Paul says:

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." (2 Timothy 4:1 KJV)

Another thing to note is that the TNIV also adds the extra words "or sister" twice in this verse– which will definitely please the feminist movement. The Greek has only the masculine singular noun in both places, nevertheless, the TNIV translators charge ahead with their non-sexist agenda– they won't let the words given by God the Holy Ghost get in their way. (Note: Throughout the TNIV so-called "gender inclusive language" has been used– without much regard to the original Greek.)

Colossians 1:14

TNIV in whom we have redemption [?], the forgiveness of sins.

KJV In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

COMMENT: Christ's "blood" is out in the TNIV, despite the fact that Scripture declares:

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22 KJV)

It took Jesus' blood to redeem us! The TNIV forgets the cost of our redemption! 1 John 1:7 (KJV) reports,

"...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Revelation 22:21

TNIV The grace of the Lord Jesus [?] be with God's people. Amen.

KJV The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

COMMENT: "Christ" is out of the TNIV, and the words "God's people" are used with absolutely no support from any Greek text! See for yourself in the following quote from the Interlinear Greek/English New Testament:

h {THE} cariv {GRACE} tou kuriou hmwn {OF OUR LORD} ihsou {JESUS} cristou {CHRIST} meta {BE WITH} pantwn {ALL} umwn {YOU.} amhn {AMEN.}

(Revelation 22:21 IGNT)

CONCLUSION: Examples of extremely poor translating and the blatant mishandling of God's Word by the TNIV translators could be greatly multiplied. It is not difficult to find errors on every page of the TNIV "New Testament". The TNIV, like it's predecessor (NIV), is a paraphrased perversion of God's Word which is totally unfit for use by Bible believing Christians. Simply put: the TNIV is not a treasure, it is plain trash. The TNIV's complete disregard for the Words which God the Holy Ghost has given is nothing short of blasphemy. Pray that the people responsible for giving the TNIV to the public repent of their sinful endeavor, withdraw it from the market, and turn to the real and only Savior of the World– Jesus Christ, the God/man, the Redeemer, the only begotten Son of the Heavenly Father.

Dear reader, hold fast to the only faithful and true translation of the Holy Bible in the English language – the King James Version 1611/1769 – which exalts and glorifies Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The King James version accurately renders the God-given Hebrew and Greek words– it is God's Word in English. The KJV truthfully shows us our sin and the only Savior from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ! Yes, stay with the time-tested, proven, old reliable King James Bible– the Bible that the Triune God gave to us that we may know of Him and grow in Him. Read and study the true Word of God daily,

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4 KJV)

M.E.L.

V

PSALM 93

1 ¶ The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

"...and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (1 Corinthians 12:3)

--- Christ our Savior is born !!! ---

The Lutheran Hymnal #79

Rejoice, Rejoice, this happy morn,

A Savior unto us is born,

The Christ, the Lord of Glory.

His lowly birth in Bethlehem

The angels from on high proclaim

And sing redemption's story.

My soul,

extol

God's great favor, bless him ever

For salvation,

Give Him praise and adoration.