It was the first to use italics for those words the translators added for the sake of English idiom.
L. DOUAY BIBLE: In 1582 Roman Catholics translated the New Testament at Rheims.
In 1610 they translated the Old Testament at Douay. It includes the Apocrypha. It was translated from the Latin Vulgate and contains gross errors. What is the Apocrypha? It is fourteen books included in the Roman Catholic Bible and are not in the Protestant Bible because:
1. Scriptures are self-contained and absolutely complete with nothing lacking.
2. There is no reference to the Apocrypha in the New Testament.
3. There are three solemn warnings against adding to the Bible:
(a) Moses - Deuteronomy 4:2.
(b) Solomon - Proverbs 30:6.
(c) John - Revelation 22:18-19.
4. The Apocrypha is not acknowledged by orthodox Jews or the Christian Church as being inspired.
5. The Apocrypha contains a great deal of legendary nonsense and some gross historical errors.
M. KING JAMES VERSION: In 1611 appeared the King James Version. This is the translation now used by most English speaking people. Forty-seven scholars, authorized by King James made an exhaustive study of earlier versions. Ancient Hebrew and Greek texts were studied in order to obtain the best results. It has held first place for three hundred and seventy five years.
N. REVISED VERSION: In 1881, one hundred scholars from different denominations from England and America worked for over ten years. The King James Version was used with the most ancient copies of the Scripture.
O. AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION: 1905. This took fifteen years to do and it divided the Bible into paragraphs.
P. REVISED STANDARD VERSION: In 1929 the copyright of the American Standard Version was transferred to the International Council of Religious Education, a body related to 40 major Protestant denominations. This council appointed a commit- tee of scholars from twenty seminaries and universities to revise the Standard Version. The Revised Standard Version of the New Testament was published in 1946, and the complete Bible was issued in 1952. This version reflects a liberal Theology. We see this in the translation of the word “virgin,” etc.
There are other translations into modern English that one may use: Moffat, Weymouth, Amplified, etc. These help in the study of the Bible and may be used as a source of reference. However, it is wise to keep to the King James Version as the main text of the Word of God as this is the version that God has used above all others in the salvation of souls.
SUPPOSED CONTRADICTIONS
The Bible, if correctly interpreted, never contradicts itself. We are listing here a few of supposed contradictions with the proper explanations. This is another proof of the infallibility of the Bible.
A. GENEALOGIES OF OUR LORD:
1. Matthew 1 - This is traced back on Joseph’s side to Abraham to show Christ as the legal heir to the throne of Israel.
2. Luke 3 - This is traced back on Mary’s side to Adam emphasizing Christ’s true humanity and to show Him as the promised seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).
B. TWO ACCOUNTS OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT:
“Jesus went up into the mountain” (Matthew 5:1).
“He came down with them” (Luke 6:17).
There were TWO sermons - one preached in the mountain - the other in the plain - one preached to the disciples - the other to the crowd. Matthew was not at the first sermon (Matthew 9:9). Matthew was at the second sermon (Luke 6:15).
C. INSCRIPTION ON THE CROSS:
1. Matthew: This is Jesus the King of the Jews.
2. Mark: the King of the Jews.
3. Luke: This is the King of the Jews.
4. John: Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews
RESULT: This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.
Undoubtedly the total inscription was written and only part of it recorded in the various gospels.
D. PAUL’S SUPPOSED MISTAKE:
Numbers 25:9 - 24,000 died.
I Corinthians 10:8 - 23,000 died.
Paul writing under inspiration stated that 23,000 died in one day.
E. MATTHEW’S SUPPOSED MISTAKE: Matthew 27:9 - spoken by Jeremy the prophet saying…
Zechariah 11:12&13 - Matthew writing under inspiration wrote that Jeremiah spoke these words. Could not this be just as correct as Jude 14 regarding the prophecy of Enoch’s although a similar prophecy is in Zechariah 14:5. Jeremiah could have spoken it as well as Zechariah.
F. DAVID NUMBERING THE PEOPLE: II Samuel 24:9 and I Chronicles 21:5. Samuel tells us that the valiant men that drew the sword were 800,000 while Chronicles says that all Israel were 1,100,000.
G. MATTHEW 28:19 AND ACTS 2:38: This is no contradiction. Jesus did not tell
His disciples to baptize, using the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He told them to baptize in the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The words Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not names but titles pointing to ONE PERSON who has ONE NAME. That name is JESUS.
There are other supposed contradictions and mistakes, but those given in this lesson are sufficient to prove that the Bible is absolutely accurate and infallible. How important that we study the Bible and understand the message it contains. We should never attempt to change in the slightest manner the Word of God. Three times are we solemnly warned against this:
Deuteronomy 4:2 - Ye shall not add unto the word…
Proverbs 30:6 - Add thou not unto his words…
Revelation 22:18-19 - If any man shall add…
UNIT TWO
ONE GOD
“ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD”
GOD
A.
