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| Question: How do you answer those who have heard the false advertising claim that new Bible versions are easier to read and understand? |
Answer:
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| The following is a
condensed version of Appendix C. To download a full version of Appendix C in Acrobat(R) PDF* format, click here. |
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Jesus was not speaking archaic Aramaic to Mary and Joseph yet, "they understood not the saying which he spake unto them." Obsolete words were not the obstacle when he asked Peter, "Are ye also yet without understanding? God tells us man's inability to understand the bible has a number of causes, none of which is a limitation in his vocabulary. The bible is not difficult to understand — it is impossible — unless God's criteria are met. The verses and checklists to follow should help the reader look within his heart for the start of the knot, and then look up to God for the unraveling. |
| * | The bible is a sealed book. | |
| Read this, I pray thee:
and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed. Isaiah 29:10, 11 | ||
| * | Man's sin casts a shadow which darkens his understanding of each verse. | |
| [N]one of the wicked shall understand. Daniel 12:10 | ||
| * | Even man's mind cannot penetrate the deep, dark shadow which blackens 'the book'. | |
| But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:14 | ||
| * | There is 'a way' of understanding the bible and that way is Jesus Christ. | |
| Only the LORD give thee wisdom and
understanding. I Chronicles 22:12 | ||
THE SEVEN SEALS | ||
| ¶ 1 | A NEW HEART | |
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When we receive Jesus Christ as our Saviour, he gives us a new heart where the Spirit of God can dwell. Have you received him? | |
| Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:3, 5 | ||
| ¶ 2 | PRAY | |
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Do you pray before you study the bible? | |
| If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James 1:5 | ||
| ¶ 3 | READ and HEAR | |
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Are your senses (seeing and hearing) saturated with the bible, or are they filled with other things such as television, videos, radio, books, newspapers, magazines, or gossip? | |
| Wisdom [the bible] is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. [TV, magazines, catalogues, etc.] Proverbs 17:24 | ||
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Do you attend church regularly to hear those whom God has given the ministry of teaching? | |
| And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 | ||
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Do the teachers you hear (church, media, books) gain their understanding of the scriptures from following God's criteria or man's (degrees, commentaries, consensus)? | |
| [H]e that followeth vain persons is void of
understanding? Proverbs 12:11 | ||
| ¶ 4 | SEEK | |
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Do you pursue an understanding of the bible daily? | |
| I am understanding...those that seek me early shall find me...Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates. Proverbs 8:14, 17, 34 | ||
| ¶ 5 | DELIGHT | |
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How do you delight yourself? Are your 'delights' related to the flesh or the spirit? Self or God? | |
| [H]is delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2 | ||
| ¶ 6 | MEMORIZE AND MEDITATE | |
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Do you think about scripture verses you have memorized or do you think about other things? | |
| I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalm 119:99 | ||
| ¶ 7 | OBEY | |
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Do you obey the light God has already given you? Do you think he will give you more understanding if you do not follow that which he has already shown you? | |
| I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Psalm 119:100 | ||
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Have you allowed sin to creep into your life? | |
| [Y]et made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Daniel 9:13 | ||
This is a condensed version of Appendix C from New Age Bible Versions.
To download a full version of Appendix C in Acrobat(R) PDF* format, click here.
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased....
for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:4,9,10)
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (Revelation 5:1-4)And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:5-10)Jesus ... said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (Matthew 11:25)
Jesus came ... preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. (Mark 4:11-12)
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, (Acts 3:19)
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7)
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:12,13)
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3)
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit:? (Ezekiel 18:31)
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. (Zephaniah 3:9)But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory....
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit....
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (I Corinthians 2:7,9,10,12,13,14)Jesus said, “Are ye also yet without understanding?” (Matt. 15:16). “Do ye not yet understand...?” “How is it that ye do not understand...?” (Matt. 16:9,11). “perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?” (Mark 8:17)
THE HOLY BIBLE, Printed in 1611
Seeing its readings proves to cynics that the KJV's text has never been "revised" and is identical to that used today
(except for the rare 1611 typographical slips which were shortly thereafter fixed by King James translators themselves).
You can now purchase a 1611 King James Version 400th Anniversary Edition at a very low price. Published by Zondervan this is an exact, page-by-page, digitally re-mastered replica of the original 1611 printing, re-sized to a convenient 8.1 x 5.7 x 3 inches, and contains the original Old English Black Letter font. Click Here