How to Understand The King James Bible
How do you answer those who have heard the false advertising claim that new Bible versions are easier to read and understand?
I have an appendix in my book, New Age Bible Versions, that tells how to understand spiritual things. Basically it is a "heart problem; it is not a "head" problem. First Corinthians 2:14 says that the bible's words "are spiritually discerned." So, anything relating to the bible has to be "spiritually discerned." Appendix C talks about the seven seals on the bible. The bible tells us that is is a "sealed" book.
Romans 1:31-32 says those who are "without understanding...are worthy of death." Not understanding something spiritual seems to be related to sin, not to a lack of information. In Daniel 12:10 we read that "none of the wicked shall understand." So it is not a lack of information; it is a question of whether the person's heart is right with God. Jesus said to the Pharisees, "neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?" (Mark 8:17). It is amazing how many times the word "understand" and the word "heart" appear together within the same sentence, or verse or two in the New Testament. There seems to be a connection between understanding things and one's heart.
The first seal which opens the bible relates to being "born again." "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). So a scholar would have to be "born again."
The second thing is that the scholar would have to pray before he studies. I do not know that this happens in the classroom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." God has a seal over spiritual information unless someone asks him first.
The third thing the scholar would have to do would be to study the bible. Proverbs 17:24 says, "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth." Are scholars scanning books from all around the world? Are they looking at television, magazines, catalogues, or is the actual word of God the predominant element before that person's eyes every day?
The fourth seal relates to what we think about all of the time. It says in Psalms 119:99: "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." In order to meditate on the word of God, that is, think about the word of God all of the time, we have to have it memorized. With the introduction of the new versions, memorization and meditation seem to have moved right out the door.
Seal number five relates to studying the bible daily, not skipping any days. Proverbs 8:34 says, "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates." This is something that we have to do on a daily basis, not skipping days, or weeks, or months. The children of Israel had to go out and get the manna every day. They were not allowed to keep it overnight. I think that is what a lot of us do in our daily lives, and I am often guilty of it myself.
The sixth seal on the bible has to do with obedience to God. Psalm 119:100 says, "I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." So, someone who obeys God will understand more about spiritual matters than someone with a Ph.D. who has a head knowledge of theological matters but has hidden sin in his life.
The very last of the seven seals relates to what makes us happy. Psalm 1:2 says, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." If you want to delight yourself and have a real good time, do you have an extra dessert, or buy yourself something new? What do you do? Do you think, "Oh, I'll go read the bible." Those are the people who are going to understand spiritual things."
Article Credit: This article excerpted from pp. 97-99 of Which Bible is God's Word by Gail Riplinger
How do you answer those who have heard the false advertising claim that new Bible versions are easier to read and understand?
I have an appendix in my book, New Age Bible Versions, that tells how to understand spiritual things. Basically it is a "heart problem; it is not a "head" problem. First Corinthians 2:14 says that the bible's words "are spiritually discerned." So, anything relating to the bible has to be "spiritually discerned." Appendix C talks about the seven seals on the bible. The bible tells us that is is a "sealed" book.
Romans 1:31-32 says those who are "without understanding...are worthy of death." Not understanding something spiritual seems to be related to sin, not to a lack of information. In Daniel 12:10 we read that "none of the wicked shall understand." So it is not a lack of information; it is a question of whether the person's heart is right with God. Jesus said to the Pharisees, "neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?" (Mark 8:17). It is amazing how many times the word "understand" and the word "heart" appear together within the same sentence, or verse or two in the New Testament. There seems to be a connection between understanding things and one's heart.
The first seal which opens the bible relates to being "born again." "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). So a scholar would have to be "born again."
The second thing is that the scholar would have to pray before he studies. I do not know that this happens in the classroom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." God has a seal over spiritual information unless someone asks him first.
The third thing the scholar would have to do would be to study the bible. Proverbs 17:24 says, "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth." Are scholars scanning books from all around the world? Are they looking at television, magazines, catalogues, or is the actual word of God the predominant element before that person's eyes every day?
The fourth seal relates to what we think about all of the time. It says in Psalms 119:99: "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." In order to meditate on the word of God, that is, think about the word of God all of the time, we have to have it memorized. With the introduction of the new versions, memorization and meditation seem to have moved right out the door.
Seal number five relates to studying the bible daily, not skipping any days. Proverbs 8:34 says, "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates." This is something that we have to do on a daily basis, not skipping days, or weeks, or months. The children of Israel had to go out and get the manna every day. They were not allowed to keep it overnight. I think that is what a lot of us do in our daily lives, and I am often guilty of it myself.
The sixth seal on the bible has to do with obedience to God. Psalm 119:100 says, "I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." So, someone who obeys God will understand more about spiritual matters than someone with a Ph.D. who has a head knowledge of theological matters but has hidden sin in his life.
The very last of the seven seals relates to what makes us happy. Psalm 1:2 says, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." If you want to delight yourself and have a real good time, do you have an extra dessert, or buy yourself something new? What do you do? Do you think, "Oh, I'll go read the bible." Those are the people who are going to understand spiritual things."
Article Credit: This article excerpted from pp. 97-99 of Which Bible is God's Word by Gail Riplinger
The Bible is under attack from all sides. Satan knows it tells the truth about him, the victory that Jesus had at the cross, and what will happen in the future. As such, Satan has and still is making every attempt to destroy the Word of God. What better way to do this, than to change the meaning of the Bible over time with different bible versions; each version as it comes along claiming it is the truth and the most accurate of all the versions up until that point.
ReplyDeleteThe line must be drawn where we say, "If the King James Bible was good enough for 400 years, then it is still good enough for me." For by it men and women have been saved and the knowledge of God imparted unto them. When new bible versions come along, they always take something away that is never replaced, only to be lost forever. If you believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then stand up for it. Take a stand and speak out against these new bible versions. An objection often raised against the "King James Only Crowd" is that people learn something from the other (modern) versions, too, and that some even get saved: but I dare say that this occurs in spite of these errant versions, not because of them!
The Authorized Version of 1611, or, in other words, the King James Bible, stands alone in its uniqueness, integrity, and fidelity to the truthfulness of God’s Word. Among reasons why this writer holds this conviction is because of the great harm done not only to the Word of God, but the detriment wrought in the local church in its public worship, and, of course, because of the confusion created in countless group and individual Bible studies. After all, it could be said: How do you think your professor would think or feel if all of his students used different textbooks in his class?! In our case, God is our Great Professor! He alone is the one true God, who has walked among us upon this earth and left us the living and enduring legacy of His Word and His Spirit. Until He comes, Amen.