The Church of Jesus Christ

How cool is this? Of course, I don’t think I have hand written anything in years…

Zondervan Launches Bible Across America Tour, Invites 31,173 Americans to Handwrite NIV Bible - MarketWatch.

Scholars Hunt for Missing Pages of Ancient Bible

JERUSALEM —

A quest is under way on four continents to find the missing pages of one of the world’s most important holy texts, the 1,000-year-old Hebrew Bible known as the Crown of Aleppo.

Crusaders held it for ransom, fire almost destroyed it and it was reputedly smuggled across Mideast borders hidden in a washing machine. But in 1958, when it finally reached Israel, 196 pages were missing — about 40 percent of the total — and for some Old Testament scholars they have become a kind of holy grail.

Researchers representing the manuscript’s custodian in Jerusalem now say they have leads on some of the missing pages and are nearer their goal of making the manuscript whole again.

The Crown, known in English as the Aleppo Codex, may not be as famous as the Dead Sea Scrolls. But to many scholars it is even more important, because it is considered the definitive edition of the Bible for Jewry worldwide.

Read the rest of this entry »

Hebrews 13:1-25 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  Let brotherly love last.
(2)  Stop neglecting hospitality, for by this some were unaware that they had entertained angels
(3)  Bear in mind the prisoners, as if you were imprisoned with them; the ones that are mistreated, as yourselves being mistreated in the body.
(4)  Marriage is precious for all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
(5)  Let you way of live be free of the love of money, being contented with the things that you have, for he himself said: By no means shall I desert you, no in any way abandon you.
(6)  So that we may with full confidence say: I can call upon the LORD to help and so I will not fear; what then shall man do unto me?
(7)  Remember them had once led you, who have spoken to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate them.
(8)  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever
(9)  Stop being carried away by various and strange doctrines, for it is good for the heart to be established with grace and not with meats, which those that follow that way of life could not benefit.

Again a warning against doctrines not of the Church.

(10)  We have an altar, and those that still serve the tabernacle have no right to eat
(11)  For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
(12)  Therefore, Jesus also, to set the people apart as holy with his own bloodm suffered outside the gate.
(13)  So let us there fore go out the camp, bearing his reproach.
(14)  For here we have no lasting city, but - but! - we are seeking that which is to come.
(15)  Therefore, through him, let us through all things, offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips, giving thanks to his name.
(16)  But stop neglecting to do good and to share with othersm for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
(17)  You yourselves obey those that lead you, and accept their authority, for they watch over your souls, as they will render and account, that they may do it with joy and not with groanings, for this would be detrimental to you.
(18)  Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to conducts ourselves honorably.
(19)  But I urge you to do this, so that I will be soon restored to you
(20)  Now, may the God of peace who did bring up from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant,
(21)  Make you perfect in every good work in order to do his will, working in you the acceptable thing before him, through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory forever and ever. Amen.
(22)  But I urger you, brethern, listen carefully to the words of this exhortation, for indeed through a few words, I wrote unto you.
(23)  Know that the brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he is come quickly, I will see you.
(24)  Greet all the ones that lead you, and all of the saints. The Italians greet you.
(25)  Grace be with you all, Amen.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12

This is perhaps one of the most well known passages in the entire bible, dictating a virtual hall of fame of faith as an encouragement for the audience to keep pressing forward. There is no warning here against apostasy by the idea that if through all of these things, these people made it through, then Christians, even today, can overcome persecution and temptation to keep traveling onward.

Hebrews 11:1-40 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  Now faith is the beginning foundation of things being confidently expected, the demonstration of unseen accomplishments.
(2)  For in this, the men of the past received approval
(3)  By faith, we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying from God; for the things which are visible, did not come from things unseen.
(4)  By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he testified to be righteous, God testifying concerning his gifts, and through faith, he himself still speaks, though having died.
(5)  By faith Enoch was taken up so as not to see death - he was no longer found, because God took him up; for before his removal, he had stood on record to as having been pleasing to God.
(6)  But with faith, it is impossible to please him, for it necessary for the one that approaches God to believe that he is the I AM, and that he becomes a rewarder to those who craves for him.
(7)  By faith Noah, having been warned of God concerning the things not yet seen, having been moved with reverence, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world and became an inheritor of the righteousness according to faith.
(8)  By faith Abraham, being called, did obey, to go out to the place which was about to receive for an inheritance, and we went out not knowing where he is going.
(9)  By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of the divine promise, as a foreigner, having lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise from God.
(10)  For he was looking forward to the city having the foundations who architect and builder is God.
(11)  By faith also Sarah herself received power for the founding of a remnant, and she gave birth after the time of life, seeing that she judged him faithful who had promised.
(12)  And so from one were born - and in these things having been as good as dead - as the stars of the heaven in number and as innumerable as the sand that is by the sea shore.
(13)  All these died  in faith, not having received the divine promises - but! - but, having seen them from a afar off and having been persuaded, welcomed them,  confessing that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth.
(14)  For the ones saying such things make it clear that they are seeking a native land.
(15)  And if, indeed, they had continued mindful of that land from which they had came out, they might have had an opportunity to return.
(16)  But now they long for a better, that is a heavenly land. For this reason, God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for prepared a city form them.
(17)  By faith Abraham, while still being tested, had already offered up Isaac; the one that had glady received the divine promises was offering up his only son,
(18)  (Of whom it is was said: Your descendent’s will come through Isaac.)
(19)  Having taken into account that God is able to raise him up even from the dead, from where he indeed received him (in the symbolic sense).
(20)  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
(21)  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing , leant upong his staff.
(22)  By faith Joseph, coming to the end of his life, remembered the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave orders concerning his bones.
(23)  By faith Moses, having been born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the beautiful young child and were not afraid of the mandate of the king.
(24)  By faith Moses, having become great, refused to be called a son of the daughter of Pharaoh,
(25)  Having chosen rather to share the hardship of the people of God than to have the temporary pleasure of sin,
(26)  Having regarded the disgrace of Christ as greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking away from all else to the reward.
(27)  By faith, he left Egypt behind, not fearing the king’s rage, for he endured, as seeing the invisible one.
(28)  By faith he had kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one destroying  the first-born would not touch them.
(29)  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians meeting the trial of, were swallowed up.
(30)  By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days.
(31)  By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with the ones who refused to obey, having received the spies with peace.
(32)  And what more shall I say? For the time will run short for me is I fully tell about Gideon, both Barak and Samson, and Jephthah, both David and Samuel, and the prophets,
(33)  Who through faith conquers kingdoms, brought about justice, obtained divine promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
(34)  Extinguished the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made strong from weaknesses, became mighty in battle, routed foreign armies.
(35)  Women received back their dead by a resurrection, but others were tortured, not accepted their release so that they would obtain a better resurrection.
(36)  And others received trials of public ridicule and beatings with a whip, and in addition, chains and imprisonment.
(37)  They were stoned; they were cut in two; they were tested; they were murdered with a sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, being afflicted, being tormented,
(38)  (Of whom the world was not worthy) wandering about in desolate places and in mountains and in caves and in canyons of the earth.
(39)  And all these, having received approval through their faith, did not  receive the promise from God,
(40)  Because God provided something better concerning us, that they should not be made perfect without us.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10

Of the issues that we run across in speaking about apostasy is to define exactly what apostasy is. The writer of Hebrews does that for us. It is not the sinning that might happen as we grow in Christ, or the sinning that happens with the flesh comes alive, but it is the deliberate sin whereby we knowingly defy Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Apostasy is the falling away from Christ Himself. Where as chapter 6 defines who can commit apostasy, chapter 10 defines what it is.

Hebrews 10:1-39 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  For the Law, which was a rude outline of the good things to come and not the very reality of the matter,  cannot with the same sacrifices which they offer yearly make the approachers perfect.
(2)  Otherwise, they would cease being offered because the ministering ones if they had once for all been cleansed should have had no more consciousness of sins, would they not?
(3)  But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance of sins every year,
(4)  For it is impossible that the bloods of bulls and goats should take away sins.
(5)  For this reason, coming into the world, he says: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you did prepare for me;
(6)  In burnt offerings and sacrifices made for sin, you took no pleasure.
(7)  Then I said: Look, for I have come to do your will, O God (In the beginning of the book it stands written concerning me.)
(8)  Earlier, when he said: Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin, you desired none, neither did you take pleasure in them (which are offered according to the Law).
(9)  Then he said: Look, for I have come to do your will, O God. He abolishes the first that he may establish the second.
(10)  By God’s will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time!
(11)  And indeed, every priest had stood daily to minister and to repeatedly offer the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
(12)  But he himself, having offered one sacrifice forever for sins, has sat down on the right hand of God,
(13)  And from that time onward, waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.
(14)  For by one offering he has perfected for all times the ones being sanctified.
(15)  Moreover, the holy spirit also testifies to us,
(16)  For after having said: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD, putting my laws on their hearts and upon their minds I will inscribe them.
(17)  Then he adds: And I shall by no means remember their sins and their iniquities any longer.
(18)  Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer an offering for sin.
(19)  Therefore, brethren, we have a confident assurance for the entrance to the holy of holies in the blood of Jesus,
(20)  By a way newly slain but living, which he has inaugurated  for us through the veil, which is say, his flesh,
(21)  And having an high priest over the house of God,
(22)  Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled free from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,
(23)  Let us keep holding fast to the profession of our hope that it waver not, for God is faithful that promised.
(24)  Let us continuously take care one for another to spur to love and to good works,
(25)  Not abandoning the assembling of ourselves together, as the habit of some is; instead encouraging one another, and so much more so as you see the Day approaching.

The Danger of Apostasy

(26)  For if we, yes we, sin deliberately after the receiving of the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

‘Deliberately’ excludes sins of infirmity and weakness of will; ‘knowledge’ excludes ’sins of ignorance’. Once you reject the Gospel there will be no more that will supplant or supplement it as it did with Judaism.

(27)  But only a terrifying expectation of judgment and wrath of fire that is ready to devour the adversaries.
(28)  If anyone rejecting the Law of Moses dies without mercies under two of three witnesses,

What then is this Law of Moses? Remember, this entire book as drawn together the Old and New into one seamless Testament of God.

“If there is found among you, within any of your gates which the LORD your God gives you, a man or a woman who has been wicked in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing His covenant, who has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, either the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, and it is told you, and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination has been committed in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has committed that wicked thing, and shall stone to death that man or woman with stones. Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. (Deuteronomy 17:2-6 NKJV)

“If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. (Deuteronomy 13:6-9 NKJV)

The worship of God has moved from the physical of Judaism to the spiritual of Christianity, so the physical death that is demanded by the Law is the spiritual death wrought under Grace. If you were to serve even another ‘Jesus’ than the true one once you have the knowledge of the truth, then what standing do you think you have? Would you presume to debate doctrine with God?

(29)  How much worse the punishment do you think that he will be deemed to merit who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, counting the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and having outraged the spirit of Grace.

The idea here is some public dishonour - such as publicly denouncing the doctrine of the Church or even accepting the doctrine of another equal with the Church. It is also dismissing the doctrine as false. The RV has ‘common’ thing, referring to the blood. The idea is the same: when you fail to make the distinction between the blood bought, the separate, and the world, then you have denied Christ.

(30)  For we know him that said: Vengeance belongs unto me; I will repay, says the LORD. And again: The LORD will judge his people.
(31)  Terrifying is the fall into the hands of the living God.

This deliberate sin is the same sin that is found in Numbers,

“And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

“But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.”‘ (Numbers 15:27-31 NKJV)

1st John has the same theme,

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.  (1 John 5:16-17 NKJV)

The idea is the same in Hebrews. There are two types of sin - the one that is unintentional owing itself to human frailty and eyes that are growing dim; there is a sin though that has always brought death, it is the sin that brings a reproach upon the Lord. The Law of Moses and the Grace of Christ allows for the sins of the former type, but neither gives room for the latter sin.

The writer of Hebrews warns again of apostasy - the intentional sin whereby a person counts the blood of the covenant void. Take the example of Joel Hemphill, who recently denied the deity of Christ in favor of the ancient heresy of Arianism. He willingly did this and thus the songs that he wrote and sang, the years that he preached, the many times that he would have called Jesus Christ God is made a reproach to him. What if you denied the doctrine of the Church? The baptism? The very name of God? The very Church of God?

Note the emphatic ‘we’ of the author - he puts himself in the same place as those that hear him. If he too sins deliberately, with a high hand, he too will find nothing more than the expectation of judgment. Paul said the same,

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.  (1 Corinthians 9:27 KJVA)

This is a sin that eternally separates a person from God.

Continue to Persevere

(32)  Call to remembrance your former days, in which after you were enlightened, you endure a great fight of afflictions.
(33)  Sometimes, while you were made a public example both by insults and afflictions and on other occasions you companioned with those that were treated this way.
(34)  For indeed you sympathized with me in my chains, and you accepted the seizure of your property with joy, knowing that you have a better and lasting possession in the heavens.
(35)  Therefore, throw not away your confident assurance, which has a great reward,
(36)  For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive his promise.
(37)  For in a very little while, he that shall come will come and will not delay.
(38)  Now the just will live by faith, and if he draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him,
(39)  But we, yes we!, are not of them that draws back unto destruction, but we, yes we, are they that believe in the securing of the soul.

Again, the writer turns to the illumination of the Saint - being made aware of who Jesus Christ is. He encourages them to hold to that revelation, to stand upon it, and if persecution comes, knowing that Christ Himself is still on the way.

In verse 38-39, the writer makes a clear distinction concerning those that are moving forward and those that have shrunk back. He did not say, as some would suppose, that those that withdrew themselves from Christ where never really saved; instead, he says that they were once righteous and living by faith but because they turned their back on Christ. Thus, he could not fellowship with them; however, he was going forward.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

Hebrews 9:1-28 from the Commentary in Translation Version

Just as in the previous chapter, we see the writer trying to draw the readers to the fact that the covenant inaugurated through the blood of Christ is eternal, and therefore superior than to the temporal Law which Moses brought from Sinai.

(1)  Then indeed even the first covenant used to have ordinances of divine service and its own sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.
(2)  For there was a tabernacle prepared: in the first part were both the lamp stand and the table with the bread of the presence which is called the holy place;
(3)  After the second veil was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
(4)  Which had a golden altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant, overlain all around with gold, in which was the golden pot that had the manna, the rod of Aaron, which budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
(5)  Over it were the cherubim of glory, shadowing the mercy seat (something that we are unable to speak about now in detail).
(6)  Now when these things were prepared in this way, the priests continually went into the first tabernacle, performing the divine service.
(7)  But into the second division went the High Priest, along, once every year and always with blood, which he offered for himself and for the sings of the people which were committed in ignorance.
(8)  The holy spirit making this clear: that the way into the very presence of God was not yet revealed while the first tabernacle had a place,
(9)  Even this is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the offering of both gifts and sacrifices are unable to make the conscience of the worshipper perfect,
(10)  Since they are concerned only with food, drinks, and various ceremonial washings — regulations for the body that were imposed upon them until the time of reformation.
(11)  When Christ having appeared as High Priest of the good things to come went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands (that is, not of this creation),
(12)  He did not enter through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood did he enter once for all time into the very presence of God, having secured eternal redemption.
(13)  For if sprinkling the unclean with the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a young cow sanctifies them to outwardly cleanness,
(14)  How much, then, how much more will the blood of Christ (who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God) purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
(15)  For this reason — that death having come for redemption from the transgressions under the first covenant — he is the Mediator of a new covenant that those who are called will receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
(16)  For where there is a last will, it is necessary for the death of the will-maker.
(17)  For the last will is valid over dead people, since it never in force while the will-maker lives.
(18)  Therefore, not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
(19)  For when every commandment had been spoken according to the Law by Moses to all the people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, saying:
(20)  This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded to you.
(21)  And likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the scared ministry with the blood.
(22)  And with blood, I may almost say, all things are purified according to the Law, and without shedding of blood forgiveness does not come.
(23)  Therefore it was indeed necessary for the earthly examples of the heavenly things to be continually purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves purified with better sacrifices than these.
(24)  For Christ did not enter into holy places made by man, which are only copies of the true, but he entered into heaven itself, now to be openly manifested before the face of God on our behalf.
(25)  He did not enter that he should offer himself often, just as the high priest enters into the holy places yearly with blood belonging to another;
(26)  Otherwise, it would have been necessary for him to suffer often — even from the laying of the foundation of the world – but now, once for all time, at the fullness of time, he has been revealed, annulling the power of sin through his sacrifice.
(27)  Just as it is appointed unto men once to die and after this comes the judgment,
(28)  So also Christ, having been offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time without sin to bring salvation to the ones waiting for him!

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7

Hebrews 8:1-13 from the Commentary in Translation Version

The entire book of Hebrews is geared to teaching a group of Christians who were in danger of falling away the superiority of the New Covenant. In this chapter, the writer draws out the fact that the High Priest that we have in Christ is eternal as opposed to the temporal Levite, calling the Law the shadow of the reality of what Christ has done. This is leading to the warning we find in chapter 10.

(1)  Now, in the consideration of the things being spoken, this is the essence: We have such a High Priest who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
(2)  He is a minister of the holy places and of the genuine tabernacle which the LORD made and not man.
(3)  For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is necessary for this one also to have something that he should offer,
(4)  For, indeed, if he were on earth, he would be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law, who sacredly serve a figure and a shadow of heavenly things.
(5)  Moses, who was about to erect the tabernacle, was warned of God: See, said the LORD, that you make all things according to the impressed pattern that was shown to you in the mountain.
(6)  But now our High Priest has obtained a ministry far superior, to which he is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
(7)  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then there would not have been a constant searching for a second.
(8)  For finding fault with the people, He says: Behold! The days are coming, says the LORD, then I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
(9)  It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand, to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt because they did not continue in my covenant, and I neglected them, says the Lord.
(10)  For this is the covenant that I will draw-up with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws into their minds and inscribe them in their hearts; I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people.
(11)  And by no means will they teach their neighbor, saying: Learn from me about the LORD; for all will come to know me by acquaintance, from the least to the greatest.
(12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness; their sins and their iniquities will I remember anymore.
(13)  When the LORD says ‘new’, he has made the first old, and what is declared obsolete and grows aged, is read to be abolished.

As many of my readers know, I come from a King James only background (KJVO). It took me several years to build up the courage to actually read another version, much less actually buy one. Now, I have many different translations - print and electronic - and enjoy nearly everyone of them and from time to time will read one just to read it.

A friend of mine once asked if salvation can be found in other bible other than the King James. My answer then was no, but now, it would be different. Now I would remind him that salvation is found only in Christ and that the great Apostles did not have the New Testament of any variety when the 3000 was saved on the 50th Day.

Back to the story: I came across the Message, and although I understand that it was meant to be a true paraphrase that one reads along with the Bible, I still don’t like it. Simply put, it seems a bit too sacrilegious to have the Word of God in the basest English language. I won’t condemn you if you read it, or even if you like it, just pray for you really, really hard.

As my wife posted yesterday, we were in my favorite book store when my daughter found a pink metal bible of the NLT. We started her reading the NLT (The Book) a few weeks ago and although it wasn’t a struggle, it was still considered school work. Well, she bought this bible and has since been known to read the bible outside of school. It is her bible, she reminds us, one that she bought and will pay for later. She doesn’t want anything on top of it, and is looking forward to taking it to Church this weekend. She loves her bible and what’s more, likes to interrupt Daddy’s blog time to read it to him.

My wife asked me what I thought about the NLT, which has prompted me to vet it a bit. As I told her, it is the Greek Manuscript tradition that I prefer, but then again, I have yet to find doctrinal differences between the the three (or 2.5 if you think the TR is Byzantine.) The language is a bit looser than I would prefer, but in the end, the NLT was not meant to be a literal translation, word for word, like the KJV is, supposedly. Instead, it was meant to be readable by a vast number of people. It serves it’s purpose well, I believe, because I have seen the proof through my daughter. She is not just reading the Bible, but reading the Bible.

As any KJVO will tell you, the first thing you do when you see another translation is to go to a verse or two to see if it matches up. So, let’s do the same. Of course, I will apply a bit more reason and logic to the it, looking for the message, as opposed to the -eths.

Our first verse is Acts 2.38,

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38 KJVA)

Peter replied, “Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:38 NLT)

This seems to be the creed of our organization, although I prefer Joel 2.28-32, which will get to later. Let’s see, what we have. Peter is in the right place as speaker. The essential element of the gospel is presented not by a religious word, but by the bare bones meaning - turn from your sins and turn to God. I have heard many preachers explain repentance by saying that it is a 180 degree turnaround, and essentially, that is what we have here.

Baptism is still a requirement in this verse, as is the baptismal formula of “in the name of Jesus Christ”. The result is the same as well, for the forgiveness of sins. Okay, it all lines up. In the gift of the holy Spirit is there. So, the essential elements are there. The meaning is made more plain to those that need it be so, or who want a non-sectarian approach to readability.

The next verse is Hebrews 1.3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3 KJVA)

The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven. (Hebrews 1:3 NLT)

I choose to tackle this one because it is a major point of doctrine, but allow me to say that a 6 year old does not need major points of doctrine or Church history. As a matter of fact, until you need meat, it will only make you choke.

The NLT identifies the ‘who’ of the KJV as well as the ‘his’. The NLT is a bit less technical in the phrase ‘everything about him represents God exactly’, but I believe that the seminal idea is present. I would prefer something very technical, along the lines of,

Who, being the emanation from the glory of God, and the precise mirror of his substance and maintaining all things by his all-powerful utterance—through himself he has achieved purification of our sins, assumed his seat on the right hand of the Majesty on high,
(Hebrews 1:3 CTV)

But, the idea that the Son is the exact representation of God is seen in the NLT. The NLT does do a good job of explaining the ‘purge’ of the KJV when it says that ‘he died’, referring to the Son. It does fail a bit, I believe in explaining the ‘Majesty on High’ as the ‘majestic God in heaven,’ but that is not a deal breaker. It would have been nice if they had explained the ‘right hand’ a bit better, but again, meat with it is time for such things.

Philippians 2.6-8 is our next search and it produces,

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (Philippians 2:6-8 KJVA)

Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing;he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.  (Philippians 2:6-8 NLT)

The mystery in this verse is made clear. The highlights of the NLT is that it refers to Christ as God, brings out the ‘robbery’ of the KJV to something that is actually intelligible, creates the image that God thought less of HImself than some of us do to make Himself nothing, becoming a slave and appearing in human form. The image of the cross and the passion of our Lord is made much clearer, much more beautiful, more more grabbing that the literal language of the KJV did. I can almost picture Paul here, writing these words, trying to find some attempt through feeble abilities to tell about the Cross.

In Romans 9.5, we find again that the NLT does a much better job with Paul than the KJV did,

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:5 KJVA)

Their ancestors were great people of God, and Christ himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.  (Romans 9:5 NLT)

The KJV corrupts the thought by not placing the grammar correctly. The NLT divides the verse into two sentences, bringing about the clear Deity of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

1st John 5.20 is a favorite verse of one of the ministers in our congregation,

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  (1 John 5:20 KJVA)

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.  (1 John 5:20 NLT)

Again, a much clearer picture of the Deity of Jesus Christ is found in the NLT, leaving no room for conjecture as the KJV does. The NLT’s ‘and he is eternal life’ drives home to the reader Jesus Christ is the life of hope that the Apostles struggled for and we today fight to maintain.

Now, this is by far and away an incomplete comparison of the NLT and the KJV, and I am sure that I can find fault with it if I want to, but the man purpose of a bible translation is for bible to be able to read it, not to be confused  by it. I believe that the NLT does that and succeeds in making the Word of God readable without sacrificing too much of the literalism.

Just to be sure, I don’t like 1st Peter 3.22 where the NLT has it that Christ sits next to the Father instead of translating the idiom as a symbol of power. (I have met few Trinitarians that view two or three thrones in heaven).

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6

Hebrews 7:1-28 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  For this Melchisedec, King of Salem and priest of God Most High, who met Abraham while returning from the slaughter of the kings, and did bless him,
(2)  To whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (his name first being translated as King of Righteousness — and then King of Salem, which is King of Peace)
(3)  Who is without father and mother, and without a record of family descent, having neither beginning of days nor ending of days; but made like unto the son of God, remains a priest continually.
(4)  Now contemplate how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the choicest spoils of war,
(5)  And truly the ones out of the sons of Levi that received the priesthood have a commandment to collect tithes from the people, according to the Law, that is, of their brethren even though they have come out of the loins of Abraham,
(6)  But he who is without a record of family descent had taken tithes from Abraham, and had blessed him that had the promises from God.
(7)  But without any dispute it is the lesser that is blessed by the better.
(8)  On the one hand, here we have men that die receiving tithes, but on the other hand, there, Melchisedec receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
(9)  And, so to speak, Levi also who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
(10)  For Levi was yet in the loins of his own father when Melchisedec met Abraham.

The Orthodox Study Bible points out that verses 1-10 serve as a warning in of itself for Christians not to apostatize back to Judaism because the priesthood of Melchizedec (Christ) is superior to the priesthood of Levi. (The Law)

(11)  If then perfection were to come through the Levitical priesthood (for under it, the people received the Law), what further need would there still be for a different type of priest to arise according to the order of Melchisedec and not called according to the order of Aaron?
(12)  For the priesthood now being transferred, there is to made now a necessary change of the Law.
(13)  For he of whom we speak this things about had a part in a different tribe, of which no man served at the altar.
(14)  For it is evident that our Lord has arisen out of Judah, a tribe that Moses spoke nothing about concerning the priesthood.
(15)  And this change in the law is yet thoroughly evident, since there has arisen a different priest in the likeness of Melchisedec,
(16)  Who is not made according to the rule of the fleshy commandment, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
(17)  For God witnesses: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec.
(18)  For there is truly a setting aside of the previous commandment because of it’s weakness and uselessness,
(19)  For where the Law failed in making anything perfect, a better hope has proved effective, through which we draw near to God.
(20)  And to the degree that it was not with the taking of a guarantee,
(21)  For those priests were made without an oath, but this priest was made by and oath, an oath by God that said unto him: The LORD pledges an oath and will not repent – You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec.
(22)  By this degree then, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
(23)  And they truly were priests in many number, because they were hindered by death from continuing,
(24)  But this man, because he remains forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.
(25)  Therefore, he is able to save them completely, perfectly, utterly that come unto God through him, since he is ever living to make intercession for them.
(26)  For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guileless, undefiled, having been separated from the sinners and having become higher than the heavens,
(27)  Who does not need to repeatedly, as those high priests under the Law, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the people — for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.
(28)  For the Law appoints men who have weaknesses as high priests, but the word of the oath appoints the son, who is perfected forevermore.

Watch the video here

Then read the excellent commentary here:

Stoned-Campbell Disciple: Exhibit A - Baptist Pastor Comparing the NIV against the King James Bible.

Hebrews 6:1-20 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  For this reason, having left the beginning word of Christ, let us be carried on to completeness, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith towards God —
(2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment,
(3)  And this we will do, if God may permit.
(4)  For it is impossible to nail up a second time the Son of God for one’s own repentance,
(5)  So making a mockery of him, in order to renew again those who have once for all been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become sharers in the holy spirit,
(6)  And tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and yet have fallen away.

In verses 4-6 we get a very clear and very startling fact concerning apostasy. It is impossible to crucify the Son of God again, twice, for our repentance. It is not unlikely, or difficult, but thoroughly impossible to do so. There is not way around for the apostate. The writer here goes to say that if we apostatize we mock God. Just who it is that can no longer have the repentance of Christ? It is those that were enlightened (baptism in the later Church), tasted of the heavenly gift, and have partaken of the holy Spirit of God. In these three phrases we have the sum of the beginning of the Christian life. Baptism, repentance, the holy Spirit of God. Once you share in these things, and you turn back, you are no longer fit for the kingdom of God, finding it impossible for you to repent.

Further, if you have tasted of the good Word of God (see 1st Peter 2.3) - the doctrine of the Church - and tasted of the powers of the world to come, then again, you cannot repent. The audience was in danger of doing so, and this was the warning.

(7)  For the land which drinks in the rain frequently that comes upon it, and brings forth herbs fitting for them by whom it is dressed, receives a blessing from God,

(8)  However, if it produces thorns and thistles, it is found unapproved and thus rejected, and is near to cursing, whose end is for burning.

Call it a parable if you will, but we see that we have a piece of land - you or I - that is owned by the good Master. If we bring forth good fruit, then we are blessed by God, but if we we receive the rain and produce nothing by thorns and thistles, we are rejected and having nothing to expect but the curse and to be burned.

The Greek word for reject (other times translated as reprobate) is ἀδόκιμος. The word is meant to be applied to coins. When coins where impressed with the images of the rulers, they were then tested to see if that impression was good. If it was not, the coin was then cast aside, and deemed unusable. The writer uses this word to describe not a mere sin or the consequences thereof, but to bring to mind that if a Christian, when test and tried is found not to have the impression of Christ, then that person is rejected and will not/cannot be used of God.

(9)  But beloved, we are now convinced, concerning you, of the better things that hold to salvation, even though we are speaking this way.

A warning is followed up by an enjoinder of love. The writer is trying to show the confidence of the Church that those that are slipping away can still start to grow.

(10)  For God is not unjust to forget your work or you love’s labor that you have shown in yourselves to his name, in that you have served the saints and are still serving them.
(11)  And we long for that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of the confidant expectation until the end.
(12)  That you are not sluggish, but emulators of them who through faith and patience are inheriting the divine promises.
(13)  For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself.
(14)  Saying: Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.
(15)  And so, after Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
(16)  For men indeed take an oath by their greater, and with them the oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.
(17)  In which God, willing more abundantly to show the heirs of his promise the unchangeableness of his will, confirmed it by an oath.
(18)  These are two unchanging things in which it is impossible for God to lie. So then we who have taken refuge in him might have a strong comfort to seize firm hold upon that confident expectation being set before us.
(19)  In which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, having entered within the veil,
(20)  Where as a forerunner Jesus entered on our behalf, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec.

For those of us just joining us, we are moving through the entire book of Hebrews examining the warnings against apostasy. Some hold that these warnings concern unbelievers while others say that they are hypothetical. They are neither. These warnings are real and dire. This chapter in Hebrews, unlike the previous four, does not contain a warning of apostasy, just sluggishness that many Christians face in their walk with God.

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4

Hebrews 5:1-14 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  For every high priest that is taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in the things that pertain to God, that he may bring to the altar both gifts and sacrifices for sins,
(2)  Who can deal gently with the ignorance of the wayward, for even he himself has weaknesses compassing about him.
(3)  Because of his weaknesses, as he does for the people, he also must offer sacrifices for himself.
(4)  Not to himself does one take the honor, but receives it when called by God, as did Aaron.
(5)  So also Christ did not glorify himself to become high priest, however it is he that said unto him: You are my son; today have I begotten you (that glorified him).
(6)  As he said in another place: You are a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.
(7)  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and entreaties with loud cries and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, having been heard due to his godly fear,
(8)  Although being a son, yet learned obedience by the things that he suffered,
(9)  And being perfected, he became to those who obey him the source of salvation eternal,
(10)  Addressed of God: A high priest after the order of Melchisedec,
(11)  Of whom the discourse is abundant to us, and seeing that you are sluggish to hear, it is difficult to interpret.
(12)  For indeed when you ought to be teachers, considering the time, again you have need that one teach you the primary elements of knowledge of the brief utterances of God, and you have become ones that are at the stage of needing milk and not solid meat.
(13)  For everyone that lives on milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is immature;
(14)  But solid meat belongs to those who are mature — those who because they train their senses, are exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 4:1-16 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  Therefore, since a divine promise remains, let us fear to distrust itl.

We have a promise of God to enter into His Rest, yet once given that promise, we have the ability to drift away, to ignore it, if we distrust it. Again, here is the possibility of apostasy in a very subtle warning. The audience of this epistle stood in danger of slipping away, perhaps as nearly everyone theorizes, back into Judaism. They had began to mistrust the promise of Christ as one that secures, one that endures. To callously say that these people were never saved is to pass judgment on them, when it is clear that the writer of this Epistle say them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

(2)  For in fact we are also having good tidings proclaimed, even as they did, but the word heard did not profit them because it was not infused by faith in them that had heard the message.
(3)  For we who believe are entering into the Rest, as he said: So in my anger I took an oath that they will not enter into my Rest.
(4)  When his works were finished from the creation of the world, he spoke somewhere concerning the Seventh Day: And God did rest on the seventh day from all his works.
(5)  Again: They will not enter into my Rest.
(6)  Therefore, seeing this Godly promise remains over from past times: that certain ones will enter in; however, those who first did hear the good tidings entered not because of disobedience.
(7)  Again: God appointed a certain day, saying in David (after such a long time): Today, if you will hear his voice, stop hardening you heart.
(8)  For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken about another day later on,
(9)  Therefore there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.
(10)  For the one having entered into God’s Rest, he also has rested from his works, even as God rested from his own works,
(11)  Therefore, let us do our utmost to enter into that Rest, so that no one in the same pattern of disobedience may fall.

The Greek word here, σπουδάζω, rightly means to hasten, labor, and speed. Although we may be tempted to say ‘work’ and paint the picture that the gospel is one of works so that one may attempt to ‘tip the balance’, this is not what we find here. The brush strokes leave a warning - that we must constantly build ourselves up in the faith, laboring, studying, hastening, to the day when Christ either descends or we are called home. We also see that a simple start of the journey does not guarantee us a finish. Thousands upon thousands left Egypt for the Promised Land, but how many of those that started endured to the End? The writer is again using the same picture and saying, I paraphrase, stick with it or else.

The last phase of verse 11 is more than a hypothesis, but a direct warning that if a person continues in the same pattern as the Israelites of old, then that person will fall. John Calvin says at this point,

Having pointed out the goal to which we are to advance, he exhorts us to pursue our course, which we do, when we habituate ourselves to self­denial. And as he compares entering into rest to a straight course, he sets falling in opposition to it, and thus he continues the metaphor in both clauses, at the same time he alludes to the history given by Moses of those who fell in the wilderness, because they were rebellious against God. (Numbers 26:65.) Hence he says, after the same example, signifying as though the punishment for unbelief and obstinacy is there set before us as in a picture; nor is there indeed a doubt but that a similar end awaits us, if there be found in us the same unbelief.

Then, “to fall” means to perish; or to speak more plainly, it is to fall, not as to sin, but as a punishment for it. But the figure corresponds as well with the word to “enter”, as with the sad overthrow of the fathers, by whose example he intended to terrify the Jews.

We continue,

(12)  For the word of God is living, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the separation of both soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is quick to discern the reflections and conceptions of the heart.
(13)  Neither is there no created thing able to be hidden before him, but all things are naked and have been exposed to the eyes of God, to whom we must give an account.
(14)  There, having a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession,
(15)  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to bleed in sympathy for weaknesses, but ours is one who has been tempted in all ways, in the same way as we, and yet is without sin.
(16)  Therefore, let us keep coming with a joyful sense of freedom to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in the time of need.

Hebrews 3:1-19 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  Therefore, holy brethren, sharers of the heavenly calling: fix your eyes up the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Notice how the writer addresses the audience - Holy Brethren. This is not to sinners, but fellow Christians.

(2)  Who is faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses was also faithful in all of his house.
(3)  For this one was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, because the one having built the house has more honor than the house itself.
(4)  For every house is built by someone; however, he that established all things must be God.
(5)  And indeed Moses was faithful in all of his house as a trusted servant, serving as a testimony for those things which were to be spoken later,
(6)  However, Christ as a son over his house, whose house we are — supposing we have held firmly, if we are joyfully fearless, and hold to our confident expectation to the end.

Again, notice the subtle warning. Hold firmly to the hope until the end (of our life) and we will be a part of the House of Christ, eternally.

(7)  (For this reason, just as the holy spirit says: Today, if his voice you may hear —
(8)  Stop hardening your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness,
(9)  When your fathers put me to the test, examined me, and saw my work for forty years.
(10)  For this reason, I was angry with that generation and said: They are always being led astray in their heart and they have not known my ways.
(11)  So in my anger I swore: They shall not enter into my rest!)

The writer relates a history lesson to the audience, warning them through the example of Israel in the wilderness which some suffered irreversible apostasy. The Rest of the Lord was denied to them.

(12)  Always watch, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief which apostatizes from the living God.
(13)  Instead, build up one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you are made stubborn by the deception of sin,
(14)  For we have become sharers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our assurance firm until the final consummation,

Again, the writer addresses his brothers and sisters in Christ, warning them - pleading with them - not to turn away from God. The Greek word here means to depart from, to incite to revolt. In the “New Testament this sense occurs in Acts 5:37; 15:38; 19:9. Decline from God is the meaning in Heb. 3:12. In 1 Tim. 4:1 apostasy involves capitulation to heretical beliefs as an eschatological phenomenon. An absolute use is found in Luke 8:13 and cf. Rev. 3:8. Only the personal use is important theologically, and in the LXX the term becomes almost a technical one for religious apostasy (Dt. 32:15; Jer. 3:14; Isa. 30:1), usually from God or the Lord, and leading to idolatry and immorality.

The writers urges his brothers and sisters, even us today, not to depart from the Living God, but to build each other up, so that in the very End of All Things, we will have assurance.

(15)  While it is being said: Today, if you hear his voice, stop hardening your hearts as in the rebellion.
(16)  Who were they that heard and yet were rebellious? However! Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?
(17)  And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
(18)  And to whom did he swear that they should never enter his rest, but to those who were willingly disobedient?
(19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Again, this writer returns to the historical example as a warning. If this warning was hollow, then why go through this trouble? Is God, the very One who inspired these words, a God of shallow fear?

Hebrews 2:1-18 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  For this reason, it is necessary to more exceedingly hold to those things, which we have heard, lest at any time we drift away.
(2)  For if the word having been spoken by angels was proved sure, and every transgression and refusal to hear received a just retribution,
(3)  How is it possible that we, yes we!, should escape, having ignored so great a salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was proven sure unto us by those that heard him?

The writer here begins his warning against apostasy by Christians. In the previous chapter, he gives a small reminder of just who Christ is and now he turns his attention to warning his readers that because Christ is who He is, then turning on Him causes eternal separation. We are told to hold to the things of Christ unless we drift away. This is not merely a hypothetical action, but clearly a reality - the writer says ‘we’, including himself. The ‘we’ is emphatic.

He then compares the words of the angels to the Words of the Lord. If disobedience to the words brought by angels brought retribution, then what will the avenue of escape (salvation) be to those that drift away from the word of the Lord? Remember, to drift away means that you were there once. This is statement refers to those Christians that are negligent in holding to the things of Christ.

(4)  God also bore witness, both with signs and wonders, and with various works of divine power, and according to his will, the distributions of the holy spirit,
(5)  For he did not subject the world to come concerning which we speak to angels.
(6)  But one, somewhere, fully testified saying: what is man that you remember him, or the son of man that you come to his aid?
(7)  You made him a little lower than the angels, gave him a victor’s crown with glory and honor, and set him over the works of your hands; you have put all things in subjection under his feet.
(8)  For in subjecting all things to him, he left nothing not subjected. Yet, at present, we do not see everything subject to him.
(9)  Moreover we see Jesus, the one who for a short while was made lower than the angels so that he, by the grace of God should experience death for every man, we see him crowned as victor with glory and honor because of the suffering of death.
(10)  For it was fitting for him, for whose sake all things exist and by whom all things came into existence, in bringing as he did many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
(11)  For both he that sacrifices and they who are sanctified are out of one—for this reason, he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
(12)  Saying: I will declare the name of God to my brethren; in the middle of the assembly, I will sing praise unto God.
(13)  And again: Behold, I and the children that God has given me.
(14)  Seeing then that the children share in common flesh and blood, he also in like manner took hold of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had dominion of death, that is, the devil,
(15)  And release those, who through the fear of death were subjects of slavery, throughout their life.
(16)  It is well known that he does not give aid to angels, but he gives aid to the seed of Abraham.
(17)  Therefore, it was an obligation to become like his brethren that he be compassionate, and so a faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, in order to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
(18)  For in that he suffered, himself being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

This thought ends with a plea that if Christ suffered such things, then He is able to help us through our temptations. In doing this, the writer shows first that Christ is here to help us, and secondly that we can indeed be tempted and if tempted, then tempted to what? Apostasy.

The Epistle of Hebrews has a rather shady past - no one knows who wrote it. It was originally written in Greek, using the Septuagint as the basis for nearly all of the Old Testament quotations. The readers were most likely Alexandrian Jews, or at the very least familiar with the thoughts of the Jewish community there. Some have postulated that it was Apollos, others Barnabas while others, and the thought is still prevalent today, that the Apostle Paul wrote it. While all those may be likely, Apostolic authorship is assured as it has existed within the Church since the very first generation.

Some modern ‘theologians’ believe that the book of Hebrews are only for the Jews, but that is a great mistake, as the same could be said about the books of Timothy and Titus. Just because they are addresses to a specific group of people, or person, does in no way dismiss the fact that they are for the entire Church. Luther, at one time, had sought to regulated it to a New Testament apocrypha, most likely because he could not move beyond the issues of apostasy that is raised by the Epistle.

Granted, the Epistle covers more ground than just the issue of apostasy. In the opening salvo, we have the very notion that the Son emanates from the Father and that the Son is higher than the angels. The writer then moves to the explanation of Old Testament themes by the New Testament. It often takes the form of early homily material, or perhaps even a midrash. The writer states an Old Testament passage and then attempts to explain it under the new covenant.

The situation of the readers is clearly seen -  they are on the verge of shrinking back, of retreating to Judaism after having tasted of Christ. (Hebrews 6) This letter serves as a personal warning to them, and indeed to all that come to Christ in Truth, and later reject Him for another religion or perhaps even a false Christianity. I am posting this first chapter; in the next few weeks, I will post the complete book, examining the details of the reality of apostasy in the Church. It is a doctrine that is hated and disbelieved, however, it is still a doctrine. I hope that those that read it will join in the discussion. It will be the main goal of posting this book to discuss the doctrine of apostasy, or the lack thereof. I truly value each measure of input that I receive.

It is my position that the doctrine of eternal security is false, and that apostasy is an ability of the believer by exercising his or her free will to reject Christ.

This is my personal translation, and it is still crude. Please let me know what you think as we progress.

Heb 1:1-14 from the Commentary in Translation Version

(1)  God, who in stages and various ways of old spoke unto the fathers in the prophets,
(2)  Has in the end of those days spoken to us in his son, whom he has appointed the inheritor of all things, through whom he also made the ages
(3)  Who, being the emanation from the glory of God, and the precise mirror of his substance and maintaining all things by his all-powerful utterance—through himself he has achieved purification of our sins, assumed his seat on the right hand of the Majesty on high,
(4)  Having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they.
(5)  For to which individual angel has he ever said: You are my son, today I have begotten you? And again: I will be to him a father and he will be to me a son?
(6)  Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: and let all the angels of God prostrate themselves in worship before him.
(7)  And indeed, to the angels he says: who is making his angels winds and his ministers a flame of fire.
(8)  But unto the son he says: Your throne, O God, is age to age and a scepter of justness is the scepter of your kingdom.
(9)  You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; for this reason your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.
(10)  And you, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands,
(11)  They will perish, but you remain always, they will grow old like a garment
(12)  Like a mantle, you will roll them up and then will be changed, but—you are the same; your years will not fail.
(13)  Unto which of the angels did he ever say: sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies as your footstool?
(14)  They are spirits in divine service, sent forth to render service for the sake of the ones about to inherit salvation—are they not?

Below is an article that I have had for some time. I am not a big textual critic, although that hinders me at times. I feel that if there is something in the TR that I don’t need, well, it will not hurt me. I am posting this, only in hopes of opening avenues of discussion. There are several posters in the