The Bible Per-Version
By Mike Becerra
Although finding a personal bible
may seem a simple task, one realizes how frustrating it can become when
one gets to the bookstore. With well over 7,000 English-language
editions (Giles, 1992, p.26), one can easily get flustered choosing the
right bible. With so many choices it grows difficult to understand why
new formats and translations keep coming out. New bible versions seem
to compete for the title of the most contemporary and the most modern.
Obviously, to make the written Word of God contemporary, one will have
to change the written Word of God. These changes seem very subtle at
first reading due to the fact that nothing new gets added to the bible;
instead words and verses disappear in order to keep up with modern
times.
Clearly, the accuracy and the integrity of the Holy Bible appear at stake. The 1611 Authorized King James Bible (KJB), a literal word-for-word translation, will be used as the authority of God’s Word in this paper. A side-by-side comparison of the contemporary versions compared to the King James Bible (KJB) shows startling changes and omissions which reveal a possible hidden agenda to transform the bible into a book of syncretism, aligning Christianity with the New Age Movement.
The New Age Movement has submerged the American culture. Currently gaining popularity, it shows as the fastest growing belief system in our country, with over 12 million Americans active in the movement as of 2001, and over 30 million interested; according to sociologists at the University of California-Santa Barbara (Rhodes, 2001, p. 129). New Agers share a vision of world peace through the new age of harmony and enlightenment, also referred to as the Age of the Aquarius (Rhodes, 2001, p.130). New Agers look forward to a perfect world order with a one world government and a one world religion. “Hum quietly to yourself the words of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine,’ and dozens of laws, rights and benefits of one world may pop into your head” (Robertson, 1991, p.195).
This perception creates a spiritual unity among New Agers. This spiritual revival, although seeming godly and well-intended, reveals a cruel trick created by the devil himself. It creates the perception that “a perfect world can be accomplished with imperfect people” (Robertson, 1991, p.203). Because “the heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), the New World Order must come into play. That means eliminating all governments and monarchies and creating only one world government (Robertson, 1991, p.180).
It applies to the elimination of nationalism and patriotism (Robertson, 1991, p.180). The New World Order calls for a one world currency, most likely through electronic means. It also means the elimination of many rights that we, the people of America, take for granted on a day-to-day basis. And of course, it means the elimination of all religion, creating a one world religion of syncretism. Suitably, the New Age Movement appears purely syncretistic, meaning that it combines different religious beliefs and teachings to fit into its mystical worldview (Rhodes, 2001, p. 131).
New Age beliefs involve a revival of paganism. New Agers reject patriarchal “male-exalting” religion (such as referring to God as “Father,”) a male-dominated society, and man’s abuse of “Mother Earth” (Lash, 1999, p.279). Instead, New Agers share a feminist perspective with “the Sacred Feminine,” or “the One,” referring to their Mother God, the Queen of Heaven (Lash, 1990, p. 280). This Mother/Queen of Heaven worship also appears accepted in the Catholic religion, as well as many other pagan religions throughout the world. Most prayers in these religions seem directed to this Queen of Heaven, Mother God, as opposed to our Father in Heaven or His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
This “Goddess Revival” focuses on the divine in its feminine aspect, often looking back to ancient pagan fertility cults (Lash, 1990, p. 280). Although a syncretistic movement, goddess worship centers New Age beliefs. According to New Age author, Sylvia Browne, her spirit guide, Francine, “who has been with me all of my 67 years, has always professed the Mother God’s power” (2004, p. 51). Obviously, this movement can seem alluring to women and appears very popular among feminists.
New Age does not stop at changing Father God’s
identity. This movement also changes the identity of the savior, as the
New Age high priestess, H.P. Blavatsky, expresses: “Lucifer represents
. . . Life . . . Thought . . . Progress . . . Civilization . . . Liberty
. . . Independence . . . Lucifer is the Logos . . . the Serpent, the
Savior” (Riplinger, 1993, p.52). David Spangler of New Age Journal
states, “Lucifer . . . prepares man in all ways for the experience
of Christhood. Christ is the same force as Lucifer” (Riplinger, 1993,
p.52). According to Riplinger (1993), New Agers address Lucifer as
Christ, “the sacrificial lamb,” as New Ager Benjamin Crème calls him (p.
52).
Hence, Lucifer becomes the New Age Savior. Lucifer becomes the New Age Christ. Lucifer reveals enlightenment as opposed to salvation. Lucifer prepares man to become his own god. One can realize the deception of this cruel trick which the devil has used since creation by reading the Word of God.
Being syncretistic, the New Age movement easily works into and absorbs Christianity. Things regarded heretic and deviant not long ago, now seem socially acceptable in the church and in most Christian beliefs. In these contemporary times, many Christian churches have adopted the new definition of tolerance. Tolerate defined by Webster’s Dictionary conveys: “to recognize and respect [other’s lifestyles, practices, belief’s, etc] without sharing them,” or in other words, to bear with or put up with although in disagreement (McDowell & Hostetler, 1998, p. 15-16).
The “new tolerance is defined as the view that all values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal” (McDowell & Hostetler, 1998, p.19). When speaking of tolerance today, one normally describes this new definition of tolerance. In order to create peace and harmony, all beliefs must be equally valid; therefore absolute truth can not exist. According to this new definition, it rings true when referring to deviant lifestyles as well; one should not impose morality on others.
The new view of tolerance allows society to determine right from wrong. One decides his own personal ethics and morality. Though obviously not a biblical view, nothing new derives from this perspective. Remember the serpent in the Garden of Eden. First, the serpent casts doubt on the Word of God, “has God said . . . (Gn 3:1)?” Then the proposal by that old serpent, Satan, “in the day ye eat . . . your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gn 3:5). This new tolerance gives one the power to be one’s own god, to decide good from evil for oneself. Remember, according to New Age, Lucifer reveals enlightenment by preparing man for Christhood. Lucifer, the father of lies, knows that this lie truly works among people; it worked since the beginning.
One can easily see how this new tolerance justifies the re-wording and feminization of the newer inclusive versions of the bible. As society becomes more liberal, so do the new versions of the bible. “[This is demonstrated] by, among others, the New International Version (NIV) in which the translator [and/or editor] takes on the role of interpreter and commentator” (Ellis, 2003), then marketed as the most contemporary and the most modern, which in turn creates the most popular version among unknowing Christians. The problem arises, how far can a bible change before considered New Age? One will find that the newer versions do become more and more New Age as the nation becomes more and more tolerant.
The New Age goal of invading and infiltrating the evangelical church by gradually changing the bible appears evident in the modern versions. Dr. Frank Logsdon, Editor of the New American Standard Version, states:
“I must under God renounce every attachment to the New American Standard. I’m afraid I’m in trouble with the Lord. We laid the groundwork; I wrote the format; I helped interview some of the translators; I sat with the translator; I wrote the preface…
When questions began to reach me at first I was quite offended. Upon investigation, I wrote my very dear friend, Mr. Lockman, explaining that I was forced to renounce all attachment to the NASV. . .The deletions are absolutely frightening. . .there are so many. . .Are we so naïve that we do not suspect satanic deception in all this?” (Riplinger, 1994, p.49-50).
With the new versions of the bible becoming more New Age, or tolerant, conservative Christians charge that, “nothing less than the integrity of the Word of God is at stake” (Woodward, 1997). This statement appears very evident in these last days. According to CNN news broadcast aired June 17, 2006, leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have proposed a new Trinity to substitute “Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, and Life-Giving Womb” instead of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” These people seem to follow modern feminism and Dan Brown’s blasphemous fictional account based on the heretic Gnostic gospels in his best selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, as opposed to truth.
The Gnostics, who wrote these gospels between
200 and 600 years after the death of Jesus Christ, believed Christ as a
“celestial being . . . who temporarily associated himself with an
earthly being (Jesus)” (Rhodes, 2001, p.134). The Gnostic Christ in
these fictional gospels came to the world not to suffer and die for our
sins, but “to release the divine spark hidden in man and nature”
(Rhodes, 2001, p.134). This should sound familiar after investigating
the New Age “Christ,” Lucifer, and his promise. Again, Satan,
understanding our spiritual emptiness and our pride, takes full
advantage with his lie to make mankind divine through him. This ancient
heretic belief certainly revived in this modern day.
Moving on, Joel Belz, publisher of the conservative Christian magazine, World, states, “gender is the issue that can split Evangelicalism. The question is, how far are we prepared to compromise God’s truth in order to get along with [modern] culture?” (Woodward, 1997). The “PC Bible-The New Testament and Psalms: An Inclusive Version-from Oxford University Press replaces references to God as ‘Father’ with ‘Father-Mother’” (Maxwell, 1995). Remember the importance of Mother God to the New Age Movement. By disguising as “gender-inclusive,” this new version easily slips Mother God into the bible.
The 1996 New International Version Inclusive Language Edition (NIVI) published in Britain, as well as the 2002 Today’s New International Version (TNIV), seem equally termed feminist editions. “It [feminism/New Age] is present both in deletions and in alterations of masculine references, sometimes even those referring to Jesus” (Ellis, 2003). The power to corrupt the Word of God seems evident through this “new” tolerance and has been fully taken advantage of by the New Age Movement.
Lucifer, the Christ of the New Age Movement, boasts, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14), which explains his ultimate goal. This takes us to the name game of “morning star” in Isaiah 14:12: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!” The NIV, among other versions, read, “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn.” NIV committee member R. Laird Harris claims Isaiah 14 does not refer to Satan, but refers to a king from Babylon (Riplinger, 1993, p.42). This also appears the belief of most biblical scholars today. The Hebrew text says otherwise. The Hebrew states, “helel, ben shachar,” which correctly translates as, “Lucifer, son of the morning.”
The new versions give a translation as if the Hebrew said, “shachar kokab, ben shachar,” or “morning star, son of the morning” (Riplinger, 1993, p.42). This change obviously does not come from translating, but from the theology of the translators and editors involved. These new version editors match Lucifer with “morning star” for a reason; according to Rev 22:16, 2:28 and II Peter 1:19, the title “morning star” belongs to Jesus Christ. Remember, Lucifer, the counterfeit, wants to replace the true Lord, the most High. The New Age Movement makes this possible. Arthur C. Clark, author of the popular 2001 Space Odyssey and 2010 writes, “Lucifer, as Christ, the bright and morning star. . .” (Riplinger, 1993, p. 63).
Next, turn to the Lord’s Prayer found in Luke 11:2-4. This writer will quote the entire prayer from the King James Version and highlight in bold and caps the words erased from ALL modern versions:
“OUR Father
WHICH ART IN HEAVEN
<> Hallowed be thy nameThy kingdom come
THY WILL BE DONE,
AS IN HEAVEN,
SO IN EARTH
Give us day by day
our daily bread
And forgive us our sins;
For we also forgive everyone
that is indebted to us
And lead us not into temptation;
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL”
The NIV version reads,
“Father,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who
Sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
The
new version editors and translators go on to change Philippians 2:6:
“[Jesus Christ] thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” The NIV,
among other new versions, reads, “did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped.” Notice the subtle twist of words which create a
completely opposite meaning. The King James Bible makes it unquestionably
clear that: God was manifest in the flesh as the Lord Jesus Christ (1Timothy
3:16), and God appears as a trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, “and these
three are one” (1Jn 5:7). Therefore, Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are
one.