We are inundated today with what are not really
versions or translations of the bible in the true sense, but with what are
actually paraphrases. These include Good News for Modern Man, The Living Bible,
and the New International Version (NIV). Some people say to me, "Well, what’s
wrong with that?" Not anything, necessarily, if those who publish these tell
people what they really are and why they lack the authority of equivalent
translations. I like to illustrate this by telling this little story:
An extremely wealthy man has just passed away. According to his last wishes,
as soon as he died, formal notices were to be sent out to a select group of
relatives and close friends, informing them that on the first Thursday after the
funeral, at eight in the evening, they were all to assemble in the late venerable
gentleman’s study. A preliminary but formal reading of the solemn will and
testament of the deceased was to take place there in that company and at that
time.
So, at the appointed time and place they were all present. They waited and
talked together for about an hour. Finally, a young lawyer for the firm that was
handling the estate arrived. Everyone took a seat and waited quietly, as the young
lawyer began to snap open his thin, black briefcase and to take out some papers.
The lawyer coughed nervously, introduced himself and greeted the guests. Then he
declared, "I did not bother to bring the actual words of the filed document., I have
here what I expect is a very good paraphrase of that solemn will and testament. It
does not contain those legal terms and phrases that so often accompany such wills and
testaments. What I have here is written in everyday language.
The rest of the world might take little notice of such a situation as this. They
might even find it humorous. But those people who knew that they were heirs would not
rest until they had every word nailed down for certain.
Of course, on this occasion everyone was disgusted. Several told this presumptuous
lawyer that he had no authority to present such a thing instead of the will itself.
You can’t really prove anything from a paraphrase. You cannot know anything for
certain from a paraphrased testament.
In Hebrews, chapter Ten, we are reminded that in order for a Testament to have any
effect there must be the death of the Testator. Jesus, the Lord from heaven and the last
Adam, is the only one to earn and deserve everlasting life. But, He did not keep it for
Himself: He died, "the just of the unjust." Now, according to His solemn will and testament,
his New Testament, He has the right to give the gift of His everlasting life by inheritance to
whomever He has chosen.
The Father draws all of these, and they must come and hear. They will know His will and the
actual words of His Testament.
William Tyndale is the primary translator of our English Bible. His desire was to put a true,
functionally equivalent translation in the hands of every man. This was so that every man would
be able to prove the teaching and the promises for himself and also so that he could keep a close
watch on the man in the pulpit. If the only thing that people have or are used to is a paraphrase,
they have to ask the fellow in the pulpit what the Bible says. They are no longer free, and there
can be no reformation.
Additional copies of this tract, as well as other titles, are available from:
Canadian Gospel Publications Mission
12229 - 38 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5W 2J2
Return to Calvin's
Castle
Go to my Web-Ring Page
Get your own Free Home Page