Deity and Holy Scriptures

One of the greatest mysteries in all of history is the Incarnation—the Son of God becoming the Son of man. Many facets of this miraculous event are beyond our comprehension. Yet we accept it because we take God at His Word. And as we study His Word, we can grow in understanding this marvelous act.

Perhaps as a reader you have never considered whether Jesus is still a man. Does it matter? What does the Bible teach? Is Jesus a man now, or did He go back to heaven and become the son of God in the same form as before the Incarnation?

Editor’s Note: This is the concluding article in a series of three. In the first one we looked at the King James Bible, and in the second we examined the textual theory behind modern Bible translations. Now we will consider two other problems with modern translations, and then address the question, “What shall we do with the version controversy?”

Modern Versions - The Textual Theory
In our last section we mentioned the huge success and strengths of the King James Version of the Bible. We also pointed out the linguistic weakness it carries because of its age. We will now turn our attention to the modern versions of the Bible by addressing three fundamental aspects that set all modern versions apart from the King James era translations: textual theory, translation methods, and post-publication revisions.1 The first aspect we wish to address is the aspect of textual theory.

We as an older generation are passing off the scene. We sense that we have been blessed above measure. We have been given a priceless heritage of seeing the New Testament as a book to be lived out in everyday life because of our love for the Lord Jesus. We have no greater joy than to see that vision embraced by younger ones coming on.

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt 24:32–35).

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Psa 86:15).

Longsuffering is the quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish. It is the opposite of anger, is associated with mercy, and is a moral attribute of God.

The word “absolute” means “free from all imperfection, fixed and unchangeable qualities, concepts or standards, and unquestionable finality.” The word “obsolete” means “out of date” or “fallen into disuse.”

“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt 26:52,53)

As we move through the Spring season of communion services and the calendar observance of Good Friday, we turn our minds and hearts again to the old, old story of the suffering and death of Christ.

It is far too easy for us to lose sight of the sovereignty of God when we find ourselves in stressful situations. When God is forgotten we fall prey to temptation to try control the situation by various human means. Deliberate or unintentional, with God out of the picture we come through with fixes that only make our problem only worse.