Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

WAR OF THE BIBLES!

“FIVE YEARS AGO, THE WORLD OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS THREATENED TO CRASH INTO THE SACREDNESS OF CHRISTIANITY’S FOUNDATION, BUT FAILED. HOWEVER, RECENTLY ANOTHER ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BUT THIS TIME IT HOPES TO BE SUCCESSFUL!"

  I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about a battle being fought for the sacredness of the Word of God…

… Recently the International Bible Society and Zondervan Publishing House announced and introduced the publication of a brand new Bible translation called “Today’s New International Version,” or simply the TNIV New Testament, for the whole Bible won’t be complete for another three years. Now this in itself is not amazing, for these days new translations of the Bible are appearing regularly, nonstop. That also by itself is not bad, although it does present some problems not experienced in the world of Christianity before. However this “new” translation is quite different from the reliable past. How? 

Well, it incorporates the view of changing the original language texts to fit what is best called the “Political Correctness” nonsense that rules our day. This new translation, the TNIV, is supposedly a “Gender-neutral” translation to accommodate the hyper-sensitivity of the secular world of feminism and anti-patriarchialism today that rejects any hint of male domination and presence in society.

Now I must admit at this time to be fair, this new translation of the NIV Bible has not only been done for this reason. I do believe many of the translators of this new but “worldly” Bible produced this politically-correct version to attempt to make more clear the original message of God’s Word. Moreover, I believe, to show that the Bible is for all people, rather than being motivated by the secular anti-god agenda of radical feminism. However, what has now been produced presents some unique and serious problems you need to know about and understand. So after another musical pause, I’ll return with my message, WAR OF THE BIBLES, and tell you all about it. Don’t go away I’ll be right back…

…Today’s New International Version of the Bible is a new translation being introduced these days to the world of Christianity. Is it a good one, and can it be trusted to convey the fullest meaning of the original texts God gave mankind? That is a question we need to consider before any Christian begins to depend upon it, to fully communicate God’s Word to their hearts. Now, I must say, although I’m not a linguist or scholar who can make serious judgments of the original language texts, I can see this new translation begins with serious problems. For starters, the basis of translation used, has veered from the conservative rules of good Bible translation, for it has changed the original texts, and taken great liberty to accommodate modern secular thought.

For instance, where a masculine, feminine or neuter noun or adjective is found, it is most often changed to mute any patriarchalism of the original text, to satisfy the feminist leanings prevalent these days.  So, by utilizing a gender inclusive language in translation, never done before, the publishers of this new Bible hope to make the Word of God palatable to anyone who would be offended by the original patriarchal language found in our Bibles. Now what’s wrong with that? Let me tell you.

First of all, we must understand what the Bible is. It is not like any other book written by man in any age of humanity. The Bible is the written revelation of our Creator God, given to all the world, of all time, to learn what God wants us to know about Him, about ourselves, and about the world in which we live. Now to do this, God employed various means of delivering His Word to us. Mainly it is called inspiration and revelation. Let’s define these terms. First off, when we say the Bible is the full and complete “revelation” of God what do we mean?

BIBLICAL REVELATION – Although God has revealed Himself in nature,, history and conscience Biblical revelation is the personal disclosure of God and His purposes to all mankind through specially chosen men whom He called to pen such revelations in the written language of mankind. This revelation of God, Christians have believed is full, complete and a finished product of over 2000 years of speaking to the minds and hearts of these chosen writers. This Biblical revelation is found today exclusively in what is called the Christian Bible, composed of 66 books of the Old and New Testaments bound together as one which they are. The Bible says,

Heb 1:1 (NASB)  “God … spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets…”

These specially chosen writers tell us about God and the His revelation of Himself, His words and thoughts… for Paul the apostle says,

1 Cor 2:7-16 (NASB)  We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory… “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit… which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words…”

Moreover, Peter the apostle declared,

2 Pet 1:20-21 (NASB)  But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

So you see, we can say Biblical Revelation is the exact words and thoughts of God, given to us supernaturally, and not found in any other source than a written book God has penned for all mankind to read and learn about God. Now the other side of this coin is what is called “inspiration.” This is a special term and has a special definition when it comes to Biblical Inspiration. Let’s define it now,

BIBLICAL INSPIRATION  - first of all has to do with the recording of God’s truth conveyed by revelation. Biblical revelation is then the capturing of God’s words and thoughts superintended by God Himself, as He communicated them to these specially chosen human authors of the Bible. Upon that communication, they composed and recorded, without error, God’s very words and thoughts to mankind in the words of their original writings. Now, the Bible specifically declares it is the accurate container of the very WORDS OF GOD speaking to us. Listen to the Bible’s own claim,

2 Tim 3:16 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

2 Pet 1:20-21 (NASB)  But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Do you know we find that more than 415 times in the Old Testament, we are told the phrase, “Thus saith the Lord.” In the New Testament, we discover God’s emphatic reminder of this more than 40 times. Scripture reminds us,

Prov 30:5-6 (NNAS)  Every word of God is tested…  6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

2 Sam 23:2 (NNAS)  “”The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.” (Said David)

Acts 28:25 (NNAS)  “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,”

Men wrote, but God superintended their writings to reflect “exactly” what He wanted to say! That’s inspiration at the highest level. This why Biblical inspiration, is also called “VERBAL” INSPIRATION. Jesus Christ Himself once said,

Mat 4:4 (NIV)  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Acts 1:16 (NIV) “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus—

So verbal inspiration means the words chosen in the original languages Scripture was penned, even the grammatical structure was GOD APPROVED, and as such we must not change anything written therein, in translating the word into modern languages for all people. So here is the problem with Gender-Neutral translation work.

Today’s New International Bible (TNIV) has taken great liberty to “change” the grammatical structure of the original words and wording to accommodate the politically correct nonsense today of anti-god feminists, that deny God’s order and principles of life and living.

The TNIV takes liberties in translating singular male references to change them to gender-neutral plurals. Now in some cases it is correct to reflect plurals when speaking to all people. But, to change meanings in so doing, not only distorts history, but it also corrupts the Word of God, which can be preserved down through the ages through correct translation procedures.

As time is short, let me give you a particular example from the TNIV. Now in the correct translations of God’s word we find the following text,

Acts 20:17-18, 30 (NIV)  From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia… 30  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

The TNIV translates it this way,

Acts 20:30 (TNIV)“Even from your own number some will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

The Greek word changed by the TNIV, is  the word ,“aner” which in context means male human being. Not anthropos, which can mean “person.” The TNIV translators say this refers to the congregation as a whole, but the context says it does not. Thus, taking such liberties changes the reinforcement of Scripture, which teaches only men are called to be elders, shepherds and pastors of the local church.

Again in Heb 2:17 (TNIV) we read:

“For this reason he had to be made like brothers and sisters in every way in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God…”

The proper translation read “his brothers,” not brothers and sisters. This implies being a High priest is something that can be conferred on men and woman. Not so! The Old Testament priesthood was a specific male oriented position. Now there are many other points to question, but the specific point I make is this. Is a translation of a text supposed to provide what it says or what it means? Or, as the translators of the TNIV have done, provide what “they” or society thinks it should mean?

Now admittedly, translating the Bible is a very difficult job. Mainly because one must carry over into the new language not only the specific meaning of the text in the historical setting, but also in the grammatical setting as well. This is why today there are differing ways of translation. Here’s an example. We have…

(1) STRICTLY LITERAL TRANSLATIONS  such as, the King James Bible, and  the New American Standard Bible.

(2) WE HAVE A LESS LITERAL TRANSLATION, such as: the New King James Version, the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible. Then we have what is called…

(3) THE DYNAMIC EQUIVALENT TRANSLATIONS  (Thought for thought) Such as, the New International Version and the New Living Translation. Also, we have…

(4) THE NATURAL EQUIVALENT (Modern Speech) Such as, God's Word Translation and the New English Bible.

Now which Bible translation and method is the correct one? The answer is none alone, but all of them together! Sound confusing? What I’m saying is, a good translation will do two things in bringing the language of the Old and New Testaments to us today. The “dynamic equivalent” approach and the “formal equivalent” approach must both be considered to bring modern man, (sorry for being politically incorrect) humanity, the fully preserved Word of God that keeps it to be known as the full verbally-inspired, inerrant, and infallible revelation of God to man given in the original writings.

Therefore taking liberties to change the patriarchal language of the Bible to suit secularized feminism may be “politically correct,” but it is not “biblically correct!”

May I remind everyone God has told us, the words of Scripture are not ours to tamper with. Many things in the Bible may not still be understood, but God penned them and gave them and they may one day be revealed, only if we keep intact the concept of verbal inspiration. We must therefore not tamper with them as we please. A case in point in the extreme negative, is the Jehovah’s Witnesses New World translation of the Bible. These cultists change key words to suit their false doctrines that deny the absolute divinity of Jesus Christ and other truths taught there. Now today we have the “new” TNIV, that does a very similar thing in order to eliminate “masculine language, from the thousands of passages in God’s original writings. To do this, distorts and twists the meaning of God’s revelation and His words.

Now I’m not against modern translations. You can access other talks I’ve done on this very subject that shows this, as well as my quotes from the Word of God, they vary from translation to translation. I believe some of the best translations out these days are: the KJV, NASB, and the original NIV. These are very excellent translation works that attempt to keep the Word of God, His Word and not the interpretation of mankind down through the ages. Not only that, but we have God’s promise He would preserve the Bible, not in any particular translation as some fanatics try to claim. God said,

Psa 119:89 (NIV) “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”

Isa 40:8 (NIV) “ The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

1 Pet 1:25 (NIV) “ but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”

Now in closing, I want to tell you. If you haven’t read or sought to know God’s revelation to the world and specifically to you, you are missing the most important thing in your life you can ever find. God’s Word, the Bible, is His “love” letter to all humanity, especially to you! Did you know that God’s full message all revolves around one verse in the New Testament? Hear God speaking to you personally through it,

John 3:16-17 (NIV)  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Have you learned God’s revelation that tells you He is seeking you? That He is seeking you because you are on a road in life from which you were born, that leads to a perilous eternity? God loves you so much that He devised a plan to save you and all who will come to Him and receive His plan of rescue. Indeed, the Bible clearly tells us His plan of rescue is in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 (NIV)  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (NIV)  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:11-12 (NIV)  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

1 Cor 15:3 (NIV)  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Tim 2:4-6 (NIV)  [God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

Yes, God’s message that has been faithfully preserved down through the centuries, in the Word of God is this ¾ We all must come to know God, recognizing His great gift of love in Jesus Christ, and embrace Him and thank Him for saving us from a perilous eternity of condemnation and judgment. All who believe and trust in Christ alone, for forgiveness of sin and freedom from the penalty of sin, will enjoy God’s favor and presence now and for eternity. That’s the main message of the Bible. Have you heard the Good News and believed it? May God grant you a desire to study and learn the Word of God through Bible believing churches and preachers, and may you mind your peace in it now and forever. God has spoken, He has given us His Word, and we are told now we are without excuse to seek Him. May God find you through His Word for Jesus sake, Amen…

… Friends, we must understand that the Bible is not like any human authorized book. It is a divine Book, the written full revelation of God’s words and thoughts to all mankind. Take time to study and read it. Make it your business, my friend, to regularly sit under the teaching of godly preachers and learn of God’s love and purpose for your life. The Bible is life-changing book. It can bring you into a new life filled with joy, happiness and satisfaction beyond your wildest dreams. But you must take the first step and begin reading it. Get yourself a good modern translation such as the NIV, or NASB. These two are my finest recommendations. Then let God speak to you. If your heart is open to hear Him, He will. Now may God so bless your hearts with His Word.

·         Radio talk #1602

·         Broadcast date: April 21, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.