Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

When a human translation claims to be the 'one true translation,' Christians should be wary. Only scripture as originally written is infallible - translators are not. Errors and bias enter translation, and there also is the problem of things being 'lost in translation' between languages. No English translation can ever convey perfectly the meaning of the Hebrew or Greek.

In the case of the HalleluYAH scriptures, there are other red flags as well:

- It's producers dislike any analysis or criticism of their work - to the point where they have threatened some reviewers with legal action.

- There is no information contained in the HS versions about who the translators were, what manuscripts they based the translation on, or their translation philosophy or methods.

- The company is embroiled in copyright and plagiarism disputes.

- The translation base that is used was done, with only minor changes, by a single man.

- The HS version contains no footnotes and no textual variants, which means that in many places what one is reading is merely a chosen interpretation.

Moving on from the red-flags and diving into the translation itself [As I do not have a copy of the HalleluYAH scriptures, I am pulling mostly from the ISR translation which is almost identical]:

The HalleluYAH translation is nearly identical to the South African Institute for Scripture Research Version (ISR) and 'The Scriptures' translation, both minor revisions of the translation by Chris Koster. Koster, when making his translation, mostly used the KJV translation, the Textus Receptus (TR), the Greek Nestlé-Aland, and the Hebrew Shem Tob texts as his basis (The last two being from the 14th and 16th century). He seems to have willfully pulled bits and pieces from each as he liked.

The HalleluYAH scriptures use the Hebrew and Greek names and titles for God, which is a nice element for those wanting to see the underlying nuance often lost in English translation.

For example, Col 1:1-2 would be something similar to "Sha’ul, an emissary of יהושע Messiah by the desire of Elohim, and Timothy our brother, to the set-apart ones in Colosse, and true brothers in Messiah: Favour to you and peace from Elohim our Father and the Master יהושע Messiah."

I personally like that idea in theory: it's wonderful to bring out the names of God; it seems much more personal to call Jesus by His Hebrew name Yehoshua (Yahweh brings salvation), or to praise God with his many titles such as El-Roi (The God who sees me), Yahweh Saboath (the Lord of Hosts) or Kanna (jealous) than just falling into saying 'God' all the time. Much of that is lost in English.

Unfortunately, the HS usage of these underlying terms is not always correct. Sometimes terms are changed or omitted, which leads to a translation that is not 'more faithful' by using the true names/titles of God, but can actually obscure or distort the nature of God in some cases.

For example, consider the ISR version of Col 2:9:

"Because in Him dwells all the completeness of the Mightiness bodily,"

Almost every other translation will use 'diety' or Godhead' since the Greek word is theotētos: http://biblehub.com/colossians/2-9.htm

Why would a translation go out of its way to use the Greek term for God 'Theos' in many passages, but obscure it when it comes to the diety of Christ? In this case, it is probably because Chris Koster, the one whose translation was used for the HS revision, did not believe Jesus was deity.

Here is another change the translation makes, which is also concerning:

"“For this is My blood, that of the renewed covenant..." Matt 26:28
"...servants of a renewed covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit..." II Cor 3:6

Note the change from 'new' to 'renewed'? This seemingly 'minor' change dismisses the new covenant and is used to promote law-keeping rather than walking by the Spirit.

In short, it's probably best to avoid the HalleluYAH translation or only use it as a supplement with other translations alongside.

April 19 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

colin Taylor

It left the Melchizedek order when Moses wrote the 613 levitical laws and Aaron was the levite priest, which animal sacrifice was used for atonement of sin. Before that, there was no animal sacrifice. So when Yahoshua became our perfect sacrifice, and is our high priest it went back to the priesthood of Melchizedek. Renewing the covenant. 

BEFORE MOSES- Melchizedek blessed Abraham 

Genesis 14:18

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High

Hebrews 7:1

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

AFTER MOSES- Speaking of Yahoshua 

Hebrews 5:8-10
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 110:4

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 7:11

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

Renewing the Melchizedek Priesthood

The Priesthood before Moses was the Melchizedek Priesthood, and after Moses when Yahoshua was Crucified, when the veil ripped symbolising the Levitical priesthood being done away with - the 613 laws of Moses -animal sacrifice.

The Veil covered the door where ONLY a Levite priest could slaughter the sacrifice and sprinkle the blood on the alter for someones sin. This is why it was written, to let us know that priesthood was done away with, and the order of Melchizedek was back in order with Yahoshua, as the scripture shared above.

Matthew 27:51 King James Version (KJV)
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

RENEWING THE COVENANT 

The Halleluyah Scriptures are a very good translation. You want to stay away from anything put out from the Roman Catholics, council of Nicea, who removed books. A king James 1611 with the Apocrypha is good to have as well. 

Here are some words from Yahoshua himself on how to have the Holy spirit,The Spirit of Truth. ONLY if you are keeping his commandments. 

John 14:15-31 King James Version (KJV)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

October 27 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report