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Have Christians corrupted the Bible?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
Some Muslims accuse Christians of corrupting the Bible. While this charge would explain the differences between the Qur'an and the Bible, the allegation has no credible evidence. The Qur'an praises...

July 01 2013 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


2
052 Dannie Murdoch Father and Grandfather. Former Deacon for maintenance.
There are numerous Bible translations but in essence they do not differ to such an extent as to corrupt the Word of God. In fact it is of benefit to study and meditate on different versions to gain a better understanding of what God is saying to us through his Word. 

The corruption comes when Christians misinterpret the Word and put it into practice which we see in some denominations. Examples are homosexuality and same sex marriage. These sadly are becoming the norm and are a definite corruption and misrepresentation of God’s word. They also set about dismantling God’s plan for his Church, His Bride, when we sit at the Table of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. However, as is always the case, God’s word never changes; these corrupt practices will be the downfall of the denominations, and sadly many will not be at the Table.

June 09 2021 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


1
Profile pic Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!
God's Word is perfect (1 Corinthians 13:10), but man's understanding of His perfect Word is where the problem arises. 

Confusion and contradictions can be minimized if we will study the Bible the way God teaches us in 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." This is a key verse to understanding that we live under different instructions today than in 'times past' and 'ages to come'.

We separate, or 'rightly divide', the gospel of God's grace, as given to our apostle Paul from Christ ascended into heaven (Romans through Philemon), from that of the Kingdom gospels given to Messianic Hebrews while Christ lived on Earth. Jesus' message while living and that of the 12 apostles was given directly to and for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:24). The (Ephesians 3:9) "fellowship of the mystery" was revealed only to Paul from Christ in heaven and was kept hidden since the world began (Romans 16:25, Col 1:26). The "mystery" gospel of God's grace through Paul is directly to and for us during 'the dispensation of the grace of God' (Ephesians 3:2, Colossians 1:27, Romans 1:13).

We find in Paul's gospel that salvation today requires faith alone in Christ alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28). Compare these verses to James 2:24 and an obvious contradiction would otherwise be discovered. We see however in James 1:1 that this book is written directly to "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad". Paul's gospel, in comparison, is given directly to everyone who has lived from the time Paul received and preached his gospel to when Jesus Christ will return in the clouds to gather the church, which is His body (Romans 11:25, Romans 10:12).

We today believe that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins, was buried, but rose again for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We have the promise of a heavenly kingdom. Israel's requirement to receive their earthly kingdom was to believe in who Jesus Christ was, by belief in in His name. Israel, before and after Paul's epistles, seeks earthly blessings. We today are to seek spiritual blessings (1 Corinthians 14:12). Israel is under God's covenant program of faith plus works (James 2:26). We today live under God's grace program of faith without works (Romans 4:4-5, Ephesians 2:8-9). Israel has biblical prophecy, we have the revelation of God's "mystery".

In the mid 16th century, Miles Coverdale began translating the Bible into English and was very influential in the preservation and eventual publication of the KJV of 1611. He made the below statement that many readers of the Bible do not consider.

"It shall greatly help you to understand Scriptures
    If thou mark not only what is spoken or written,
But of whom, and to whom, with what words, at what time.
    Where, to what intent, with what circumstances,
Considering what goeth before and what followeth after."

The Maranatha Bible Society makes the following observation based on Coverdale's statement: 

"The Bible is a progressively revealed book. It is the Book of God’s revelation of Himself to mankind … first to mankind in general, then to the chosen nation of Israel, and lastly to “the church, which is His Body.” Because of these various entities we cannot take all of the Bible as TO US. We cannot take what God gave to Israel, as a nation, and make it to us today. What was revealed to one group at one time, cannot necessarily be interpreted to another group at another time. For instance, what the earthly Christ told the disciples to do in the Gospels was not what the risen Christ in glory told Paul to do in his epistles. The message of the twelve was to Israel, and concerned the kingdom of heaven and their Messiah; whereas the message of Paul had nothing to do with Israel, but concerned “the church, which is His Body.” http://maranathabiblesociety.org/miles_coverdale/

January 12 2023 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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