A Brief Review of Textual History Part 2

c. Some time needs to be here devoted to the subject of the Septuagint (LXX), a supposed Greek translation of the O.T. made prior to the incarnation of Christ. The LXX is one of the most important articles in the modern Bible- reviser's armament. This is one of the so-called “best and most ancient” manuscripts that have been used to undermine the AV 1611. Notice this interesting admission concerning it: “The LXX translators made some palpable mistakes; their knowledge of Hebrew was often inadequate; they occasionally interpreted as well as translated, and they sometimes introduced local colour.” (Ency. Brit., 14th edition, vol. 20, p. 336) (1) It is claimed that the LXX was translated by 70 or 72 Jews sent to Alexandria at the request of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (288-247 B.C.), and that it was done over a period of about 100-150 years. (2) Evidence for the LXX prior to Christ is based largely on the “Letter to Aristeas” a spurious record which purports that Ptolemy asked the translators philosophical questions to test their proficiency! Remember the warning against philosophy and vain deceit. COL 2:8; 1CO 1:19-23. (3) Here is where we find some imaginative wizardry employed by modern scholars. The fifth column of Origen's Hexapla is deemed to be a revision of LXX while at the same time, in the absence of proof, is quoted as being LXX itself! Furthermore, whenever scholars resort to the fabled LXX, they virtually always quote from Codex Vaticanus, which is supposedly a copy of Origen's fifth column made 100 years after Origen! With quantum leaps in reasoning like this, is it any wonder that confusion abounds? (4) Scholars often maintain that Christ frequently quoted LXX. But the O.T. which Christ would fulfil had jots and tittles, characteristic of Hebrew (MAT 5:18). The LXX is in Greek, which has no jots or tittles. (5) The LXX was translated into classical Greek, not koine or common Greek. Christ and the apostles' ministries were aimed at and received by the common people. MAT 11:25; MAR 12:37; JAM 2:5. d. Origen supposedly emasculated himself in an attempt to control lusts and enhance his dedication to God. If true, this is vain philosophy at work. COL 2:8, 20-23. e. Origen's teachings founded Scholasticism (The doctrines of the Schoolmen; the predominant theological and philosophical teaching of the period A.D. 1000–1500, based upon the authority of the Christian Fathers and of Aristotle and his commentators. 2. Servile adherence to the methods and teaching of the schools; narrow or unenlightened insistence on traditional doctrines and forms of exposition). 4. Eusebius. He was an admirer of Origen and a student of his philosophy. He was ordered by Constantine to publish fifty copies of the Bible to be used in the churches of the empire. He chose Origen's translations for the task. 5. Jerome. About 380 A.D., he produced a Latin version of the Bible known as the Vulgate. It was based on the corrupted texts as well, containing the Apocrypha. Jerome admitted that the Apocrypha was not Scripture, but the Pope endorsed them. 6. The Jesuits produced a Bible in English based on the Vulgate to counter the Waldensian-influenced English Bibles which were gaining great acceptance. The N.T. appeared in Rheims, France around 1582; the O.T. from Douay being compiled in 1609-1610. The Douay has been continually updated to keep pace with the AV 1611 (King James Version). Catholic Cardinal Wiseman acknowledges this. (Douay Bible, The Catholic Encyclopedia) 7. The Codex Vaticanus (B) turned up in 1481 A.D. In 1859, Tischendorf discovered Codex Sinaiticus (Aleph) in a wastebasket in a convent. They are thought to be two surviving copies of Eusebius' fifty. a. Believing B and Aleph to be the purest texts, Westcott & Hort prepared a Greek N.T. They dominated the Revision Committee of 1871 which produced the Revised Version of 1881. Their Greek N.T. altered the Traditional or Received Texts in more than 5700 places. b. Westcott and Hort were admitted evolutionists, aeonists, and Mariolaters, A Brief Review of Textual History 6-17-21 Page 4 which would account for their tenacious clinging to the two Catholic texts when they had 3000 mss. available. c. Furthermore, Westcott and Hort were spiritualists who had strong leanings towards occult philosophies. They founded at least two societies which were steeped in “new-age” pursuits: the Hermes Club and the Ghostly Guild (Hermes is acknowledged among occultists as another name for Satan). The manuscripts which they preferred, interestingly enough, were from the pens of corrupted individuals like Origen and Marcion, who were principals of the Gnostic theology which sought to synthesize occult, pagan religion with Christianity. It is also interesting that Madame Helen Blavatsky, one of the most important occultists of all time, derived much of her Luciferian doctrine from Philo's Alexandrian school. She has nothing but praise for the efforts of Westcott and Hort, believing them to have done great service for the cause of Lucifer by revising the bible to reflect the “secret doctrine.” 8. All modern English versions after the AV1611 (KJV) stem from this line of texts. The NIV, Living Bible, Good News Bible, etc. are available in Catholic versions with an official imprimature. Even the New King James Version reflects the corruptions of B and Aleph. a. It should be noted here that there have been some attempts made to update (not revise) the AV1611, such as the KJ21 or 21st century King James Version. b. The jury is still out on such efforts, and those efforts beg the question as to why, if the KJV is God’s word in English, would one risk altering a known, reliable standard when it would be better to simply educate oneself in the language of the KJV with a good dictionary? c. The Flesh-Kincaid research company's Grade Level Indicator shows that when comparing versions, 23 out of 26 comparisons showed the KJV to be easier, and the average grade levels of readability were: (1) NKJV - 6th grade. (2) GNMM (Good News for Modern Man) - 7th grade. (3) NIV - 8th grade. (4) NASB - 6th grade. (6) KJV - 5th grade. d. If the goal of modern versions was to come up with a more readable bible, then consider these comparisons: (1) EPH 4:16. supporting ligament (NIV) c/w joint (KJV). (2) 2CH 2:2. conscripted (NIV) c/w told out (KJV). (3) EXO 32:6. indulged in revelry (NIV) c/w rose up to play (KJV). (4) EZE 31:4. rivulets (NKJV) c/w little rivers (KJV). (5) MAT 14:24. the boat was already many stadia away (NASB) c/w was now in the midst of the sea (KJV). (6) LUK 7:32. sang a dirge (NASB) c/w have mourned (KJV). (7) ACT 12:21. rostrum (NASB) c/w throne (KJV). (8) 2CO 11:32. ethnarch (NASB) c/w the governor (KJV). (9) 1TI 3:3. pugnacious (NASB) c/w striker (KJV). (10) JOB 6:6. slime of a purslane (RSV) c/w white of an egg (KJV).

IV. MAT 7:20 shows how to discern God's book from the counterfeit. God's word is His prophecy A Brief Review of Textual History 6-17-21 Page 5 (REV 19:10; 2PE 1:21) and prophets are known by their fruits. A. Let the preface of the RSV bear witness to the fruits of the AV1611: “The King James Version has with good reason been termed ‘the noblest monument of English prose.’ Its revisers in 1881 expressed admiration for its ‘simplicity, its dignity, its power, its happy turns of expression...the music of its cadences, and the felicities of its rhythm.’ It entered, as no other book has, into the making of the personal character and public institutions of the English-speaking peoples. We owe to it an incalculable debt.” B. PRO 8:1-21. The effects of wisdom can be readily seen where the AV1611 has been widely preached, believed and obeyed! The AV1611 is wisdom's words. C. COL 1:5-6; 1TH 1:5-6; 2:13-14; ROM 10:17. It is the word of God that works effectually in the believer, not the word of men. The Bible is either the word of God or it is the word of men about the word of God. D. By the text of MAT 7:20, the AV1611 is the inspired word of God in English. It was translated from the Masoretic Text of the O.T. and the Textus Receptus of the N.T., which comprised over 90% of all extant Greek manuscripts. No modern version has displayed the fruits that the AV1611 produced among English-speaking peoples. E. (PRO 13:13) Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.