Archive for category: Bible FAQ

The purpose of this presentation is to put into layman’s language a clear and logical presentation of why we need and accept new “Bible Translations”. It does not infer the new translations are a correction or improved translation from the original text. Rather it is to help us understand clearly the meaning of the Word of God in our generation.

FIRST: Every Bible you have is a translation. A translation is an attempt by people to put into the current vernacular the Word of God as it was recorded in the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. We must understand there is a difference between a translation and someone who paraphrases the Scripture. In essences a pastor or Bible teacher in his message is paraphrasing the Bible in that he is putting into his words what the Bible says to help you understand. Certainly we would not call that a translation of the Scriptures but it is helpful and a necessity to teach us what God’s Word says. A translation is done by people who take the words from the available manuscripts and attempt to translate them into the language of the people.

SECOND: The original Scriptures that were recorded in a direct revelation from God are not in existence. We believe the reason God removed them was so we would not find ourselves worshiping those manuscripts and miss the message God gave us. It would be as if we had the crown of thorns that Jesus wore, or the Shroud that was so popular recently or the cross on which Christ died. The world would make them an idol. They would worship the object and forget the God who made them and brought redemption through these things.

THIRD: the Word of God is settled in heaven not on earth. “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” Ps. 119:89. “The Word of our God shall stand forever” Isa. 40:8 “The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on earth, refined seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, from this generation for ever” Ps. 12:6-7, “But the Word of the Lord abides forever” I Pet. 1:25, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away” Matt. 24:35..

We may debate manuscripts, denounce translations, divide the body of Christ all to no avail. God’s Word is settled in Heaven, not on earth. It is His Word, not ours. The phrase “My Word” “Word of the Lord”, “Word of God” and others are used through out the Bible. How can we as mortal man believe we can protect His eternal Word? We can preach it, memorize it, study it, love it, defend it, deny it but not destroy it. The preservation of its purity and protection of its contents are in His hands.

God has been the protector of His Word, and for some six thousand years He has handled it well. He has personally taken the responsibility for the preservation and inspiration of His Word. He has not invited us to do this for Him. He is silent on how He protects His Word. He just does it. It is a little silly for us to fight over something so completely out of our control.

Believe me, if the devil could destroy the Bible, he would have done so long ago. One of the great testimonies of the Bible that cannot be explained by the enemy is its preservation. Kings, armies, atheists, philosophers, humanists, liberal theologians, and governments, (including our own), have tried to remove and destroy the Bible. It is still the world’s best seller each year. Again, God is the protector of His Word.

FOURTH: Dr. Warren Wiersbe says in his book, “Be Determined” that “We need new translations of the Bible, not because the Bible Changes, but because our language changes. Suppose you had to use John Wycliffe’s Version of the Bible, the oldest version in English. How much of this passage would you understand if you did not already know it from another version”

“Alle ye that traueilen & ben chargid come to me & I schal fulfille you. Take ye my yok on you & lerne ye of me for I am mylde and meke in herte: and ye schulen finde rest to youre soulis/ for my you for my yok is softe & my charge liyt.”

Listed below is another example using the same passage of Scripture from three early translations and two later translations? The first three translations were completed within a time span of about seventy years. There have been numerous other translations but these are well known and will show us why men see the need of new translations.

The Geneva Bible, 1560 AD. was the Bible used by John Bunyan, Oliver Cromwell, Shakespeare, and the Puritans. It was designated “The Peoples Book”. It held preeminence among English versions for about a century. It was also the Bible brought over on the Mayflower and it laid the spiritual foundations for America.

The Bishops’ Bible, 1558-1606 AD. There are fewer differences between the Bishops’ Bible and the King James Version than any other preceding translation

The King James Version 1611 AD. “It was designated the Authorized Version by King James of England however no Parliament ever approved this designation… For the first time, England was reading one Bible at home and hearing the same Bible read in church. It stilled all controversy and became so accepted that some said there was no distinction between it and the original text…Almost nine tenths of the New Testament is word for word from the Geneva Bible. This version has been revised several times but is a good and time honored translation that has impacted several generations.

These three versions are much alike. Again the reason we need updated translations is that languages change. Words and phrases that had one meaning years ago now have a different meaning. To illustrate these changes we have quoted the same passage of Scripture from three translations, II Corinthians 6:11-13, and it shows how the English language has changed

King James Version
V. 11. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged,
V. 12. Ye are not straitened in us but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
V. 13. Now for recompense in the same, (I speak as unto my children) be ye also enlarged.

American Standard Version, 1901 AD now updated to the New American Standard Version translates the passage as follows:

V. 11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
V. 12 You are not restrained by us but you are restrained in your own affections.
V. 13 Now in a like exchange-I speak as to children-Open wide to us also.

New International Version 1973 AD translation renders the passage as follows:

V. 11. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
V. 12. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
V. 13. As a fair exchange-I speak as to my children-open wide your hearts also.

Which was easiest for you to read? Which was easiest to understand? Did it change the meaning of the passage? Did it clarify the meaning of the passage?

The words used at the time of the translations were correct and clearly understood. However words change their meaning as they are passed from generation to generation. Consider the sample of words used in the King James Translation listed below. Some we do not understand today. Some have changed meaning. Some mean the opposite of their original use and change the meaning of Scripture. As you read the passages you will understand why men see the need for a new translation.

Here are a few examples:

peradventure-Rom. 5:7, concupiscence-Col. 3:5, conversation -I Pet. 3:1, straitly-Acts 4:7, gay-James. 2:3, privy-Acts 5:2 , bowels- II Cor. 6:12, concision-Phi. 3:2, cleave- Rom. 12:9, nought -Rom., 14:10, charitably-Rom. 14:15, swellings-II Cor. 12:20 lasciviousness-II Cor. 12:21, apace-Ps. 68:12, agone-I Sam. 30:13, cometh-Rom. 10:17, Charity, I Cor. 13.

Dr. McGee in his Bible teaching used a familiar cliché, “Where the rubber meets the road”. We understand this because we use rubber tires on so many vehicles. In parts of the world they have no idea what he is talking about. It must be translated into the language of the people. One translation of this is “Where the turtle crosses the road”. In their culture they understand this. It makes little sense to us in America. This is putting the translation into the language of the people. This is the objective of the translator.

FIFTH: Along with this you must consider that there are hundreds of translations in the world today. The Wycliffe Bible translators have done an excellent job of translating the Bible into many languages. We have heard many missionaries tell of trying to find a right word for such terms as nail, cross, sheep, sword, helmet, etc. to express the meaning of the Scriptures so the people of various cultures would understand.

BBN and its affiliates broadcast in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German and Russian. We use 8 different translations of the Bible. All of these translations are compiled using the Greek and Hebrew text available to them, but the bottom line is you must put the Bible into the language of the people. Would everybody agree on every word the translators use? No. But again, God protects His Word and the message is clearly given to draw people to the Lord Jesus Christ. The missionary enterprise of the world depends on the Holy Spirit (the interpreter, revealer, teacher, and persuader) to draw people to Christ. The Holy Spirit has the ability to properly interpret every translation for the seeking person who wants to know God. “Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out”.

Men of God have devoted a great portion of their lives and many have been killed trying to accomplish this feat of translating the Bible into the contemporary languages that you and I may understand in our tongue the unchanging message God communicated to us. We are privileged to have the whole Bible in our language. Is it not a little ridiculous for us to fight over a certain translation and theologians debate and preachers and teachers divide the body of Christ, while much of the world has little or no Scriptures in their language? Paul said, “Preach the Word”. Often it is easier to defend the Bible within our comfort zone, fighting other Christians, rather than to declare it in a hostile world in darkness and rebellion. In defending and declaring His Word we want peace surrounding rather than war. However this is not our option. As believers we are in a war zone, or are we? Today much of the Church is an army of occupation rather than an army of conquest. Eph. 6: 8-10.

Recently a preacher called me about a statement we had made. We said, “that in the translations of this century no major doctrine has been perverted.” He reminded me of a controversial translation a few years ago that translated verses in Isa. 7:14 “Virgin” into “Young Lady”. It was properly translated “Virgin” in Matt. 1:23. I asked him where that translation was today. He agreed that it has basically disappeared. We said, “Why?” Has not God again protected His Word?

Some would rather you not read the Bible at all if you are not going to read “their” translation. Most of America is ignorant of what the Bible really says. Surveys show that it is seldom read except on Sunday while at church. I would say, “Read the translation that you are comfortable with. But what ever you do, make it a habit to read, meditate and memorize it every day. Then share it with someone else. It is the source of your spiritual food to help you grow.” Take some time and read Psalm 119. You will really begin to sense the value of the Word to you.

SIXTH: The devil’s tactic is to divide and cause dissention to eventually destroy us. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” I Peter 5:8. It is time to focus on the declaration of His Word and let God defend it. Let’s share the most important message with a world that is starving to know Truth. We have it in our possession. We are therefore responsible to carry it to the World. How would we answer this question on judgement day if the Lord should ask? “I gave you My Word. Why didn’t you take it to the world?” Bottom line; In that day all that will matter will be whether we absorbed the Word of God into our lives and shared it with a lost world for whom Christ died. Matt. 28:19-20

SEVENTH: The commitment of the Bible Broadcasting Network is to take the whole Word to the whole world through radio. Will you join us in this venture of faith? As Rom. 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”.

The ultimate questions that demand answers are these. “How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the glad tidings of good things.” Rom. 10”14-15

Our mission statement at BBN is found in Acts 26:18. “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in me”. Will you join us in this mission of taking the whole Word to the whole world via radio and any other means available to us? At the end of the road we will all say, to God be the glory, great things He has done!

I don’t know about you but sometimes I struggle with living the consecrated life that truly exemplifies the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul when writing to the church at Corinth must have realized that they too had difficulty from time to time. For he wrote a letter of encouragement to help them stay on track. If we, as believers, are to continue to live for the Lord Jesus day by day, there are five principles that we must put into practice. Paul gave them to the Corinthians as he closed out his first letter to them.

1. BE ALERT

It is imperative that we fully understand that we have many enemies who wish to harm the body of Christ. Every believer must beware of the enemy, Satan. We must be continually on guard with our eyes always looking for those signs of his presence. He walks about seeking those who may be weak or wayward. He intends to distract and devour.

Two things are very important here. First must be the constant watch for evil. Even the appearance of it must prompt those who would escape to flee! But also, we must watch those who are the accomplices of evil. They will try to draw us aside from the strength of our faith and the unity of the Gospel.

2. BE FIRM

We who have placed our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are to stand fast in our position. To hold in conscientious credence what we have already received as the truth of God. Keeping in our ranks and being determined to not allow them to be broken as we stay close together in faith and unity. For in unity there is provision of additional strength should the enemy approach. Should he succeed in breaking our ranks, and dividing one part of this sacred army from another, our defeat will be inevitable.
Let the truth that God loves us, and the fact that he has forgiven us, and the knowledge that He expects us to stand for Him in the faith, cause us to be unwavering. As faithful people let us make Godly decisions, march to God’s directions and move with a distinct difference as we hold fast our profession of faith together.

3. BE COURAGEOUS

We must also be as mature people who understand the truth. and so are determine to give up life rather than give up the testimony of God. The young and weaker ones may quit but we must not flinch. Even when attacked we must maintain our ground. Our resistance must allow us to press forward and fight knowing that our Captain will prevail and conquer any foe.

4. BE STRONG

We must be strong in the Lord, putting forth with all our might and energy to maintain the truth. For we know that as we exercise our spiritual strength it will increase. If the enemy seem too great a force, then we must encourage one another and so sustain each other. We must not fear. For that will drain our energy.

5. BE LOVING

The greatest motivator in the world is not money or power, or position. It is love! If we are to continue to live the powerful Christian life that points others to our Savior, then we must do all that we do in love. We must love God who first loved us, and we must love our fellow man. Love must be the motive for our conduct. Where a true principle of Christian charity prevails among the members of a personal family or a church family, it will cast out selfishness, pride, envy, and division. The sum of all the commandments, both towards God and towards our neighbor, is love.

For more about this topic see: BBN BI course # 21000 The Life That Pleases God

It’s true! BBN only plays conservative Christian music and has for over thirty years; and during that time, our radio network has grown from just one radio station to over 250 radio outlets around the world. Those who argued in 1971 that we could not build a large radio network if we did not play contemporary music were wrong then – and are wrong now. BBN only plays Christian music with a message that is biblical and ministers to the heart as God intends.

Those who listen to BBN daily tell us repeatedly what a blessing our music ministry is to them and their family. And not just “old timers,” but more and more teenagers and young married couples, too. Recently we heard from a former “disc jockey” at a contemporary Christian radio station in Kentucky, who said after listening to BBN, “I quit the station because I got tired of playing and listening to music that sounded like rock and roll. Thank God for the music on BBN.”

In Ephesians 5:18-19, the Apostle Paul encourages us to “be filled with the (Holy) Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” and the music on BBN helps us to do this – every day.

For more about music see: BBN BI course # 50300 Study of Music

Before there can be a discussion about whether or not anything belongs to a particular culture, we must come to an understanding of what culture is. According to Webster’s Dictionary, culture comes from the Latin cultura or the French colere and means “to cultivate” or “the characteristic features and values of a civilization or group of people.” Culture is the practice of what we believe.

If we apply this definition to those who are members of the Body of Christ, particularly those who believe and practice the Word of God, there must be Christian Culture. God has allowed me in the more than 50 years of my ministry to travel and minister in more than 35 countries, and I have found that wherever I go, Bible-believing Christians have similar standards.

Why is this true? Because the Bible teaches that there are principles of life that all Christians are to follow. In Ephesians 4:22, we learn that we are to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt.” And Philippians 1:27 instructs us to let our “conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” Any Bible scholar will verify the fact that the word, “anastrofhn,” translated “conversation” in the KJV, means a way of life or by our definition, culture. This is because those who love the Lord and believe His Word are to adopt and practice a way of life that very practically becomes what can be called Christian Culture.

God is unchangeable, His principles of right are always the same, and they will never pass away. In His Word He has given us the principles of “a way of life” (culture) that will never change and must be applied to every area of life, including music.

How does this apply to Contemporary Christian Music? Any observer of the culture that accompanies much of CCM must admit that the lifestyle, the language, the attitude, the lack of separation and musical standards, all fall far short of what the Bible requires of those who believe “the gospel of Christ.” Even those who are involved in this genre recognize the power of CCM to control the culture of those who adhere to it. For instance, Michael Hamilton in writing for Christianity Today says: “When one chooses a musical style today, one is making a statement about whom one identifies with, what one’s values are, and ultimately who one is.”

Edward Rothstein, chief critic for the New York Times, writes that a musical style “suggests ways to think. A style even defines a musical community – a group with shared notions about music and its purpose… The shared style allows for musical communication without misunderstanding.” What both of these authors are clearly describing, perhaps without realizing it, is the culture of CCM.

It is significant to note that as World magazine reports: “Secular media companies… swallowed up more than 90 percent of Christian recording labels in the 1990’s.” If the world adopts it as their own, there must be something un-Christian about it that allows the world to embrace it. As Cal Thomas, in talking about the problems Christians face in the political realm, has pointed out in his insightful book, Blinded by Might, whenever we try to marry Christianity and the world, Christianity always loses. He says that “we try… to usher in a kingdom not of this world by using tools that are of this world,” and it doesn’t accomplish the goal that it is supposed to be seeking.

But, the CCM proponents protest, we are just using POP music to get the message of the gospel out to the world. What they fail to recognize is what communication experts like Neil Postman of New York University states in his book, Amusing Ourselves to Death: “The form in which ideas are expressed affects what those ideas will be.” He elucidates this idea even further when he says: “It is naive to think that something that has been expressed in one form can be expressed in another without significantly changing its meaning, texture, or value.” To apply this truth to CCM means that even Bible words change their meaning when they are set to today’s POP or rock music, thus changing God’s gospel into “another gospel.” As Galatians 1:7 says, they “pervert the gospel of Christ.” Probably without recognizing that what he was saying came from this Scripture, Robert Shaw said: “I don’t know if the church today understands the music being brought into the church. The people don’t understand the music… it’s perverse.”

Even Newsweek magazine, after noting that at CCM festivals they have “gansta-style rhymes about the Lord,” and that “the kids have the option to visit the prayer area if they’re not moshing,” comments: “Maybe the mainstreaming of Christianity has gone too far.” Evidently this worldly magazine recognizes that the culture of CCM and the culture of Christianity don’t belong together.

I have heard a number of missionaries say: “But we don’t want to impose American culture on the culture in the country where we minister.” And I couldn’t agree more! American culture is not worth much. In fact, many other countries are experiencing the same problems America is having because our country is exporting the basest areas of its culture to other countries through its movies and music. But there is Christian culture, and we do need to proclaim the Biblical principles that will lead to adoption of Biblical standards to every country in the world.

To spread the culture of CCM will only lead to an anemic, counterfeit Christianity that Steve Camp says “yodels as a Christless, watered-down, God-as-my-girlfriend kind of thing.” To paraphrase Vance Havner, an old-time evangelist: “If CCM is the light of the world, why is everything so dark?” Several CCM recordings have sold in the millions and, according to Newsweek magazine, the over-all “Christian entertainment business is a 3 billion dollar industry.” To paraphrase Vance Havner again: “If CCM is the salt of the earth, why is everything so corrupt?” I believe the problem is that the culture of CCM is not the culture, the way of life, that the Bible teaches ought to be characteristic of Christians.

But I can almost hear someone saying: “Why make a blanket condemnation of CCM? It isn’t all bad. It may be insipid and not have much content, but it isn’t all that bad.” This also relates to culture, because the worst thing that a church or a Christian organization can have is a mixture of error and truth. It would be better to go to a secular school than to go to one that claims to be Christian and then teaches evolution. It would be better to go to a secular psychologist than to go to one who prays with you and then gives you Freudian psychology. And it would be better to go to a church that you know doesn’t teach the Bible than to go to one that still preaches the Bible but then allows worldly practices to be a part of its ministry. The “Christian culture” that mixes truth and error is the worst one of all because of its inconsistency and compromise, and CCM is just such a culture.

Without realizing it, Time magazine in a special issue titled Music Goes Global, revealed one of the main problems Bible-believing Christians should have with today’s POP music, especially Christian POP which is what CCM is. This magazine says: “Musicians are rocking old traditions. Your world will never be the same…The we-are-the-world maxim is this: music is the universal language.” In other words, POP music will be one of the main vehicles the devil uses to help establish a one-world church. Could it be that the devil is promoting CCM to try to accomplish his anti-Christian goals for the world? It is certainly uniting believers and unbelievers in some strange alliances. And as John Makujina has so succinctly said in his book, Measuring the Music: “Anyone who attempts to battle CCM today will be facing not just a Goliath, but a Goliath on steroids.”

Is CCM a cultural thing? Absolutely! But I believe it is promoting the wrong culture, not the one that Philippians 1:27 says is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

– Frank Garlock, Founder and President of Majesty Music, Inc.

Contact Majesty Music for Dr. Garlock to speak at your church by calling:
1-800-334-1071
or write to:
Majesty Music
PO Box 6524
Greenville, SC 29606

Why does BBN invest in overseas radio when there are so many areas of America that do not have good Christian radio?

Very often we are asked this question. Usually, the part of the country that is mentioned is an area where a family member or good friend lives. It may also come from someone who has traveled through the coverage area of one of our BBN radio stations.

We are very well aware of the spiritual famine in New England and in other parts of the USA. We have looked at virtually every open door in radio that has been opened in the US in the past 20 years. As you may know, we purchased our first station in New England just over a year ago, WYFP in the Portland, Maine area. We hope this will only be the beachhead for New England. We also plan to keep looking for opportunities in other parts of the country.

However, when we look at investing the Lord’s finances in new outreaches, we have to consider the stewardship factor. For example, many of the open doors that we turned down, would have cost us $2.00 to $3.00 or more per person in the potential audience. Stations we have purchased in the United States have cost about 25 to 30 cents per person in the potential audience. In Central and South America, our investments have been in the range of 2 to 3 cents per person in the potential audience. Naturally, we have selected the better investments, taking into account that many of these foreign investments are in areas that have no credible gospel witness.

Our Savior’s order to His disciples about world evangelization states, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. It is not, “Jerusalem, or in all Judea, or in Samaria, or unto the uttermost part of the earth.” It is not even, “Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then the world.” Our vision must be complete, to those close at hand, and to all the world.

Pray for us to have the wisdom from the Lord to know where He would have us invest His resources that He has committed to us.