- May 3, 2022
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Our English versions of the Bible are not "source documents." While there is a level of accuracy, there are far too many mistakes, bad translations to be found, and things being added or taken away from the original writings. Every English version is guilty of altering God's original word. One would think that with the amount of information available concerning the language, history, culture, and Theology of the Jewish people, one would expect that at some point in the near future, an English version of Scripture that accurately conveys the true and accurate meaning of what was originally written down, especially the New Testament, would be available.
I am working on an accurate English translation of the gospels, putting them in chronological order and, as part of the narrative, either using the correct words, using the correct syntax, and explaining the Jewish figures of speech in a way that brings to light the correct meaning of what was spoken. In the narrative, I would phrase things in such a way that shows every time a direct quote or reference to the Old Testament is used. For example, I would phrase Mat 4:4, " Yeshua answered and said, "Just as it is written in Deut 8:3, man will not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God."
My version of Mk 12:28- A scribe who had heard the conversation and perceived that Jesus had given a good answer, asked Him, "Which commandment is the first and most important? Jesus replied, "The things I teach come straight from the Old Testament, where the Father gave us His commands. The first commandment, as it is written in Deut 6:4-5 is, "Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And you will love the Lord thy God with all of your heart, soul and mind, with all of your strength. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important is found in Lev 19:18,...You will love your neighbor as yourself, in that, as you would never treat yourself badly, do yourself any harm and only treat yourself well, treat your neighbor in the same way you treat yourself. None of the other commandments are greater than these two." (Jesus was instructing that if you obey and practice these two greatest commandments, you will never break any of the other commandments.)
I would also give the background of events so the reader can understand the dynamics of a particular scene. When one came to Luke 4:14-18, between verses 14 and 15, I would include, In those days, if a traveling priest or Rabbi were to enter a synagogue in another part of the country, the chief ruler of the synagogue, the person responsible for overseeing the religious activities of a synagogue, would often invite the visitor to participate in the teaching of Scripture. The speaker would stand as he read the Scripture and then sit down to expound on what was read. However, the speaker did not pick at random the part of Scripture he wanted to read. The Jewish people, then as now, followed a strict schedule of what was to be read and when. The next speaker would pick up at the exact point the last reader had stopped reading.
Verse 17 would read," And the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Jesus. Jesus found the part of Scripture where he was to start from and read Isaiah 61:1, The spirit of the Lord God is upon me..."
I would also group together teaching on the same subject, which in the gospels is scattered in different places and makes it hard to get the full teaching. One gross example of this is what Jesus taught about forgiveness. Most believe that the most important teaching Yeshua did on forgiveness is Mat 6:14-15. Unfortunately, this is taught to mean that God requires believers to forgive any and all sin committed against them, by any person, for any reason and if they don't do this, God will not forgive them! That is false teaching! Because Jesus taught another aspect about forgiveness in Luke 17:3. I would have Luke 17:3-4 immediately follow Mat 6:14-15. Here is a great example of the proper word definition being used and adding a little background, all to bring clarity and understanding to what is being read:
"As it is written in Scripture, Num 15:27-31, there are two ways to sin, unintentionally and intentionally. So I tell you that when you forgive anybody who has committed any unintentional sin against you, God your Father will forgive any unintentional sin you commit against another or God. But if you don't forgive others any and all unintentional sin against you, God will not forgive your unintentional sin.
But, now, pay attention to this! If your brother, another believer, commits intentional sin against you, you must rebuke and admonish him! And IF, and only if, he repents (acknowledges, feels remorse, and vows not to do it again), forgive him. If he doesn't repent, don't forgive him! If a brother intentionally sins against you seven different times in a day and repents each sin, you will forgive him! Those in God's family must not hold grudges and be quick to forgive (Eph 4:32)
This example shows how Mat 6:14-15 and Lk 17:3-4 do tie together and gives a complete understanding of what Jesus taught. Normally, if one were to read Mat 6:14-15 one day and seven days later, was to read Luke 17:3-4, the reader will not make the connection. So, what do you guys think? Is this a needed version? My initial thought to title this work is "The Self-Explanatory Gospel," with the subtitle "Read and Learn the Words of Jesus for Yourself."
I am working on an accurate English translation of the gospels, putting them in chronological order and, as part of the narrative, either using the correct words, using the correct syntax, and explaining the Jewish figures of speech in a way that brings to light the correct meaning of what was spoken. In the narrative, I would phrase things in such a way that shows every time a direct quote or reference to the Old Testament is used. For example, I would phrase Mat 4:4, " Yeshua answered and said, "Just as it is written in Deut 8:3, man will not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God."
My version of Mk 12:28- A scribe who had heard the conversation and perceived that Jesus had given a good answer, asked Him, "Which commandment is the first and most important? Jesus replied, "The things I teach come straight from the Old Testament, where the Father gave us His commands. The first commandment, as it is written in Deut 6:4-5 is, "Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And you will love the Lord thy God with all of your heart, soul and mind, with all of your strength. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important is found in Lev 19:18,...You will love your neighbor as yourself, in that, as you would never treat yourself badly, do yourself any harm and only treat yourself well, treat your neighbor in the same way you treat yourself. None of the other commandments are greater than these two." (Jesus was instructing that if you obey and practice these two greatest commandments, you will never break any of the other commandments.)
I would also give the background of events so the reader can understand the dynamics of a particular scene. When one came to Luke 4:14-18, between verses 14 and 15, I would include, In those days, if a traveling priest or Rabbi were to enter a synagogue in another part of the country, the chief ruler of the synagogue, the person responsible for overseeing the religious activities of a synagogue, would often invite the visitor to participate in the teaching of Scripture. The speaker would stand as he read the Scripture and then sit down to expound on what was read. However, the speaker did not pick at random the part of Scripture he wanted to read. The Jewish people, then as now, followed a strict schedule of what was to be read and when. The next speaker would pick up at the exact point the last reader had stopped reading.
Verse 17 would read," And the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Jesus. Jesus found the part of Scripture where he was to start from and read Isaiah 61:1, The spirit of the Lord God is upon me..."
I would also group together teaching on the same subject, which in the gospels is scattered in different places and makes it hard to get the full teaching. One gross example of this is what Jesus taught about forgiveness. Most believe that the most important teaching Yeshua did on forgiveness is Mat 6:14-15. Unfortunately, this is taught to mean that God requires believers to forgive any and all sin committed against them, by any person, for any reason and if they don't do this, God will not forgive them! That is false teaching! Because Jesus taught another aspect about forgiveness in Luke 17:3. I would have Luke 17:3-4 immediately follow Mat 6:14-15. Here is a great example of the proper word definition being used and adding a little background, all to bring clarity and understanding to what is being read:
"As it is written in Scripture, Num 15:27-31, there are two ways to sin, unintentionally and intentionally. So I tell you that when you forgive anybody who has committed any unintentional sin against you, God your Father will forgive any unintentional sin you commit against another or God. But if you don't forgive others any and all unintentional sin against you, God will not forgive your unintentional sin.
But, now, pay attention to this! If your brother, another believer, commits intentional sin against you, you must rebuke and admonish him! And IF, and only if, he repents (acknowledges, feels remorse, and vows not to do it again), forgive him. If he doesn't repent, don't forgive him! If a brother intentionally sins against you seven different times in a day and repents each sin, you will forgive him! Those in God's family must not hold grudges and be quick to forgive (Eph 4:32)
This example shows how Mat 6:14-15 and Lk 17:3-4 do tie together and gives a complete understanding of what Jesus taught. Normally, if one were to read Mat 6:14-15 one day and seven days later, was to read Luke 17:3-4, the reader will not make the connection. So, what do you guys think? Is this a needed version? My initial thought to title this work is "The Self-Explanatory Gospel," with the subtitle "Read and Learn the Words of Jesus for Yourself."
