Mark 11:24

[caat]

I found different English versions of the Bible have different translations. I would like to know which one is the correct one.

Mark 11:24 (New International Version)


24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.


Mark 11:24 (King James Version)


24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.


Mark 11:24 (Worldwide English (New Testament))

24So I tell you, when you ask God for anything believe that you will get it and you will have it.



NIV says "have received."
KJV uses "receive them."
WE uses "will get it."

 

[Emmy]

Dear caat. I believe it is, because there have been many translations, and although Mark`s words to us have the same meaning in all translations, different people use different words for the same meaning. Whatever we ask for, and sincerely hope to receive it, we will be given it. The Bible is God`s Word to Mankind. God loves us, and wants us to love Him. God also wants us to love others, as we love ourselves. From this premise, Jesus expects us to ask for things relating to our needs, or wishes. It is the same with all our prayers, if the things we ask for, will be for own good, God will give to us. If the wish concerns others, we will have to wait, because we know: " God will not force or coerce anybody." The more seriously we are wishing, or praying for something, we must show our sincerety by praying for it. Jesus told us to ask, not to expect a magician`s wish granted, which is not of lasting happiness, anyway. I say this humbly and kindly, caat. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[arunma]

It seems the only difference here is that some translations use a sort of future tense "will receive it," whereas others state that we should believe that we have already received what we have asked of God. Effectively they mean the same thing: that we ought to have faith that God will do whatever we ask in his Son's name.

The more important issue is to read this passage in the context of the rest of Scripture. First, we must recognize that this is not a teaching for the world in general (as far as I know, no Biblical teaching is), it is specifically for the church. God only answers the prayers of those who are in a right relationship with him through Jesus Christ, meaning that it would be pointless for a Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, etc., to pray for blessing under the assumption that prayer to false gods will be heard by the true God. As it says,

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9)
​

And,

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
​

Secondly, it is important to recognize that when we ask things of God, we must ask rightly. Prayers that are contrary to the will of God will not be granted, which is why it is important to understand God's character through his word, so that we can ask rightly. It says,

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:3)
​

So then, we can conclude that to pray to God through false religions or to ask him for evil things is wrong, and that such supplications will not be positively answered. We can also conclude that if we ask in faith and according to God's will, he will accomplish his purposes through our prayers.

 

[theVirginian]

Take your pick, all three are saying the same thing. The key is to ask and believe that God answers prayer. I like the NIV version the best. It says to believe that you have (already) recieved it. That's past tense while the others are future tense.

 

[caat]

Thanks for your replies! I want to know what Mark 11:24 is exactly expressed in the original Hebrew New Testament. Does the original Hebrew New Testament use future tense or past tense? I am not familiar with the Bible history and languages, so sorry if I ask wrong questions here.

 

[unkern]

The NIV is translated from the old languages, it took them 20 years to make it (most bible scholars use this translation)
The King James is translated by catholic priests and translators from the Latin Vulgate.
The Worldwide English version is translated from the American Standard on to the internet, the American Standard was name the closest English translation.


I would recommend NIV overall, but really its your choice. I would not recommend the KJV because alot of the translation comes out wrong.

 

[ebia]

The NIV is translated from the old languages, it took them 20 years to make it (most bible scholars use this translation)
The King James is translated by catholic priests and translators from the Latin Vulgate.
The Worldwide English version is translated from the American Standard on to the internet, the American Standard was name the closest English translation.


I would recommend NIV overall, but really its your choice. I would not recommend the KJV because alot of the translation comes out wrong.

Um, the KJV (more properly the Authorised Version) was translated by the post-reformation Church of England, not the Roman Catholic Church. If anything it's regarded as having an anti-catholic bias. For its time it was a good translation, but scholarship has moved on since then.

The NIV is an adequate modern translation but it has some significant flaws - it's not a great translation by any means.

To answer the OP, most of the scholarly translations (ESV, HCSB, NASB, NET, NRSV, RSV) have the past tense. Note that the original New Testament text is in Greek, not Hebrew. Some of those early greek manuscripts read "you have received", some "you receive", others "you will receive".

 

[DailyBlessings]

Thanks for your replies! I want to know what Mark 11:24 is exactly expressed in the original Hebrew New Testament. Does the original Hebrew New Testament use future tense or past tense? I am not familiar with the Bible history and languages, so sorry if I ask wrong questions here.

Greek, not hebrew!

I would say that the NIV translation is the closest rendering of the above, though of course nuance doesn't always translate very well. Or even grammar in this case, since the verse is full of middle passive verbs and we don't have those in English. Is it "receive" that you are wondering about the most? It's a translation of the greek word "lambano" which means to take or receive something which has been offered. It's actually in the aorist tense here, so it would just be "believe that you received it", not "believe that you will receive it."

I would translate the verse: "Therefore I say to you, as much as whatever you have prayed for (for yourself), and asked for, believe that you received it, and it will be yours."

http://www.zhubert.com/bible?source=greek&verseref=Mk+11:24