We offer our prayer for the unity within the Bible-Presbyterian Church world wide. Calling some of their leaders to repent from lust and pride. We reprimand Far Eastern Bible College lecturers for promoting false teaching of Verbal Plenary Preservation. +++ THIS BLOG HAS STRONG LANGUAGE. READER DISCRETION IS ADVICED +++
"God has shown us immeasurable grace through Christ—forgiveness we don’t deserve, love we can’t earn. As His people, we’re called to reflect that same grace to others: offering patience where there’s frustration, kindness where there’s difference, and forgiveness where there’s hurt.
Whether in our homes, church, or community, let’s choose to ‘be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32). Grace changes hearts—starting with ours."
https://bgst.edu.sg/ask-saltlight-how-do-i-share-my-beliefs-with-colleagues-of-other-faiths/
Hi Salt&Light,
I work in an office with many wonderful colleagues whom I count as friends. However, many of them are not believers and some are from other religious groups. How do I reach out to them?
Lynette T, 29, broadcast producer
Two decades ago, I was undergoing my student exchange programme in Boston when I met Yoshi (not his real name). Yoshi, a Japanese executive, was completing an internship at his parent company. As we visited the tourist sites together, our conversation soon turned to questions of faith and I managed to share the Gospel with him. Much to my surprise, Yoshi decided to become a Christian there and then, so I prayed the sinner’s prayer with him.
As I reflected on what happened, I realised that I played only a minor role in Yoshi’s conversion. I was merely the harvester of fruit that had been planted and cultivated long ago by Christians elsewhere, namely Yoshi’s English teachers in Japan.
This experience underscored an important principle: Most people do not come to faith simply by listening to the Gospel once.
Rather, they come into contact with Christianity through Christian relatives, friends, or colleagues whom they know. Many of their opinions about the Christian faith are formed by their observations of how these Christians behave or misbehave.
Depending on our behaviour, they decide whether it is worthwhile to even hear us talk about our faith, let alone come to believe in our God. While some will come to Christ in just a few weeks, others may take years.
What is most important, I believe, is that we, as Christians, faithfully live out the love of Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work.
Workplace evangelism
So, what does this mean for evangelism in the workplace?
It means we must treat the fact that all of us are God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) to everyone around us – neighbours or colleagues – seriously.
What we do and how we behave matters not only to God but also to those around us to whom our lives are living testimonies.
We must not take for granted the significant role our behaviour plays in determining whether others will be interested in Christ. We are, to put it plainly, the first Gospel they encounter – the Gospel in the flesh.
Walk the talk
What does this mean practically?
Firstly, it means that we should take our work seriously and strive to do well in the duties and responsibilities we are paid to do. We should embrace our work as our God-given vocation.
It is difficult for anyone to gain a colleague’s ear if they themselves have not been putting their heart into their work.
Or worse, if they have been creating more work because of their irresponsibility, making things difficult for others.
Secondly, how we work – our work ethics – matters.
Do we lie or backstab others at work? Do we criticise others behind their back? Do we hold grudges, or neglect to respect the ideas of others? Do we always insist that we are right? Do we fail to show empathy, love or generosity to our colleagues?
To be sure, all of us will fail in one or more of these items once in a while. Yet, if we consistently misbehave in these ways, we send a powerful message to our colleagues that Jesus behaves likewise.
Understandably, our colleagues will not be attracted to such a God.
On the other hand, if we show love, kindness and understanding to our colleagues; if we are humble in our words and actions; if we are attentive to our colleagues’ ideas or we make an effort to nurture or train them; if we sacrifice on their behalf, they will recognise the difference.
By seeing the Gospel played out in our lives, it is more likely that they will desire to know more about Jesus when the opportunity surfaces.
Where are the opportunities?
What will the chances to share look like?
Perhaps over lunch, a colleague will ask to find out more about your faith, and you can share about your life with him or her.
But more likely, it will happen in the day-to-day conversations.
For instance, while taking the train home, your colleague shares that his wife is gravely ill. You offer to pray for him and he agrees, because he trusts you.
In other cases, if your church is holding an Alpha course or an evangelism event, you can invite your colleague. He or she may not be interested in Christianity, but they may still accept the invitation simply because they see you as a friend whom they respect. Therefore, we must be prayerful and attentive to discern these opportunities when they arise. God provides them, often in unexpected ways.
To prepare our hearts for opportunities like this, we can prayerfully reflect on our own story: How did we come to faith? Why does Jesus matter to us (1 Peter 3:15)?
While we wait in hope for God to provide the moments to share about Christ, we can prepare the ground by first behaving well. For it is only when we live out our faith that we display God’s overflowing love to our colleagues and enable them to taste the sweetness of the Gospel that we so love.
https://graceworks.com.sg/humanly-speaking/
“Humanly speaking we have no hope.”
I did a ministry trip to his country recently and an old friend, a senior Christian leader in his nation, said the above. His country has suffered under an oppressive regime for some time now and there was no end in sight. Another leader that I met said they had prayed constantly for God to rescue their nation from their political leaders, but God had not answered. She asked if it was ok to ask God “why?”. I said that based on the book of Psalms, it was ok to ask God why, but the book of Job tells me that God is not obliged to answer.
I had been invited to do some teaching in their country. I had agreed because I wanted to see some dear friends. We had kept in touch mostly through Zoom. I had heard their cries in their prayer items. I felt convicted to visit them in person, hopefully to encourage them but definitely to be inspired by them.
I wondered what right I had to teach them? Yes, I know the Bible and I can teach it, but I had no idea of how to live out the scripture in the difficult situation they were in. I guess you can’t go wrong expounding scripture, but I knew that I was there to learn and not just to teach.
I live in Singapore. The church here has her own challenges and there may be more coming in the days ahead. But our challenges are nothing compared to what my friends are going through in their country. A faith that is not challenged becomes flabby.
I have mixed feelings about the constant appeal to churches in Singapore to bring the gospel to the world, especially to the surrounding nations. The roles of this mission are very clear. We are the givers, the nations we go to are the recipients. I strongly feel that the roles are interchangeable. We go and give what we have. We go to receive what our brothers and sisters in the recipient countries have to give us. There is a mutuality in the kingdom of God. There is humility.
I wonder what it’s like to go on ministering when “humanly speaking there is no hope”? Yet that is precisely what my friends were doing. They were preaching the gospel, publishing Christian literature in their language, planting churches, equipping pastors, challenging Christian professionals to live out their faith for Christ, encouraging and building up one another, pressing on. And they were doing it when many had already chosen to leave the country.
I had the privilege to address a graduating class of Bible College students. I said that God had called them to ministry in a tough time in their country’s history. Yet it is when the night is darkest that the stars shine the brightest. I don’t know what price they may have to pay to shine for the gospel in their country. I pray they will find strength and courage to press on. Or to use a metaphor that may not make sense in a tropical country — the winter may be long and hard, but spring will come. Our hope is in God.
The primary mission of the church is to glorify Christ and proclaim His Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). Yet, many churches get distracted by secondary issues (denominational debates, politics, worship styles, KJV-only arguments, etc.).
Here’s a detailed, practical guide for churches to refocus on Christ and the Gospel—both in teaching and practice.
1. Preach Christ-Centered Sermons
Problem: Many sermons focus on moralism ("be a better person"), self-help ("how to have a successful life"), or endless doctrinal debates (e.g., KJV-onlyism, end-times speculation).
Solution: Every sermon should point to Christ and the Gospel.
How?
✔ Follow the "Redemptive-Historical" Model – Show how every Bible passage connects to God’s plan of salvation in Christ (Luke 24:27).
✔ Avoid Moralistic Preaching – Don’t just say, "Be like David!" Instead, say, "David points us to Christ, the greater King."
✔ Preach the Cross Weekly – Even in OT sermons, show how sacrifices, prophecies, and covenants lead to Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Example:
Topic: David & Goliath
❌ "Be brave like David!" (Moralism)
✅ "David was a foreshadow of Christ, who defeated our true enemy (sin/Satan) for us."
2. Make the Gospel Clear in Worship & Sacraments
Problem: Many churches treat worship as entertainment or sacraments as rituals.
Solution: Every element of worship should reflect the Gospel.
How?
✔ Sing Christ-Centered Hymns/Songs – Prioritize lyrics that exalt Christ’s work (e.g., "In Christ Alone," "The Power of the Cross").
✔ Explain Baptism & Communion – Don’t just "do" them; preach their meaning:
Baptism = Union with Christ’s death & resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
Communion = Proclaiming Christ’s sacrifice (1 Corinthians 11:26).
✔ Public Scripture Reading – Read Gospel-focused passages (e.g., Isaiah 53, John 3:16, Romans 8) regularly.
3. Train Members to Share the Gospel
Problem: Many Christians don’t know how to explain the Gospel clearly.
Solution: Equip the church to evangelize confidently.
How?
✔ Teach a Simple Gospel Outline (e.g., "God, Man, Christ, Response"):
God is holy, Creator, Judge.
Man is sinful, separated from God (Romans 3:23).
Christ died for sins & rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Response = Repent & believe (Acts 20:21).
✔ Practice Evangelism – Role-play conversations, go on outreach trips.
✔ Encourage Testimonies – Have members share how Christ saved them.
4. Foster a Gospel-Driven Community
Problem: Many churches are cliquish, judgmental, or focused on rules over grace.
Solution: Build a culture of Gospel-centered love and discipleship.
How?
✔ Small Groups That Study the Gospel – Not just "Bible study," but applying the Gospel to life.
✔ Accountability with Grace – When someone sins, don’t just condemn—remind them of Christ’s forgiveness (Galatians 6:1).
✔ Serve Like Jesus – Organize mercy ministries (feeding the poor, visiting prisoners) to demonstrate Christ’s love.
5. Guard Against Distractions
Problem: Churches split over secondary issues (KJV-only, end-times debates, worship styles).
Solution: Keep the main thing the main thing.
How?
✔ Define "Essential" vs. "Non-Essential" Doctrines
Essentials (Gospel, Trinity, Scripture’s authority) → Unite.
Non-Essentials (Bible translations, end-times views) → Don’t divide.
✔ Avoid Personality Cults – Don’t idolize preachers, traditions, or movements—only Christ is perfect.
✔ Repent of Tribalism – Love other Gospel-preaching churches, even if they differ on secondary issues.
Final Challenge: Is Your Church Really About Christ?
If Jesus walked into your church, would He recognize the message?
Are people being saved, or just "religious"?
Are members growing in love for Christ or just rules?
A church that truly focuses on Christ will:
✅ Preach Him boldly.
✅ Love like Him sacrificially.
✅ Make disciples faithfully.
Let’s get back to the Gospel! 🕊️✝️
This is a common issue in some conservative Christian circles—a Bible teacher who believes:
Here’s our take on how to handle this biblically and wisely:
1. The TR and KJV Are Not "Inspired" – Only the
Original Autographs Were
Response:
2. Divisiveness Over Secondary Issues Is Sinful
Response:
3. The KJV-Only Position Is Historically and Textually
Weak
Response:
4. How to Respond Without Escalating Conflict
If You’re a Church Leader:
If You’re a Church Member:
Final Thought: Unity in Essentials, Liberty in
Non-Essentials
If this teacher keeps attacking others and splitting the
church, he’s violating 1 Corinthians 13—"love does not insist on its own
way."
The best response? Keep preaching Christ, not KJV.
The apostle Peter warned us long ago about false teachers who would secretly bring destructive heresies into the church, exploiting believers with deceptive words (2 Peter 2:1-3). Sadly, we see this happening today among some who claim to hold the "perfect" truth—particularly those who insist on Perfect TR and the KJV-only doctrine, elevate personal opinions above Christian unity, and some even take fellow believers to court over these disputes.
Peter reminds us that such teachers follow the way of Balaam, who loved gain from wrongdoing (2 Peter 2:15). When people demand rigid adherence to a single Bible translation—rejecting all others as "corrupt"—they create unnecessary division, setting themselves up as the sole arbiters of truth. But the Holy Spirit has preserved God’s Word through many faithful translations, and no single version has a monopoly on truth.
Worse still, when Christians sue one another in civil courts (1 Corinthians 6:1-8), they betray the love and patience we are called to have. Legal battles between believers dishonor Christ and scatter the flock rather than unite it.
Let us not be led astray by those who twist Scripture for personal pride, control, or financial gain. Instead, let us stand firm in love, seeking unity in the essentials of the faith while extending grace in secondary matters. True faith is marked by humility, love for one another, and devotion to Christ—not by quarrels over translations or lawsuits against fellow believers.
May we heed Peter’s warning and cling to the true Shepherd, who calls us to walk in truth and love. Let us build up the church, not tear it down.
As a pastor committed to truth and love, I have done everything in my power to correct, rebuke, and plead with these false teachers promoting Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) and KJV-Onlyism. They have divided the church, wounded believers, and stubbornly refused to repent, even when shown clear Scripture. Now, after repeated warnings, I must rebuke them sharply (Titus 1:13) so that they—and the church—may know the seriousness of their error.
What Must Happen Next?
1.
Publicly Expose Their False Teaching (For the
Last Time)
o False
doctrine spreads like gangrene (2 Tim. 2:17). Since private appeals have
failed, the church must now publicly mark and avoid them (Rom.
16:17).
o I
will not endlessly debate them, but neither will I stay silent while they
deceive others.
2.
Formally Remove Them from Fellowship (If They
Remain Unrepentant)
o Jesus
commands us to treat unrepentant false teachers as "a Gentile and
a tax collector" (Matt. 18:17).
o Paul handed
Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan (1 Tim. 1:20)—not out of hatred,
but so they might learn not to blaspheme.
3.
Protect the Flock from Further Harm
o These
men have already hurt many—some now doubt Scripture, others are
disillusioned with the church.
o We
must warn the congregation clearly (Acts 20:28-31) so no more
sheep are led astray.
How to Encourage Those Who Have
Been Hurt
To those wounded by these lies, I say:
1.
You Were Right to Be Troubled
o If
their teaching disturbed you, it’s because the Holy Spirit in you
discerned error (1 John 2:20-27).
o You
were not "overly sensitive"—you were faithful to the true
Gospel.
2.
God’s Word Stands Firm
o Their
false view of Scripture does not undermine the real,
God-breathed Word (2 Tim. 3:16).
o The
KJV is a fine translation, but elevating it to an idol is heresy.
God preserves His Word in the original manuscripts, not in one
perfect English translation.
3.
Rest in Christ’s Faithfulness
o Jesus
promised, "My sheep hear My voice" (John 10:27). You
followed Him, not a man-made tradition.
o The
church is still Christ’s bride, even when wolves sneak in (Acts
20:29).
4.
Forgive, But Do Not Follow
o We
must not become bitter (Heb. 12:15), but we also must
not tolerate their errors.
o Pray
for their repentance, but do not submit to their teaching.
o
Final Plea to the Unrepentant
If you are among those spreading this heresy, I urge you one
more time:
Moving Forward
The battle for truth is not over, but I will not
waste time on endless disputes (Titus 3:9-11). Instead, I
will:
Church, stand firm. Christ has already won.
— Pastor, for the Sake of the Gospel
How New Testament Writers Reacted to False Teachers—And How We Should Respond Today
As a pastor and Bible scholar, my goal in exposing false teachers is to protect the flock—just as Paul, Peter, John, and Jesus Himself did. But now, these false teachers are attacking me, calling me "proud" for confronting their errors. So how did the early church handle false prophets? What were the consequences for heresy? And how should we respond when they slander us?
1. How NT Writers Reacted to False Teachers
The apostles didn’t stay silent—they named names, warned boldly, and even cursed false gospels:
Paul publicly called out Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim. 1:20), Philetus (2 Tim. 2:17-18), and even Peter (Cephas) when he acted hypocritically (Gal. 2:11-14).
Peter warned about false prophets who exploit believers (2 Pet. 2:1-3) and compared them to Balaam, greedy for profit.
John rebuked Diotrephes, who loved power and rejected apostolic authority (3 John 9-10).
Jude called false teachers "waterless clouds, wandering stars" doomed to darkness (Jude 12-13).
Jesus labeled the Pharisees "hypocrites," "blind guides," and "sons of hell" (Matt. 23).
They didn’t worry about being called "mean" or "proud"—they cared about truth and souls.
2. Punishments for False Prophets in the NT
God takes deception seriously. The consequences for false teachers included:
Delivering them to Satan (1 Tim. 1:20) – Removal from the church, exposing them to spiritual harm.
Cursing their gospel (Gal. 1:8-9) – Paul said even an angel preaching a false gospel should be accursed.
Marking and avoiding them (Rom. 16:17-18) – The early church was to cut off fellowship with deceivers.
Eternal judgment (2 Pet. 2:1, Jude 13) – False teachers face destruction unless they repent.
3. How the Early Church Responded to Heretics
The apostles didn’t negotiate with false teachers—they expelled them:
Paul told the Corinthians to disfellowship immoral believers (1 Cor. 5:13).
John forbade welcoming false teachers into homes (2 John 10-11).
The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) rejected legalistic heresy and sent out a clear decree.
The church was not to tolerate heresy but to guard sound doctrine fiercely (Titus 1:9).
4. What Should I Do When False Teachers Call Me "Proud"?
They’ll attack your character because they can’t defend their doctrine. Here’s how to respond:
Stay humble but firm – Correcting error isn’t pride; it’s love (Eph. 4:15).
Keep exposing lies – Silence helps false teachers (Ezek. 33:6).
Let God defend you – "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord" (Rom. 12:19).
Pray for their repentance – Even Paul wished false teachers would stop mutilating the gospel (Gal. 5:12).
Final Encouragement
If you’re attacked for defending truth, you’re in good company. The prophets, apostles, and Jesus were all slandered. But souls are at stake. We must keep contending for the faith (Jude 3)—no matter what they call us.
Stay strong, church. Truth is worth fighting for.
— Pastor & Watchman
Beloved in Christ,
The Church today faces battles on two fronts—enemies without and enemies within.
The Enemy Without – The forces of paganism, persecution, and terrorism seek to silence the Gospel and destroy the people of God. Governments and ideologies rise against the truth, just as Christ warned: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" (John 15:18).
The Enemy Within – False teachers and proud dividers, especially those who demand KJV-Onlyism and the "Perfect Textus Receptus" as if they alone possess pure truth. These men sow discord, attack fellow believers, and drain the Church’s energy with endless disputes. They have caused pain, division, and distraction—exalting their opinions above love and unity.
But we do not lose heart. We pray:
For Patience & Longsuffering – That the Church endures, standing firm with Christ, who bore all things for us.
For Humility – That God breaks the pride of these false teachers, opening their eyes to their own error before they lead more astray.
For Discernment – That believers test all things (1 John 4:1) and hold fast to the true Gospel—not traditions of men.
"The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Pray with us:
Father, protect Your Church from attacks outside and deception inside. Silence the voices of pride and division. Give us grace to suffer well, love deeply, and stand firm in Your Word—not in man’s dogmas. Humble those who cause strife, and let Your truth prevail in love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Stay steadfast. The gates of hell will not prevail (Matthew 16:18).
The journey of the English Bible from ancient manuscripts to modern translations is a fascinating story of scholarship, controversy, and devotion. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how we got the Bible in English:
1. Original Texts (1st–4th Century)
Hebrew/Aramaic (Old Testament): Written between 1200–100 BC, preserved by Jewish scribes (Masoretes).
Greek (New Testament): Written 45–100 AD, circulated as letters & Gospels.
Early copies: Codex Sinaiticus, Vaticanus (4th century).
2. Early Translations (Pre-English)
Septuagint (LXX, 3rd–2nd century BC): Greek OT for Hellenistic Jews.
Latin Vulgate (382–405 AD): Jerome’s translation, became the Catholic Church’s standard.
3. First English Translations (7th–14th Century)
Caedmon’s Paraphrase (7th century): Oral Old English poems of Bible stories.
Bede’s Partial Translation (8th century): Latin Vulgate into Old English.
Wycliffe’s Bible (1380s): First full English Bible (from Latin, banned by the Church).
4. The Reformation & Printed Bibles (16th Century)
Erasmus’ Greek NT (1516): Critical Greek text used by reformers.
Tyndale’s Bible (1526): First NT printed in English (from Greek/Hebrew, not Latin). Tyndale was executed for this.
Coverdale Bible (1535): First complete printed English Bible (used Tyndale’s work).
Great Bible (1539): First authorized English Bible (Henry VIII).
Geneva Bible (1560): First English Bible with verse numbers; popular with Puritans.
5. The King James Era (17th Century)
King James Version (KJV, 1611): Commissioned to unify Protestant England. Used Textus Receptus (Greek) and Masoretic Text (Hebrew). Dominated for 300+ years.
6. Modern Discoveries & Revisions (19th–21st Century)
Older Manuscripts Found: Codex Sinaiticus (1844), Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) led to better Hebrew/Greek texts.
Revised Version (1885): First major KJV revision.
American Standard Version (ASV, 1901): More literal update of KJV.
Critical Texts: Nestle-Aland (Greek NT), BHS (Hebrew OT) became standards.
7. Modern English Translations
A. Word-for-Word (Formal Equivalence)
ESV (2001): Conservative update of RSV.
NASB (1971/1995): Most literal English Bible.
B. Thought-for-Thought (Dynamic Equivalence)
NIV (1978/2011): Balances accuracy & readability.
CSB (2017): Middle ground between NIV and ESV.
C. Paraphrases
The Message (2002): Eugene Peterson’s idiomatic rendering.
NLT (1996): Simplified for clarity.
8. The Translation Process Today
Key Controversies
Conclusion
The English Bible is the product of:
Here’s a word-by-word comparison of Matthew 21:42 across the Septuagint (LXX), Hebrew Scriptures (MT), NIV, KJV, and Greek Textus Receptus (TR), along with analysis of the Old Testament quotation (from Psalm 118:22-23).
Matthew 21:42 (Jesus’ Quotation
of Psalm 118:22–23)
1. Greek Text (Textus Receptus – TR):
Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς· λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ
οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας· παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ
ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;
2. Septuagint (LXX – Psalm 117:22–23):
λίθον ὃν
ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες,
οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας· παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ
ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν.
3. Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT – Psalm 118:22–23):
אֶבֶן
מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים הָיְתָה לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה׃
מֵאֵת יְהוָה הָיְתָה זֹּאת הִיא נִפְלָאת בְּעֵינֵינוּ׃
4. King James Version (KJV – Matthew 21:42):
"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the
scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head
of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our
eyes?"
5. New International Version (NIV – Matthew 21:42):
"Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the
Scriptures: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the
Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes”?'"
Comparison & Analysis
1.
Textual Fidelity:
o The TR
(Matthew 21:42) quotes the LXX (Psalm 117:22–23) almost verbatim,
showing Jesus’ reliance on the Greek Septuagint.
o The Hebrew
MT (Psalm 118:22–23) matches the LXX in meaning but differs slightly
in wording:
§ "רֹאשׁ פִּנָּה" (rosh pinah) =
"head of the corner" (MT)
§ "κεφαλὴν γωνίας" (kephalēn gōnias) =
"head of the corner" (LXX/TR)
§ NIV uses "cornerstone" (a
dynamic equivalent).
2.
Key Differences:
o "ἀπεδοκίμασαν" (apedokimasan
– "rejected") in LXX/TR is stronger than "מָאֲסוּ" (ma’asu –
"rejected" or "despised") in Hebrew.
o "θαυμαστὴ" (thaumastē –
"marvelous") in Greek matches "נִפְלָאת" (niflat –
"wonderful") in Hebrew.
3.
Translation Choices:
o KJV follows
the LXX/TR closely ("head of the corner").
o NIV paraphrases "κεφαλὴν γωνίας" as "cornerstone" for
clarity.
Conclusion
Jesus’ quotation in Matthew
21:42 aligns exactly with the LXX, which itself is a
faithful translation of the Hebrew. The NIV and KJV both
convey the same meaning, with the KJV being more literal to the Greek.
Dear readers,
Think Before You Act!
Proverbs 13:16, All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.
Jesus’ seven "woes" in Matthew 23 target religious leaders for hypocrisy, legalism, and misleading others.
The Pharisees added oral traditions to God’s Law (Mark 7:8–9). Similarly, KJV-Onlyism or rigid adherence to specific textual theories (e.g., VPP) can become a form of legalism if treated as equal to Scripture itself. Debates over translation methods or textual preservation can distract from the gospel’s core mission if pursued divisively. The Pharisees saw themselves as uniquely righteous (Luke 18:11). Similarly, implying that only one translation (e.g., KJV) or textual tradition is “pure” risks fostering spiritual pride or division. The Pharisees sought human approval (Matthew 23:5–7). Similarly, debates over Bible versions or preservation can become about winning arguments rather than glorifying God.
The Bible affirms God’s preservation of His Word (Matthew 24:35) but does not specify the exact mechanism (e.g., VPP) or elevate one translation as exclusively authoritative.
Jesus’ woes remind us to guard against:
Legalism (adding rules beyond Scripture),
Hypocrisy (demanding standards we don’t follow),
Distracting from the Gospel (majoring on minors).
Furtheremore, the New Testament contains several instances of curses, which serve as pronouncements of judgment, warnings against sin, or theological concepts related to redemption.
1. Curses Pronounced by Jesus
• The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12–14; Matthew 21:18–22)
Jesus curses a barren fig tree, symbolizing God’s judgment on Israel’s spiritual fruitlessness and the impending destruction of the Temple system.
• Woes to the Pharisees and Scribes (Matthew 23; Luke 11:37–54)
Jesus pronounces seven "woes" (a form of curse) against religious leaders for hypocrisy, legalism, and leading others astray. These emphasize accountability for those who distort truth.
2. Apostolic Curses
• Paul’s Anathemas (Galatians 1:8–9; 1 Corinthians 16:22)
Paul curses anyone preaching a false gospel ("let them be accursed," Greek: anathema) and declares eternal separation for those who reject Christ ("let him be accursed, Maranatha!").
• Blinding of Elymas (Acts 13:6–11)
Paul curses Elymas, a sorcerer opposing the gospel, with temporary blindness, demonstrating divine judgment on those hindering God’s work.
3. Theological Concept: Christ as a Curse
• Galatians 3:10–14
Paul explains that Christ became a "curse" (by being crucified, per Deuteronomy 21:23) to redeem humanity from the "curse of the Law." This transforms the curse into a redemptive act, freeing believers from legalistic condemnation.
4. Curses in Revelation
• Final Warning (Revelation 22:18–19)
A curse is pronounced on anyone altering the book’s prophecies, underscoring the seriousness of tampering with divine revelation.
• Woes of the Trumpets and Bowls (Revelation 8–16)
Symbolic curses (plagues, disasters) during the end times, depicting God’s judgment on unrepentant humanity.
5. Divine Judgment in Acts
• Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11)
Instant death as judgment for deceit, illustrating the gravity of lying to the Holy Spirit.
6. General Warnings of Judgment
• Eternal Separation (Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
Descriptions of hell as eternal punishment for rejecting Christ, framed as a curse of separation from God.
• Hebrews 6:4–8; 10:26–31
Warnings about apostasy, likening unrepentant sinners to land deserving of a "curse" (Hebrews 6:8).
Key Themes:
Purpose: Most curses serve as warnings to urge repentance, not mere punishment. They highlight the seriousness of hypocrisy, false teaching, and rebellion against God.
Redemptive Focus: Even in judgment, the NT emphasizes Christ’s bearing of the curse to offer salvation (Galatians 3:13). Curses ultimately point to the need for grace.
New Testament curses balance divine justice with mercy, often functioning as urgent calls to faithfulness in light of Christ’s sacrificial love. They underscore the consequences of rejecting truth while affirming the hope of redemption through Jesus.
Scripture affirms that God judges false teaching (2 Peter 2:1–3; Jude 1:11–13) and condemns those who “pervert the gospel” (Galatians 1:8–9). However, the Bible also emphasizes God’s patience and desire for repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Not all who hold to rigid textual views or translation preferences are acting in bad faith—many are sincere but misguided. The greater danger lies in:
Replacing Scripture’s authority with human systems.
Dividing Christ’s church over disputable matters (Romans 14:1).
Obscuring the gospel by prioritizing secondary issues.
Conclusion
The Pharisees’ legacy warns us: Adding to God’s Word or using it to elevate oneself invites divine reproof. While God preserves His truth (Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 40:8), He does not sanction human theories or translations as equal to His inspired Word. Believers must test all teachings against Scripture (Acts 17:11), pursue unity (Ephesians 4:3), and focus on the gospel’s mission (Matthew 28:19–20).
Let us heed Paul’s charge:
“If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3–4).
Our call is not to curse others, but to cling to Christ, proclaim His Word faithfully, and guard against any tradition or pride that distracts from His grace.
"God has shown us immeasurable grace through Christ—forgiveness we don’t deserve, love we can’t earn. As His people, we’re called to re...