WHY IS MATTHEW 24:36 A DIFFICULT VERSE OR OMISSION?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY NOR THE HOUR

In Matthew 24:36, many Bible manuscripts have the words, "Nor the Son," omitted from this verse.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."  

Matthew 24: 36  King James Version  KJV

But in the parallel passage it's found in Mark 13:32.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."  

Mark 13: 32  King James Version  KJV

It is a VARIANT in manuscripts, where some include and some omit the words, "Nor the Son."  The evidence of Mark 13:32, weighs in favor of including the words.

"But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be--not even the angels.  No, nor even God's Son.  Only the Father knows."  

Matthew 24:36  Living Bible  (TLB)

Some people make this a DIFFICULT verse to understand; instead of reading it simply in the context of the passage.  And perhaps that is why a scribe may have made an omission; because it was too hard to understand. "Why doesn't the SON know this?"

This is a favorite verse for Religions to use to make you question whether God has a son, and Jesus is God.  Saying...

"Do you believe God is omniscient and all knowing? If Jesus is God, than why doesn't he know the day or hour?

First of all, to allow someone who has never read or studied the Bible to take one verse out of context is ridiculous.  

I would tell him my answer to his question is found in this New Testament verse.   Found in "2 Timothy 2:23." 

"But avoid foolish and unlearned debates, knowing that they create strife."  2 Timothy 2:23  Modern English Version  (MEV)

If you have to continue talking to the person there are many verses in the Bible proving that Jesus is God.  He is Emmanuel, "God With Us."  He is the "I am."  He is the "Word made flesh."  Jesus is the "Only begotten God."  The Father and he are one."

Who can raise the dead, cleanse lepers, walk on water and heal the blind?

Also, looking at the context Matthew 24:36, Jesus sure knows a lot of what is going to happen in the future, and illustrates with parables.  These are things only God knows.

If the person arguing would just simply read the verse for what it's saying.

“But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

Matthew 24:36  New American Standard Bible  NASB

If Jesus wasn't God's Son:

Why would he say, Nor the Son, if God didn't have a Son?

Then how would he know this personal information of the FATHER?

Is not the Father allowed to be a free thinker? Is He not allowed to keep the day and the hour a MYSTERY; keeping it secret from the SON and every ANGEL in the entire Universe?  

WHY IS MARK 9:44 & 46 MISSING IN SOME BIBLES?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

What the Hell is going on here?

What's UP?  Why do some Bible Translations omit two verses in the Gospel of Mark? 

Early Bible Manuscripts did not have numbered chapters and numbered verses.  It wasn't until the 1560 Geneva Bible, that a man named Robert Stephanus added numbers to the Bible.

The Mark passage is a VARIANT reading where some Bible manuscripts have added these two verses and other manuscripts are without.  

Some modern translations of the Bible put these verses in (brackets), to make the reader aware that these were most likely added later by scribes or another author.

Let's examine the two verses in question:

44 "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out."  Geneva Bible (GNV)

46 "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire never goeth out."  Geneva Bible (GNV)

Critics of New Translations say, you're removing the warning of Hell out of the Bible.  But all New Testament translations include Mark 9:48

48 "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."  King James Version (KJV)

Now let us read the entire passage with these verses included. 

“And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.  And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, [and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]  And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]  And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  

MARK 9: 42-50  Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Now let us read the entire passage without these verses being added.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.  And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life without a foot, than, having your two feet, to be thrown into hell. And if your eye is causing you to sin, throw it away; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell,  where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished.  For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”  

MARK 9: 42-50  New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Could it be that a scribe wanted to drive the point that Hell is a horrible place by repeating the phrase, 'where their worm does not die, and the fire is not extinguished."

No major doctrine is lost or gained by this variant reading of the Bible.  

LUKE 14:5 SHEEP, DONKEY OR SON?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

GRAND CANYON  BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL

Sometimes we find variant readings in Bible manuscripts.   Even though there's no major doctrine changed by these different readings; we would like to know what Jesus said.  

Like finding similar pieces of a puzzle, there is only one piece that really fits and completes the picture.  Sometimes Bible translators must look at the context of the passage, and choose the one that best fits the conversation.

There are three different variants of Luke 14:5:

    1. Ox or an donkey (ass).

    2. Ox or a son.

    3. Ox or a sheep.

"And He answered them, saying, “Which of you shall have an ox or an ass fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day?"                21st Century King James Version

 Then He said to them, “Which one of you, having a son or an ox that falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”  Amplified Version (AMP)

To make things more complicated other translations read:

Jesus said to them, `If your horse or cow falls into a hole, which one of you will not pull him out right away on the Sabbath day?'  Worldwide English (WE)

Then he said to them, “If an ass or a cow belonging to one of you fell into a well, wouldn’t you rescue him without the slightest hesitation even though it were the Sabbath?”  Phillips New Testament (JBPT)

Most translators eliminate #3 "sheep" because it is in Codex Bezae, and not in the majority of manuscripts.

To solve the MYSTERY, we may have to look at the entire passage.  Examine both readings.  Which one would Jesus say to the chief Pharisees and have the greatest impact.

"And it came to pass, on his going into the house of a certain one of the chiefs of the Pharisees, on a sabbath, to eat bread, that they were watching him,and lo, there was a certain dropsical man before him; and Jesus answering spake to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, `Is it lawful on the sabbath-day to heal?' and they were silent, and having taken hold of [him], he healed him, and let [him] go; and answering them he said, `Of which of you shall an ass or ox fall into a pit, and he will not immediately draw it up on the sabbath-day?'and they were not able to answer him again unto these things."  

Luke 14:1-6  Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

One Sabbath, when He went to eat at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, they were watching Him closely.  There in front of Him was a man whose body was swollen with fluid.  In response, Jesus asked the law experts and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”  But they kept silent. He took the man, healed him, and sent him away.  And to them, He said, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” To this they could find no answer."   

Luke 14:1-6  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

No one arguing about the ox.  It would be a disaster if an ox fell into a well and if it would perish it would contaminate the drinking water.

Donkeys and mules are smart animals, they don't fall off the Grand Canyon everyday?  Why would they fall down a well?

If your son fell into a well, would you wait another day to rescue him?

Conclusion, if your translation reads, "ass and an ox," write a footnote in the margins for "son and an ox."   And keep the translation that you enjoy reading and studying.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THESE OLD ENGLISH WORDS?

 BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

It's important that you can communicate and explain God's Word to a lost world.

English language is constantly changing, there are new words in our dictionaries, and some words that are not commonly used any more.

Below are some old English words from the King James Version of the Bible.  

Imagine that you are talking to a person who had never read the Bible.  Can you define some of the following words? 

    APPERTAINETH ~ Leviticus 6:5

    BEWRAYETH ~ Matthew 26:73

    COUCHETH ~ Deuteronomy 33:13

    DEFERRETH ~ Proverbs 19:11

    ENFLAMING ~ Isaiah 57:5

    FORSWEAR ~ Matthew 5:33

    GAPED ~ Job 16:10

    HINDERMOST ~ Genesis 33:2

    INTREATIES ~ Proverbs 18:23

    JEOPARDED ~ Judges 5:18

    KNOP ~ Exodus 25:33

    LUNATICK ~ Matthew 4:24

    MALIGNITY ~ Romans 1:29

    NESSINGS ~ Job 41:18

    OBEISANCE ~ Genesis 37:7

    PRANSINGS ~ Judges 5:22

    QUIVERED ~ Habakkuk 3:16

    RINGSTRAKED ~ Genesis 31:12

    SURMISINGS ~ Titus 6:4

    TWAIN ~ Ephesians 2:15

    UNTOWARD ~ Acts 2:40

    VERILY ~ John 3:3

    WAXING ~ Philippians 1:14

    YOUWARD ~ 2 Corinthians 1:12

    ZEALOUSLY ~ Galatians 4:18

A Bible Dictionary can help you understand words too.  Vine's Dictionary and Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary are great resources for your library.

Even the King James Bible translation has been updated over the centuries changing words to modern English.  The New King James Version is a more recent update of the KJV.

Keep your favorite Bible translation that you enjoy reading and studying. 

Check out the Bible Gateway online and compare other translations too.

IS THE LOVE OF MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?

BIBLE TRANSLATIONS 

LOVE OF MONEY

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  1 Timothy 6: 10  KJV  King James Version

Let's examine the Greek Text

"For a root of all evils is the love of money; which some stretching after were seduced from the faith, and themselves pierced with sorrows many"  Interlinear Greek-English NT, George Ricker Berry, Baker Books.

Does all evil originate from this root of loving money?   Which one is correct: "a root" or "the root"

There is no article before "root" in the Greek to support "the root."  So if we choose "a root," that leaves us with the possibilities of many roots that can grow into evils (plural).

Pride, sexual immorality, rebellion, blasphemy, and unbelief also are roots of evil.

Some Modern Translations have corrected this issue.

 "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 
LSB  Legacy Standard Bible

EPHESIANS 5:9 FRUIT of the SPIRIT or LIGHT?

 TEXTUAL VARIANTS OF THE BIBLE

There are thousands of New Testament manuscripts, and sometimes we find VARIANTS in a word, sentence, or thought.  Bible translators examine each variant individually; just like a detective.

Here are the two differences  

(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),  

New King James Version

(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),  

New American Standard 95

It is hard to choose one over another, just by reading a sentence.  Let's look at the entire passage, to see which one fits the context of what Paul was writing.

Ephesians 5:6-14  Context

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth proving what is pleasing to the Lord.  And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  But all things are exposed when they are revealed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."  Modern English Version

-    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light  (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them. For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.  But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”  Legacy Standard Bible

Early Manuscripts 

"Fruit of the Spirit"   Chester Beatty P46, from Egypt

"Fruit of the Light"  Codex Sinaiticus,  Codex Alexandrius, Codex Vaticanus,  Codex Bezae.

Conclusion

When you are studying the BIBLE it is good to compare translations.  When you find VARIANTS, stop and examine the passage like a detective.  It would be good to write footnotes in your Bible of the differences in your Bible, for future reference.

Did you notice that some Bible translators put the sentences in (brackets)?  We'll discuss this in a later blog.

ABE LINCOLN THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

President Abraham Lincoln’s

Proclamation of ThanksgivingIssued on October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to invite and provoke the aggressions of foreign States, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

The needful diversions of wealth and strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship. The axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people; I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to our beneficent Father, who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him that, for such singular deliverances and blessings; they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

By the President: William H. Seward, Secretary of State.