YHWH, the Rock we stand upon

The English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible. “A dream come true”??

2011-09-15T14:26:00.001+01:00

ByArt K.

Noteto the Reader: After reading my report below, somehas asked whether or not I am what some call a “King James Only” person or aRuckmanite. I am neither. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and in His Word, theBible. I have tried to present my research as accurately as I can and hope itwill be a blessing to many.

Introduction. Updated March 30, 2011

First, why I compared the KJV to theESV is because the ESV study Bible has received such high praise for being anexcellent literal translation.

Second, in the Preface under “Translation Legacy” page 19, we read “The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of EnglishBible translations over the past half-millennium. The fountainhead of thatstream was William Tyndale’s NewTestament of 1526; marking the course were King James Version of 1611...” Iunderstood this to mean that there would be a great similarity between the KJVand the ESV. What I found however, is that the ESV, is in the majority ofthe references, very similar or the sameas the NIV. This I find difficult to reconcile with the statement made inreference to the KJV.

Thirdwhat motivated me to further compare the ESV to theKJV, was the very high praise that the ESV has received from so many people whoare well versed in the field of bible translations. For example, John Pipercalls it “a dream come true”? Please see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlFsBdEkxMQ

Fourth what motivated me to examine the ESV Study Biblewas what I read in the Introduction under the subtitle“Divine Words and Merely Human Words”, where it is written “The ESV Study Bible contains two kinds ofwords. The first kind is the actual of the Bible, which are the very words ofGod to us. These are printed in the larger font of each page. The second kindis the study notes, which are merely human words” page 9.

The problem is knowing which group of wordsto trust. The first group of words “the very words of God to us” in the ESVhave so many omissions compared to the KJV that it creates serious doubt, nottrust. If there are so many omissions in“the very words of God” in the ESV, how can we have confidence in the ‘words ofmen, in the explanation?

Before we accept this translation as “adream come true” we need to examine the ESV bible carefully and ponder thewords of Jesus, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceiveyou”.

Mt. 24:4

PleaseNote.

1) The following examples are from the New Testament only.

2) This is not an exhaustive study.

Comparingthe KJV to the ESV and NIV (listed in this order)

Please note: all wordsmissing in the ESV OR NIVare highlighted in BOLD underlined in the KJV.

Gospel of Matthew

1)Mt. 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

ESV 1:25 but knew her not until she had given birthto a son. And he called his name Jesus.

NIV 1:25 But he had no union with her until shegave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

2)Mt. 5:22 But I say unto you, Thatwhosoever is angry with his brother withouta cause shall be in danger of thejudgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger ofthe council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire.

ESV 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who is angrywith his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother willbe liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to thehell of fire.

NIV 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with hisbrother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother,‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ willbe in danger of the fire of hell.

3) Mt.5:44 But Isay unto you, Love your enemies, blessthem that curse you, do goodto them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefullyuse you, and persecute you;

ESV 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecuteyou,

NIV5:44 But Itell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

4)Mt. 6:13 Andlead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.Amen.

ESV 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

NIV 6:13 Andlead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

5)Mt. 6:27 Which of you by taking thought can add onecubit unto his stature?

ESV 6:27 And which of you by being anxious can add asingle hour to his span of life?

NIV 6:27 Who of youby worrying can add a single hour to his life?

6)Mt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and hisrighteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

ESV 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of Godand his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

NIV 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and hisrighteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

7)Mt. 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him,saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

ESV 8:2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt beforehim, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

NIV 8:2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him andsaid, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

8)Mt. 8:29 And,behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

ESV 8:29 And behold,they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come hereto torment us before the time?”

NIV8:29 "What do you want with us, Son ofGod?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before theappointed time?"

9)Mt. 9:13 But go ye and learn whatthat meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to callthe righteous, but sinners torepentance.

ESV 9:13 Go andlearn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not tocall the righteous, but sinners.”

NIV 9:13 But go andlearn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come tocall the righteous, but sinners."

10)Mt. 9:18 While he spake these things unto them,behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshippedhim, saying, My daughter is even nowdead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

ESV 9:18 While he was saying thesethings to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “Mydaughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

NIV 9:18 While he wassaying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter hasjust died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."

11)Mt. 12:35 Agood man out of the good treasure ofthe heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the eviltreasure bringeth forth evil things.

ESV 12:35 The goodperson out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out ofhis evil treasure brings forth evil.

NIV 12:35 The goodman brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil manbrings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

12)Mt. 12:47 Thenone said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiringto speak with thee.

ESV 12:47 verse missing

NIV 12:47 Someone told him, "Your mother andbrothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."

13)Mt. 13:51 Jesussaith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say untohim, Yea, Lord.

ESV 13:51 “Have youunderstood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.”

NIV 13:51 "Haveyou understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," theyreplied.

14)Mt. 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

ESV 15:6 he need not honor hisfather.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

NIV 15:6 he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify theword of God for the sake of your tradition.

15)Mt. 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me withtheir lips; but their heart is far from me.

ESV 15:8 “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is farfrom me;

NIV 15:8 "’These people honor me with their lips, but their heartsare far from me.

16)Mt, 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

ESV 15:25 But she came and knelt before him,saying, “Lord, help me.”

NIV 15:25 25 The woman came and knelt before him."Lord, help me!" she said.

17) Mt. 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weatherto day: for the sky is red and lowring. Oye hypocrites, ye candiscern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

ESV16:3 And inthe morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Youknow how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret thesigns of the times.

NIV 16:3 and in themorning, ’Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You knowhow to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signsof the times.

18)Mt. 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that theyshould tell no man that he was Jesusthe Christ.

ESV 16:20 Then he strictly charged the disciples totell no one that he was the Christ.

NIV 16:20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was theChrist.

19)Mt. 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth notout but by prayer and fasting.

ESV 17:21 Whole verseis missing.

NIV 17:21 Whole verse is missing.

20)Mt. 18:11 Forthe Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

ESV 18:11 missing

NIV 18:11 missing

21)Mt. 19:9 AndI say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be forfornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

ESV19:9 And Isay to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, andmarries another, commits adultery.”

NIV19:9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife,except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commitsadultery."

22)Mt. 19:17 Andhe said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, thatis, God: but if thou wiltenter into life, keep the commandments.

ESV 19:17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me aboutwhat is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep thecommandments.”

NIVMt.19:17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied."There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey thecommandments."

23)Mt. 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Goye also into the vineyard; andwhatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

ESV 20:7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said tothem, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’

NIV 20:7 "’Because no one has hired us,’ theyanswered. "He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

24)Mt. 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

ESV 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

NIV 20:16 "So the last will be first, and the first will belast."

25)Mt. 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’schildren with her sons, worshippinghim, and desiring a certain thing of him.

ESV 20:20Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneelingbefore him she asked him for something.

NIV 20:20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneelingdown, asked a favor of him.

26)Mt. 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink ofthe cup that I shall drink of, and tobe baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say untohim,

We are able.

ESV 20:22Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink thecup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.

NIV 20:22 "You don’t know what you areasking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going todrink?" "We can," they answered.

27) Mt. 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall bebroken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

ESV 21:44 And the one whofalls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, itwill crush him.”

NIV 21:44 He who falls onthis stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will becrushed."

28)Mt. 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes andPharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence makelong prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

ESV 23:14 Verse missing.

NIV 23:14 Verse missing.

29)Mt. 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, andkingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, andearthquakes, in divers places.

ESV 24:7 For nation will riseagainst nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines andearthquakes in various places.

NIV 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdomagainst kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

30)Mt. 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven,but my Father only. Note ‘my’is changed to (the) in the ESV andNIV

ESV 24:36 “But concerning thatday and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but(the) Father only.

NIV 24:36 "Noone knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only (the) Father.

31)Mt. 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither theday nor the hour wherein the Son ofman cometh.

ESV 25:13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

NIV 25:13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not knowthe day or the hour.

32)Mt 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tastedthereof, he would not drink.

ESV 27:34 they offered him wine to drink, mixedwith gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

NIV 27:34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixedwith gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.

33)Mt. 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted hisgarments, casting lots: that it mightbe fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments amongthem, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

ESV27:35 Andwhen they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by castinglots.

NIV 27:35 When they hadcrucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

34)Mt. 28:2 And,behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended fromheaven, and came and rolled back the stone fromthe door, and sat upon it.

ESV 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lorddescended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

NIV 28:2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angelof the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stoneand sat on it.

35)Mt. 28:9 And as they went to tell hisdisciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, Allhail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

ESV 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came upand took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

NIV28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them."Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet andworshiped him.

Gospel of Mark

1)Mk. 1:31 And he came and took her bythe hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

ESV 1:31 And he cameand took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and shebegan to serve them.

NIV 1:31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and shebegan to wait on them.

2) Mk2:17 WhenJesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of thephysician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, butsinners to repentance.

ESV 2:17 And when Jesus heard it, he said tothem, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

NIV 2:17 On hearingthis, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, butthe sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

3) Mk.3:15 And to have power to healsicknesses, and to cast out devils:

ESV 3:15and have authority to cast out demons.

NIV 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils * sameas KJV

4)Mk. 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him,

ESV 5:6 And when he saw Jesusfrom afar, he ran and fell down before him.

NIV 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran andfell on his knees in front of him.

5)Mk. 6:11 And whosoever shall notreceive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under yourfeet for a testimony against them. VerilyI say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, thanfor that city.

ESV 6:11 And if anyplace will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave,shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

NIV 6:11 And if any placewill not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when youleave, as a testimony against them."

6)Mk. 6:51 And he went up unto theminto the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, andwondered.

ESV 6:51 And he got into the boat with them, and the windceased. And they were utterly astounded,

NIV 6:51 Then he climbedinto the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,

7)Mk. 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, yehold the tradition of men, as thewashing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

ESV 7:8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

NIV 7:8 You have letgo of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

8) Mk.8:26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

ESV 8:26And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

NIV 8:26 Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don’t go into the village."

9)Mk. 9:29 And he said unto them, Thiskind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

ESV 9:29And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

NIV 9:29 Hereplied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

10)Mk. 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

ESV 9:44missing

NIV 9:44missing

11)Mk. 9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off:it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be castinto hell, into the fire that nevershall be quenched:

ESV 9:45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enterlife lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell

NIV 9:45 Andif your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter lifecrippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

12)Mk. 9:46 Where their worm diethnot, and the fire is not quenched.

ESV 9:46 missing

NIV 9:46 missing

13)Mk. 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

ESV 9:49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

NIV 9:49Everyone will be salted with fire.

14)Mk. 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thingthou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, andthou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

ESV 10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lackone thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will havetreasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

NIV 10:21 Jesuslooked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go,sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure inheaven. Then come, follow me."

15)Mk. 10:24 And the disciples wereastonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them,Children, how hard is it for themthat trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

ESV 10:24And the disciples were amazed at his words. ButJesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!

NIV 10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again,"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

16)Mk. 11:26 But if ye do not forgive,neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

ESV 11:26 verse missing.

NIV 11:26 verse missing

17)Mk. 13:14 But when ye shall see theabomination of desolation, spoken ofby Daniel the prophet, standing where itought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

ESV 13:14 “But when you see the abomination ofdesolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), thenlet those who are in Judea flee to themountains.

NIV 13:14"When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where itdoes not belong— let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judeaflee to the mountains.

18)Mk. 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not whenthe time is.

ESV 13:33 Be on guard, keepawake. For you do not know when the time will come.

NIV 13:33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when thattime will come.

19)Mk. 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shedfor many.

ESV 14:24And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out formany.

NIV 14:24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out formany," he said to them.

20)Mk. 15:28 And the scripture wasfulfilled, which saith, And he wasnumbered with the transgressors.

ESV 15:28 missing.

NIV 15:28 missing.

Gospel of Luke

1)Lk. 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highlyfavoured, the Lord is with thee: blessedart thou among women.

ESV 1:28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”

NIV 1:28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highlyfavored! The Lord is with you."

2)Lk. 2:22 And when the days of her(changed to ‘their’) purification according to the law of Moses wereaccomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem,to present him to the Lord;

ESV 2:22 And whenthe time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, theybrought him up to Jerusalemto present him to the Lord

NIV 2:22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moseshad been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

3)Lk 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelledat those things which were spoken of him.

ESV 2:33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

NIV 2:33 The child’sfather and mother marveled at what was said about him.

4)Lk. 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written,That man shall not live by bread alone, butby every word of God.

ESV 4:4 And Jesusanswered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.”’

NIV 4:4 Jesusanswered, "It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’"

5)Lk. 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it iswritten, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

ESV 4:8 And Jesus answered him,“It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall youserve.”’

NIV 4:8 Jesus answered,"It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’"

6)Lk. 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole;go in peace

ESV 8:48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

NIV 8:48 Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Goin peace."

7)Lk. 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

ESV 9:55 But heturned and rebuked them.

NIV 9:55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them,

8)Lk. 9:56 Forthe Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.And they went to another village.

ESV 9:56And they went on to another village.

NIV 9:56and they went to another village.

9)Lk. 10:19 Behold, I give unto youpower to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:and nothing shall by any meanshurt you.

ESV 10:19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and overall the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

NIV 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakesand scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harmyou.

10)Lk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thykingdom come. Thy will be done, as inheaven, so in earth.

ESV 11:2 And he said tothem, “When you pray, say: “Father,hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.

NIV 11:2 He said tothem, "When you pray, say: "’Father, hallowed be your name, yourkingdom come.

11)Lk. 11:54 Laying wait for him, andseeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

ESV 11:54 lying in wait for him, to catch him in somethinghe might say

NIV 11:54waiting to catch him in something he might say.

12) Lk.22:64 And when theyhad blindfolded him, they struck himon the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smotethee?

ESV 22:64 They alsoblindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”

NIV 22:64 They blindfoldedhim and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"

13)Lk. 22:68 And if I also ask you, ye willnot answer me, nor let me go.

ESV 22:68 and if I ask you, you will not answer.

NIV 22:68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.

14 Lk.23:17 For of necessity he mustrelease one unto them at the feast.

ESV 23:17missing

NIV 23:17missing

15)Lk. 23:23 And they were instant withloud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priestsprevailed.

ESV 23:23But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified.And their voices prevailed.

NIV 23:23But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and theirshouts prevailed.

16)Lk. 23:42 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thoucomest into thy kingdom.

ESV 23:42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me whenyou come into your kingdom.”

NIV 23:42 Then he said,"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

17)Lk. 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, veryearly in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices whichthey had prepared, and certain otherswith them.

ESV 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at earlydawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

NIV 24:1 On the firstday of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they hadprepared and went to the tomb.

18)Lk. 24:42 And they gave him a piece of abroiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

ESV 24:42 They gavehim a piece of broiled fish,

NIV 24:42 They gavehim a piece of broiled fish,

Gospel of John

1) Jn. 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

ESV 1:14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, gloryas of the

only Son from the Father, full of grace andtruth.

NIV 1:14 The Wordbecame flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the gloryof the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2) Jn. 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is inthe bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

ESV 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side,he has made him known.

NIV 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the Oneand Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

3)Jn. 1:27 He it is, who coming afterme is preferred before me,whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

ESV 1:27even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.

NIV 1:27 He is the one who comes after me, thethongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

4)Jn 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, buthe that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

ESV 3:13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son ofMan.

NIV 3:13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven— the Sonof Man.

5)Jn. 3:15 That whosoever believeth inhim should not perish, buthave eternal life.

ESV 3:15That whosoever believeth in him, but have eternal life.

NIV 3:15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

6)Jn. 5:4 Foran angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made wholeof whatsoever disease he had.

ESV 5:4 missing

NIV 5:4 missing

7)Jn. 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done thesethings on the sabbath day.

ESV 5:16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus,because he was doing these things on the Sabbath.

NIV 5:16So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecutedhim.

8)Jn. 5:30 Ican of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just;because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

ESV 5:30 “I can donothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seeknot my own will but the will of him who sent me.

NIV 5:30 By myself I can donothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not toplease myself but him who sent me.

9)Jn. 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He thatbelieveth on me hatheverlasting life.

ESV6:47 Truly,truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. “Does it matter ‘on whom’ we believe”?

NIV 6:47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. “Believes what or who”?

10)Jn.6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art thatChrist, the Son of the living God.

ESV 6:69 and we havebelieved, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God

NIV 6:69 We believe and knowthat you are the Holy One of God."

11)Jn. 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my timeis not yet full come.

ESV 7;8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my timehas not yet fully come.”

ESV7:10 Butafter his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.

(If we compare ESV verse 8 to verse 10 does this make Jesus a liar? How could this be?)

NIV 7:8 You go tothe Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right timehas not yet come."

12)Jn. 8:9 Andthey which heard it, being convictedby their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest,even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in themidst.

ESV 8:9 But when they heardit, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus wasleft alone with the woman standing before him.

NIV 8:9 At this, those who heardbegan to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus wasleft, with the woman still standing there.

13)Jn. 8:59 Then took they upstones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them,and so passed by.

ESV 8:59 So they picked upstones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

NIV 8:59 Atthis, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping awayfrom the temple grounds.

14)Jn. 11:41 Then they took away the stone fromthe place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, andsaid, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

ESV 11:41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, Ithank you that you have heard me.

NIV 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said,"Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

15)Jn.16:16 Alittle while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shallsee me, because I go to the Father.

ESV 16:16 “A littlewhile, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you willsee me

NIV 16:16"In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little whileyou will see me."

16)Jn. 17:12 While I was with them inthe world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I havekept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripturemight be fulfilled.

ESV 17:12 While I was with them, Ikept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and notone of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripturemight be fulfilled.

NIV 17:12 While I waswith them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. Nonehas been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would befulfilled.

Acts

1)Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with anoath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

ESV 2:30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing thatGod had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants onhis throne,

NIV 2:30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he wouldplace one of his descendants on his throne.

2)Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, havingraised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every oneof you from his iniquities.

ESV 3:26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him toyou first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness

NIV 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he senthim first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wickedways."

3)Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto thechildren of Israel, A prophet shall theLord your God raise up unto you of yourbrethren, like unto me; him shall yehear.

ESV 7:37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘Godwill raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers

NIV 7:37"This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send you a prophetlike me from your own people.’

4)Act. 8:37 And Philip said, If thoubelievest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, Ibelieve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

ESV 8:37missing

NIV 8:37 missing

5)Acts 9:5-6 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I amJesus whom thou persecutest: it ishard for thee to kick against the pricks.6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me todo? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, andit shall be told thee what thou must do.

ESV 9:5-6 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And hesaid, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.

NIV 9:5-6 "Who are you,Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," hereplied.

6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what youmust do."

6)Acts 10:30 And Corneliussaid, Four days ago I was fastinguntil this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a manstood before me in bright clothing,

ESV 10:30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, aboutthis hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stoodbefore me in bright clothing

NIV 10:30 Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I wasin my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man inshining clothes stood before me

7)Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

ESV 15:18 known from of old.

NIV 15:18 that have been known for ages

8)Acts 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit oran angel hath spoken to him, let usnot fight against God.

ESV 23:9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of thePharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in thisman. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

NIV 23:9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who werePharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with thisman," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken tohim?"

9)Acts28:29 And when he had said these words, theJews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

ESV 28:29 missing

NIV 28:29 missing

Romans

1)Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of thegospel of Christ: for it isthe power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,and also to the Greek.

ESV 1:16 For I am notashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone whobelieves, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

NIV 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it isthe power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew,then for the Gentile.

2)Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation tothem which are in Christ Jesus, whowalk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

ESV 8:1 There istherefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

NIV 8:1 Therefore,there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

3)Rom. 10:15 And how shall they preach,except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, andbring glad tidings of good things!

ESV 10:15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent?As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the goodnews!”

NIV 10:15 And how can theypreach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feetof those who bring good news!"

4)Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thingwhereby thy brother stumbleth, or isoffended, or is made weak.

ESV 14:21 It is good not to eat meator drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

NIV 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine orto do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

5)Rom. 15:29 And I am sure that, when Icome unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

ESV 15:29 I know that when I come toyou I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

NIV 15:29 I know that when I come toyou, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

6)Rom. 16:24 The grace of our LordJesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

ESV 16:24 missing

NIV 16:24missing

1 Corinthians.

1)1Cor. 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye areunleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

ESV 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as youreally are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

NIV 5:7 Get rid ofthe old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast— as you really are. ForChrist, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

2) 1Cor. 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it bewith consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and cometogether again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

ESV 7:5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps byagreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; butthen come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lackof self–control.

NIV 7:5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time,so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so thatSatan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control

3)1Cor. 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, Imay make the gospel of Christwithout charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

ESV 9:18 What thenis my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, soas not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

NIV 9:18 What then is my reward? Just this: that inpreaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of myrights in preaching it.

4)1Cor. 10:28 But if any man say unto you,This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it,and for conscience sake: for theearth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

ESV 10:28 But if someonesays to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for thesake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience–

NIV 10:28 But if anyone says to you, "This hasbeen offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of theman who told you and for conscience’ sake—

5)1Cor. 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:this is my body, which is brokenfor you: this do in remembrance of me.

ESV 11:24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is mybody which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

NIV 11:24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body,which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

6)1Cor. 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

ESV 15:47The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

NIV 15:47 The first man was of the dust of the earth,the second man from heaven.

Galatians

1)Gal. 3:1 Ofoolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, thatye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christhath been evidently set forth, crucified amongyou?

ESV 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Whohas bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publiclyportrayed as crucified.

NIV 3:1 You foolishGalatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ wasclearly portrayed as crucified.

2)Gal. 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, thatwas confirmed before of God in Christ,the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, thatit should make the promise of none effect.

ESV 3:17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 yearsafterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to makethe promise void.

NIV 3:17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, doesnot set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away withthe promise.

3)Gal. 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, buta son; and if a son, then an heir of God throughChrist.

ESV 4:7 So you are nolonger a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

NIV 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are ason, God has made you also an heir.

4)Gal. 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neithercircumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

ESV 6:15For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a newcreation.

NIV 6:15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; whatcounts is a new creation.

5)Gal. 6:17 Fromhenceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

ESV 6:17 Fromnow on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

NIV 6:17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for Ibear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Ephesians

1)Eph. 3:9 Andto make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from thebeginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

ESV 3:9 and to bring tolight for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God whocreated all things,

NIV 3:9 and to makeplain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past waskept hidden in God, who created all things.

2)Eph. 3:14 For this cause I bow myknees unto the Father of our LordJesus Christ,

ESV 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees beforethe Father,

NIV 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,

3)Eph. 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is aboveall, and through all, and in youall.

ESV 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (NewAge?)

NIV 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is overall and through all and in all. (New Age?)

4)Eph. 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

ESV 5:30 because we are membersof his body.

NIV 5:30 for we are members ofhis body.

5)Eph. 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of hismight.

ESV 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in thestrength of his might.

NIV 6:10 Finally, be strong in theLord and in his mighty power.

Philippians

1) Phil.3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by thesame rule, let us mind the same thing.

ESV 3:16Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

NIV 3:16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

2) Phil. 4:13 I can do allthings through Christ whichstrengtheneth me.

ESV 4:13 Ican do all things through him who strengthens me.

NIV 4:13 I cando everything through him who gives me strength.

Colossians

1)Col. 1:2 Tothe saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be untoyou, and peace, from God our Father andthe Lord Jesus Christ.

ESV 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christat Colossae:Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

NIV 1:2 To the holy and faithfulbrothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

2)Col. 1:14 In whom we have redemption throughhis blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

ESV 1:14 in whom we haveredemption, the forgiveness of sins.

NIV 1:14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

3)Col. 1:28 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, andteaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect inChrist Jesus:

ESV 1:28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, thatwe may present everyone mature in Christ.

NIV 1:28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that wemay present everyone perfect in Christ.

4)Col. 2:11 Inwhom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, inputting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

ESV 2:11 In him also you were circumcised with acircumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by thecircumcision of Christ,

NIV 2:11 In him youwere also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with acircumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,

5)Col. 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in avoluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things whichhe hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

ESV. 2:18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship ofangels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by hissensuous mind

NIV 2:18 Do not let anyone whodelights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for theprize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mindpuffs him up with idle notions.

6)Col. 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of Godcometh on the children ofdisobedience:

ESV 3:6 On account of these the wrathof God is coming.

NIV 3:6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

1Thessalonians

1) 1 Thes. 1:1 Paul,and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is inGod the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord JesusChrist.

ESV 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace.

NIV 1:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in Godthe Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

2) 1 Thes. 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown ofrejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

ESV 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown ofboasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

NIV 2:19 For whatis our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence ofour Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

3) 1Thes. 3:11 NowGod himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

ESV 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our wayto you,

NIV 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and ourLord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

4) 1 Thes. 3:13 Tothe end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, evenour Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

ESV 3:13 so that he may establish yourhearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of ourLord Jesus with all his saints.

NIV 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that youwill be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our LordJesus comes with all his holy ones.

2 Thessalonians

2Thes.1:8 Inflaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not thegospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

ESV 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance onthose who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our LordJesus.

NIV 1:8 He will punish those who do not know God anddo not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1Timothy

1) 1Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible,the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.Amen.

ESV 1:17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, theonly God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

NIV 1:17 Nowto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

2) 1Tim. 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and anapostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles infaith and verity.

ESV 2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and anapostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles infaith and truth.

NIV 2:7 And for this purpose I was appointed a heraldand an apostle — I am telling the truth, I am not lying — and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

3) 1Tim. 4:12 Letno man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, inconversation, in charity, in spirit, infaith, in purity.

ESV 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an examplein speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

NIV 4:12 Don’tlet anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for thebelievers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

4) 1Tim. 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdrawthyself.

ESV 6:5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of thetruth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

NIV 6:5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of thetruth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Hebrews

Heb. 10:30 For weknow him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

ESV 10:30For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “TheLord will judge his people.”

NIV 10:30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; Iwill repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

James

Js.5:16 Confess your faults one to another, andpray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of arighteous man availeth much. (faultschanged to sins)

ESVJs. 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to oneanother and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of arighteous person has great power as it is working.

NIV Js. 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each otherso that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful andeffective.

1Peter

1) 1Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, armyourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the fleshhath ceased from sin;

ESV 4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselveswith the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceasedfrom sin,

NIV 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves alsowith the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done withsin.

2)1Pet. 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for thespirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

ESV 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

NIV 4:14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for theSpirit of glory and of God rests on you.

3) 1 Pet. 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

ESV 5:11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

NIV 5:11 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Peter

1) 2Pet. 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with atempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

ESV 2:17These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom ofutter darkness has been reserved.

NIV 2:17 These men are springs without water and mistsdriven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

2) 2Pet. 3:9 TheLord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but islongsuffering to us-ward, notwilling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

ESV 3:9 The Lord isnot slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

NIV 3:9 The Lord isnot slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patientwith you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

3) 2Pet. 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as athief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a greatnoise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and theworks that are therein shall be burnedup.

ESV 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like athief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodieswill be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done onit will be exposed.

NIV 3:10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear witha roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything init will be laid bare.

1 John

1) 1 Jn. 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in thelight, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us fromall sin.

ESV 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in thelight, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Soncleanses us from all sin.

NIV 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in thelight, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son,purifies us from all sin.

2) 1 Jn. 4:3 Andevery spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is thatspirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even nowalready is it in the world.

ESV 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesusis not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard wascoming and now is in the world already.

NIV 4:3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is thespirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now isalready in the world.

3) 1 Jn. 4:9 In this wasmanifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world,that we might live through him.

ESV 4:9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God senthis only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

NIV 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: Hesent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

4) 1Jn 5:7-8 Forthere are three that bear record inheaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit,and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

ESV 5:7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

NIV 5:7For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and thethree are in agreement.

5) 1 Jn. 5:13 These things have I written unto you thatbelieve on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternallife, andthat ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

ESV 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son ofGod that you may know that you have eternal life.

NIV 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son ofGod so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Revelation

1)Rev. 1:8 Iam Alpha and Omega, the beginning andthe ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is tocome, the Almighty.

ESV 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says theLord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

NIV 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,"who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

2)Rev. 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thouseest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia;unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna,and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis,and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

ESV 1:11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send itto the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum andto Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

NIV 1:11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to theseven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna,Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,Philadelphia and Laodicea."

3)Rev. 2:13 I know thyworks, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thouholdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days whereinAntipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

ESV 2:13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you holdfast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas myfaithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

NIV 2:13 I know whereyou live— where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You didnot renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithfulwitness, who was put to death in your city— where Satan lives.

4)Rev. 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the fourand twenty elders fell down and worshiped himthat liveth for ever and ever.

ESV 5:14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!”and the elders fell down and worshiped.

NIV 5:14 The four livingcreatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

5)Rev. 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord GodAlmighty, which art, and wast, andart to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hastreigned.

ESV 11:17saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord GodAlmighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

NIV 11:17saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and whowas, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

6) Rev. 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of theseals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beastssaying, Come and see.

ESV 6:1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one ofthe seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voicelike thunder, “Come!”

NIV 6:1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of theseven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice likethunder, "Come!"

7)Rev. 11:17 Saying,We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thouhast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

ESV 11:17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord GodAlmighty, who is and who was, for youhave taken your great power and begun toreign. Is Christ not eternal?

NIV 11:17 saying: "Wegive thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because youhave taken your great power and have begun to reign. Is Christ not eternal?

8)Rev. 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, andwent to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments ofGod, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

ESV 12:17 Then thedragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest ofher offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to thetestimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

NIV 12:17 Then the dragonwas enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of heroffspring— those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

9)Rev. 14:5 Andin their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault beforethe throne of God.

ESV 14:5 and intheir mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

NIV 14:5 No lie was foundin their mouths; they are blameless.

10)Rev.16:5 AndI heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, andwast, and shalt be, becausethou hast judged thus.

ESV 16:5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, OHoly One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. Denial of The Eternality Future?

NIV 16:5 Then I heard theangel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, youwho are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; Denial of The Eternality Future?

11)Rev. 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial intothe air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

ESV 16:17 The seventhangel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of thetemple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”

NIV 16:17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl intothe air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying,"It is done!"

12)Rev. 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of theearth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: andfire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

ESV 20:9 And they marched up over the broad plain ofthe earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but firecame down from heaven and consumed them,

NIV 20:9 They marched across the breadth of the earthand surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came downfrom heaven and devoured them.

13)Rev. 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kingsof the earth do bring their glory andhonour into it.

ESV 21:24 By its light will the nations walk, and thekings of the earth will bring their glory into it

NIV 21:24 The nations will walkby its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

May God help us tobe true Bereans who “…search the scriptures daily, whether thesethings were so” Acts. 17:11

For further information on Bible Translation see:

1) “The Bible Version” Question/Answer Database byDavid Cloud, Published by Way of Life Literature, Bethel Baptist Church, 4212 Campbell St. N., London, ON N6P 1A6

Phone 519-652-2619 (e-mail) info@bethelbaptist.ca

2) Myths about the Modern Versions, by David W. Cloud,Published by Way of Life Literature, Bethel Baptist Church,4212 Campbell St. N., London, ON N6P 1A6 Phone 519-652-2619 (e-mail) info@bethelbaptist.ca

3) Touch Not The Unclean Thing, The Text Issue andSeparation, by David H. Sorenson 2001.Northstar Baptist Ministries, 1820 West Morgan Street, Duluth, MN 5581 USA

4) Defending The King James Bible, Third RevisedEdition Pastor D. A. Waite, Th. D., Ph.D. 2006 Published By The Bible For Today Press , 900 Park Avenue Collingwood, New Jersey 08108, USA

Psalm. 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a lightunto my path.

The Anvil - God's Word

2011-09-09T23:56:00.000+01:00

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime:

Then looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,

"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"

"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.

"And so, thought I, the anvil of God's word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed . . . the hammer's gone.

Author unknown

Leviticus - a poem

2009-04-10T07:28:00.003+01:00

Thousands of bulls and rams,
Pigeons and turtledoves,
Droves of goats and sheep
With frightened, silent lambs
Gave rivers of innocent blood
But could not restore men to GOD.

Clean animals, clean food,
Clean bodies and clean clothes
Although by law prescribed
Did not do any good
Men's hearts to purify
So they might to GOD draw nigh.

Two goats were offered there
On the day of atonement for sin;
One was slain then the other sent
Those sins to the desert to bear;
But there was no possible way
That the scapegoat could bear them away.

But the slayings were not lost
For the people thus were taught
How holy was their GOD
And of sin the awful cost,
How nought could atone with GOD,
How nought could cleanse but blood.

These images kept in mind
The ancient promise given
That one day the Seed would come
Who would die for humankind.
Yes, they were a picture clear
Of MESSIAH who would appear.

He came and the Law He fulfilled
Down to the very last jot.
He spoke His authority
And a spotless life He lived.
The all agreed He was good
And His deeds proclaimed Him GOD.

There were those none should approach
Such as unclean leprous men
But the Lord of health drew near
And cleansed them with loving touch.
The people gazed with awe
At the One who had given the Law.

Since death defiles, GOD said,
From dead bodies stay away,
But the Prince of Life drew near
And raised them from the dead.
They heard the imperious call
And Death released them all.

Some who the Law did flout
By dark spirits were possessed
But the Sun of Righteousness
Drove the evil spirits out:
And so the strong man was foiled
And all his house despoiled.

And then Christ set His face
To go to Jerusalem
Once and for all to die
There at the altar place,
Our Priest and spotless Lamb
Whose blood became our balm.

He is certainly able to save
He who routed our enemies:
Sin and the powers of darkness,
Sickness and death and the grave.
And our lives He is able to bless
With the beauty of holiness.

written by Valerie Archer

The Only Answer: Jesus Christ, the Godman

2009-02-27T11:01:00.003Z

This Platform, God Loves

2008-09-23T16:34:00.002+01:00

Hardened Hearts

2008-07-28T20:44:00.000+01:00

" It is not more light that is the world's most pressing need, but more willingness to welcome the light which is already shining, and more readiness to walk in the path which it illuminates. We Christians know that One has risen from the dead. The bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the crowning fact of history. But the unshakable evidence of that sublime event does not suffice to dissipate the patent indifference or the practical infidelity that is so widespread among even professedly Christian people. No argument will convince those who do not wish to believe. 'The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day' (Proverbs 4:18). But the divine illumination, however brilliant it be, shines in vain upon all who prefer to keep the blinds down, who take pains to shutter up the windows of the soul. 'This is the condemnation,' said the Master, 'that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather that light, because their deeds were evil.'"

Chapter 5, Dives and Lazarus: The Rich Infidel and the Godly Pauper
from "The Severity of God" A Study of Judgement Human and Divine by DE Hart-Davies

The Worst Rough Sea of Unbelief could never sink this Ship!

2008-07-22T18:12:00.000+01:00

Jesus Christ: The One who can still the waves

2008-07-20T16:27:00.001+01:00

Run to the City of Refuge!

2008-07-12T02:40:00.000+01:00

There is only ONE Door

2008-07-12T02:23:00.001+01:00

Solid Ground

2008-07-10T12:34:00.001+01:00

Happiness is the Lord

2008-06-17T09:44:00.000+01:00

Psalm 144:15
"... yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord."

Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior,
Happiness is the Lord.

Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start;
I've found the secret, it's Jesus in my heart!

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that's worth the living,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord!

Words and Music by Ira F. Stanphill

Lovers of Pleasure

2008-06-16T08:04:00.000+01:00

“What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?”

[ 2 Cor. 6:14 ]

“The friendship of the world is enmity with God.”

[ James 4:4 ]

Worldly people seem to be well aware that it is only in this life that they will be able to get vent to their worldliness. They quite count upon death putting an end to it all; and this is one of the main reasons for their dread of death, and their dislike even of the thoughts of it.

They know that there will be no “worldliness” in “the world to come”; that there will be no money-making, nor pleasure-finding, nor feasting, nor reveling; no balls, nor races, nor theaters, in heaven or in hell. Hence their eagerness to taste “life’s glad moments,” to take their fill of mirth, to make the best of this life while it lasts; and hence the origin of their motto, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

Such are the out-and-out “lovers of pleasure,” the worshippers of the god of this world, the admirers of vanity, and indulgers of the flesh. They do not profess to be “religious”; but rather take pains to show that they are not so, and boast that they are not hypocrites.

But pleasure won’t do always; and this world will not last forever; and vanity will soon pass away; and the flesh will cease to satisfy. And when all these things come to an end, what will be the condition of those whose gods they were? Cheated, befooled, despairing, their blossom shall go up as dust, and they themselves shall lie down in sorrow. Their idols are broken in pieces, and they find at last that they have trusted in a lie, and that now, when most they needed succor, they have none to succor them; they are left without a god, without light, without help, without even so much as the hope of a hope, or the faintest glimmer of a dawn, in that long night which, after their merry day of pleasure, has fallen so thickly over them.

Ah, yes; the fashion of this world passeth away; and they who have followed that fashion, and identified themselves with that world, will find too late that, in gaining the world, they have lost their souls; that, in filling up time with vanity, they have filled eternity with gloom; that, in snatching at the pleasures of earth, they have lost the joys of heaven, and the glories of the ever lasting inheritance. Yes, life is brief, and time is swift; generations come and go; graves open and close each day; old and young vanish out of sight; riches depart, and honors fade; autumn follows summer, and winter soon wipes out every trace of leaf and blossom; nothing abides, or remains unchanging, but the blue sky and the everlasting hills! O man, dying man, dweller on a dying earth, living amid sickbeds and deathbeds, and funerals and graves, surrounded by fallen leaves and faded blossoms, the sport of broken hopes, and fruitless joys, and empty dreams, and fervent longings, and never-healing, never-ending heartaches—O man, dying man, wilt thou still follow vanity and lies; still chase pleasure and gaiety; still sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind? After all that has been told thee of earth’s weariness, and pleasure’s emptiness; after all that thou thyself hast experienced of the poverty of all things here below; after having been so often disappointed, mocked, and made miserable by that world which thou worshipest; and wilt thou still pursue the lusts of the flesh, and lust of the eye, and the pride of life?

Who has felt the desolation
Of the earthquake’s dreadful reign,
And would seek the same foundation
For his peaceful bower again?

O follower of the world, consider thy ways and ponder thy prospects. Look behind thee, and see the utter emptiness of the past. Look before thee, and make sure of something better and more substantial. Look on the right hand and on the left, and see the weary crowds, seeking rest, and finding none. Look beneath thee, to that eternal fire which is preparing for all that forget God. Look above thee, and see that bright heaven, with all its unutterable gladness, which thou art so madly despising. Think, too, of thy brief time on earth, lent thee, in God’s special love, to accomplish thy preparation for the eternal kingdom. And, when thou considerest these things, rouse thyself from thy dream of pleasure, and rest not till thou hast made good the entrance at the strait gate which leadeth unto life.

But these out-and-out lovers of pleasure are, after all, not the most mysterious class, nor the most difficult to deal with: for we know exactly what they are, and what they are seeking; for they do not disguise their worldliness, nor treat it as a thing to be cloaked or apologized for.

There are other classes of a much more uncertain and indefinite kind, whose object seems to be to get hold of both worlds. They want to infuse as much religion into their life, their doings, their conversation, as will make them be reckoned religious men; at least, save them from the imputation of being worldly men. But they want also as much of worldly comfort and pleasure as will gratify the tastes of a still unrenewed nature. Their life is a compromise; and their object is to balance between two adverse interests, to adjust the conflicting claims of this world and of the world to come; to please and to serve two masters, to gratify two tastes, to walk in two opposite ways at once, to secure the friendship of the world without losing the friendship of God.

The character as well as the life of these men is undecided and feeble. They are not decided in their worldliness, and they are not decided in their religion. If they were compelled to choose between their two masters, the probability is that they would prefer the world; for their heart is not in their religion, and religion is not in their heart. Religion is irksome to them; it is a yoke, not a pleasant service. They don’t want to part with it, for several good reasons; but they have no delight in it. Their consciences would not allow them to throw it off; but it occupies a very small part of their thoughts and affections. They are, in fact, worldly men varnished over with religion; that is all. They are made up of two parts, a dead and living; the living part is the world, and dead is religion.

There are many of these in our day, when religion is fashionable. When religion is unfashionable there are few; when it is scoffed at, still fewer; when it is persecuted, hardly any. But when it is in fashion, they are numerous. They may go under many names—formalists, externalists, half-hearted Christians, half-and-half disciples; they may put on more or less of religion; they may indulge more or less in worldliness; still, the class I speak of is, in all circumstances, substantially the same. They have never broken with sin, nor crucified self, nor taken up the cross. Whatever their lives or their words may be, their heart is nor right with God. Some of these are men who have been brought up in worldliness, and who have, as they grew up, added a little religion to their worldliness, to make it respectable. Others have been religiously brought up from childhood; they have been well taught in the things of Christ; they have had their religious impressions, some deeper, some shallower; and these have remained for a season, so as to mold their character and life considerably. But such feelings have never gone deep enough. They never led to the new birth; they issue in no lasting spiritual life, so that, instead of leading to the transformation of the whole man, inner and outer, they have merely religionized the outer being, leaving the inner man unmelted, unbroken, and unrenewed. The persons thus moved have gone a considerable way, but not the whole. They have been roused, but not converted. They have passed through a certain religious process, but not experienced the heavenly change, without which they cannot enter the kingdom. They have felt a good deal, read a good deal, prayed a good deal; they have not been without their earnestness and solemnity, perhaps their sighs and tears. They have been moved under sermons; roused by searching books; done many things and taken many steps which seemed to be religious. Yet, after all, there has been no broken-heartedness, no opening of the eye, no breaking off from sin, no surrender of the soul to God, no crucifixion of the old man, no resurrection to newness of life.

After a while, in such cases, a deep and settled formalism has supervened. Earnestness has faded away, and left nothing but its dregs. The soul has become sapless and insensible. The edge of feeling, both upon heart and conscience, has become blunted. The routine of religion is still gone through, and the profession still kept up; but all within is dried up and withered; there is no enjoyment of spiritual things; the service of God is a burden; praise and prayer are irksome; sermons and sacraments are wearisome; and the poor professor moves on in his heartless career; outwardly still religious, but at heart as unspiritual and worldly as if he had never at any time been touched or awakened at all.

In such a case, with a religion in which he has no enjoyment, and with a profession which brings him no liberty and no comfort, it is not wonderful that he should have recourse to the world, to fill up the dreary void within. His carnal tastes never having been radically changed, but simply overborne for a season, by a rush of religious earnestness, he returns naturally to their gratification in their old objects, and his only restraints are the dread of a dark future, which he cannot shake off, and the desire to maintain a religious character, to stand well with religious men, and to maintain his place in the church. How many of this class there may be in our day, God only knows. We are warned that, in the last days, there will be multitudes having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.

These are the ambiguous disciples of our age, who belong to Christ but in name. These are the stony-ground or thorny-ground hearers; men who have a place at our communion tables, who figure at religious committees, who make speeches on religious platforms, yet are, after all, “wells without water,” “trees without root,” stars without either heat or light.

The religion of such is but a half-and-half religion; without depth, or decision, or vigor, or self-sacrifice. It is but a picture or a statue, not a living man.

The conversion of such has been but a half-and-half conversion; it has not gone down to the lowest depths of the man’s nature. I do not say it is a pretence or a hypocrisy; but still, I say it is an unreality. It has been a movement, a shaking, a change, but it has not been a being “begotten of God,” a being “born from above.”

The discipleship of such is but a half-and-half discipleship. It has some of the aspects of discipleship; but it is not a forsaking all, and taking up the cross and following Christ. We do not count genuine the discipleship of the man who is today with Christ, tomorrow with the world; today in the sanctuary, tomorrow in the ballroom. There must be suspicion attaching to all such inconsistent discipleship; it is both cold and hot; it is both worldly and unworldly; it is both Christian and un-Christian—what can it be?—what can it mean?

In speaking of such inconsistencies, we must be faithful and direct. We are not to prophesy smooth things, and hint at certain evils, as if they were but minor imperfections, the quiet removal of which would set all to rights. No; we must strike deeper than this. We must lay the axe to the root of the tree, and say at once, that such inconsistencies betray the utter unsoundness of the man’s whole religious profession. It is not that there are some flaws in his religious life; it is that his religion itself is hollow —without foundation, without root or soil. I will not say it is all a lie; for there is sometimes a certain amount of good intention in it; but it is all a mistake—a mighty and terrible mistake; a mistake which, if not rectified at once, must issue in the fearful darkness and woeful disappointment of an undone eternity!

Such a man’s whole religious life is one grand misconception; and every step he takes in it is a blunder, and a stumble, and a snare. Let such a man know that, in his present half-worldly, half-religious condition, he has no real religion at all. It is a fiction, a delusion. It will stand no test of law or gospel, or conscience or of discipline, of time or of eternity. It will go to pieces with the first touch. It is all hollow, and must be begun again, from the very first stone of the foundation.
If, then, O worldly formalist, thou wouldest make sure thy hope, and obtain a discipleship that will stand all tests, begin this day at the beginning. Count all the past but loss. Fling away thy vain hopes and self-righteous confidences. Give up thy fond idea of securing both earth and heaven. Go straight to Calvary; there be thou crucified to the world, and world to thee, by the cross of Christ. Go straight to the grave of Christ; there bring all thy sins, thy worldliness, thy half-heartedness, and all pertaining to thy old self, that being made partaker of Christ’s death and burial, thou mayest be sharer of His resurrection too. Go at once to Him who died and rose again, and drink into His love. One draught, nay, one drop of that love will forever quench your love of sin, and be the death of that worldliness which threatens to be your eternal ruin. The love of Christ will not only make you an out and out Christian, a thorough-going, decided man in all the things of God, but it will pour in a peace which you have never known, which you cannot know, save in simple faith in the heavenly Peacemaker, and in entire surrender of soul to Him who gave Himself for us, that He might deliver us from a present evil world, according to the will of God our Father.

–Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889

The Only Bridge

2008-06-11T19:15:00.002+01:00