Christian Witchcraft, Lesson 3

So here we are again, friends. In lesson two, I talked a bit about the original 1611 King James Version of the Bible; the forerunner from which today's English translations are reportedly derived. I spoke of how King James’ learned theologians could not possibly have been 100% inerrant in their translation of the biblical texts.

Again, no language can ever be 100% faithfully translated into another; for the simple fact that in every culture, people use words and phrases specific to their own dialect, historical and cultural beliefs; and no other. I also touched on the fact that the 14 books of the Apocrypha; which were included in both the original 1611 King James Bible, as well as the numerous English translations that preceded the KJV, are mysteriously missing from today’s English language versions. Now I’d like to make mention of a few other things that are missing from today’s ‘Authorized’ KJV.

Did you know that publications of the 1611 KJV today no longer include a rather lengthy preface authored by the very translators themselves? One in which the translators themselves make note of the fact that their work was not inerrant? Here is a quote taken directly from that preface.

“Therefore as S. Augustine saith, that variety of Translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the Scriptures: so diversity of signification and sense in the margin, where the text is not so clear, must need do good, yea, is necessary, as we are persuaded."

Here, our faithful translators openly admit that earlier English publications of the scriptures were relied upon to help them make better sense out of difficult passages in the original foreign language texts. I’m also going to go out on a limb here; and say that it appears as though our translators are speaking about how they added notes to the margins of the KJV; to help us better understand certain words and phrases for which there were not perfect English language equivalents. These notes were added by men...NOT BY GOD; as man saw fit to add them.

Let me go on and quote another passage from the Preface. This is always a shocker for those who believe that the Authorized 1611 KJV is the inspired, infallible translation of God’s word.

“It hath pleased God in his divine providence, here and there to scatter words and sentences of that difficulty and doubtfulness, ... that fearfulness would better beseem us than confidence, and if we will resolve upon modesty with S. Augustine, There be many words in the Scriptures, which be never found there but once, ... so that we cannot be helped by conference of places. Again, there be many rare names of certain birds, beasts and precious stones, etc. ... Now in such a case, doth not a margin do well to admonish the Reader to seek further, and not to conclude or dogmatize upon this or that peremptorily?”

Again, I’m quoting straight from the preface of the original publication of the 1611 KJV. As we can clearly see here, it would seem that there were indeed whole passages of the original Hebrew and Greek scriptures which the translators themselves did not understand with perfect clarity. Thus, these passages could not have been translated with 100% confidence. These were very good, honest, supremely intelligent Christian men who very obviously did their job to the best of their ability. And yet, even they openly admit that their translation was not without error.

My point, friends; is that they were only men….And while I stand firm in my belief that God is perfect, fallible man; though he be beautiful and his heart be in the right place, is still prone to making mistakes. In fact, the translators seem to be encouraging us to seek further, to refrain from jumping to conclusions about every little word or phrase we read being 100% correct; and to exercise due diligence in finding the answers for ourselves!

Again, I love the 1611 KJV… And while I will say that it's a WONDERFUL translation of God's Word, I don't agree with the antiquated theory of its being a 100%, perfectly accurate translation. Many of the English words we read in today’s versions of the KJV were derived from archaic words that do not have perfect, English language equivalents. And so the question becomes; does God really hate Witches?

Blessings,
Rainwalker.



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