The Newer Testament

 

Dr. Brad Young has put together a new New Testament translation where he takes the Greek New Testament and translates it in Hebrew and then back into English so that people may “understand better how the first followers of Yeshua (Jesus) would have heard his teaching..” (https://www2.cbn.com/news/israel/bible-scholar-explains-how-newer-testament-translation-brings-readers-closer-jewish). Problem.. Jesus and His Disciples did not speak Hebrew.. they spoke Aramaic, and while they are connections between both languages, there is major differences, for instance Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua, in Aramaic its Eloha. 

Dr. Young has admitted he changes “For God so loved the world,” to “For God so loved the people of the world,” because that is what it means. Yes the line is directed to the people, but the world in Greek is Cosmos which denotes more  than the planet ”Kosmos (literally, "something ordered") – properly, an "ordered system" (like the universe, creation); the world, the universe” (Bible Hub, Strong’s Concordence, HELPS Word Study, John 3:16), and makes the finding of that the Spiral Galaxy or Hubble Cross is in shape a cross have major significance to using the word Kosmos to mean world and universe, not just people. Yes Jesus saved us, the focal point of John 3:16 is people, but there is a verse in Romans about all creation not just humans, “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:19-22); that fits the God so loved the World, Kosmos (creation, universe, world), and so changing it as Dr. Young has messes with other Scriptures. 

Then there is the point that The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the international language of the day, and the apostle Paul wrote in Greek, he writing 2/3rds of The New Testament, and the Disciples all wrote in Greek because it was the international language! Even Jesus’ sign at his crucifixion was in Greek, “Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.” (John 19:20). To side step this is problematic, because the disciples wanted it in Greek! Because the Old Testament, The Septuagint, was in Greek!  Even our Reformation was because of Erasmus’ Greek Translation of The New Testament which lit a fire in Martin Luther. 

I have grown weary of The Judaizers (Jews who pretend to convert, certain Messianics) who spy our freedom in Christ and try to muddle it. I find these new translations have agendas, and I never trust a translation by one man, The New Living Translation had 90+ scholars of multiple denominations translating it, not one man like this Newer Testament. The Living Bible was translated by one man Kenneth N. Taylor, and is a Paraphrase, not considered a proper translation! One man can be deceived, our Lord says, “Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree  about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven,” (Matthew 18:19), and “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20). Dr. Young doesn’t even fit this, he is one man. 

I would be careful with all these new translations. Not all translations are created equal. I hate to say I am starting to feel like my KJV only brothers and sisters, because the changes are dangerous! Amen.