A reader named Chandra wrote to me earlier today and asked me a really good question about the King James bible. She asked me “Is there a significance in the different wording in Bible versions of John 3:16? Some say, “one and only Son”, while my AKJV says, “only begotten Son”. The word ‘begotten’ seems significant to me and having it left out of other versions seems wrong.” Man, talk about a loaded question!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJB)
When the new versions remove the word ‘begotten” from the bible, they are doing way more than simply giving you an “updated translation” or a “dynamic equivalent”. They are removing a direct reference to the deity of Jesus Christ, as well as putting our Lord and Saviour on the same level of sinful man, like you and I are. That word ‘begotten’ means that Jesus Christ is made in the direct image of God, that in His flesh, He is God Almighty, which makes Him equal to the Father in all ways.
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16 (KJB)
When the NIV, ESV, NLT, RSV and all the other corrupt versions that remove ‘begotten’ take it out, then you have Jesus presented as God’s “one and only Son”, which again, is not true. God has many sons, but we are adopted sons, not begotten sons. Huge difference.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:1,2 (KJB)
John tells us that, when we are saved, we finally become the children of God, adopted into the family and counted as joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We have cast off the image of Adam that Genesis 5:3 (KJB) says we were made in, and become the children of God we read about in Galatians 3:26 (KJB). But only Jesus is begotten of the Father, everyone else is adopted. Remove the word ‘begotten’ and now Jesus is what, just like me and you? That will not work.
No comments:
Post a Comment