Are Modern Bible Translations Corrupted?

Our modern Bible translations corrupted as one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hide Bill Meyer along with pastor Adrian Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us with your question. At 833 the Corvettes 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites course you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today.

Here's a voicemail received from one of our listeners last week. Euro question regarding rabbit. So my thought is that, given that the member of the family give the holy what part of the old covenant. My understanding is that today, Christians are bound by that no if it day and to work and get paid on the Sabbath, so that he considered assent. Thank you think that question that the Sabbath command is a part of God's moral law and the question is what does it look like for us to obey it now under the new covenant. There are some people who say that Sabbath men still standing now course we worship on the Lord's day.

Some people call this the Christian Sabbath, and of course we see evidence of the New Testament of the disciples gathering together, not on Saturday but on Sunday and the reason that they did.

That is because that was the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and so when we come together for worship. We are remembering this great reality that the reality of Easter, the fact that Christ is risen, every single every single week and this was something that the early Christians were committed to and I think in so far as were committed to that as well. Worshiping the Lord with the gathered assembly that were observing this command now course were observing in a way that was different from how the people observed it under the old covenant, and there were certainly issues. And when Jesus shows up on the scene and he's preaching the message of the kingdom. One of the things that the religious leaders often argue with him about was was the Sabbath Mark chapter 2 in verse 23 we read one Sabbath he was going to the green fields and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain and the Pharisees were saying to him, look, why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath. By the way, this is one of the things they are frequently bringing up before Jesus saying hey what are you feeling on the Sabbath, where you doing these things on the Sabbath and Jesus's response to them was. Have you never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry. He and those who were with him how he entered the house of God in the time of bias are the high priest and ate the bread of the presence which it is not lawful for any but the priest to eat and also gave it to those who were with him and he said to them, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath which is I think a clear claim of our Lord Jesus Christ to divinity.

I am the Lord of the Sabbath that you know what else he says that the Sabbath was made for man, it's supposed to be a help day of blessing a day of rest and worship.

The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.

Ultimately, brother. We find that rest in Christ. He's the one who said come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

And so we enter into the Sabbath rest through faith in Jesus Christ and we observe the Sabbath. I believe bite worshiping together with the people of God. Now if work gets in the way of that.

I think that there there is a serious problem. Now there are some some jobs right the medical professions. For example, that damages it's his work of necessity where you know you can't get out of it but up but I think generally speaking, so many people you know they put their job before the worship of God and so we need to have the proper priorities here worship with the people of God should be the priority over making money is like you have to examine your own life you know what, what's my priority MI worshiping together with the people of God are gathering together in honor of Christ or my do my own thing and not trusting that the Lord is going to provide provide for me if I'm faithful to him. And so this is a complex question. I realize that different people are coming from different places, but I would just encourage each and every one of you to prioritize the worship of God with his people, even over making some extra money. Now again, if you have maybe a more specific question in terms of your your particular situation. Maybe I can help out, but appreciate just that the way you pose the question. Pray that the Lord blesses you just a follow-up question for you Indra. What about NFL games. What about NFL games coming obviously does that mean there's a significant question their right leg with the meter for thinking about worship and gathering together with God's people. It's amazing you know this is just the reality of the day in which we live were people prioritize put before the. The holy worship of God our own recreation and and so I think there's I think that there's an they actually there's a real issue here nodes we can be interest in sports and enjoy things like the NFL, but again we have to ask ourselves the question, who is getting my worship was getting my time. My adoration is it the God of heaven and earth, who created all things calls me to worship him. Or is it someone else can I tell you just a quick story bill on this. I wanted a pastor who told me I just it just shocked me. He and I were having conversation I was in Internet this church. Years ago and were having a conversation about worship and he was a huge fan of the Chicago Bears and just like he would always wear his barristers is very obvious that he was no fan of the Chicago Bears and he said to me one day and you really think this is crazy.

Many of you listening when I can think of that guy's wilding. That's intense is any unified tickets to see the Bears play in the Super Bowl on a Sunday morning. I wouldn't go in the time I saw man talking about is the Bears in this role is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is a no no no. He said I wouldn't go to a wife worship is the gathering of God's people around the throne of God, together with all of heaven where on earth would I rather be besides their and when he said that I thought you maybe I'm the crazy one to kiss it because we just don't think of worship like that and and and I think that's that that's the vision that the Bible gives us worship what we need to recover today but so often.

Again, we just we just minimize corporate worship and what God calls us to them the gifts that he gives us when we gather together so well set this core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Our phone lines are open. Would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life. Maybe you have some doubts about Christianity. Maybe you consider yourself to be an atheist or an agnostic. They were open to your questions as well.

Here's the phone number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Carmen calling in from Germantown, Pennsylvania.

Carmen what your question for atrial question about heaven and in heaven.

God created heaven for an account that we could go to heaven and forgiven but never in heaven and how it in heaven and plotted to overthrow God and heaven just want to not go along with more than a second question six yeah great great question. You know what's going on there because we do have those those instances where where the evil one does beef come before God in heaven you think of Job right in and coming before the Lord, wanting to to bring affliction to Job what the fall of Satan. I think the best place to go and remember thinking about that specifically. And as I is in Isaiah chapter 14, where you have a discussion about the. The hottie king of Babylon, but often this text is applied to the evil one. You even see this in the New Testament in places like Luke chapter 10 verse 18 Isaiah chapter 14 verse 12 says how you are fallen from heaven O'Day*son of Don, how you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches the north.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the most high, you are brought down to Cheviot to the far reaches of the pit as proverb says pride comes before a fall in pride is the sin that was found in Satan and how did that happen will God allowed it to happen in my my my children asked this question as well, and because the it's a good question is it's one that is comes to all of our minds will why you can God snap his fingers and get rid of the evil one and send in and so on and so we don't always know why God allows the things that he allows, but we can say this God is not permitted anything to happen that is not purposed to resolve to bring glory for himself out of.

And so, somehow God is using the evil one evening in stories like the story of Job, and the intense suffering that he experienced, somehow God in his sovereignty is using the evil one for his sovereign purpose and for purposes and for the sanctification of his people and so and so we see this and we see that there was a definitive judgment that was rendered on Satan at the cross of our Lord Jesus is what Jesus is very clearly in places like John chapter 12 is now is the judgment of this world and now the ruler of this world is cast out, and he speaks there specifically about his his cross you think about what Paul said in Colossians where he talks about the cross having disarmed the principalities and powers. Jesus is definitively defeated Satan conquered him with the evil one still goes about like a like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us and so we have to be vigilant and steadfast in our faith clinging to Christ and to his gospel and trusting that the Lord is doing all things for our good and his glory. God bless you Carmen while said this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you if you got a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Maybe a Bible passage. That's particularly confusing to you really understand it and it will be glad to help out with that.

Or maybe you have a question about doctrine and theology give us a call were phone lines will be open for the next 10 minutes or so 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673. Also, I tell you about a very special opportunity that we have for you today yes brothers and sisters. If you been blessed by the broadcast, if encouraged by the work that we do we want to invite you to partner with us by joining what we call the inner core, the inner core is a group of people who give us a monthly donation of $25 or more really is not a lot of money but it's a way that you can partner with us to get the word of the gospel out and help encourage people with with the truth of God's word, and so again if you been blessed and encouraged by the work they were doing. Would you please prayerfully consider partnering with us enjoying the inner core today and as a thank you. Will send you a copy of the book core Christianity, written by Dr. Michael Horton of a wonderful introduction to the truth of the Christian faith that we think are so important for each of us to hold our hearts and so I get a hold that resource and consider becoming a member of the inner core. Here's how you do it you just go to our website at core, Christianity.com/inner core again.

Core, Christianity.com/inner core and you too can join that great group of people who support this program on a regular basis. We do have social media here at the core in here some a question came in our Instagram page from one of our listeners. How do you trust that the modern Bible knowing about colonialism and just all the other different ways the Bible could have been tarnished by different people and had different agendas affected how do you know which Bible is the best option for us, especially with the King James version of new international version and things like that. Here's the thing. A lot of times people think of textual criticism of the way we we got our Bible today as that game released place. Kids called telephone where you whisper into the person next to you and something to their ear and then they whisper into the next person goes down the line, and that by the end you know whatever the message was been totally distorted and somebody inserted something or took something away and embed people that will.

This is kind of how how we got our Bible right like over time. It was just passed down over the centuries and so of course it's been distorted. Of course it's been changed majors.

They will just have one sort of copy that's been passed down again and again we have tens of thousands of manuscripts New Testament manuscripts dating back to the early centuries of the church that contain for us the Scriptures were able to look at all of these manuscripts and see discrepancy CEC may be where a scribe did omit something or try to put something in there is a soul there is as old science or study of textual criticism and and then the beautiful thing is we when we look at all of the information we have in some of the best textual critics will tell you there is no major doctrine of the Bible. That's called into question. Even we look at the that the discrepancies that we see in the New Testament, we can be confident that what we have before us in the Bible that were reading every day. You know what assuming they were using a good translation not just to paraphrase but we can we can be confident that God's word is in our hands that we can receive it with with with faith, believing that he's communicating to us and so and so it's it's realizing just the sort of history of understanding textile criticism but also I think faith in the fact the same God who inspired his word is able to preserve it and has preserved it for us. Timothy said in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for proof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work and so brothers and sisters, and when you open the Bible. This is be encouraged to open up the Bible every day to read it and to hear what the Lord says to us through his word and to receive it. To cherish it in our hearts, receiving with faith and hope and love knowing that God wants to communicate to us and to build us up in his word some great counsel thinks that I drill this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go back to the phones Rachel's calling in from Missouri and Rachel.

I understand you have a follow-up to an earlier question you please elaborate a little bit more on Satan and how he came alive at Rich. I did mention, just that that text in Isaiah chapter 14 and and I think at the root of the fall of Satan's pride in the New Testament. Paul is giving a warning to you note to the church about not installing leaders in the church to youngsters so that they don't become, you know, puffed up hottie and fall into the condemnation of the devil so that the pathway for talking about how he became the way that he ended up on the pathway was pride, sinful pride, which is something that all of us. I think as believers in Jesus Christ have to be aware of for out of ourselves conscious of. But Satan like the rest of the Angels is a created being. Meaning is not infinite. He's not like you know that the opposite evil power of God.

It's not the sort of dualistic understanding of the universe. You know you have an all-powerful evil being an all-powerful good being know Satan is is a creature created by the Lord given freedom with that freedom. He fell and ultimately he is going to be judged and cast into the lake of fire.

This is what the book of Revelation says very clearly, and in the meantime, God is permitted him to exist and do the things that he does under his sovereign under God's sovereign authority and God is using all things, even the evil one in his tactics to bring about his purposes in the world and ultimately the salvation of his people on the restoration of all things that we don't understand how that all works and and I think were in the presence of Ludwig and Horgan have a lot clear of a picture. Let clear understanding this side of heaven. We don't understand how that all works but we can trust him that he's on the throne that he's good that he sovereign and that the evil one is not does not pose any problem for him in the senses. Sometimes we think it's okay Rachel thank you for that follow-up in May the Lord bless you. This is core Christianity let's go to Don calling in from Kansas.

Don what's your question for pastor. Israel hello hey Don, my question is on Melchizedek yesterday in church. The minister spoke about Melchizedek and explain the really didn't quite understand. It just finally click on me and I don't know why I never picked up on this before, but when he met Abraham after rescuing lock. He brought out bread and wine back in Genesis does all the communion communion elements your thought on that close this Melchizedek a Don great question. I hope you get to share this answer with your minister because it's an important thing right Melchizedek. He appears in Genesis chapter 14, after this great battle and and Abraham is there and Melchizedek. He's got the king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God most high, and he blessed Abraham and said, Blessed be Abram by God most high possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be God most high, who is delivered your enemies into your hand. Abram gave 1/10 of everything to him and the king of Sodom said to Abram, give me the persons but take the goods for yourself but Abram said the king of Sodom. I have lifted my hand to the Lord God most high possessor of heaven and earth that I should or would not take the red or sandal strap or anything that is yours lest you say I have made Abraham rich and so this this Melchizedek industry comes out of nowhere and the shocking thing is one that he blesses Abraham and to that he that he not only blessing but Abraham gives him a tithe of all the spoils of war. And then it got again. Of course, the other thing that's of just amazing years is the, the language of a Melchizedek bringing out bread and and wine. Now the interpretation for this passage is given to us in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 7 and this is a really important point friends when were interpreting the Bible. The only infallible interpreter of Scripture is the Scripture itself and so where were Scripture interprets Scripture, we can be confident as to the. The understanding right of this is the apostles understanding inspired by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews chapter 7 verse one. This Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of the most high God met met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and said to him and to him. Abraham apportioned 1/10 part of everything. He is first by the translation of his name, king of righteousness. And then he is also King of Salem that is king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy.

Having neither beginning of days nor end-of-life.

But resembling that's really important word read the resembling the son of God. He continues as priest forever. So Melchizedek resembled who Jesus brings out bread and wine. He's the king of righteousness. The king of peace. Some people say he's like a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus the son of God. I don't know that I would go that far.

I think that the way he's depicted for us in God's revelation is as a is a type this shadowy figure who comes out of nowhere who's meant to be a picture for us of the Messiah. This kingly priest who blesses his people with bread and wine, and to whom the people Abraham there brings 1/10 a tithe. This is this this submission right that we see and so with one of the beautiful things we we find in Scripture over and over and over again is how Christ in the pictures of Christ vis-à-vis shadowy types of our Lord appear everywhere, even in the very first book of the Bible, even in a place like Genesis chapter 14 and this is what the author the Hebrews is is picking up on their in Hebrews chapter 7 and so I think I think the best answer. This is my view is that Melchizedek is this picture in the Old Testament of Christ, not necessarily the pre-incarnate Christ, but the way in which is depicted by revelation by the word of God is as this figure who resembles Jesus and that's what the author the Hebrews said in verse three of chapter 7 pointing us forward to the great prophet, priest and king of our redemption, the one who we owe our allegiance to our submission to our worship to the one who blesses us from heaven with bread and wine is very body and blood for our nourishment for our sustenance for the forgiveness of our sins so well said thanks for that. I drill this is core Christianity, we have time for one more quick question and Monte says this should a believer in Christ.

Forgive others. Specifically other believers who have wronged them if they are unrepentant and also is there an exception were withholding forgiveness from an unrepentant person is acceptable. Yeah such a complex question of their many believers who struggled to forgive someone, but let me just say this yes we are always called to forgive from the heart. Now what that this is true whether the person repents or not we have this attitude of forgiveness toward them, but reconciliation and restoration require repentance. So what were always called to forgive unless another person recognizes what they've done wrong and repent of it. We can't really restore the relationship so it's important to have those categories in your mind and to differentiate between those two things, but by the grace of God we who have been forgiven to forgive others. Thanks for listening. Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together