Category Archives: Uncategorized

Change

Revelation 5:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Well that was different. I have always used the King James Version and I believe that God has called me out on this issue. My reasons for insisting on the use of the KJV has become a source of pride. I realized one of my reasons was not valid. The KJV is out of copyright and I can use it as much as I like without worrying about violating copyright laws. I have a page that defines the permissions of all the bible versions I might us. Yes, that is right, there are some I will not use. In my review of those allowable usages I found this about the ESV.

The ESV. Crossway’s Guidelines for using text from books and blogs

No formal permission request is necessary to use a small number of quotes for noncommercial use. As long as the source is credited, it is possible to quote up to 400 words without seeking permission from Crossway.

I limit my blogs by design to 300 words, more or less. I would never use 400 words from the ESV.

Why should I change now? I do not have to change my style, I have to change my attitude. I have often gone through life saying “Well that’s just me.” I expected others to be tolerant of me and that is a sign of pride.

In my search for the initial release of the King James Bible I discovered one phrase that could have shed some light if I had been paying attention. The KJV was released in an archaic language at the time of its release. English has evolved over time and it is not spoken now as it was in the 1500’s. In America English is a foreign language. Rev. 5:9 says every language and languages change.

Inspired

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

As I finished this last series that began in Ezekiel 12 and ended with the Good News, I sought to be inspired by God. I do not seek any new revelation but rather to just be inspired as to what God wants to repeat yet again for our understanding. I believe in a cautionary word in Revelations.

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

It does not matter to me if John was speaking to the book of Revelations or to the whole bible. I believe that I do not have the right to change the bible in any manner. It is only my desire to have a conversation upon which truths are illuminated by God and our understanding deepened.

It is my way of asking God where this conversation is going next.